The Dusty Letters of Luna's Fluttershy

by Gweat and Powaful Twixie

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Romance
Length: 54018

[Featured on EQD]“Some fall in love to complete themselves, like a puzzle. Maybe I’m the same way, but I don’t think I am. I think I fell in love because I was broken, and I needed someone to put me back together”—Flutte

“Some fall in love to complete themselves, like a puzzle. Maybe I’m the same way, but I don’t think I am. I think I fell in love because I was broken, and I needed someone to put me back together”—Fluttershy in her last letter to Applejack.

When tragedy struck, and Fluttershy was forced to leave Ponyville only two days later, she had hope despite her life falling apart around her. As time went on, that hope dwindled and she started to ask questions she didn’t have the courage to answer. With the help of Luna, she found reasons to keep going where everyone else gave up. She was strong enough to live again—Until a series of unusual letters made their way into her heart.

And so began Fluttershy’s tragic adventure to understand what it means to truly lose everything.

Part of a series about a pony's closest companions.
Their Diary
Their Reflection
Their Letters
Their Home
Their Love

Cover image by wonderfully talented artist carykaiba
Altered by the cautiously explosive artist SilFoe

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-18 18:17:12 UTC

Her Friend

The Dusty Letters of Luna’s Fluttershy

“Some fall in love to complete themselves, like a puzzle. Maybe I’m the same way, but I don’t think I am. I think I fell in love because I was broken, and I needed someone to put me back together”—Fluttershy, in her last letter to Applejack.

When tragedy struck, and Fluttershy was forced to leave Ponyville only two days later, she had hope, despite her life falling apart around her. As time went on, that hope dwindled, and she started to ask questions she didn’t have the courage to answer.

With the help of Luna, life would go on. It had to. Then the letters started coming, and so began Fluttershy’s tragic adventure to understand what it truly means to lose everything.

Her Friend

“This ain’t real...” said Applejack.

It was pouring at the train station.

Two ponies stood side by side, alone on the platform. The storm was calm. There was no wind or thunder, nor was there lightning or any distraction from the solemn ponies’ reveries. It was the perfect storm of storms, and they stood in the middle of it. The rain was warm and thick on their coats.

They watched it fall. They felt it fall.

“This ain’t real...” she said again.

Fluttershy wondered if Applejack would ever say anything else again. She was a broken record.

She had been for two days now.

“Gosh darnit—this ain’t real!” she said, stamping her hoof.

Fluttershy remained silent. While Applejack was a broken record, Fluttershy just felt broken.

She had been for two days now.

Her eyes were glazed over and puffy, her hooves dragged with each step, and her mane and tail were flat and dull. She looked like she was on the brink of tears constantly, mostly because she was.

She stared at the forest near her home from her spot on the platform. It was far off, but she could still see the treeline. It was both comforting and empty. It was comforting because of its emptiness. If she looked anywhere else she’d remember something and start crying or laughing or feeling again.

And she was tired of feeling.

Had she looked to her left, she would have seen the train approaching. It would have approached in the exact same way it had every time before. Fluttershy had never taken the train until she met her friends, and now the station had become a place of adventure and togetherness. She’d wait with the girls and then it’d whisk them off to their next adventure.

And they would go together.

Had Fluttershy looked to her right, she would have remembered a bittersweet memory of coming to see Rarity after she had run away from a date.

Rarity had been crying on the bench of the station, her new dress dirty and damp. She was on her way to the restaurant when a passing carriage and a mud puddle conspired to ruin her night. A splash later and the fashionista was ‘completely unpresentable’. This led to an existential crisis for the poor mare—she could either show up to a five star restaurant looking like a ruffian, show up a half-hour late, or cry at the train station until someone came by to make her feel better.

Rainbow Dash had found her, and knowing she wasn’t the best suited for talking about ‘feeling stuff’, had subsequently found Fluttershy to talk to her instead. Rainbow Dash had also made it a point to teach that carriage driver a ‘lesson’ by promptly stealing his wheels and hiding them.

Fluttershy decided to spend the rest of the night with her, doing what she wanted to do; which would most likely have included gossiping, makeovers, and talking fashion.

What followed was an act of courtesy by the gentlecolt that seemed as unorthodox as it was touching. They found him waiting at her doorstep, hollering her name and asking if she was okay. It was Rarity’s reputation as a lady to never be late for anything. Only catastrophe could keep her from a high-society function.

Upon seeing her, he looked as relieved as he did worried. Rarity’s makeup was running, and she was covered head to hoof in dirt. In a moment of haziness, he ran to them and turned his befuddlement to Fluttershy.

Questions had been answered, anxieties had been laid to rest, and they even shared a few laughs. Another date was made and immediately began on the spot. Maybe it wasn’t Rarity’s style, but she certainly had enough fun on her date out in the meadows watching the stars.

Fluttershy went home, glad she had been there for her friend.

Any other time, she would have loved to remember and share that memory with a close friend like Applejack, but now, it would have made her laugh, then cry, and then miss her friend. And she would feel empty again, and the grief would make her sick.

For the first time in two days, she’d managed to forget—not of her friends and if they were there or not, because that was already the surreality she couldn’t believe. No, she had finally forgotten herself.

So, Fluttershy kept her eyes on the treeline.

The train came to a stop. Amidst the rain and steam, the mist nearly covered the platform. Two earth coloured stallions and a prim, haughty mare stepped off. She was a flat rose pink with a violet mane and tail.

“It’s raining?!” whined the mare loudly. “No pony ever said it would be raining! Jack, my umbrella.”

Fluttershy tried to ignore her.

“Dearest me!” she said directly to Fluttershy. “Are you two just standing out in the rain?”

One of the stallions popped open an umbrella open and gave it to her. “Here you are, Stella,” said Jack to the mare.

“Thank you, Jack. Could you also fetch my extra umbrellas?” asked Stella. “Make sure this pegasus and her friend are properly covered.”

Fluttershy couldn’t ignore her. She was too much like a pony she knew.

She tried to look away, but doing so made her turn her head to the right. There she saw the bench and the accompanying memory. It made her happy, and she stifled a laugh with sadness.

“H-how g-generous...” stammered Fluttershy. “Th-th-thank y—”

That was all she managed to say before it overwhelmed her. She fell to the ground, broken, her mind only on Rarity. It began again, the cycle of sadness, anger, and fond remembrance, as did the guilt. She knew it was selfish to forget her pain. Her friend deserved to be mourned and remembered. How could she just pretend that nothing had happened, when everything had happened?

The mare turned her head and looked at the ground instead of Fluttershy. It was easy to see that the mare was one of higher society; the kind of mare that put on airs and was in constant pursuit of gracefulness, if not achieving it constantly.

Yet she was speechless and her lip trembled.

There was no look of alienation or disgust on her face, nor was there superiority or curiosity. Maybe she understood. Or maybe she was just that perplexed. Whatever it was, she paused for a long moment, pensively watching the pegasus.

“You’re very welcome,” she said, her tone seemingly unfazed by the outburst. “Stay indoors, Darling. You’ll catch a cold.”

The mare left for the station door.

“Don’t leave me, Rarity!” cried Fluttershy.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

“I wish I could stay for you, but I have my own tragedies to attend to,” she said.

The pink and violet mare left, her two companions trailing her closely with her luggage.

Fluttershy turned to Applejack, a beautiful smile on her face. It was the sort of smile that would ‘make angels weep’, as Rarity would say. Her face was all scrunched up, her lips were pursed, and her eyes were narrowed.

Smiling, but on the verge of tears.

“I miss her so much, Applejack. I just called a complete stranger 'Rarity',” said Fluttershy.

“Yeah, Ah saw that,” said Applejack, returning the smile. “She was real sweet though.”

There was a silence.

Fluttershy started laughing.

“It’s kind of like that one time when we were in Cloudsdale and I flew up behind that one pegasus, thinking it was Rainbow Dash, and hugged them,” she said. “I was so embarrassed.”

Applejack laughed, too.

“Ain’t yer fault. Ah mean, how many pegasi have rainbow coloured manes? He was a real sweetheart though, offerin’ to buy you lunch and everything,” she said. After their laughter died down, she spoke again. “How did things go with him anyway?”

Fluttershy blushed. “I mean, he just lived so far away. Even with Rarity giving me lessons and coaching me, it was too hard...”

They let that last line trail off. There was a thoughtful silence.

That was when a unicorn from the hospital levitated out a tented bed. On it, Twilight lay asleep peacefully. Her nose wrinkled and a smile curled over her face. Fluttershy couldn’t help but think how lucky she was to be so completely oblivious to everything. Twilight was there smiling without a care in the world. She didn’t know about Rarity, and because of that she was both better and worse off than all of them.

Fluttershy almost hoped she didn’t wake up. She wouldn’t wish such heartache on anybody.

“Be strong,” said Applejack finally, her voice cracking a bit.

Fluttershy swallowed hard and nodded. There was still some thoughtfulness left in her, but Applejack was quickly turning it into another breakdown.

“Twi’ needs ya, and if she’s ever alone—” Applejack choked down a few sobs. She closed her eyes and composed herself. “If she’s ever alone, so help me, I will never forgive you.”

That sounded like a threat, but Fluttershy knew it was anything but. It was passion driven by not knowing what to feel, and feeling everything at once. She started to cry once more. The situation was getting messy again, and if Fluttershy didn’t leave soon, they’d both be pathetic messes on the ground.

“I won’t,” said Fluttershy. “As long as you promise to visit Rarity every day.” She paused. Her stance grew as stiff and rigid as it could. Her voice cleared. She wanted to speak with authority, and nearly accomplished that. “A-and y-you find Rainbow, got that, little missy?” she said.

Applejack was crying harder. “And when Twi wakes up, you feed her, you hug her, you do whatever she wants.”

The train would leave in a few minutes, and Fluttershy wouldn’t want to keep other passengers waiting because she was too busy crying and saying goodbye. It wasn’t looking good, though. She was on her last shred of will, and in less than two minutes, she’d be inconsolable.

The train whistle sounded, alerting the platform to its departure. Applejack heard it and looked to the sky as though it was about to fall.

“Fluttershy. Every week. You write me. Got it? Things are gonna get crazy and I want you to tell me everything,” said Applejack. “I’ll tell you everything that happens here the second it happens. We are not going to drift apart.”

And now Fluttershy had become inconsolable again. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have Applejack’s courage and bravery in such a dismal situation. At least she would always have her.

“...O-okie...” she squeaked.

“I love you, Sugar,” said Applejack, giving her a firm hug.

Fluttershy muttered something under the cover of her heart-wrenching sobs. She fell to the floor with her face in her hooves, becoming a soaking wet mess of sorrow, tears, and rain.

Every time she’d taken the train, she’d done so with all her friends. Now she was to board it with only one. Twilight was already onboard, waiting for her. They were going to go to Canterlot to get her help, and Fluttershy would never leave her. She knew in her heart she wouldn’t come back without Twilight.

And she wanted nothing more than to come back.

Fluttershy wasn’t sure how she had gotten on the train, but when she came to her senses, she realized she’d been moved to a private car with only the unicorn nurse and Twilight. The nurse was busy reading by a small lamp in the otherwise dim room. Twilight was still sleeping on her bed.

Upon noticing Fluttershy’s awakening, the nurse put her book down and wore a warm but thoughtful smile.

“My name is Lily,” said the nurse. “And if you need anything at all, I’m going to be here looking after your friend until we get to Canterlot.”

Fluttershy hacked out the last of her sobs and looked up at Lily.

Lily was a proper looking pony with a pearly white coat, amethyst eyes, and a baby blue mane and tail. She looked bright and cheerful by nature, which seemed to conflict with the somber mood.

Fluttershy had been curled up into a ball, laying tensely on her side. She tried to relax, embarrassed to be behaving so childishly and mewling all over the floor. She knew Lily wasn’t judging her, but still, it wasn’t something a lady would do. So she tried to compose herself.

Rarity had always said she was a lady.

“I—Thank you,” said Fluttershy, not knowing what else to say. Already, everything was starting to feel like a dream again.

“You’re doing the right thing, coming with your friend. She’ll have the best care that all of Equestria has to offer, but it wouldn’t mean a thing without a loving friend at her side.”

A smile curled across Fluttershy’s face. Whoever Lily was, she knew how to say the right thing.

“If nothing else, there is no better medicine than a friend at your side to bring you back home.”

Lily brushed Twilight’s mane gently, watching her like a mother watches her child. A certain protective instinct surfaced in Fluttershy’s mind. She didn’t like that Lily was touching Twilight, but ultimately dismissed it.

“I mean, the princesses want to take care of her personally. This here is a special little pony,” said Lily.

Fluttershy wiped her nose and tried to straighten her mane. She sort of detested how much of a mess she must have looked like. The sort of emotional daze she felt after a good, long cry left her head spinning. She almost felt normal again, whatever normal was anymore. She swayed a bit in her sitting position.

“Do you know her?” asked Fluttershy.

“I um—I don’t,” replied Lily simply.

Fluttershy stood up and walked over to Twilight. “Oh—Her name is Twilight Sparkle.”

Lily nodded knowingly. “That’s a very pretty name.”

There was a silence between them. Fluttershy didn’t know what else to talk about, or if there was something she should be talking about. Lily just gave her a considerate look, and immediately Fluttershy became uncomfortable.

Was Lily waiting for her to say something? Was there something she was supposed to say or ask? She was accompanying her friend on a medical emergency to a hospital, so maybe she should be talking about medical records or something. Fluttershy had also just lost a friend. Could Lily want to comfort her or talk about that? A lump grew in her throat.

Every second Fluttershy stalled, Lily’s considerate look grew more and more worried, upset even. What did she want? What do ponies say to a nurse when their friend is in a coma?

She didn’t know. Instead, Fluttershy turned her attention to Twilight, looking at her and holding her hoof in her own. She’d mourn like she’d seen other ponies do before, sitting at their loved one’s bedside, waiting.

She didn’t feel any great desire to do so, other than to distract herself with something other than the dying conversation. Lily wouldn’t talk to her if she looked thoughtful and recollective.

“Well, if you need anything, I’ll be here the entire time,” said Lily, picking her book back up.

Fluttershy nodded in acknowledgement.

Over the course of the train ride, Fluttershy didn’t falter from her position for a second. She held Twilight’s hoof, watched her face twitch every so often, and periodically stroked her mane.

She cried most of the time. When she wasn’t crying, she was smiling, and when she wasn’t crying or smiling, she was doing everything in her power to do neither. She tried to bottle it in, but failed every time. At first, she didn’t want to break down yet again in front of Lily, but after a while, she stopped caring. It didn’t matter what Lily thought. She was just a nurse doing her job.

Despite her kind words and practiced thoughtfulness, she didn’t legitimately care about Twilight, not like Fluttershy did.

She came to resent Lily and her book. How could she be reading at a time like this? How could she still be normal after so much had happened? Did she not see the unicorn right in front of her who hadn’t woken up for three days now?

Fluttershy stayed with Twilight the entire time. She desperately wanted to get something to drink, and even worse, use the bathroom, but she didn’t want to leave her alone with Lily. That would have been selfish of her, to leave her friend alone with a stranger while she relieved herself. How could she deserve any sort of relief when her friend was in such a condition?

So she stayed with Twilight.

The train arrived in Canterlot a few hours later. The princesses, Celestia and Luna, were there waiting for them.

It was overcast in the capital. The clouds weren’t dark and daunting, but flat and dreary. There was a foreign chill in the air that made Fluttershy's joints ache. It felt like she’d arrived at a cold place she’d never been before. She’d visited Canterlot many times in the past, but something felt off about it. Maybe it was just the mild sickness that was starting to catch up with her. She’d heard the phrase ‘sick with grief’ before, but had never understood how literal it was until now. Her stomach was rolling on itself, she had a headache, and despite only being the early afternoon, she already wanted to go to bed.

Fluttershy exited the train looking about three times worse than when she boarded it. Behind her was the floating bed and Lily. Celestia and Luna were standing right there on the platform. A company of guards were with them, standing steadfast and dauntless.

Fluttershy honestly expected no less and was happy that Twilight was receiving the royal attention that she deserved.

The expression on Celestia’s face was that of perfect, practiced concern. It was the same expression she wore every time something tragic happened. A nation wasn’t always a happy place. Sometimes tragedy struck, and the monarch needed to be ready to address it in a way that appeared genuine. Fluttershy was sure that Celestia had a heart of her own under the facade, but she probably wouldn’t see it until they were behind closed doors.

Luna was the contrary in every aspect. Upon seeing Fluttershy, there was an expression of mixed heartache and empathy on her face. She looked like she wanted to understand with all her heart why Fluttershy looked the way she did—a mess of a broken pony.

Upon seeing Twilight, she became grave and solemn.

“Your Majesties,” said Fluttershy with a shaky bow.

Luna was the first to respond.

“Nay, Fluttershy, thou needest not bow to us,” she said.

“Okay,” she replied, getting up.

Celestia didn’t acknowledge the awkward exchange. Instead, her trained grief gave way to focus. She scrutinized Twilight from her regal stance. She searched and saw curious things. They must have been the sorts of things only the most magical pony in the world could see and know what to make of. After a few seconds, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Captain,” she said to one of the guards. A stallion that wasn’t Shining Armor came forward. “Let the Sparkle family know that Twilight has made it here safely, but tell them that they will not be allowed to visit her until we’ve stabilized her condition. That is all.”

He saluted, and a half dozen guards followed him out of the station.

Celestia spoke to Luna out of the corner of her mouth. “Sister, take Twilight to your observatory and order a medical staff there.”

“My observatory?” asked Luna, seeming to misunderstand the statement.

“Yes, this isn’t a coma. She’s dreaming, and whether this is benign or something darker, the first step will be to learn of what she’s been afflicted with,” explained Celestia distantly.

Luna’s momentary puzzlement turned to the same focus that Celestia had displayed just a moment before. Her eyes began to widen as though she were seeing something terrifying that no one else could see. She closed her eyes and exhaled a deep breath.

“Y-you’re—Thou art correct,” she stammered, looking winded and shocked.

“Then it goes without saying. She will be in your care. I have a few things I must gather, but I’ll join you shortly.”

Luna nodded to her sister and then gave a nod to Lily before taking the bed in her own levitation. The majority of the guards left with Luna. Fluttershy hadn’t known what to make of the exchange. She was barely aware of her surroundings as it was, passing between memories, mindlessness, and catharsis constantly.

“Go with Luna and Twilight,” said Celestia to Fluttershy. “I apologize for the absence of our usual pleasantry, but from the brief description of her condition I received, I could only imagine so many possibilities. Now that I see her, I imagine far more.”

“D-do you know w-what’s wrong with her?” said Fluttershy with a cracked, broken voice that surprised both of them. She broke down again, and unlike every time before, she didn’t know why. She hadn’t remembered anything particularly heartbreaking, but it just spilled out anyway. She fell to the ground.

Celestia was surprised, maybe even shocked. She was speechless for a moment, just as that mare at the train station had been.

“Corporal,” said Celestia finally to one of the remaining guards. “Please escort Miss Fluttershy to the Royal Foreign Dignitaries Suite in the west wing. See that she has something to eat, and is given anything else she desires. I will fly myself back to the castle. That is all.” Not once did Celestia make eye contact with Fluttershy, despite the little pony looking up at her constantly. She flared her magnificent wings and took to the air.

The dash of air from her takeoff ruffled Fluttershy’s mane and tail. She looked up, her crying fit seemingly over. The corporal, an older grey pegasi, approached her. He wore a warm smile. Behind him were four other guards.

“We’re at your command,” he said with a smile and slight bow. His voice was smooth, with a hint of gravel and the pitch of a baritone. It was possibly one of the most relaxing voices she’d ever heard.

Nothing about his tone was slight or terse, but she had a feeling that he looked down upon her, like she was something that needed constant care and couldn’t be left alone for a second. Indeed, from her lying position, he was looking down at her, and maybe she couldn’t be left alone, but that wasn’t the point.

The point was that he didn’t know what she was going through. He was another pony who was practiced, not genuine.

“M-my command?” The words seemed strange as they rolled off her tongue.

He simply nodded.

“Aren’t you supposed to take me to my room?”

“Only if that is what you desire,” he said, slightly dipping his head as though tipping an invisible hat at her. “Would you like to go there now?”

“No, I’m hungry. I—I want ice cream,” she said without thinking.

Despite Fluttershy’s expectation, he showed no surprise or disdain for her order. He just smiled at her. Two of the ponies behind him snickered, one of them rolled their eyes, and the last was indifferent.

“Well, you heard the lady, gents,” said the corporal without breaking eye contact with Fluttershy. “Do any of you know of the best place to get ice cream in our fine city?”

Canterlot was, and had always been, the cultural epicenter of Equestria. The majority of the great artists and scholars throughout history had gathered and collaborated in the capital, bringing their various forms of art with them in full, refined force. Because of this, the finest of all the faculties of both modern and traditional life were available due to the sheer romance the city inspired.

This meant the ice cream she had would arguably be the best in the world. It was Canterlot ice cream made only by those dedicated enough to create excellence. All things considered, it was. It was the best ice cream she’d ever had.

In fact, it was the best thing she’d ever eaten.

She cried a little as she ate it, drawing the curious and judging looks of the other, more finely groomed patrons. They whispered the same words, and in those words was the full spectrum of concern.

”What’s wrong with her?”

She didn’t care, though. She was eating the best ice cream in the world, and it made her so happy she wanted to cry. She already looked like she hadn’t slept in a week, so what did it matter?

She continued to cry silently, and crying made it taste even better.

“This is really good, Lance,” said Fluttershy to the corporal, sniffling up a spittle of mucus. That might have been the understatement of the century. The ice cream was far from just ‘good’. She was already on her second serving.

“You like it that much, eh?” said Lance, his smile never fading.

“Oh yes, I love it!” she exclaimed louder than she originally intended. The other patrons paused for a moment and cringed.

“Well, chances are me and my boys will be assigned as your personal guard for the duration of your stay. We might be able to get out of the castle long enough to come pick some ice cream up if you ever find yourself craving it,” he said.

“Oh, no. I wouldn’t want to be a burden,” said Fluttershy. “I’ll be able to take care of myself.”

His smile faded. He leaned in, and Fluttershy leaned in too. The other guards glanced at them, but kept to themselves.

“Fluttershy,” he said in a conspiratorial voice. “I take it you’ve never stayed in the castle for any extended period of time.”

“No,” she said with an accompanying shake of her head.

“It’s different. I need to warn you—And I'm only telling you because I’ve seen it happen enough times to know this will help keep you sane,” he said. “Castle life isn’t what you think it is. One loses himself inside that castle. Strange things happen there so often, you’ll think them normal, and simple things like going out and getting ice cream will seem impossible.”

Fluttershy’s eyes grew wide. “Th-they will?” she stammered, her mouth half-full of ice cream.

“The Royal Palace of Canterlot is a convergence of the most powerful, and misunderstood, ponies, artifacts, and spells in existence. Now, I’m not trying to scare you, I’m just trying to make sure you’re not going into this blind. The magic that happens behind those walls will make real life seem... distant. And if you’re not careful, you’ll fall straight out of it. If you have any friends you’re even thinking about sending letters to, I’d suggest doing it. It’ll keep you anchored in reality.”

Fluttershy’s face scrunched up. She was already crying, but if she hadn’t been, now would have been a good time to start. She turned back to her little bowl of ice cream and ate some. It tasted even better than before.

The corporal had unknowingly suggested that she write all her friends, plural. It was a gesture of respect. How could such a nice little pony not have more than one friend? Yet, when she thought of all the friends she could write to, just one came to mind, and she had already promised to write her as often as possible. It was probably the first thing she’d do when she was finally alone.

He didn’t mean to, but he’d reminded her of just how alone she’d be if things didn’t get better.

He reached out with his hoof. She let him take her hoof in his own. He wore a worried look.

“I’m sorry. I—I didn’t mean to scare you. I just want you to be safe.”

She cried harder and the ice cream tasted better. She missed Applejack. Already, it felt like that departure from Ponyville had been a lifetime ago, and she wanted to go home. She didn’t want to be eating this weird, strangely delicious ice cream, she didn’t want to watch over her friend in a coma, and she certainly didn’t want to go to the scary castle life that awaited her.

But she was going to do all those things. Already it felt like she was stuck in the unreality of ‘castle life’.

She wanted to wake up from this horrible nightmare. She wanted her friends back. She wanted to go home.

She’d wanted these things for two days now.

Her room was nice, splendidly decorated with historical artwork showcasing the world-moving culture of Canterlot over the centuries. It was a show of power for the wealthy foreign visitors. She even recognized some of the artwork herself. There must have been five hundred-thousand bits worth of artwork sitting on her walls, but she didn’t care. She was tired, and nothing would keep her from sleep, not even the guilt of not having been by Twilight’s side for three hours now.

The guilt felt like a war inside her. Her heart was fighting to spend every moment by Twilight, where she belonged, her body was fighting to stay alive, and her mind hadn’t known what to think for a long time now. She didn’t know who to listen to anymore.

Lance had shown her her room. All of her luggage was already there waiting for her. She hadn’t bothered unpacking, though. That could wait. Since she was going to put off visiting Twilight even longer, she had made writing Applejack her concession.

On the desk were a complementary stack of blank letters.

From: Fluttershy

To: Applejack

Two days after the death of Rarity.

Dear Applejack,

What happens if Twilight doesn’t wake up? What am I going to do if she doesn’t?

I think she will. I hope she will. It’s all I can think about. All today, those have been the two thoughts on my mind. What’s even worse is that whenever I think them, they don’t feel real. None of this does. When I was on the train, that nurse was in the car with me and Twilight. She was sweet and nice, but at one point she touched Twilight. She just casually brushed her mane. I don’t know what was wrong with me, but I wanted to slap her hoof away.

Then I got momentarily separated from Twilight as Luna took her to her room with the doctors. Instead of following her, I went and got ice cream with the guards that were assigned to protect me. It was so weird. I’ve never eaten something that tasted that good ever, and I cried the whole time.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I want it to stop.

Needless to say, I made it to Canterlot and met with the princesses. They were all there when I got off the train. Luna and Celestia were waiting for us with an army of guards.

I know Celestia can make her wake up. The second Twilight got off the train, Celestia pretty much knew instantly what was wrong with her. She kind of just looked at her and could tell, I guess. You said you wanted to hear everything that happened as soon as I knew, so here’s what I think is happening. Twilight is dreaming about something, or something is making her dream; a magic of some sort. That’s what Celestia said, at least. And because of her dream magic, Luna is taking care of her.

I know I shouldn’t, but I have a lot of hope. It feels weird to think, looks even weirder to write, but I have hope.

For the first time in what’s felt like a lifetime, I think it might all turn out okay. Luna is the perfect pony to help Twilight. She’ll wake up and I’ll get to leave this scary castle. I don’t like it here, and I want to come home.

If you can tell me anything about Rainbow Dash, I need to know. If you’ve already sent a letter explaining that, sorry. I just really need to hear from you. I feel like I’m going crazy.

I miss you.

Love,

Fluttershy

Fluttershy had gone straight from sending the letter to collapsing on her bed. Her exhaustion was complete. The second she hit the bed, she felt like dead weight. All things considered, she was dead weight. She wasn’t about to start questioning the worth of her own life, but she could certainly see herself doing that in the future. If things didn’t get better, she’d wear out.

She fell asleep wondering if ‘getting better’ was even possible.

Fluttershy woke up in the middle of the night to strange howling and moaning. It sounded like it came from someone in the room next to hers.

The cries were nonsensical, babble even. Yet something about them seemed troubled, afraid, like cries for help. Someone was in danger.

The castle’s peaceful silence was broken by these cries of intrusion and malice. Fluttershy froze in her bed, the warmth draining from her. What was even more disturbing than the sudden fear was the pony who was screaming in the first place.

Celestia’s cries turned to frantic sobs.

Fluttershy became panicked, jolting awake. She wondered if anyone else could hear Celestia. She wondered why Celestia was in the room next to hers. She wondered if she should do something.

Then Fluttershy heard calm voices. They sounded like the guards. Guards kept ponies safe, so if they weren’t stressed then that meant Celestia was safe. Yet, Celestia was still screaming. Fluttershy perked a curious ear, and tried to hear through the wailing.

“Again?” said one guard.

“What do you think we should do?” said the second guard.

“The captain said to leave her alone.”

“Yeah, but I heard from Lance that she suffers from memory loss following her panic attacks.”

The first guard sounded intrigued. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“How come I don’t think you’re suggesting we just draw a moustache on her face?”

“Because I’m not.”

Fluttershy’s heart sank again. This wasn’t real, but somehow it felt more real than her life as it had been. She wasn’t sure what compelled her to do so, but she quickly got out of bed and stepped out her door into the candlelit hall. Before her were the two guards.

“No need for alarm, Milady,” said one guard smoothly upon seeing Fluttershy. “The princess here is just having a night terror. Happens all the time.”

“Does she have short term memory loss following the episodes?” said Fluttershy as bluntly as she could. She was angry, yet wasn’t entirely sure why. Her body seemed to be acting on its own. “And did you suggest drawing a moustache on her face, or something else?”

The previously smooth guard was left speechless. Fluttershy smirked.

“Probably not,” she spat. “I want to be taken to wherever my friend is staying, but I’m afraid of the dark, so I’ll need you two to come with me.”

Fluttershy woke up at Twilight’s side. She was still holding her friend’s hoof. The morning sun was directly in her eyes. She used her free hoof to help shield them from the glare.

“How did I get here?” she muttered groggily to herself.

“You waltzed in around 2 A.M. with a couple of guards,” said Luna from behind her.

Fluttershy looked around the room. She was in what she assumed to be Luna’s observatory. The floors were jet black onyx. There wasn't a continuous wall, but instead a series of arches and pillars encircled the room. The leaves of the plants outside the room moved faintly in the wind, yet the air inside didn’t move. Above them was magic glass dome that filtered the day's light, leaving only the night sky above.

In the pillars, shelves had been carved out for books. A few crescent moon-shaped desks sat at the edges of the space, littered with instruments, parchment and open books. In the center of the room was Luna’s bed, and at the foot of that was Twilight’s.

Luna had been sitting at one of the cleaner desks with a coffee mug. Now, she had turned around, and was looking at Fluttershy.

“You’re quite dedicated to your friend,” she added reflectively. “That is admirable.”

“I—Yeah—I felt really bad for not seeing her yesterday,” said Fluttershy.

“No, you needed a break. You’re a good friend, and by virtue of being a good friend, you’ll never feel like you’re doing enough,” said Luna. “And seeing you yesterday broke my heart. How long has it been since you’ve taken some time to groom yourself?”

“Two days,” she admitted.

“I’d suggest taking care of that. There is a bathroom just down the hall that you can use.”

Fluttershy hesitated, looking down at Twilight. She didn’t want to leave her now that she was right there. Luna must have been able to tell, because she seemed to read her mind perfectly.

“She probably wouldn’t have appreciated a grimy friend before, and I don’t think she’d appreciate one now. She’ll be alright, so go take a nice long shower.”

She’d forgotten how therapeutic being clean was. It held a certain healing quality to it, like the beginning of a new day. Going from being dirty to being clean gave her a fresh perspective on everything; the chance of change for the better to happen. She left the shower thinking thoughts she knew she shouldn’t have. What if she got to go home today or tomorrow?

It might be as easy as Luna simply casting a counter spell on Twilight. Magic regularly had such exchanges. There was a spell, and then there was a spell that made that one stop working, and all someone needed to know was the name of the first spell.

When she walked back into the observatory, Luna was gone.

The first thought Fluttershy had was one of anger. How dare anyone leave Twilight alone? She was completely helpless. Anyone could have walked in and done something horrible to her. Almost like she was making a point in an argument, Fluttershy angrily pulled a cushion up next to her friend and plopped herself down at her side. There should always be a pony at her side.

Always.

By the end of the fifth day with Twilight, Fluttershy had used up the last ounce of her willpower.

She’d spent five long days in that room alone. Luna had not once come back since that first morning. Her meals were brought to her, and left on the ground at the door. There would be a knock, and no matter how fast Fluttershy answered it, she never saw who brought it. Whenever she woke up, the room had been miraculously cleaned of garbage and dirty plates. No one came to visit. It was just her and Twilight.

And all the time in the world to think.

Her existence was contained between that room and the shower. She didn’t venture any further than that. She told herself it was because she couldn’t leave Twilight, but she knew there was another reason.

She was afraid.

Between the nightly howling of Celestia and the ghosts that kept her fed and cleaned the room, Fluttershy was scared. No, she was terrified. Things happened that she couldn’t see. Her friend was dying at her side and everyone seemed to have forgotten. Fluttershy thought about trying to feed Twilight her own food, and clumsily tried once. That made a mess, and she ended up having to carry Twilight’s dead weight to the shower and groom her herself. In the middle of it Fluttershy had a mental breakdown and almost caused Twilight to drown.

What was worse was that Fluttershy’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest when Twilight started coughing water back up. Unfortunately, it was a reflex and not a miracle. Looking back, she felt guilty and stupid for that dumb assumption. She just wanted so desperately to have her friend back, to have someone to talk to, any tiny semblance of something normal, that she risked Twilight's life.

It had sounded like she was waking up, coming back to life. Had she woken up right then, Fluttershy probably would have lost all control, weeping with happiness. It would have even been funny, the answer to Twilight's ailment being to almost drown her.

Upon realizing Twilight was not waking back up, Fluttershy blacked out from a combination of heartache, stress, and crushing doubt. She was in the shower, dragging her comatose friend around in an attempt to clean her, not having heard anything from anypony for the last five days, and spending most of her time crying. It was a mercy to have forgotten that specific combination of emotions all mixing together.

Thankfully, she hadn’t remembered that her last thoughts were of trying to make Twilight drown again, if only to pretend that she was alive for a little longer.

She woke up on Luna’s bed, her heart beginning to pound. She immediately looked to see Twilight peacefully sleeping on her bed, and leapt out to see if she was breathing. She was, and Fluttershy decided to take the rest of the night off from sitting at Twilight’s side.

It was selfish, but there had been one thing she’d been wanting to do all week. And that was to curl up into a ball, think about the old days, and cry her heart out for a good hour.

On the sixth day, Fluttershy awoke to see Luna drinking her coffee at her desk.

Fluttershy blinked. Never had she had such a complete sense of deja vu.

“Lu-Luna?” stammered Fluttershy.

“Yes?” said Luna, turning around casually.

“Wh-why did you leave me?” she cried. Today would be one of those days where she’d wake up and start crying off the bat.

“I didn’t—” she replied.

Fluttershy's voice retained a heightened monotone. She spoke like a child. “I’ve been so lonely! Why did you leave me?!” she said accusingly.

“I’m sorry—”

“Please don’t leave me again! Promise to never leave me again?!”

Subtlety had become far gone. Around the third day, the loneliness had become apparent, on the fourth day, all she could think about was if she’d never see another pony again, and on the fifth day, she’d devised a plan to surprise and trap the pony that brought her her meals. She had memorized the times that they were delivered and would open the door only seconds before. She didn’t know what she’d say to him or her, but she wanted to know their name.

She had fallen that far.

“I won’t,” said Luna, holding her hooves up as if surrendering. Fluttershy was having a hard time reading her. To her, it looked like Luna wasn’t aware of what she did wrong. Like it was just another Sunday.

“Good!” said Fluttershy before bursting into tears, running over to Luna, and burying her face in the princess’ shoulder. “H-how a-are you?” she said though choking sobs.

Luna tensed up as Fluttershy embraced her, and held her hooves up as if afraid they’d get locked into her vice-grip. She tried to reason. “Fluttershy, I—I’m sorry. Twilight has been so very resilient to my magic. I lost track of time.”

“Of course the only pony who’d ever stand a chance at helping her, can’t!” she wailed. “She’s never going to wake up! I’m going to be in this castle forever!”

Luna grimaced. It wasn’t often that royalty had a crying pony in their lap. Dignity usually kept such situations far from them, and having grown estranged to such outbursts, Luna had been left understandably unsure of how to handle them. She was flustered and a little panicked by her closeness.

Yet, even royal grace didn’t redeem her decision to try and pry Fluttershy off of her.

“Listen, Fluttershy. I have something for you,” said Luna as she pulled Fluttershy away with her magic.

After five days of being alone without the company of another conscious pony, all Fluttershy wanted was a hug. Maybe it was too much to ask of royalty, but she had hoped that maybe deep beneath all their magic, regal pleasantry, and mystery was a normal pony who could understand how she felt.

It probably didn’t help that Fluttershy herself didn’t know what she was feeling.

“C-can’t—can’t I j-just have a hug...?” she whimpered as she hung in mid-air in Luna’s levitation.

Luna avoided looking directly into Fluttershy’s big, cerulean eyes. Luna grit her teeth and released a sharp sigh. “Yes,” she said with her head turned away and eyes on the floor. Luna brought Fluttershy closer and let her resume the hug.

Luna put her arms around Fluttershy this time. The gesture allowed for the pent up emotion of the last five days to release a little. There was a lot there, and one good cry wouldn’t get it all, but still, it helped.

There was a warmness in the embrace beyond what she expected. They shared a moment of mutual understanding that came as a surprise to Fluttershy. No one else could have been able to tell, but in one tiny detail, Fluttershy knew there was something connecting between them.

Luna was trembling slightly. Most would have thought it was just the heartache helping her imagine things that weren’t there, but in her heart, Fluttershy knew what she felt. She and Luna shared a state of mind that could only come from one place, a lonely home where your friends had once been.

Over the last few days, Fluttershy had come to understand that there were different levels of grief. She didn’t feel the same magnitude of grief about Rarity’s death as her parents did. They were far more distressed than she was about what happened. Likewise, somepony like Cheerilee or Granny Smith didn’t feel to the same magnitude as Fluttershy or Applejack. They didn’t know Rarity as well.

They were all sad about what happened, but when they tried to explain their sadness to each other, words were exchanged, not true feelings. They could laugh and cry, but their stories and feelings came from different hearts that knew Rarity in different ways.

In such an emotional state of mind, Fluttershy realized she became hypersensitive to others who shared it. A pony could tremble slightly in a thousand different ways, for a thousand different reasons.

Yet, the way Luna trembled left Fluttershy breathless. There was pain somewhere far away that Luna was keeping pent up inside her, and she felt it as if it was her own. She thought about everything she’d ever seen of Luna and started making connections. Everything the princess did was somehow a product of this locked away pain.

Fluttershy convinced herself of this in a single moment by just the slightest trembling.

“Lu-Luna?!” exclaimed Fluttershy, confused and borderline hysterical.

“What?” replied Luna, just as confused.

“A-are you okay?!”

“I think so?”

There was a moment of hesitation coupled with an unmatched awkwardness as Fluttershy immediately began to doubt her most recent discovery. Suddenly, Luna was an enigma to her. The look on her face was one of complete perplexment. Seconds ago, she thought she'd seen Luna's soul, and in one statement, her feelings had been completely undermined.

“Well, if you ever need to talk!” said Fluttershy, still at an awkwardly loud volume. She brought it down a few decibels. “Don’t ever be afraid to ask,” she finished, now almost whispering.

Luna’s perplexment did not falter.

Fluttershy's cheeks flushed bright red. She wanted to die from embarrassment. On top of everything else that had happened, she was now making a complete fool of herself.

She broke down again, dissociating completely. She’d probably read the princess wrong, and now she probably thought Fluttershy was a freak. Here Luna was, acting normally, and Fluttershy couldn’t make it ten minutes without bawling her eyes out. Luna was probably wondering what terrible thing she’d done to be stuck with such a useless pony as Fluttershy.

Yet, she was in her arms, and Luna had the divine grace to let her cry there. So she wailed, and wailed.

When it occurred that they’d probably send her back to Ponyville because she was just getting in the way, she blacked out. She had been sent to watch over a friend that desperately needed her, and all she could do was black out.

Life was becoming too much for her.

Some time later, Fluttershy came to her senses. Luna laid on her bed in a reverie, pensively watching Twilight.

Fluttershy never noticed that there was dampness on her shoulder. She never noticed that the dampness was in a place that her own tears could never reach naturally.

She would only later notice Luna’s puffy, bloodshot eyes.

She was oblivious to these things because in front of her was a letter. It was already open, and had old and new tear stains on it.

From: Applejack

To: Fluttershy

Seven days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

I’m sorry I didn’t write back to you earlier. A lot has happened since you left. I tried to make time to write back to you, but there’s been so much work that needs doing. I know that’s a terrible excuse, but it’s just been real hard and frantic, you know?

She will wake up. I might be counting my chickens before they hatch, but if she’s in some weird dream magic, they couldn’t have picked a better pony for the job. I have a real good feeling that Luna will have her woken up lickety-split. You’ll be back before you know it.

I know what you mean. I’ve been pretty up and down too. Just the other day, I yelled at Applebloom when she told me she was getting hungry from searching for Rainbow. I had no idea what came over me, but I got her pretty upset. I told her she already ate a few hours before, and that Rainbow ain’t gonna find herself. Maybe I can’t imagine anypony taking breaks when we’re losing ponies left and right, but Big Mac had to come and talk to me before I went off on somepony else. I felt mighty awful afterwards. Applebloom said she’d already forgiven me, but I haven’t forgiven me yet.

As far as things go around here, I have good news and bad news. Since I always like to end positively, I’ll go over the bad news first.

First, Pinkie’s in the hospital. She’s taking all of this way harder than we thought. You know how she locked herself in her room after hearing about Rarity? Let’s just say she’s feeling pretty darn bad about life. So much that she didn’t think it was worth living anymore. I’m just glad we found her before it was too late.

Second, and it’s pretty hard to tell you this because I know how close you two were, but we still haven’t found Rainbow Dash. I promise you we’ll find her though, and you know I don’t make promises I can’t keep. The whole town’s been running through that forest, and we’ve almost covered it all. There’s not too many more places she can be hiding, so expect a letter from her soon.

Now for a bit of good news.

We found Sweetie Belle. The little filly was starved and scared to death when we found her, but she’s doing as well as she can right now. I told her about Rarity yesterday, and she just nodded and walked off. I don’t think she gets it. That, or she’s got a heart of iron. We’ll probably see in a few days. Applebloom and Scoots are pretty happy to say the least.

That’s all I have to report.

It feels like it’s been years since I saw that train leave. So much has happened since then. Every day is a rush.

I miss you too, and I really wish you were back. It’s been pretty lonely. The family’s all here for me, but they just don’t get it like you do. I try not to think about Rarity, though. I visit her for a little while each day and bawl my eyes out, but we have a lot of work to do, and no time to think about ‘what if’s’. I figure as long as we stay positive and do our jobs, everything should turn out right.

Keep your hope.

Love,

Applejack

“Seeing you cry breaks my heart,” said Luna, as Fluttershy finished the letter with a timing that seemed too perfect. “It is not becoming for a mare of your grace to weep.”

Fluttershy looked up to her. Luna’s tone was somewhere between matter-of-fact and truly genuine. That’s when Fluttershy noticed Luna had been crying too.

“A week...?” said Fluttershy drowsily. She was still trying to process the information in front of her. She had skimmed everything beside the part about Rainbow Dash. “No one survives a week in the Everfree Forest alone,” she said, like she was stating any other random nature fact.

“No one...”

Her Princess

From: Fluttershy

To: Applejack

Seven days after the death of Rarity

Dear Applejack,

Stop wasting your time. Rainbow Dash is dead.

Fluttershy

Her Princess

source

“Why do you think she’s dead?” asked Luna.

Fluttershy was expressionless. She’d just stopped thinking altogether. Thinking about what was happening to her life just made her miserable. Rainbow Dash was gone and that was that.

“I told you—the Everfree Forest is a nightmare. If she didn’t starve, then something got her.” Her tone was cold. Luna shifted uncomfortably, which Fluttershy found odd. How could Luna be the uncomfortable one in all this? Everyone in Fluttershy’s life was dropping like flies, and Luna had the nerve to think she was uncomfortable? No, if Fluttershy could be strong in this, then Luna could be strong a thousand times over.

“But why do you want to think she’s dead?” she pressed further.

Fluttershy’s face twisted up in anger. “I don’t! I just know she is!” Fluttershy snapped. “Now are you going to help Twilight, or am I going to get to arrange another funeral?!”

Fluttershy stomped out of the room, fuming. Now Rainbow Dash was gone too. Sweetie Belle had gone missing and Rainbow Dash had vowed to find her. It should have been simple: go into the forest; leave it with the filly in her hooves. Rainbow Dash was too confident to just disappear like that. What could she be doing for a week? Why did she abandon her friends?

Her pace was somewhere between a trot and a gallop. As she left the room far behind, she ran faster and faster through the long, solemn halls.

She felt tears starting to form. She hated tears. Tears made her weak.

So she ran faster.

The hallway seemed to stretch on forever. It felt like a nightmare. She wanted to escape the hallway of tall windows, but no matter how fast she ran, it never ended. There were no hallways leading other wings and no other rooms. It was a blur around her.

Rainbow Dash was gone too, she was dead. Something savage had gotten to her, and it’d only be a matter of time before Applejack ‘found’ her. Pinkie would die too. She was already in the hospital, so how much longer would it be? She was always so sensitive to others around her, and she wouldn’t last without her friends. Applejack couldn’t handle that kind of heartbreak, and would follow soon after.

How far would Fluttershy make it? If Twilight didn’t wake up, would she have the heart to keep living?

Paranoia was about to set in when the thought of seeing Rarity again crossed her mind. It would be just a brief prick of pain... and they’d all be together again.

Fluttershy saw a familiar face standing in front of a large marble door at the end of the hallway.

“Princess Celestia!” cried Fluttershy.

Celestia turned around. “Fluttershy?” she said, her face instantly riddled with concern.

Fluttershy toppled over and came to rest at Celestia’s hooves, crying. She lay there for a few seconds, quickly becoming a soggy mess. “Princess!” she wailed like a child. “I can’t do this anymore! I wanna go home! I wanna see my mom and dad and I just wanna go home! Please let me go home!”

Celestia dropped to her knees, put a wing around Fluttershy, and smiled warmly at her.

“Fluttershy, Twilight needs you,” she said simply, like a mother to her child. “You can’t leave her.”

Something about her tone made it seem like Celestia was trying to be comforting, but it was one of the last things Fluttershy expected to hear. She was sure such a pathetic display would tug at the heartstrings of somepony so noble and graceful. At least she thought she was sure...

“Wha-what?” said Fluttershy in disbelief. “I-I can’t. I’m a mess! I’m no use to anypony! Please, don’t make me! I wanna go home!”

Celestia closed her eyes smugly and smiled. “Not another word! Your friend needs you,” she said with an eerie, warm lightness. It was almost like she didn’t get how emotional Fluttershy was being, like she was seeing something else besides a broken little pony. Fluttershy was bawling her eyes out, and Celestia was acting like she was talking to a child.

“P-please! Ha-have mercy!”

“Please, Fluttershy, follow me.”

And just like that, she was being escorted back to Luna’s observatory by Celestia. It was the simplest, yet most surreal walk she’d ever experienced. She was having an emotional breakdown inside of an emotional breakdown, and was being led through the castle like she was on a tour.

And Princess Celestia just didn’t seem to care at all.

“It’s a shame Luna requests special sanctions for this wing of the castle. A pony such as my sister needs her privacy and space, but there is such a somber beauty to her choice of interior design that I wish more could see it,” said Celestia to the crying pony.

Before she knew it, they were knocking on Luna’s door. Luna promptly answered it. Unlike Celestia, she was sensitive and aware of the scene. She took one look at Celestia’s unerringly warm smile and just shook her head.

Fluttershy saw this, and then Luna looked directly at her with caring, understanding eyes.

“I sought thy return,” said Luna, opening the door and stepping aside. Fluttershy walked in aimlessly.

Celestia leaned down to Luna’s ear. “Sister, next time let me know if she needs anything. I don’t want her getting lost in the castle,” she said under her breath.

Luna winced as though Celestia had scratched a chalkboard right in her ear. “She hath all she needs. Pray, worry not of her wellness, and concern thyself elsewhere,” she hissed.

Celestia nodded and left. Luna shut the door softly behind her and immediately turned and hugged Fluttershy. Fluttershy had already broken down.

“What did she say to you? What did that horrible pony say to you?” whispered Luna as she hugged her tightly.

Fluttershy mumbled something incoherent. She was completely inconsolable now and Luna must have understood this. While Fluttershy couldn’t speak and was only barely aware of the world around her, she remembered warmness, a caring hug, and kind words. Whatever restraints Luna had earlier had come off. Fluttershy knew what she was hearing was the real Luna.

Fluttershy mumbled something else. It was odd that she couldn’t remember her own words, but that she could remember Luna’s. Judging by her response, she could tell that she must have said something to the effect of, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.

“I can’t tell you I know exactly what you feel, but I can say you’re doing everything right,” said Luna, sniffling a bit. “You’re the bravest little pony I know, coming with your friend, and I’m so sorry I left you alone.” There was a passion in her voice that pushed her to the verge of tears herself. “There’s so much wrong with this world, and it may seem like you’re never doing the right thing, but know that you are. You do whatever it takes to make it through the day. You do whatever feels right, nothing more. If anypony tries to tell you otherwise, you pay them no attention.”

The was a silence and more crying. Fluttershy managed to say something she wouldn’t remember later. “Y-you’re t-talking a lot...” she stammered through hacking sobs.

Luna smiled, a few tears streaming her face. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I just get carried away and—”

“No, no! It’s o-okay. I’ve j-just never h-heard you t-talk so much. It’s nice. You have a p-p-pretty voice,” she said.

“You’ll never go a day without hearing it. I promise to never leave you again. We’re going to be in this together, okay?”

“Mmhmm... Are you okay?” asked Fluttershy.

“I—I am...”

Fluttershy felt the trembling from before and wasn’t convinced, but she let it go.

From: Fluttershy

To: Applejack

Seven days after the death of Rarity

Dear Applejack,

I’m so sorry. You should just rip up that last letter I sent. It was horrible of me. Here I was talking about hope and then I squander all yours. Rainbow isn’t dead. She’s alive and I know it. I just don’t know what to think anymore. I say horrible things to ponies, I’m useless, and even though Twilight needs me, all I want to do is run away. I’m weak and everypony else would be better off without me.

If you never talk to me ever again, I’ll understand.

Fluttershy

Fluttershy gave Luna the letter, who promptly sent it off in a flash of dark violet flame. Luna was resting atop her bed in a position Fluttershy noticed her in often. She figured the bed was Luna’s favourite spot to think. Fluttershy was sitting at the desk.

“We all make mistakes,” said Luna as she pensively watched the magic flame and the nothingness thereafter. “Applejack has made them and will make them. You’ve made them and will make them. No one is perfect.”

“Is it really that simple?” replied Fluttershy. “Aren’t there some ponies who don’t make the kinds of mistakes I make?”

“They don’t matter because they aren’t going through what you’re going through. They don’t make mistakes because their hearts don’t cry themselves to sleep every night. They don’t make mistakes because they don’t have to cope with emotions that never rest. I’m sure if they did, they would do so much worse than you.”

Luna smiled at her and Fluttershy smiled back.

“So, what have you learned about Twilight?” asked Fluttershy.

Luna sighed and silence followed. Fluttershy could see Luna taking her time with her response. Luna was thinking, but whether it was how to word something magically complex so that Fluttershy could understand, or to explain tragedy in a way Fluttershy could handle, she didn’t know.

“What I’ve learned...” said Luna finally. “Is that she’s under the effects of some very, very old magic.”

“So—that’s bad?”

Luna rolled over onto her back and looked up at the starry ceiling, resting her hooves upon her stomach. “It’s not bad, per se, but it is—unorthodox...”

Fluttershy could tell she was still struggling for the right words.

“Old magic is unrequited by today’s standards. Today’s magic is a science, calculated and knowing,” explained Luna as though she were rehearsing the steps to a script. “Centuries ago, ponies wove together spells with their hearts, like a painter and her masterpiece. One would feel the spell, and emotion would bring it forth. It allowed for some magnificent effects—and some less magnificent ones. Now, such magic has been forgotten in the hearts of the common, and is considered impossible.”

Luna must have noticed Fluttershy’s befuddlement. Being a pegasus held the simple implication that she knew next to nothing about magic. It wasn’t that Fluttershy wasn’t interested, but it was of no use to her, so no one ever bothered talking to her about it. Most unicorns would think it a waste of time, and some were even snobby about sharing the arcane with non-unicorns. However, Luna was sharing it with her, and for this Fluttershy was happy.

It was like being let in on a great secret.

Fluttershy had always been fascinated with the stories of woodland faeries and dryads, spirits of nature that brought good or bad fortune to those who deserved them. She liked magic, and nature was her version of it. Yet, that interest had always entertained a curiosity in the arcane.

“I’m sorry,” said Fluttershy. “I’m trying to understand, and I know this is probably a dumb question, but does that mean old magic is stronger?”

“It’s just different. Old magic doesn’t translate that well to new magic. For example—” Luna levitated a quill from the desk and magically enlarged it to about twice its original size. “To every modern spell, there is a dispel or counterspell; the spell to get rid of the first one.”

With a flash of her horn, Luna shrunk the quill back down.

“Old magic is the exact same way, but it requires the appropriate dispel, one of old magic.” Luna closed her eyes and grimaced. For a second, it looked like she was crying, and then it was gone. The feather began to glow bright gold. Luna then dispelled it.

Fluttershy thought really hard about what she saw. She wanted to understand, if only to prove to Luna that she wasn’t a waste of time. Maybe if she could prove she was intelligent, it’d make up for her being a ticking, emotional time bomb.

“It’s like—a different language? That no one speaks anymore?” said Fluttershy.

Luna sat up and looked impressed. Fluttershy contained a growing smile. Acting less excited than she was had always been a strength of hers.

“I think you explained it much better than me.”

“Thanks...” Fluttershy was certain Luna was just being nice, but she couldn’t help but think that her observation was pretty intuitive, if only for a pegasus.

Luna went back to looking at the ceiling. “Indeed. It’s fortunate that she was left with me. I may be one of the last ponies alive who knows old magic.”

“What about Celestia?” she blurted.

There was a brief silence. Luna didn’t steal her pensive gaze from the starry ceiling. “No,” she said with sharpness somewhere between annoyance and anger. “Celestia doesn’t know old magic, or if she does, she’s forgotten what it means to us.”

From: Fluttershy

To: Applejack

Thirteen days after the death of Rarity

Dear Applejack,

I’m sorry. I’m a pathetic pony that nopony should ever listen to. All I do is hurt ponies around me. I’m useless and the world would be better off without me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for what I said. If you ever do find Rainbow Dash, tell her I died. It’d be for the best.

I’m only writing you to tell you these things. Don’t waste your time on a reply to a useless pony such as myself. I don’t deserve the honour of being Twilight’s caretaker. Send a replacement and you’ll never have to hear from my awful mouth again.

Goodbye.

Fluttershy

It was past ten, and Fluttershy was crying again. She was thinking of her friends like she did every night at about the same time. It was a ritual, after which she’d be tired enough to finally fall asleep. Her head was in Luna’s lap, and Luna was stroking her mane, softly humming a nocturne.

At first, Fluttershy had tried to push her away, not wanting to bother Her more than she already was. She cried often without warning, and sometimes she wasn’t able to keep herself quiet. As hard as she tried to keep herself bottled up, she had to let something escape. She felt horrible subjecting Luna to her constant whining, often moving to the opposite corner with a pillow to help muffle the sound.

But Luna had told her ‘no’. Fluttershy needed another pony to be there sitting with her while she cried, if only to make her feel better.

And she had been right.

Fluttershy had always wondered how far the grace of royalty carried a pony. She assumed that behind closed doors, they were far more candid. They put on a display of infinite understanding and kindness for the public, but when it came to their personal lives they had to break that facade; get angry, be upset, be something real.

Or so she thought. Luna was putting her assumption to shame.

Luna was just as regal and graceful in private as she was in public. She never got too close, she never suggested anything but the exact thing that Fluttershy needed, and she always knew what to say—for the most part.

There were a few times where Luna misinterpreted her feelings and said something that came off horribly. Fluttershy usually lashed out at her and wound up apologizing later. She hated herself for being so rude to Luna, mostly because of how warm Luna was being towards her.

Which was far warmer than she expected.

Luna had an intriguing reputation to most. She was shrouded in mystery, and because of this, she was subject to dark speculation. Ponies asked questions, and to those questions were a myriad of possible answers. What does the Princess of the Night do in the darkest hours? What sorts of magics does she possess? Is she still bitter over what happened so long ago?

The general consensus was that she was a distant hermit of cold practicality. She cared little for passion or friendship, only of loyalty. She was alone, and either didn’t mind it, or didn’t care enough to change it.

Yet, in her lap, Fluttershy saw something else entirely, kindness; a forceful will to improve the lives of those around her. She didn’t like to think it surprised her, though. Fluttershy always had her suspicions that Luna was a big softy deep down. And right now, that’s what she needed.

“She said she would...” cried Fluttershy.

Luna paused the humming of her song. She always stopped to show she was listening. It had been almost a week since she sent out her two letters to Applejack. Yesterday, she sent another one, apologizing profusely—Still no response.

“She said ‘a few days’...” repeated Fluttershy. “She said it—She never lies, but she’s not talking to me. She’s never going to talk to me again after what I said.”

“She’s very upset with you,” said Luna quietly. “You said something you shouldn’t have.”

“I know!” she wailed, burying her face deeper into Luna.

Luna remained calm, but elevated her voice just slightly to be heard over her sobs. “That’s a good thing. Do you know why?”

“No. How can that be a good thing?”

Luna took a deep and silent breath. “Because everyone needs to be angry sometimes. Applejack is going through what you’re going through. How would you feel if she told you to come back home because Twilight was never going to wake up, and that you were wasting your time?”

Fluttershy was silent for a moment. She wasn’t thinking, for she already knew her answer. It was actually saying it that was hard.

“I’d be mad,” she muttered. “I’d—I’d probably not want to talk to her.”

“Why?” asked Luna, wiping at Fluttershy’s cheeks.

Fluttershy noticed the same trembling from before in Luna’s gentle hooves as they touched her face. She seemed nervous or afraid, yet nothing about the way she spoke gave that suspicion any sort of merit.

“Because it’s a horrible thing to say... I’m a horrible pony, I know,” she said, defeated.

Luna shook her head. “We’re not talking about what you did, we’re talking about how you’d feel. You think you’re a cruel, heartless pony because of what you said, but we both know that’s a venomous lie. You are quite the opposite, the very embodiment of kindness.”

Fluttershy smiled weakly.

“Yet that’s not the point,” continued Luna. “You’d be furious if somepony told you to give up on Twilight. Even I’d be livid. The reason why you’d go so far as to not talk to a dear friend after such a statement is because they threatened a loved one. They told you that you'd never see them again,” Luna grew distant, her eyes resting on empty space. “Sadly enough, it often takes these sorts of threats to remind us how much we love the ponies we love. And being reminded of the ponies we love is never a bad thing.”

Fluttershy’s sobbing had given over to reflection. Luna certainly had a way of making things thoughtful. She tried to ponder her words as tears still rolled down her cheeks, but such deep thinking after an emotional breakdown had a way of exhausting Fluttershy even further.

“There’s something beautiful about being reminded of how much you love somepony. You know what Applejack’s probably doing right now?” asked Luna.

“What?”

“Searching for Rainbow Dash.”

“It’s after dark though...” said Fluttershy weakly.

Luna smiled. “If I remember her character correctly, she probably hasn’t stopped searching since she read your letter. If there was any rest to be had before, your letter will have played on her stubbornness and have left her in a state of undying devotion. Sometimes devotion is the difference between hearts broken and hearts connected. No matter the outcome, at least she’ll know she loved her friend with all her heart. She's giving it everything she has, and I think that's important to her.”

Fluttershy yawned. She was growing a little tired. Her crying was almost done for the night. Her eyelids were growing heavier, but she still tried to keep talking. It would be rude to fall asleep on a princess. “That does sound like her.”

“Likewise, she still loves you. I think if she heard news that you’d been hurt, she’d probably have a letter to you within the hour, and probably follow it on the next train,” added Luna.

“That sounds like her, too...” she said drowsily. The last of her tears were falling. Exhaustion hit her like a tidal wave, and with it, the blissful haziness that followed. It was her favourite time, the moment just before she fell asleep. For about five minutes each day, she was just tired enough to forget about her friends and how horrible her life was. She was like she was before, carefree and innocent; so tired anything could make her laugh and giggle.

She told herself that she was having a slumber party with her new friend, Luna. Her friend was so soft and gentle...

“Let us pray that someone does not tell you that Twilight will never wake up. I imagine you’d never leave her side either.”

“Nuh-uh!” said Fluttershy with a big smile. She rolled over and made herself comfortable, subconsciously cuddling up a bit closer.

“Ah, I see you’re smiling again. Please don’t stop. It breaks my heart to see anything but a smile on your face,” cooed Luna.

“You’re nice... I hope someone tells me to never leave, because I don’t want to. I like you too much.”

“I—You don’t want to leave?” asked Luna, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Fluttershy shook her head. She figured that Luna must not have known what she meant by that. Or maybe Luna had understood Fluttershy perfectly.

“If this is your hope, I pray that one day all of our hopes come to fruition,” said Luna. Had Fluttershy been more coherent, she might have noticed the sudden change in Luna’s expression. She might have noticed that her princess’ eyes were sparkling with pain. Or maybe not, as Luna was hiding her eyes behind her bangs like a little school filly.

Fluttershy drifted off, muttering something. Luna struggled to make sense of her last ramblings, but to no avail. Those words would be lost to nothingness. In the silence, Luna waited. She held her breath and sat perfectly still, as if the slightest peep would awaken her guest. Should she wake up again, she may need to cry to get back to sleep.

As soon as she was certain that Fluttershy had fallen asleep, Luna began to cry.

Because princesses had rituals and needed sleep too.

“Can I get the mint chocolate chip?” asked Fluttershy.

“Coming right up, miss,” replied the clerk.

Fluttershy took her ice cream and went to sit down at the table with Lance.

It was dawn. Trace amounts of twilight poured through the glass storefront. The sky was sporting purples and oranges, and the air was still frosty and cool. Fluttershy was a little tired from waking up so early, but it had been the only time Lance could take her out.

Unlike before, there was no one else in the shoppe, and Fluttershy found comfort in the privacy. Her crying would go unheard if she had to. She was crying less lately, which she both liked and felt guilty of. She felt like she should be crying more than she did. She still loved her friends more than anything else, but time had worn her out.

“You look beautiful today,” said Lance with a wink.

He had always been a sweetheart to Fluttershy. She knew he was married, so there was obviously no interest, and the age difference was too much for either of them, but still—it never hurt to wake up to kind words and a smiling face, especially since she'd taken the time to do her mane and groom herself rather thoroughly.

“Thanks...” she said replied shyly. “Thanks for getting me out of that castle, too.”

He smiled. “What’d I tell you? It’s a weird place.”

“Yeah, it is.”

They both took a moment to get a spoonful of ice cream. She sighed in comfort at its creamy sweetness, and he silently enjoyed his. She noticed it didn’t taste quite as good this time around. She probably wouldn’t pay as much as she did for it, but the royal purse was meant to be spent. It was more of a treat to just sit down with her friend and talk.

“How long has it been? Three weeks?”

Fluttershy stopped for a moment and thought. “Oh my goodness... It has, hasn’t it?”

He chuckled. “That makes me feel real old. I swear, the older you get, the faster times passes.”

“I—It passed really fast for me too. And I’m still young!” she exclaimed jokingly.

“Yeah, it’s probably because of what you’ve been dealing with. Let me tell you, when my dad passed, that month was a blur. I can’t remember a thing.”

Fluttershy frowned. She had been hoping to not talk about her friends, but everyone seemed so keen on ‘helping’ her get over them. It was tiring, and not helpful for the most part. It wasn’t that she was getting over them, and felt like all these ponies were treading old ground, but that she still wasn’t any closer to getting over them and was starting to wonder if she ever would.

“Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy,” she replied.

He noticed her frowning and quickly changed subjects. “So, you have to tell me. The guys have been telling me you’ve been staying with Princess Luna like—night and day. What’s she like?”

“She’s...” Fluttershy smiled without hesitation at the thought of her new friend. Or maybe not so new, as it had already been three weeks. “...nice...”

“Yeah?” he said, egging on for more details.

“We spend a lot of time talking. Usually about magic, but sometimes about other things. She’s really deep when it comes to certain things.”

“Like what?”

“Just the other day she was telling me her views on life and love—Like what it means to love and live.”

He looked surprised, but not disrespectfully so. Fluttershy imagined that most ponies would think Luna incapable of loving. If Luna’s stories about the truth of her persona were to be believed, Fluttershy counted herself among maybe three or four ponies who actually knew Luna.

“Really? I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t a bit curious,” he said. “I mean, if it’s classified, don’t tell me cause I don’t want to get in trouble, but I’m pretty good at keeping my mouth shut.

She blushed. “I think she might get mad if I started telling everypony about her. She didn’t even tell me for the longest time, and I’m around her so much. She’s a really sensitive pony, and let’s just say I’ve seen her cry before.”

He looked floored. “Luna? Cry? That is something I never thought I’d hear. When she talks to me, I get chills. There’s just this iciness in her eyes.”

Fluttershy furrowed her brow. “You shouldn’t judge a pony by their cover,” she hissed. “Maybe if more ponies actually knew her, she wouldn’t seem so cold.”

“Err—Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t. Sorry.”

“Sorry, I sort of—” began Fluttershy, catching her own harshness a second too late.

“It’s fine.”

They sat in silence, eating their ice cream.

“So, besides getting to know the princess, what else have you been doing?” asked Lance finally.

“That’s it, really.”

It was at that moment that an older stallion walked into the shoppe. He looked like he was in the military, his blazer sharply decorated with an array of medals. He had a short, practical manecut, and was a charcoal grey. The way Lance immediately stood up at attention confirmed Fluttershy’s assumption of his military background.

“General,” he said with a salute.

“At ease, boy,” said the stallion.

Lance relaxed and gestured to an empty seat. Together they sat down at the table. Fluttershy busied herself with her ice cream, knowing very well that she’d have nothing to do with the military exchange that was about to take place.

“I have a letter for a ‘Miss Fluttershy’,” he said, looking directly at her.

She looked like a squeaked at the mention of her name and hid behind her bangs. She might have been talking to Lance openly only seconds ago, but a big, confident stallion she didn’t know could always turn her back into her usual self in a heartbeat.

“F-for me?” she stuttered.

“Indeed,” he said, pulling it out of his jacket and holding it out for her.

Lance laughed. “Since when does the General of the Royal Equestrian Army deliver letters?!”

“Perhaps around the same time a Captain of the Royal Equestrian Army decides to leave his post to get ice cream?” said the general coolly.

The colour from Lance’s face drained. “Right, sorry, sir.” He got up and shoveled as much ice cream into his mouth as he could on the way to the door before he had to inevitably throw his cup away.

“I’ll see you later!” he said to Fluttershy before leaving.

“Bye!” she called out simply. Her words met the slowly closing glass door. She frowned before turning back to the general. He was still holding her letter out for her to take. She took it, looking down as she did. Her little date had been ruined.

“Thank you,” she muttered.

“You are very welcome. Our noble Princess Luna told me that it came from the ‘Apple’ residence, and that you should most likely read it in private.”

Her eyes grew wide and her stomach churned as the piece of paper in her hooves turned from any simple letter, to the letter she had both prayed for and dreaded for the last two weeks. Of course she was happy to finally hear back from Applejack, but she had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t going to contain anything but anger.

She looked up to him, wondering if there was anything else.

“I’ll leave you to it. Good day, milady,” he said. “And good luck.”

He left and Fluttershy was alone. As Fluttershy opened the letter, she wondered if the general’s last words had been coincidental.

As she read the letter, she found out they weren’t. She noticed the letter was covered with dried tear stains.

From: Applebloom

To: Fluttershy

Twenty-five days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

You gotta come back. Me and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo really miss you a bunch, especially because of how crazy everything’s gotten. Applejack’s going crazy. She spends everyday in the forest looking for Rainbow, and doesn’t get she’s not coming back. Whenever I talk to her all she says is how she’s let you down.

She’s been ignoring the farm, and I’ve been having to do all her chores, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo just keep crying about Rarity and Rainbow. And they’re really freaking me out. All they do is cry a bunch and we don’t ever do anything fun anymore. So then I started thinking about if something happened to Applejack, cause she’s out there really late, and if the monsters can get Rainbow, who says they can’t get her too?

I don’t want to lose my sister too. Please come back and make her come back home so I don’t have to do all her chores forever.

Really hoping you’ll come back,

Applebloom

Fluttershy immediately galloped across the street to a convenience store. She bought parchment and a pen and took them back to the ice cream shoppe.

From: Fluttershy

To: Applebloom

Twenty-five days after the death of Rarity

Dear Applebloom,

I can’t leave because Twilight needs me here, but you tell Applejack to write me back. She’s been ignoring me for the last two weeks. I said some things I shouldn’t have to her, but if she’s ignoring you and the farm, then something is wrong. And I won’t let her down. I promise you, you won’t lose your sister.

Hoping for a letter soon,

Fluttershy

From: Spike

To: Princess Luna

Twenty-six days after the death of Rarity

To address the Princess Luna,

My name is Spike, and I was the reagent librarian of the Ponyville library. Due to recent events I had to resign my position. I did this with a heavy heart as I had grown accustomed to my work here, enjoying it as a life passion.

I come to you now humbly with a request that I would not have had the courage to ask, unless I knew my own well being was at stake. I am completely heartbroken. Twilight Sparkle is my best friend and the only family I have. I hope with all my heart that she comes back to us, but I am prepared for life without her. I always knew that our lifespans would eventually clash, but I did not anticipate it happening so soon.

What I ask is to let me come back to Canterlot so I can be with her. I don’t have money, and come to you in desperation, only recently learning Twilight was staying with you. I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll work as hard as I can to earn my keep. This library is full of memories, and I can’t be here anymore.

Sincerely,

Spike

From: Applebloom

To: Fluttershy

Twenty-seven days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

I did what you said. I told her that she needed to write you back. I was as stubborn as I could be. I had the pencil and paper with me, I offered to write it for her, and when she kept saying no, I tried asking questions so I could send something back to you. She got really mad, and pushed me really hard. I cried like a little filly and ran away.

All she said is “I’ll find her.” Over and over again.

Sorry if that’s not enough, but my ribs hurt and it’s getting really hard to buck trees.

Hoping for my sister to come home,

Applebloom

From: Fluttershy

To: Applebloom

Twenty-nine days after the death of Rarity

Dear Applebloom,

She’s taking it too far. If she’s going to pick on little foals, then give this letter to Big Mac to read to Applejack aloud. Let’s see her push him around. Have him read the following.

Applejack, it’s Fluttershy. You know what the worst thing is about losing somepony you love? Not knowing what to do with yourself afterwards. Not knowing if you’re doing, or thinking, the right thing anymore. Ever since I left Ponyville, I’ve cried more than the rest of my entire life put together. Sometimes I cry because I remember them, sometimes I cry because I think about how many mistakes I’ve made, and sometimes it’s because I’m afraid. I’m afraid because I don’t know how I’ll live without them. How can I have happiness if I can’t share it with friends?

Tomorrow it will have been a month. Time is passing so quickly, and yet it feels like neither of us are moving with it. I still remember finding her on her showroom stage every day like I’m there reliving it.

Rainbow Dash isn’t somewhere that can be found, but that’s not a bad thing. No matter what, she’s somewhere very special, hopefully with Rarity. You’re one of the most amazing ponies I know, and if you couldn’t find her, no one could. You’ve done everything you can, and no one can ask anymore of you. Come home, Applejack. Your family needs you.

With hope and love,

Fluttershy

From: The Royal Equestrian Relief Effort

To: Spike

Thirty days after the death of Rarity

Dear Spike,

By the request of Princess Luna

The tragedy in Ponyville has taken a toll on us all. We’ve all lost valued friends, peers, and loved ones, but in our memories they will forever remain. We hope that this small aid will help ease your life while you cope with your loss.

Enclosed in this envelope is a train ticket and an itinerary upon your arrival in Canterlot.

Sincerely,

Fancy Pants

Founder of the Royal Equestrian Relief Effort

From: The Equestrian Department of Labour

To: Trixie Lulamoon

Thirty days after the death of Rarity

Dear Ms. Lulamoon,

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. These are trying times and we know how such delays can affect a pony’s livelihood. We have reviewed your application and are pleased to inform you that we have a position with immediate availability.

Head Librarian of the Ponyville Library

Benefits include: Dental, Medical, Royal Life Coverage, Lodging, and access to premier schooling at a reduced cost.

Starting salary: 30,000 Bits

Respond within the next week if you are interested.

Sincerely,

Elbow Grease

Department of Labour

From: Applebloom

To: Fluttershy

Thirty-three days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

Thank you so much. I’m sorry I’m a bit late replying, but me and Applejack have been doing a ton of fun stuff together. She said sorry like a million times, and we’ve been hanging out ever since. Thank you for giving me my sister back.

Thanks for being my hope,

Applebloom

From: Spike

To: Fluttershy

Thirty-three days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

You’re staying with Luna too? How come nopony tells me these things? I really should have left sooner, sounds like a party. Do you want to get together sometime soon? Staying in that library all by myself has made me a little stir-crazy.

I wanna see Twi too.

And I also need to grovel at Luna’s hooves for everything she’s done for me.

Yours,

Spike

“My, my,” said Luna. “Two letters in one day. You’re getting popular.”

Fluttershy was sitting at one of Luna’s various tables she had recently repurposed to be her writing desk.

“That was really nice of you to bring Spike here. He seems really happy,” replied Fluttershy.

“T’was clever bureaucracy. To draw from the relief fund, one merely needs to prove the death and consequent displacement of two or more ponies from a single event. Whatever happened in Ponyville qualifies as that, if only barely so.”

Fluttershy got up and walked out through the magic walls of Luna’s ‘outdoor’ room to the balcony. She leaned her forehooves on the railing and stared out over the horizon to the setting sun. Luna smiled and followed her out, leaning on the railing beside her.

“I have a new development with Twilight,” said Luna.

“Oh?”

“So, old magic is based on specific emotion, right?”

“Each known spell uses a different emotion or combination of emotions, right?”

“Right," she affirmed. "And then there was whatever trigger she found that put her to sleep,” added Luna.

“Still a theory, but go on,” said Fluttershy with a roll of her eyes.

“A theory?”

“I’m telling you, she’s a really smart pony. I wouldn’t be surprised if she discovered old magic by herself.”

“Possible, and it’s also possible that she found a surviving artifact, but let’s not argue. No matter the case, the emotion that the spell was derived of was not positive. She was sad when it happened.”

“That’s interesting...” she said with a frown.

“All it is, is interesting?” replied Luna, sharing her frown.

“No, it’s good. That’s good progress.” Fluttershy's tone was unconvincing and she knew it. It was flat and unamused.

“What's wrong?" asked Luna.

“Nothing.”

Luna shifted closer to her. “Please, tell me what’s wrong. I want to listen."

“Nothing.”

Luna looked down at her own hooves on the railing. “I’m sorry I can’t make this go faster,” she said, defeated. “It’s just really important to me to tell you everything.”

“Why?” spat Fluttershy.

Luna was taken aback. Her mouth hung open for a half-second and was followed by a flustered look. “Well—I thought you wanted to help.”

“I don’t really help that much.”

“Of course you do.”

“You’re the one finding things out and learning what’s wrong. I’m just the child you get to explain it to. I don’t do anything!” she cried.

She turned her back to the princess and walked back inside the room. She plopped on the bed and sniveled.

“Hey, no. Don’t do that. You’re doing a lot for this. Your support keeps me going,” said Luna compassionately. “And I know Twilight hears you when you sing to her.”

“I don’t want to just sit around and sing anymore! I told my friends that I was going to help Twilight, and so far I've done nothing! I want to go with you!”

“You—you know I can’t do that.”

“Why not? Tell me. Why not?” she repeated tersely.

“Because that world is a dark place. Dreams aren’t meant to be seen by everypony the way I see them. They’ll destroy a pony.”

“Who cares if I get destroyed? If I’m not risking my life for my friend’s life, then what good am I?” said Fluttershy, a little hysterical.

Both of them were growing frustrated and emotional. For the last week, this had been a major point of debate. Fluttershy wanted to do more than sit around and watch Luna do all the work. She missed taking care of things, and when it became apparent that Twilight didn’t need to be fed, or groomed, or cared for at all, Fluttershy began getting a little anxious.

“Do you want the honest truth?!” replied Luna, reflecting Fluttershy’s frustration.

“Yeah, that’d be good!”

“There’s a lot you could do in that world. Having a close friend of Twilight and another set of hooves could rapidly speed things up.”

“So, you’re just being arrogant?”

“No, I’m not. Any arrogance I had died a long time ago. Right now, I’m being selfish. I care about you, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Fluttershy hadn’t actually looked at the princess since going back into the room. Now that she was, she noticed Luna was almost crying. Her eyes were pained and desperate, and her lips were curled into a doubtful grimace.

“Lu-Luna?” stuttered Fluttershy.

“Yes?” she squeaked.

“A-are you okay?”

“I have no idea...” Her voice was a barely audible combination of high pitched squeals and choking breaths.

“You look really upset...”

“D-Do I?”

“You’ve been working really hard today. Do you want to come lay down?” asked Fluttershy, her own heart swelling in her chest.

“Mhmm...”

Luna slowly walked over and crawled onto the bed with Fluttershy. At first she was distant, sitting along the edge with her head hung, but Fluttershy reached out to her. Luna was trembling ever so slightly again.

“Do you feel better?” asked Fluttershy, placing her hoof on Luna’s.

Luna nodded, scooting herself closer.

Throughout the entire duration of her stay, Fluttershy had noticed a level of physical distance that was always maintained between herself and Luna that went without saying. It was odd, as there were times where they were fully embraced and it felt like the barrier hadn’t been crossed. But then there were times where the bubble sat at a few feet and they were teetering on what was or wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like everything Luna did was aware and catered to Fluttershy's level of comfort situationally, sometimes to the point where it almost seemed out of her way.

Yet, the unsaid barrier had been crossed, and only moments after it happened Luna scooted back away. She flashed a glance at Fluttershy and pulled her hooves to cross in front of her.

“Sorry,” said Luna simply, her eyes down in front of her. “Yes, I feel better. Thank you.”

“Luna, something’s bothering you,” said Fluttershy.

She grimaced. “I am very old. Many things bother me.”

Fluttershy reached back out, but Luna stayed rigid.

“I may not be able to do anything about it, but I’ll listen.”

Luna looked to Fluttershy with watery eyes. “There are some things that I must never say, but I’ve reconsidered myself. I’ll let you into my dream world.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Okay,” she said, knowing it was best to not ask what caused her sudden change of heart.

“I once said that we’re in this together, and that’s a promise I intend to keep. First, we’ll need to fall asleep,” she said with determination. Luna levitated a pillow and placed it close to Fluttershy’s head. “Would you like for me to cast a sleep spell on you? We mustn’t waste any time at all.”

From dust to dust, time stands still in eternity. When the dust remembers, the insurmountable is set in motion.

And the dust remembers.

Dear Selena,

Sometimes I think about how close we were and find myself smiling. I think about how you were smiling right at me and then just smile more. A friend once told me that a smile is the most powerful medicine in the world, and I think she was right. I was sick, physically sick with grief after what happened.

I didn’t know what to expect when you first asked me to dream with you, but it was a memory I wouldn’t trade the world for.

That dream made me smile again. It was so euphoric that I think I actually remembered what it was like to truly be worry-free. I don’t remember everything that happened, but I remember a little bit. There was this perfect meadow, and we were lying out on it. We went to this cottage and met another pony I can’t remember the face of. After that, we were on a beach. For some reason you wanted to kiss me, and I let you.

When I woke up, you were still sleeping and I was in your arms, cuddling you. It was weird because we didn’t fall asleep like that. It was sort of embarrassing and totally terrifying. I had to sneak out from under you without waking you up.

When you did wake up, you told me that I was a great help and that we should dream together nightly.

I never asked how I helped, but I think it's because I didn't care. As horrible as that sounds, all I wanted was to be with you.

And now that we're apart, I miss you so much.

Sincerely,

Your love

From: Fluttershy

To: Spike

Thirty-five days after the death of Rarity

Dear Spike,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I’ve had a really, really weird week and I need someone to talk to. Do you think maybe around three this afternoon, we can meet up at Glace Ocean? They sell really good ice cream. We’ll be able to see Twilight later.

Love,

Fluttershy

From: Spike

To: Fluttershy

Thirty-five days after the death of Rarity

Sure.

Spike

“I’ve thought about it, and I think I’m the lucky one,” said Fluttershy. She stirred her mint chocolate-chip ice cream around in her small cup.

Spike was busy shoveling a spoonful from his extra-large strawberry tub. “I’ll say. I wish I got to leave when you did. I mean, I think I was weird because it didn’t really hit me until about two weeks in. And then I couldn't be in that library anymore...”

“What do you mean?”

“To tell you the truth, I wasn’t really all that sad when Rarity died or Twilight left. Rarity hit me a few days later when I realized I wouldn’t be going over to hang out, and that was bad, but Twilight took some time, and that made it worse.”

"I wonder why that is...”

“It’s because I kept telling myself that she’d be back in a few days. I mean, the princesses were gonna take care of her themselves. I was thinking, ‘how could she not get better,’ you know?”

“Sometimes even the princesses can’t fix everything...” said Fluttershy.

“Yeah, when I read that comas can last years, even decades, that’s when it hit me... It may be awhile before I could talk to my sister again. That... that was rough. I saw her everywhere in that library. She was sitting at the desk writing, sometimes I thought she'd be right around a corner; and then I started hearing her and I knew I had to move out..."

There was silence as they ate their ice cream.

“This is really good...” he said.

Fluttershy could tell he was on the verge of tears. Obviously he was trying his very best to hide it, trying to be tough and all. There were no outward signs that he was falling apart internally, but her intuition told her that seeing Twilight later would be an emotional experience for the baby dragon.

“So, what’s new with you? I heard you were staying with Luna,” he said with a renewing sigh.

She blushed and figured a change of subject was probably for the best. “Yeah... It’s been... nice.”

“Yeah? What’s she like?”

Fluttershy rocked back and forth in her seat, chewing her lips and zoning out.

“You okay?” he asked.

“You know how I said I needed someone to talk to?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s about Luna... and I don’t know how to say it.”

There was immediate worry on his face. “Is everything going okay with her?” he asked in a protective tone.

“Yeah, it’s fine, wonderful actually...”

“Then what is it? What’s going on?”

Fluttershy gulped hard and began to tremble. She knew she wasn’t entirely okay with what she was about to say. Even now it seemed a little silly to her, but she had already gone so far to make a deal of it, that she might as well say it.

“I think I’m in love with Luna...” She squealed after the cathartic words rolled off her tongue. They felt completely unreal. She’d never confessed her love for another before. She hadn't even romantically loved anyone until Luna. It was a big step for her, and she didn’t even know it.

Spike was speechless and a little flabbergasted.

“You—you love Luna? Like, love-love Luna?” he finally said.

Fluttershy was blushing so badly, words escaped her. She could only nod her head.

Spike looked like he’d just been asked his opinion on particle physics. Fluttershy could see the gears turning in his head, and every second longer he waited, the more embarrassed and bashful she became.

“Really?” he said stupidly.

She nodded her head faster. The gears continued to turn as he struggled to formulate something of substance to say. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was about to explode into a complete mess. She’d never told anyone about feelings for another before, and her shyness was starting to take back over. She was starting to regret putting her heart out there, because Spike didn’t seem to be handling it well.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit—soon?” he said.

“Wh-what?” she squeaked.

“I mean, given everything that’s happened... don’t you think that maybe you should—I don’t know—give yourself a chance to recover? Relationships are big things...” Spike seemed to become less confident in what he said as he went on. It was probably really hard to talk to a girl who was cusping on tears.

“I-I don’t know...” she whimpered. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore... She just makes me really happy...”

“Hey, hey, easy now. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but just be careful is all I’m saying. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“She’d never hurt me...”

He sighed. “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that it’s just been really rough on all of us, and how do you know this isn’t just you turning to romance because of the pain? What if you find out it’s not real, and then you’re left with a broken heart?”

Apparently subtlety was not Spike’s goal.

“I don’t know,” she said sharply, lowering her head and growing rigid. “All I wanted was to come talk to my friend about it... But I didn’t get to.”

Spike put one hand to his forehead and waved his other at her. “No, no, no, I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to judge. I’m just really messed up, and worried, and I want to see Twilight—” His mouth hung open as he took a deep breath. “And it’ll just be so much better after I see Twilight.”

He seemed sincere. Fluttershy understood his concern, as she pondered the same earlier. It had been too fast, it did seem too early, and Luna didn’t even know yet. All logic told her to wait. Yet her heart didn’t want to wait. And she’d only listened to her heart since the entire ordeal had started, so why stop now?

“Let’s go see her then,” said Fluttershy.

“Okay, but on the way, you gotta tell me about Luna. If she’s gonna date you, then I gotta make sure she’s good enough. Can’t just let any chump date my Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy smiled.

The following walk to the castle was the first time in a long time that she was able to forget, and be happy that she was alive. Spike came to accept her and Luna and they swapped story after story.

From: Applejack

To: Fluttershy

Forty-two days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

I’m sorry. I’m sorry it’s taken so long to write back. I’m sorry for everything that’s happened. I’m sorry about Applebloom and the farm, and I’m sorry I lied to you. Judging by how you’re able to keep your head straight and I’m a darned trainwreck all the time, it goes to show that physical strength don’t mean nothing. You’re a heck of a pony, and I’m privileged to call you a friend.

You made me realize what matters to me, and even though it never really gets better, I’ve been spending a lot of time with the ponies around me. Mainly my sister and her friends. They cry a lot, but being kids, I guess that’s what happens. Sweetie is still convinced Rarity’s alive, and it’s been pretty hard to tell her otherwise. It’s even harder to tell Sweetie that Rarity killed herself because she thought she let her down. I can’t tell when she'll put two and two together, but when she does, that’s gonna be a bad day.

Scootaloo’s gotten it at least. She knows Dash ain’t coming back and is a hot mess most of the time. I’ve sort of adopted them both until further notice. They stay on the farm and earn their keep, and it’s been getting better. I think the work is good for them.

You’re probably still mad, and I get that. I just wanted to let you know that you’ve taught me a lot and that those lessons are helping other ponies. Whenever the kids get all mopey, I tell them to think of how strong and thoughtful Fluttershy is; how even though she still hurts, she always considers the ponies around her first. I know I ain’t lying about that.

Anyway, we’re having a get together for Dash. It’s not a funeral, but just something for closure's sake, you know? We’d love to see you again. Bring Spike too.

Love,

Applejack

From: Spike

To: Fluttershy

Forty-seven days after the death of Rarity

Fluttershy,

I’m starting to think I need to start dating a princess. Whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it right. You just seem so put together, so well-adjusted, it’s mindblowing. I mean we all cried, but the things you say and the way you say them are something else.

Maybe the others didn’t notice, but I noticed that you just said the perfect things at the perfect times. I can’t really explain it, but when Sweetie Belle asked you if Rarity was still alive, and you told her ‘yes’, and put your hoof on her heart, I think we all felt it. It wasn’t the sort of ‘yes’ like she’s off in another city, but that she’s living inside all of us, beside us. I don’t think I’ve cried that hard, ever.

You gotta warn a brother before you say things like that! Can’t look like a baby in front of the ladies.

I got time off from the royal library tomorrow and Sunday. I was thinking we could hang out and maybe spend some time with the Sparkles. Me and Shining still have to settle our game of Dragons and Rebellions.

Also, we have to talk about what we’re going to do with Pinkie. Her family isn’t rich and the hospital is getting too expensive. There’s talk of selling the farm. It’s no secret how close you are with Luna and I think everypony’s looking to you to make miracles.

Love,

Spike

From: Fluttershy

To: Spike

Forty-nine days after the death of Rarity

Dear Spike,

We’re not dating! I just have a dumb little crush on her. Maybe. I don’t know, it’s been weird. Because sometimes she seems really close and warm, and sometimes I might be getting really sad because of Rarity or something, and she doesn’t even come over and talk to me about it. It’s like one second I feel like I could just say how I feel and she’d sweep me off my hooves, and other times I feel like she’d kick me out. I’ve never been more confused in all my life.

I know I should tell her soon. It’s just hard.

I know what you’re talking about with Sweetie Belle. It was such a sweet moment that I’m getting a little teary just thinking about it. I know Rarity, Rainbow, and Twilight were with us that night. Sometimes all you think about is how much you miss them, and you forget the amazing pony they were and how the things they did are still influencing you today. Rarity taught me to be assertive, and I know she’s with me every time I stand up for myself.

I’ll try to remember to tell you to plug your ears the next time I say anything.

I’m not sure if I’m up for some quality time with the Sparkles. Every time I go there, I feel like I can’t tell them what they want to hear. I’m trying my best with Twilight, but I can only do so much. I’ll go, though. We do need to talk about Pinkie. I’d like to see if maybe there are other options before I need to ask Luna. I know she’ll make it happen, but you know how much I hate asking her for things...

Love,

Fluttershy

From: The Royal Equestrian Relief Effort

To: The Pie Rock Farm

Sixty-six days after the death of Rarity

Dear Igneous Rock,

By the request of Princess Luna.

The tragedy in Ponyville has taken a toll on us all. We’ve all lost valued friends, peers, and loved ones, but in our memories they will forever remain. We hope that this small aid will help ease your life while you cope with your loss.

We understand that the mental and physical well-being of your daughter, Pinkamena Diane Pie, has been in jeopardy since the tragedy. By virtue of her character, it is understandable that she would react so acutely after such an incident. We also understand that she is in hospice at Ponyville General and requires persistent, expensive treatment.

Unfortunately, time takes longer to heal some wounds than others. It is my humblest offering to allow you to take as much time as you need.

There are some things that should not be left to bits.

Enclosed in the envelope is a pre-approved application for Class C Royal Healthcare.

Sincerely,

Fancy Pants

Founder of the Royal Equestrian Relief Effort

From: Fluttershy

To: Spike

Eighty-two days after the death of Rarity

Spike,

I’m shaking so bad just thinking about it. I’ve rehearsed exactly what I’ve wanted to say for the last two hours, and I can’t remember a thing. I try to think, and draw blanks. But really, how does somepony tell a princess that they love them?

She’s just so wonderful and perfect, and I’m so completely useless: she’s pretty, she’s smart, she’s got the weirdest sense of humor that just clicks with me. It’s so weird too because I live with her. Please don’t think I’m a freak, but just the other night, I seriously had to restrain myself from wanting to sit by her bed and stroke her mane while she slept.

That felt really weird to write.

I asked her if she’d take me to the gardens tonight, and she agreed. We got Lance to watch Twilight, but oh stars...

I’m so nervous I just want to throw up, and then I think about actually throwing up and I get extra woozy and lightheaded. I’m a disaster waiting to happen! I don’t know if I can do it anymore! And now she just walked in. She’s looking at me... and smiling.

I am going to die.

Fluttershy

From: Princess Luna

To: Spike

Eighty-one days after the death of Rarity

Dear My Most Humble Animal Caretaker,

Yes, I do acknowledge the difficulty of making the bunny, Angel, sit still for any amount of time, let alone in a tuxedo. You will have the most reasonable compensation of knowing that Fluttershy looked very, very happy when she saw her small friend again.

She may have fainted twice in our excursion, but know that it was not of malicious intent. She is... understandably overwhelmed by sudden romantic gestures. However, if it is her desire to continue our mutual romantic venture, then she will need to grow accustomed to them.

Also, enclosed is the voucher for a year’s worth of strawberry ice cream you requested. Once again, thank you for bringing this to my attention and for assisting in making two ponies’ dreams come true.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

From: Fluttershy

To: Fluttershy

Eighty-eight days since the death of Rarity

Dear Diary,

It’s been so crazy. Ever since that night, my head has been spinning. Every moment is new and exciting. Whenever I think I finally have a moment to sit down and catch my breath, she stands me back up and takes it away again. I’m in love and it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world.

I can't even begin to imagine how lucky I am. Me and a princess. The most beautiful, strong, confident princess in the whole world.

Rarity would be so jealous...

There’s something that’s odd about all this. I don’t cry about Rarity anymore, or Rainbow, or Twilight. And whenever I’m happy, I feel guilty. I’m living a dream without them, my best friends. I miss them, but not enough to cry about it. I remember when I used to cry whenever I wanted to, but now I struggle. I feel broken about not being broken, like I should be sadder than I am, if that makes any sense. Luna tells me that soon I’ll learn how to live without them, but I don’t know. I feel like I’m already living without them, and in my heart I know it’s too soon. There must be something wrong with me. Or maybe I’m stronger than I thought I was.

She tells me I’m perfect, and I know I’m not, but sometimes... just sometimes she says it and I believe her.

Love,

Fluttershy

From: The Office of the Procurement of Magical Entities

To: Princess Luna

One hundred and twenty-two days since the death of Rarity

To address the Princess of the Night, Luna

Subject eighteen, Twilight Sparkle, is to be reevaluated for assignment to the direct stewardship of the Princess of the Day, Celestia.

Notes: It has been four months, dear sister. It is clear to me that you are incapable of awakening my student. She will be collected within the week.

Princess Celestia,

Chair of the Procurement of Magical Entities.

From: Princess Celestia

To: Fluttershy

One hundred and twenty-five days since the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

I am pleased to inform you that your services as Twilight’s guardian are no longer needed. You will be escorted from the castle to the train station tomorrow evening. You can finally go home and see your mom and dad.

Just like you wanted.

Love,

Celestia

From: Princess Luna

To: Princess Celestia

One hundred and twenty-six days since the death of Rarity

Dearest Sister,

Thou hast boldness without contest if thou thinkest thou canst order our custodies like pawns. Subject Eighteen stayeth in my care, and if thou wantest her so, come and claim her. Fluttershy stayeth with me, and if thou wantest her to leave, come and make her.

Luna

Princess of the Night

Her Letters

        Fluttershy was crying.

“It’s okay, we’ll still see each other all the time. Every night,” said Luna, kissing her cheek.

“I-it’s not the same. H-how can she do this to us...? Why is she doing this?” she whined.

The train was approaching quickly.

“Do not think for a moment that I won’t spend every waking hour fighting her on this. That monster will not go unchallenged. You’ll be back before you know it.”

She couldn’t help but remember hearing a pony she loved saying those exact words so long ago. As the train came to a stop and she stepped onto it, final goodbyes were exchanged.

Her Letters

From: Fluttershy

To: Princess Luna

One Hundred and Thirty-One days after the death of Rarity

Luney,

It’s impossible to fall asleep without you. I just get so anxious, and then I start thinking, and you’re not there to talk me out of it. So then I start thinking about my friends and I start crying, and then I think about you and I start crying harder. I thought that I was getting better, too. I thought that I was moving on, that I was learning to live without them, but now I feel worse than when it all began. It was always you who made me strong.

What’s worse is that I’m starting to remember more. I think since I was in Canterlot, I didn’t have as many things to remind me of them, but now everything does. I haven’t left my house in two days because I can’t make it a half a block without making an idiot of myself. I tried going to Sugarcube Corner, and the Cakes ended up having to walk me back home. I tried to go to Sweet Apple Acres and did almost the exact same thing. Ponies look at me like I’m broken or crazy, and I’m really starting to think they’re right. I had plans to see Rarity sometime soon, but I don’t think that’ll be a good idea.

Please let me come back home. This place is just awful. My friends are both here and not here, and that’s what’s killing me. I miss your voice, the things you say, the way you make me feel safe, and everything else about my perfect Luney.

I love you.

Love,

Flutters

From: Princess Luna

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Thirty-Three days after the death of Rarity

Dear Flutters,

My love, Celestia conspires against us. I do not know why, but she attempted to intercept your letter. Lance has informed me of a secret order to detain you if you try and enter the city. I do not know why this is, but I will find out.

I have a theory though, but it requires that I tell you an old secret. This is the great secret of Canterlot, and I only wish I had the courage to share it with you while you were here. Now, I do it out of fear, instead of trust as it should have been.

Celestia is not herself. She does seem odd at times, but this goes beyond personal quirk. Her strange simplicity and fixations are not her. Celestia, the all-powerful ruler of Equestria, is not afraid of the dark. She isn’t supposed to act like the only things she knows about ponies is what one reads in a book. Something happened to her a long time ago that changed who she was. Unfortunately, it happened while I was banished, so that detail eludes me, but she is not the same pony I knew.

She is dead inside, and not an ounce of inspiration is left within her.

My suspicion is that she knows of Twilight’s enchantment by old magic and is developing a dispel. However, since she cannot create as an artist does, old magic is impossible for her. She knows this, and my guess is that she has become fixated on our love as the most plentiful source of raw feeling in the world. And judging by the way I felt after reading your last letter, I know she’s right.

I love you, so very much. And that is why this next request will make me weep for days.

We cannot send each other letters until further notice. If she were to intercept one, I don’t know what sorts of magic it would be subjected to as she tries to extract the magic from it. You know I would not ever ask this unless I knew it was absolutely paramount to our safety and Twilight’s. You know how much old magic runs through all of us. You know why they forgot it.

You know what happens when one tampers with it. She will pervert it, and while it may not seem so, our separation is a blessing in disguise. The last thing we want is to be together with Celestia dabbling in old magic. Why she separated us, I don’t know.

That said, we will still have every night to spend together. Your dreams will be our home and our future until we can have one for real. Please, keep your faith. I know how scared you are of it being just a dream, but I promise, I will be there every single night. The first night I’m not, I’ll be there next to you when you wake up.

I promise.

Love,

Your Luney

Fluttershy read and reread the letter. It took five times for her to understand what it meant. She’d been waiting for so long for her reply that just the trace scent of the royal ink sent her head spinning. The ink itself was made out of the extract of a very specific flower that gave the ink a navy blue sheen. It was intoxicating. It smelled of a combination of fresh water and mint, just like her princess.

So many long nights were spent writing letters to friends in Luna’s embrace. She missed those nights, and missed the nights where the letters went unfinished even more.

Fluttershy was sitting at her desk and reflexively reached for a piece of parchment and pen and began writing. Halfway through her letter, she stopped and let the pen fall to the table. She stared at it for a long while, then crumbled up the paper, ran outside, and stomped it to dust.

The entire world was tearing them apart piece by piece. She had just found someone to tell how she felt, and not even three months later she was alone again.

Their dreams would be all they had left. In the morning she'd have a sweet memory and a smile on her face. The memory would be hazy and the smile would be short-lived, but it was technically better than nothing—as long as the Luna she dreamt of was real.

Fluttershy went back into her house and didn’t leave for the rest of the day.

From: Fluttershy

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Thirty-Five days after the death of Rarity

Dear My Lonely Moon,

She was there last night, like she promised.

We were in this beautiful meadow. There were wildflowers, rolling hills, and big, lazy clouds. We were laying at the bottom of this valley, just laughing and talking. She wore this dark blue cloak that I was sort of laying on, too. I don’t remember everything we talked about, but I remember it was something about baking.

Then she said, “We’ve waited long enough. Soon it’ll be real. Soon it’ll be our time.”

The sun fell from the sky and the flowers lit up like tiny rainbow fires across the field. She threw off her cloak and then she kissed me.

I’ve never been so sad to wake up. It was so perfect. Too perfect.

I’m going to see Applejack today and help her with some chores. I told her that I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to help, but she insisted and said, “Work is good for you.” I know she’s right, but I don’t want to get in the way.

The kids really want to see me. I don’t know why they like me all of a sudden, but they do. They’ve even started calling me Auntie Fluttershy, and whenever one of them breaks down or throws a fit, everypony kind of expects me to take care of it. Oddly enough, Applejack told me Scootaloo is the most excited to see me when I come over.

Spike once told me that I was a well put together pony, so much that everypony sort of looks up to me. For a while I believed him, but now that I see what I truly am, I’m scared. I’m probably the worst excuse of a pony in all of Equestria. I'm no example for anypony.

I’m dead when I’m awake, and alive when I’m not. I went to bed two hours early last night just to spend a little more time with her. Nothing matters here. All I want is what lies in that perfect meadow.

Love,

Flutters

From: Trixie Lulamoon

To: Spike

One Hundred and Forty days after the death of Rarity

To address Spike, the Assistant Librarian of the Canterlot Royal Library,

I am making a special request on behalf of a patron who wishes to remain anonymous. I, Trixie Lulamoon, Head Librarian, hereby request that a volume known as Stella’s Diary be transferred as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Trixie Lulamoon

Head Librarian

Notes: The volume's existence is theoretical at best. In my research, I’ve deduced that it’s a unique text, never printed en masse. The patron describes it as a small blue notebook with gilded gold trim along its corners. The first entry should date back to at least seven-hundred years ago and mentions a “Rosetta” in it. From the way it’s described it is very much a diary of a pony and is probably considered a historical account. I understand that the implied rarity of this text denotes a level of clearance beyond either of our positions, but this patron is completely convinced of its existence and of their dire need of it.

The patron has also been here every single day searching for this text since I was assigned this position, and Trixie would like some peace and quiet

From: Lily

To: A concerned mother

One Hundred and Forty-Two days after the death of Rarity

Lala,

I can’t find her medical records or anything on file for her citizenship. I exhausted every resource I have access to. This search is getting desperate, and I’m coming to the end of my enthusiasm.

We were lost for so long. I didn’t remember who I even was, and you didn’t remember what you looked like. We know what loneliness does to a pony, and it’s done worse things than put false memories in our heads. Coming back and knowing at least you were real was the best I could hope for. Yet it still hurts knowing he was a figment of my fantasy. While I still cry every so often, I’m getting used to the idea that Dauntless was never real.

You’re so willing to give everything you have to find her, but when is enough, enough? Maybe I shouldn’t be so ready to give up, but please, there’s so much I want to do, and we only have so much time.

Love,

Lily

From: Spike

To: Trixie Lulamoon

One Hundred and Forty-Seven days after the death of Rarity

Dear Ms. Lulamoon,

I am saddened to inform you that the requested text, Stella’s Diary, was not found in the history section, nor any other section of the library, by its alleged name or given description.

Sincerely,

Spike

Notes: I know the pony you’re talking about. She is the alicorn with her horn cut off just above the base. She was there the third day after everything happened, and then spent six out of seven days a week reading every book in the library start to finish alphabetically.

Since I was assigned to my position, I have personally been looking for Stella’s Diary for some time now. It’s too coincidental that an alicorn who only calls herself “the concerned mother” shows up out of the blue, just after Twilight Sparkle goes into a coma, and reads all her books. “Con Mom”, as I like to call her, knows more than she’s letting on.

I’ve forwarded the description of Stella’s Diary to various libraries throughout Equestria, and have two potential matches. One is in the Crystal Empire, and the other is in Manehattan. Unfortunately, leave for me is a rare thing, but if you can go there and talk on my behalf, we might be able to recover the diary.

To: Fluttershy

From: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Sixty-Four days after the death of Rarity

Dear My Lonely Moon,

She was there tonight, like she promised.

It’s strange, some ponies think of light and dark as opposing forces. I don’t see it anymore, the darkness that is. To me, it’s all the same, night and day. I go from one day to another and back again. I’m always in sunlight. I sleep before sunfall and awake after sunrise. I find it somewhat ironic that I haven’t seen the moon in a month, yet I spend every night in her embrace.

The meadow never changes. It’s eternal and perfect, and I’m happy there. We always talk about different things, so I know it’s real, that she’s real. She told me that we’re going to go to the cottage tonight and see Lala. I’m so excited to finally meet her. To think, the mother of a princess. I don’t think I’ll ever have a greater honour. Luney says that Lala needed some time to cook up a wonderful meal for us when we came over. It’s so nice of her to be such a gracious host. I hope she likes me.

Hopefully yours,

Flutters

From: Applejack

To: Spike

One Hundred and Seventy days after the death of Rarity

Dear Spike,

Fluttershy’s getting worse. She has not left her house in five days now. Whatever she’s doing with Luna, it’s getting unhealthy. I sent Scoots in to check on her, and Angel kicked her out. She’s probably sleeping most of the time, but Scoots tells me she hears crying too. I’ve tried sending letters to Luna, but I think they’re getting lost in all the mail, or she might not be reading them.

I’m not going to jump to any conclusions, but I know they’re hiding something.

That all said, I’m getting pretty worried and I want you to talk to Luna. Fluttershy is our friend, and if Luna cares about her half as much as she says, then she’ll have to see what this is doing to her. I’m sure she’ll understand.

Love,

Applejack

From: A concerned mother

To: Lily

One hundred and Seventy-Three days after the death of Rarity

Dear Lily,

I know she’s real. And don’t you give up either. I’ve no clearer a memory than when you first introduced me to Dauntless. He was an absolute gentlecolt. After we find Rosy, we’ll find him.

I know where the diary is. Trixie took me to the Crystal Empire and we found the trail. It was bought by a stallion from Canterlot about four hundred years ago for an undisclosed sum. His current heir is named Fancypants. He should have it or know where to find it.

Love,

Mom

From: Spike

To: Applejack

One Hundred and Seventy-Four days after the death of Rarity

Dear Applejack,

Princess Luna isn’t in the castle anymore. I went to knock on her door, but she wasn’t there. I asked all her guards and they said she left on an emergency. When I asked Celestia, she told me Luna was sick and that she was heating up some warm soup for her, and sort of smiled at me.

I kid you not, that is what she told me. Sometimes Celestia creeps me out, but lately I’m starting to distrust her more and more. Things are getting weird here. Something big is happening, and I think Twilight, Fluttershy, and Luna are all at the center of it, with Celestia pulling the strings. Bear with me, there’s a lot to say.

There was a royal decree yesterday that the movement of all books to and from the Canterlot Royal Archives must receive Celestia’s personal stamp of approval, and that the release of this information could be considered criminal. Makes my job so much more fun having to wait on the princess to move anything around.

Lance also told me that there have been two more royal decrees by Celestia since around the time you sent me your letter. One is a control and check on all incoming mail into the city, and the other is an increase in security for all of those entering the city.

The first one checks every incoming and outgoing letter for the terms “Luna”, “Fluttershy”, and “Stella”, and checks for content that not even Lance knew the nature of. The second is routine searches of anyone entering and exiting.

I’m trying to get to the bottom of this, and I think I know what’s going on. There was this mare named Con Mom, maybe you knew her, who spent every day at the library trying to find a text called Stella’s Diary, a book about a pony named “Stella". I think you can put two and two together.

Celestia wants this diary. I don’t know why, but she’s doing everything in her power to make sure she gets it. She wants to know if the book is moving or if someone is talking about it.

I also think this diary is the key to waking Twilight up. Con Mom showed up looking for a book the day after Twilight, a book nerd, left. She's certain it's there. And she's an alicorn. Alicorns don't just do weird things like that without it being really important.

And then you think about what she has against Luna and Fluttershy. They had custody of Twilight before Celestia did, so maybe they figured out this diary was the key. Maybe Celestia also caught wind of this, but has different motives. Why else would Celestia separate them so harshly and then ponynap her own sister? Luna isn't "sick". Celestia must have done something to her. I don’t know, I’m just pulling at loose threads, but the more I pull, the more sense it seems to make.

Anyway, I’ve been looking for the diary myself, and sent Trixie and Con Mom to investigate some libraries in other cities. They should be getting back pretty soon.

If they do have it, tell them to keep it away from Canterlot and to not write using any of the sensitive terms. I’m going to do as much digging as I can to find out what Celestia wants this book for. If it is what we need to wake Twilight up, I want to make sure we have it, and not Celestia.

I don’t trust her, and I’ve never been more prepared to put everything on the line. Tonight, I’m going to see if I can find Luna and Twilight.

Sincerely,

Spike

P.S. I won’t be able to communicate with you for a while, but I’ll make sure you know the big things when I find them out.

Fluttershy was sitting alone in her room when her little bunny, Angel, came in with a small, brown package tied up with strings. She had been crying and writing an entry in her diary, but turned around and smiled weakly. Her eyes grew wide as she saw a thin envelope beneath the tie.

Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest when she smelled the ink. She ripped open the letter like a savage animal.

Ten days ago, she dreamt without Luna. It had been a dream like any other dream, except lonelier and maybe closer to a nightmare. She searched the world they built together, and Luna simply hadn't been there. When she woke up, she was already crying, and then she remembered Luna's promise.

When she had realized she was just as alone in real life as she was in her dreams, she did all she could think of.

Sleep.

There was nothing for her anywhere, until now, until this letter.

From: The Angel

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Eighty days after the death of Rarity

To reconnect the hearts of friends...

Inside the box are the thoughts of your friends

Place a pinch of sand in the envelope to return your own.

Be careful. This is your only chance. Do not let them slip away.

The Angel

Fluttershy was heartbroken. She read the short message three times over and smelled it twice. It was indeed the royal ink of Canterlot.

The night was cold, and instead of embracing the moon, she watched it from her bedroom window. It was beautiful. It reflected every tear she shed, each one becoming a sparkling drop on her windowsill. Luna had abandoned her, and because Luna was all Fluttershy thought about anyway, that abandonment could have been weeks ago and she wouldn’t have known it. Dreams were fickle things, and she'd been stupid to trust them.

All her thoughts had been of Luna since then, trying to explain—to understand—why Luna broke her promise. A thousand reasons streamed through her head since that fateful night. Was it something she said? How many times did Luna advise her to do something, and she didn’t listen?

She relived memory after memory, trying to pinpoint where she went wrong, yet nothing stood out. Luna had been so perfect to her, and for a while, Fluttershy actually felt like she was being perfect back. At least that’s what Luna told her, and she wouldn’t lie. So how could someone so wonderful cause her so much pain? Fluttershy knew she wasn’t perfect, and that anyone would be foolish to love her. She knew it wasn't Luna's fault, but that didn’t explain why she sometimes wished terrible things on her.

Luna had still hurt her, and she still cried every night. She couldn’t have brought all this heartache on herself, could she?

She approached the package with mixed bitterness and hope. Maybe it was a ploy by Luna. She resented herself for thinking such a terrible thing of her princess. If anything, it would be some sort of amazing gift or explanation.

As Fluttershy opened it, she wondered if she’d be stupid to forgive Luna for breaking her heart.

She unraveled the package slowly and thoughtfully, unlike the letter before. She made something of a ceremony of ensuring that not a single edge of the wrapping paper ripped.

Before her was a small wooden box with a brass latch in the front. It had four stumpy little legs to stand on, and simple decorative etchings just beneath the lid. Fluttershy opened it. Inside was a jar of pearly, white sand, about the size of an apple, and a single letter with a thick coat of dust over it. It looked like it had been sitting there for decades.

Fluttershy opened the letter with care.

From: Rarity

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Eighty days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

I have long pondered how this letter is to be received, considering the circumstances. I need you to believe what will be said here is true, that I am real and not dead (so to speak), as nothing is of greater importance than what I’m about to tell you. A thousand drafts later, I realized there is only one way of ensuring this.

A very classic case of exercising knowledge that only you and I know.

Do you remember that rather lovely discussion about you and Spike we shared? It was a trip to the fabric store turned five-hour conversation about life, and I remember you telling me something I’d never really considered before about you and the dragon. If I recall correctly, when we all joined forces as friends that first day Twilight arrived in Ponyville, you came with us bravely into that dark forest. It was as odd as it was refreshing; lovely Fluttershy enjoying a very daunting, social outing. ’Twas out of character. Nothing’s to say that you shouldn’t have been as shy and anti-social that morning as you had been the day before. And every morning before that. Honestly, we all wondered what had happened to bring you out of your shell.

Not that I’m complaining, mind you! Your friendship is one I wouldn’t trade for all the gems in Equestria. It was just unusual is all.

When I asked you about it, during that fateful fabric-store-shopping-trip, you told me what had happened, but only under the concession that I never speak of it to anyone, which is a promise I proudly uphold to this day. It wasn’t Twilight, it wasn’t the Elements of Harmony, and it certainly wasn’t the other four of us that opened you up. It was Spike. Something about him drew you in like a foal to freshly baked cookies, and in him you found the courage to open up. You sat there and talked with him for hours about anything and everything, never having maintained a conversation for more than thirty minutes prior. Spike, and Spike alone, is the reason why we are friends.

Hopefully I have proven my identity, as the things I’m about to disclose are almost as unbelievable as the nature of this letter.

Some time ago, I was most likely pronounced dead by my own hoof. If I remember correctly, it was a few jabs to the stomach with a length of sharp glass. Utterly ghastly, and I do apologize for reminding you, but understand that there is far more to this story than that.

Something very magical happened, and I don’t think I am entirely dead, but simply not in Equestria. I am somewhere very unusual right now, a beach for lack of better description. I have been working very hard to find my way home, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that this may never happen. The thought of never seeing you or the others again is one of the saddest I can muster, but an opportunity has arisen, and I implore to consider it with all your heart.

Twilight is working on a solution, but she is somewhere very far from me. We have been... in touch... but not quite often enough. She talks of a place where we can all be together again, forever, without the fear of time pulling us apart. She says that Pinkie is already there with her, and that all we need to do is gather everyone so we can go there together; you, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and I. It may mean leaving Equestria forever, but I’m not the pony to ask about that. I'm hardly a philosopher of sorts. All I know is that I’ve been lonely and want so badly to be with my friends.

Maybe being alone on this beach for so long has skewed my view of life, but nothing sounds better than an eternity with my friends.

She asked me to prepare a few things on my end, and I have done so. Please, talk to Twilight and tell her that I’ve done my part and am waiting to move forward with our plan. I know this must all sound unreal and, frankly, terrifying, but if you can contact Twilight, ask her and she’ll be able to tell you everything you need to know.

I’m sorry if this is sudden and surreal and the pure essence of “unusual”, but there was no other way than to drop everything on you at once. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to write you next.

Of course, I’m not telling you to take this offer up, but simply asking you to consider it. There’s so much to consider, but know this. You will be safe and with friends. Take some time to think, but don’t take an eternity. The window of opportunity is closing slowly, but ever so forcefully.

With much love,

Rarity

“What is this...?” whispered Fluttershy to herself. She went back to read the first letter, then turned to her bunny. “Angel, did you do this?”

Angel shook his head.

“Where did you get this?”

He somehow managed to pantomime something to the effect of I found it on the doormat. She narrowed her eyes at him but saw no dishonesty. Angel had never lied to her before, and she was sure he wouldn’t lie about something like this.

She read Rarity’s letter again. It made less sense the second time through. Her eyes glazed over, and she merely saw words without knowing what they meant. Several minutes later, she hadn’t moved an inch, unable to grasp the literature before her. Only after she saw the letter through tears did she come to understand what it meant.

- Inside the box are the thoughts of your friends

Was it really something written by Rarity? It looked exactly like her hoofwriting. Logic told her that it must have been something Rarity wrote before she passed away, but romance kept a powerful idea alive. Fluttershy’s dead friend had just written her a letter. Rarity was somewhere out there, reaching out.

“This—this is real...?” she stuttered to herself.

- Place a pinch of sand in the envelope to return your own

Her own thoughts; a letter.

There must have been a thousand ways to interpret the arrival of this package. Most would have investigated where it came from, going to the post office and beyond. Another greater minority of ponies would have assumed it a ploy, or at least reacted with a healthy dose of skepticism. Some would have grown disillusioned by it and taken it as the oddest of occurrences, yet never think again of it. Stranger things had been ignored and forgotten.

Yet, Fluttershy couldn't make those choices. She’d spent the last ten days crying over a mare who’d failed to appear in one of her dreams. It hadn't helped that she had been sleeping fourteen hours a day for two consecutive months. Her mind was a mess, her body was begging her to stop, and now she had all the time in the world to think herself into a corner. She didn’t remember what normal was.

So she began to write, and when she was done, she popped the jar open. Inside it was a silky smooth, white sand. It felt like beach sand, ultra-fine from an eternity of rolling across the tides.

She took a pinch of it and sealed it into the envelope with a lick of her tongue. She didn’t know what it would do, but when the letter evaporated to dust in front of her, she wasn’t startled or even surprised. She was terrified.

She shook with every movement, and the warmth and colour had drained from her face. At this time, a thousand things were passing through her head faster than she could process them. Yet one thing stuck out. One thing that she knew in her heart was more real than anything she had felt for the last six months.

She wasn’t the same pony she used to be.

She remembered days of friends and love, before Luna, before this madness, and before everything hit rock bottom. Her house was a mess, trash and animal food tossed about the floor. The animals themselves still came to her cottage to eat, but something inside her had died, and they realized this. They didn’t stay or try to comfort her, merely coexisting with whatever creature their once loving caretaker had become.

All she knew now was pain and chasing dreams. The day following Luna’s abandonment, she forced herself to sleep twenty-three hours of the day, only her stomach waking her out of necessity. Now she was writing letters to dead friends.

Through her window, she saw a mother and son walking through the meadow. That mother was probably thinking about what she’d cook tonight, and about if they’d have enough money to go on their vacation. The son was probably thinking about how there was a doughnut at home that he could have if he was good. They were worrying and thinking about normal things.

From: Fluttershy

To: Twilight Sparkle

One Hundred and Eighty days after the death of Rarity

Dear Twilight,

I was told to write you a letter, and this is it. To be honest, I’ve never been more afraid in all my life. So much has happened, and I’m not sure what to think anymore. Here I am, writing to my friend who’s in a coma after being told to do so by my friend who killed herself. I’ve been living like a slob, and my only reason to live left me in a dream.

Rarity told me about what you want to do, but I’m so scared of what it is. She told me to tell you that she’s done with her part of whatever you guys are planning, but didn’t say any more. I don’t know if I want to leave Equestria forever to come stay with you and the girls. More than anything, I don’t want to be lonely anymore, but what’s going to happen to us?

Please, make me want to do this. Tell me how there is nothing left for me here, and how there is happiness wherever you are.

Love,

Fluttershy

As soon as the letter turned to dust, Fluttershy left for Sweet Apple Acres with Rarity’s letter in wing. There, she hoped to find someone sane.

When Fluttershy reached the perimeter of the farm, she saw Applejack hastily trotting towards her, a look of half-annoyance and half-worry on her face.

“Fluttershy?! Are you okay? Why haven’t ya been answering yer door?” said Applejack.

“I... um... was...” she said, suddenly aware that now she had to talk to a pony who was clearly upset with her. “I have something...”

“Good heavens! Look at yer mane and coat!” she exclaimed. “What’s going on, sugarcube?"

Fluttershy glanced down at her long, ratty locks. She hadn’t really done anything in the last two weeks to maintain her appearance, and it showed. Yet, she didn’t care, and for a moment wondered why anyone would care about appearances.

“I—I h-have a letter,” stammered Fluttershy.

“Okay—” Applejack didn’t become any less annoyed, but confusion was now present in her narrowed eyes. “Okay, what does this letter say? Who is it from?”

It was at that moment that Fluttershy realized she shouldn’t have come to see Applejack. She shouldn’t have come outside. She’d been asked a question that she had no reasonable answer to. Was she really to say that her dead friend had written her a message?

Applejack was looking at her like she was losing her mind.

“I... Nevermind! You’ll think I’m going crazy...” she whimpered, sinking to her rump. “Applejack... I’m so lost...”

Applejack sank down to her side. She let out a long sigh, and leveled with her friend. “Ya know, Ah’d think you were goin’ crazy, if this entire world wasn’t already goin’ crazy as it is.”

Fluttershy was already crying. Not because she was sad, or because she felt discomforted, but because she’d gotten to the point where crying was just her response to most things.

“If ya tell me what yer letter says, I’ll tell ya what mine said."

Fluttershy held out her letter. “Here, read it yourself,” she sobbed.

“Fluttershy, where’s the letter?”

“Right here in my hoof!” she said, shaking the paper at her.

“The other hoof?”

“No, the one right in front of your face. Just take it and read it!”

Silence. Applejack began verging on tears herself.

“Do ya see a letter in yer hoof?” asked Applejack, shaking her head.

“Yes! Please! Take it and read it!”

“Ah’m—Ah’m gonna get to the bottom of this,” she said as she looked at her friend with huge, devastated eyes. “Whoever did this to ya, Luna, Celestia; they ain’t gonna get away with it. Now, Ah’m gonna let ya go home, but if I do, ya promise not to hurt yerself?”

Fluttershy became inconsolable.

“Don’t you leave, okay? It's dangerous out there.”

She had been for one hundred and eighty-four days now.

When Fluttershy came to her senses, she was back in her house, tucked tightly into her bed. A mug of hot cocoa was sitting on her nightstand with a scone, and her entire house had been cleaned spotless, despite it being an unkempt mess before.

Also on her nightstand was the box and jar from before. She looked inside the box and found another letter.

From: Twilight Sparkle

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Eighty-One days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

Are you alright?! You sound like you’ve been having a really hard time! Geez, I feel awful that I can’t be there to try and cheer you up. I mean I’ve just been so hard at work with this spell, and the entire “I’m not exactly in Equestria” thing really makes that hard, but I feel terrible nonetheless.

You sound like you really need one of Pinkie’s patented Super-Funneriffic-Parties. But I digress, there will be time for that later. Right now I need to propose something to you.

Something happened to me, and while I’m not exactly sure what, from your letter it sounds like I went into a coma. While I guessed as much, that holds certain consequences in Equestria, the first and foremost being that I may never wake up. The magic I’m currently under the effect of is very powerful, and escape is beginning to seem impossible.

I’d known that Rarity had passed away in Equestria for some time, but I didn’t know she did it to herself. I guess it doesn’t really matter since she’s still out there somewhere, but it's still really sad. However, if you could tell me exactly what happened to Pinkie, that could be very useful. She’s here with me, but doesn’t remember how she got here.

While this may all seem like terrible news, it’s not. I’ve stumbled upon the greatest library in all of existence, and within it are spells that can do the impossible. With the help of Rarity and Rainbow Dash, these spells can bring you here, with me and Pinkie. And we can be together as friends forever. If that’s not enough to persuade you, let me tell you about where we are.

We’ve found the place that good ponies go. We’ve found Paradise, and we want you and the rest of the girls to come join us. It probably sounds crazy, but I wouldn’t ask you to give up on Equestria if I didn’t know this place would make you happier.

When you know what you want to do, tell me. I’ll tell you the first and only step you need to take to join us.

Love,

Twilight

P.S. And please hurry with your answer. I love Pinkie to death, but she’s partying me all out. I have this book I really want to read, but she won’t leave me alone for a second!

From: Trixie Lulamoon

To: Spike

One Hundred and Eighty-Five days after the death of Rarity

Spike,

They took her.

It was late at night, and Trixie and Con Mom had just gotten back from their trip, when we were suddenly jumped by two guards and Celestia herself. They were sitting in the library like total creeps, and threw a massive bag over Con Mom. Celestia had this crazed look in her eye and a big, broad smile like she wanted to eat Trixie. Then she told Trixie to “have a nice day” before teleporting away.

Now, perhaps it’s Trixie’s inclination to read mystery suspense novels, but she absolutely does not think the leader of an organization is the one who gets their hooves dirty with kidnappings and such. She always assumed that’s what henchponies are for!

As you can tell, Trixie is a bit flustered right now. She was really starting to like Con Mom and then she gets kidnapped by Celestia, and there’s obviously something really strange and scary and big happening.

Trixie is a librarian, nothing more! She should be handling books, not being targeted by royalty!

Also, just when Trixie thought the day couldn’t get any weirder, she thinks she may have found the diary. She wishes she was lying when she says she found it under her bed. It was the oddest thing. After Celestia left, Trixie took necessary precautions to avoid further conflict by concealing her location for several hours in an inconspicuous place. While she was hiding, her leg nudged this open book, yet when she turned around to see what it was, she saw nothing. Only after picking up the invisible book and closing it did it appear. It looks exactly like what Con Mom described.

Trixie has no idea what to do with it. Should she bring it to Canterlot or burn it or what?

Terrified,

Trixie

From: Applejack

To: Spike

One Hundred and Eighty-Six days after the death of Rarity

Dear Spike,

I have Trixie with me now, she has the diary, and we’re coming to Canterlot, but we need a way in without getting noticed. I know it’s dangerous to send letters, but now that we have the diary, there is no other option but to get it to the Con Mom. This thing's baffling the magic right outta Trixie, no one can read it, and you're right about the timing with Twi. Alicorns don't just walk in demanding books after our booky friend goes into a magic coma. They're related, and I think all this craziness is getting to my head because I'm hoping for miracles.

Twilight's a nice pony who doesn't deserve to spend her entire life snoozing.

I have no idea what this diary does, but if Trixie’s telling the truth, then we aren’t safe as long as we have it. Celestia’s obsession isn’t healthy, and I’m not too keen about just hoofing it over. Hopefully when the Con Mom finally has it, we’ll have our questions answered. I really wish we had more to bank on than a stranger, because Trixie’s getting real scared, and so am I. Get back to me with your plan about how to get it in. It won’t be long before Celestia catches wind of this.

Applejack

From: Fluttershy

To: Twilight Sparkle

One Hundred and Eighty-Nine days after the death of Rarity

Dear Twilight,

I’ve made up my mind.

It’s finally occurred to me that I have nothing to lose anymore. Even if this spell goes horribly awry and I’m left disfigured or mutilated, there is nothing worse than crying as much as I do. I'm completely heartbroken, and I can’t wait to have the best party of our lives, together. Tell Pinkie to plan something extra fun, because I really need it.

Yet, there is one thing I want to do before I leave Equestria. I fell in love with a mare during these last few months and was brutally torn apart from her. She made a promise to still see me every single night, but that only lasted so long. Before I go, I need to talk to her. I need to know what I did wrong and why she wasn’t there. After that, I’ll be ready to join you.

As for Pinkie, just before Rarity passed away, Sweetie Belle went missing in Everfree. Rainbow Dash went out looking for her, but never returned. The way your condition, Rarity’s death, and Rainbow’s disappearance all happened so suddenly, it was so hard on everybody. You know Pinkie, she couldn't take it. She tried to take her own life. She survived, but has been in the hospital since. It's so sad. I haven’t seen her smile in monthes.

This may sound strange, but thank you for remembering me. I don’t think I’ve ever really felt closer to you guys than I do right now. I was sitting alone in my house with nothing but a pen and an empty page, wondering what happened to myself and all my friends. I know how burdensome it must be to bring me to wherever you are, and I can’t say this enough, but thank you.

Thank you for being my friend and wanting to spend eternity with me.

Love,

Fluttershy

From: Twilight Sparkle

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Ninety-Two days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

Please, stop it! You’re going to make me cry! I’ve never had a kinder friend than you, and if you weren’t here I’d feel like a part of myself was missing! I started getting all teary reading your letter, and then Pinkie noticed and tried to read it. I warned her that it’d make her cry, but she did anyway. Now she’s turning the whole place into a carnival for you!

That’s a strange set of circumstances that brought her here, because I arrived where I’m at in a way that at least makes some sense. I bought a magical diary that made me wake up in Paradise. It was terrifying at first, but I’ve gotten used to it. Sort of.

Anyway, I need you to write to Rainbow Dash and tell her that you’re ready. Don't expect a response, as she's really busy right now getting prepared. Once you do that, you’ll only have three days before she comes and brings you here. Tell Applejack and convince her to come too, if you can.

I can’t wait to see you again.

Love,

Twilight

From: Spike

To: Applejack

One Hundred and Ninety-Five days after the death of Rarity

Applejack,

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but there’s a huge, pink bubble around Canterlot right now. Getting you inside the city unnoticed will be next to impossible. Given the four hundred percent increase in security, the barrier spell, and the hidden, second barrier spell cast by Celestia herself, your chances are somewhere between non-existent and zero.

Unless you’ve got Spike pulling all the strings.

I talked to Lance about the idea. He said it’s crazy, but he’s also convinced that Celestia did something to Luna. He’s on board with the plan and wants to get her back for Fluttershy’s sake. Something about eternal love and whatnot. I think he’s a romantic at heart, but I digress. I think no matter the reason, we’re all basically banking on Con Mom being able to do something amazing with the diary. Also and trying to keep it away from Celestia because she’s creeping all of us out.

But anyway, Lance told me that Trixie has to come alone straight through the checkpoint. There are several ponies that will be detained on sight trying to enter Canterlot, you and Fluttershy being the only names I recognized, and there is only one entrance in the outer barrier and that’s the train track. She needs to take the 9:00 A.M. train next Wednesday and sit on car five, back left side of the car. Before she enters the city, guards will enter the car and perform searches. Lance will be assigned to her car and get her into the city without being checked. After that she’ll need to come to the library so I can hide her and the diary until we know where they took the Con Mom. I think she’s either in the dungeon, or in Celestia’s personal chambers under some sort of spell.

Yeah, I’m pretty amazing sometimes, aren’t I?

Master Planner,

Spike

From: Fluttershy

To: Rainbow Dash

One Hundred and Ninety-Eight days after the death of Rarity

Dear Rainbow,

I’m ready. If it matters, I’ll be waiting in the Canterlot Gardens. Make sure you have room for one more, because I have someone I want to bring.

I can’t wait to see you and all your awesomeness.

Love,

Fluttershy

From: Rarity

To: Fluttershy

One Hundred and Ninety-Nine days after the death of Rarity

Dear Fluttershy,

Rainbow Dash told me you are coming, but I have just one request before you go. Enclosed in this envelope is a letter to my sister. Make sure it finds its way to her.

Love,

Rarity

Trixie sat in the back-left side of car five. She resolved that sitting on the diary while it was open would best conceal it from curious onlookers. It was invisible while open, and already small to begin with, so she easily covered the entire thing. Without a bag, searches by guards would be as simple as looking her over, and she could carry it off without it being seen.

Still, despite their combination of luck and planning, every passing glance from a guard or passenger made Trixie white as a ghost. She was smuggling the sole desire of the Princess of Canterlot into the royal city with the intention of doing everything in her power to keep it away from said princess as an accomplice to three blacklisted individuals. Celestia was never known to lack creativity when it came to punishing criminals, and Trixie certainly didn't lack the creativity to imagine said punishments.

Even worse, the mare sitting next to her insisted on talking.

“Would you like to ingest a scone? They’re berry flavoured,” said the mare, offering her one of a half-dozen she had in her saddlebag.

“Eheh, no thank you,” replied Trixie. The anxiety was making her a little sick as it was. The last thing she wanted was to upset that by introducing food into the equation.

“My name’s Lily. What’s yours?” asked the mare cheerfully.

“I am Trixie.”

“Why are you going to Canterlot?”

“To see a friend.”

“Oh, I’m going to hopefully see my sister. Has anypony ever told you that you’re a very pretty unicorn?”

“I—” Trixie’s mouth hung open slightly. That had been a forthcoming comment. She dismissed it with a brief shake of her head as if to toss the weirdness off. “Yes.”

“Do you mind if I draw you? I love drawing. It's possibly my most favourite thing ever to do in the luxury category. When it comes to the necessities, obviously breathing is first, then it’s a toss up between eating and sleeping.”

Trixie looked down at Lily with a raised brow. She was a unicorn and no older than an adolescent. She had a baby blue mane with a pearly, white coat and amethyst eyes. Trixie had encountered many young fans in her previous career, and Lily was certainly one of the weirder ones despite being a very pretty pony herself. She looked innocent and honest enough, and Trixie wasn’t about to shoot her down pointlessly. It wasn’t like Lily was hurting anypony.

“Ooookay... You may draw Trixie if that is what your heart desires,” said Trixie.

Lily pulled out a small notepad and several coloured pencils. In only a few strokes, Trixie could already see that she was a fairly talented artist. So far, it was nothing but scribbles to the untrained eye, but it was the confidence with which she drew that gave it away.

“Trixie can tell you’re very good at drawing...” said Trixie.

“Oh, thank you. You’re very nice, Trixie.”

“Would you mind if I look over your other work? Trixie has always been a lover of the arts.”

“Not at all! Here.”

She hoofed over another notebook full of drawings. Trixie flipped through them. The images varied from landscapes to portraits to ponies in various scenes. They were good, to say the least. To give them full credit, the notebook by itself could have started a new artistic movement. The complete spectrum that seemed to exist in every drawing gave everything a highly prismatic look, backsplashed against dramatic blacks for contrast. It was a mix of realism and surreal colouring that never felt out of place. Everything was placed tastefully with objects in the order of the natural spectrum of colour. Six friends of the six colours of the rainbow. A mountain range so large that it saw both the night sky and day’s light. There were the warm colours of morning and the cool colours of night, with green falling to the central mountain range. Beneath the horizon the colours dripped and bled to a totally black foreground.

“Have you ever thought about selling your work?” said Trixie with two raised brows.

“Why?” she replied none-the-wiser.

“So you can make a fortune?”

“Oh, you mean acquire debt to use as exchange for prospect or investment?”

“I mean so you can have a mansion, fame, and whatever else you want.”

“Do you think somepony would really buy it?”

“I’m positive.”

Lily blushed, but didn’t look up from her drawing.

“Perhaps if I draw you, ponies will buy it. You’re very pretty, like a unicorn I once knew.”

It was at this point that the train began its approach to the security checkpoint. Several guards filed in from both sides of the car, politely asking each passenger for their ticket and any bags they had for a brief search.

Trixie’s tongue swelled up in her mouth. She tried to swallow, but the back of her mouth felt like sandpaper. She was getting numb in her rump as the diary seemed to grow to the size of a boulder beneath her.

That was when a guard stepped in from behind and turned to her.

“Can I see both of your tickets, and can you list the luggage you’re traveling with?” he asked, sounding rehearsed.

Trixie nearly fainted as she and Lily levitated their tickets forward.

A vague description of Lance had been described to Trixie before coming, so she knew what he looked like, but it still didn’t stop her from visibly shaking. The guard appeared to be him, but she also wasn’t entirely right in her own mind at that moment.

He raised a brow as he looked between Trixie and Lily. It was the sort of eyebrow raise that meant something was out of the ordinary.

“And what did you bring with you?” he asked.

“My drawing supplies!” chimed Lily.

“N-n-nothing,” stammered Trixie.

He looked back down at the tickets and sighed.

“Illustrious, Trixie; please come with me,” he ordered. “Buckshot,” he said to another guard, “take over this car. I have a few here that need to be checked out.”

What stands is that all is dust. Even eternity will succumb to it. Those who will see the end of time will not see what lies beyond it.

Dear Selena,

I know we haven’t spoken enough lately, but I want to tell you I’m ready to start again, if you’re ready to forgive me. I used to look to the stars every night and cry without knowing why, but every time I did, I took one step closer to knowing what truly happened.

I had been selfish and never considered why you did what you did.

There is only so much time left for me here, and I want to give you something. Even though I know we’ll never have what we truly want here in Equestria, we can have it somewhere else. I’ve gathered my friends, and we are ready to take you to Paradise with us. We can talk there, and maybe we’ll find a way to love one another again. I know this is crazy, and something that we should never have been forced to consider, but I can’t wait any longer.

Please, meet me in the gardens tomorrow at midnight, and there we can go together. If nothing else, I want to say goodbye.

Sincerely,

Your Love

Her Dilemma

In a bleak hospital room, in a lifeless hospital bed, Pinkie Pie laid. Her chest barely rose and fell. One wouldn’t be able to tell she still lived if not for the beeping of the machine reading her heart.

Aside from the machine, the only other movement was of the single, deflated balloon tied to one of the corners of the bed. It hung at only half the length of the string, floating gently in the air-conditioning. Her room had once been full of balloons and streamers, colourful and bright, like the pony who inhabited it. Cupcakes and treats had flooded in at the beginning, but when she stopped eating them, they stopped coming. Gifts and well wishes had flooded in as well, but when she stopped smiling, ponies stopped finding the time to send them. She used to have visitors too, but her silence was just as hard for them to hear as it was for her.

Her heart used to beat with ease, but when broken, the line eventually fell flat. As her final breath was expelled, her lips formed two words.

“Finally, Solace."

Her Dilemma

From: Fluttershy

To: Twilight Sparkle

One Hundred and Ninety-Nine days after the death of Rarity

Dear Twilight,

I must confess something. I didn’t talk to Applejack about coming with us.

I’m so sorry.

We aren’t where we should be. We aren’t the same friends that we used to be, and I know if I told her about you guys, she wouldn’t believe me. She’d think that I’m crazy, and I was afraid that she may stop me from coming. You and I have been talking about all this like it’ll be a picnic, but to Applejack it’ll sound crazy. Paradise is a scary thing to think about actually going to.

Maybe Rainbow told you to bring room for one more. It’s not for Applejack, but for Princess Luna. I’ve fallen in love with her, and I want to bring her with us. I know I’m not helping the situation, and if she can’t come, I understand, but at least it’ll be a time to say goodbye.

Love,

Fluttershy

Fluttershy had had a lot of things on her mind as of late. All her life, she’d considered herself a loner. For whatever reason, ponies hadn’t wanted to talk to her or make friends. Some tried, but it was just too much at times to receive them with any sort of grace. If at least one pony decided to talk to her in a month, it was a good month.

She’d plan her response, rehearse it, and try to pep herself up for it, but it never worked. The moment would come that a handsome stallion would ask her name or a friendly looking mare would ask how her day had been. In that moment, every thoughtful preparation would dash from her mind as though afraid of being used. There would be silence, awkward flitting eyes, and then the moment would pass. They’d move on from her and never look back, every time leaving her wondering what was wrong with her.

And then the most amazing thing happened.

She suddenly had friends, best friends at that, and she became part of something greater. They had fallen right into her lap without effort. The ignition of her spark as the Element of Kindness was more than a destined calling. In it laid her hope for a life without loneliness. The apparent nature of the elements almost required her to have friends, and by their power, those friendships would persevere. How could a team of ponies carrying such an ancient power ever be split up? It was impossible, a cosmic infallibility. As the sun rised, the elements would stay together.

She used to think that at least. Now, it was hard to say what she stood for anymore. Could she really describe the last few months of her life as living as the epitome of kindness? Was she really the Element of Kindness, or would have any other pony who ventured with Twilight that night so long ago have become the Element of Kindness in her place? The elements changed as ponies passed on, and maybe her time was up.

Her precious, unbreakable ties to her friends had evaporated into thin air, or maybe had never really been there in the first place. The more she thought, the more she began to think the latter. None of them ever really cared for her before the elements came along. Rainbow Dash claimed to have, but it was always about ‘protecting’ her, never about understanding her. After the elements, it almost felt obligatory to be friends, like if they didn’t maintain good relations Twilight would write a letter to Celestia condemning them.

The pen she had been chewing in her mouth fell out, bouncing off her chest and hitting the ground. She hardly noticed it, too deep in thought to react. After some time it occurred to her that her mind was blank. She sighed.

“Angel…” she said.

The bunny was reading through a sewing book when she said this, and he perked his ear

“I—I don’t know if I can make it to Canterlot. Midnight is only half a day away,” she said, thinking of her promise to Rainbow Dash. “What if Celestia doesn’t let me see Luna? Would it be so bad to pretend none of this ever happened?”

She looked at the letter she’d written. It had yet to be sent.

“And who am I even writing to anymore? How do I know it’s Twilight, or Rarity, or any of them? It’s not real. Applejack couldn’t see what I was holding…” she said, nodding to herself. “And even if it was, I did the right thing for myself and made sure I’d never be able to reach Rainbow.”

Angel rolled his eyes.

“Luna said that Celestia would detain me, and I’d be betting so much on the idea that Celestia will want me and Luna together. And really,” she continued. “What right do I have to be so blessed to write to friends that I shouldn’t have in the first place? It was dumb luck that I met them. There are ponies out there who’ve lost husbands or wives who deserve to have one last letter. Me? I’ve been using them to play make believe.”

She let a tear escape and felt disgusted by it. “I’ve become so uselessly spoiled that I even believed myself worthy of a princess. And how—”

Angel interrupted Fluttershy with a hard slap. She hadn’t even noticed him climb on the table. He stood there with his arms crossed and his foot thumping against the floor, wearing that look he always wore when he was really tired of hearing her complain.

She looked at him agasp, mouth hung open. How dare he? Where did he get the authority to look at her in such a way? Fluttershy wanted to hit him back.

“Angel, don’t tell me what to do,” she growled. “You’re just as spoiled as I am. You didn’t go through what I went though. Maybe if you did, you would realize that neither of us deserve anything!”

He pointed at the door. Fluttershy didn’t look because she already knew what was there. Resting next to the door were two saddlebags filled with only enough supplies for a one-way trip. She prepared it last night, and cringed when she thought about what kind of pony packed it.

The pony that packed it was full of hope. She remembered smiling about the over-the-top packed lunch she’d fixed for herself with all her favourite snacks. There were bits inside for her favourite ice cream when she got there, a poem she wrote for Luna, a book that she hadn’t finished yet, and a surprise ticket for the bunny in case he wanted to come. The ending to the book was supposedly a tearjerker, but ideally she wouldn’t need it. The train ride would be long though, and if nothing else, she wanted to take Angel to share her last hours in Equestria with him.

All of that now sat in a lonely corner next to her door.

“What about it?” she said, annoyed. “I’m probably not going to go, and even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. Nothing matters.”

On her desk was a picture of her friends. It caught her eye and as soon as it did, memories flooded her mind. The best years of her life were with them, and she knew in her heart they wouldn’t give up on her. They weren’t giving up on her. They were trying to include her, to bring everyone together, and she was sulking over her desk.

She took a deep breath and grimaced.

It didn’t matter that she had been an element of harmony before. It didn’t matter if she was currently an element of harmony. It didn’t matter why she became friends with her five best friends. That had been the fate given to her by the elements. From now on, she would follow the fate she gave herself.

And what mattered more than anything was being there for the ponies she cared about.

“You’re right, Angel” she said. “I could be miserable. I’m gonna be miserable. This is all probably in my head, but even if it is, I’m not gonna go down without a fight.”

In a few swift movements, she shattered the jar of silky white dust, patted her hoof into the stuff, stamped it onto the letter, put it in an envelope, licked the seal, and threw it up in the air behind her. She was certain she looked very cool during the whole process as the letter disintegrated into dust.

The next step was to spin out of her chair, not caring if it fell to the ground, pick up the saddlebags with her wings, pop Angel onto her back with her rear leg, and fly off to the train station.

“Come on, Angel, let’s go.”

*

Angel spent most of the ride in Fluttershy’s lap, hugging her around her waist and looking sad. Since they had a booth all to themselves, Fluttershy decided to read the story she brought out loud to him. It was about a pony trapped on a magical boat that let them sail through life, watching it like a sideshow attraction. Over the course of the trip they lost control, and the ship took them through life at frightening speed.

It was a commentary on one’s mortality and the anxiety that the inevitability of death brings on. The final chapters weren’t as sad as she was expecting, but they did make her think. The fear of death shaped ponies, whether it provoked or paralyzed them. It was primal, instinctual, but if all went as planned, she’d never feel it again.

The thought of Paradise itself was comforting, but it was the method by which she would get there that made her anxious. Part of her wondered if Rainbow Dash was going to kill her. It was gruesome, but it made sense, more sense than any other explanation. If Paradise was the afterlife, then what else could get her there aside from dying?

She finished the book and considered these things in silence for some time, scratching Angel behind the ears as she did.

When the train arrived at the security checkpoint outside Canterlot, it stopped. Two guards filed in through the connecting car doors. Each one took one aisle on either side, and formally began asking ponies questions and searching their belongings.

Fluttershy took a deep breath as one of the guards entered the compartment right before hers.

“This is it, Angel,” she said.

He perked his ear.

“You remember how to get to her, right?”

He nodded.

“I’m not sure if Luna’s gonna be there, and if she isn’t, I don’t expect miracles, but the next places to check would be the dungeons and Celestia’s room. Other than that, be safe.” She kissed him on the top of the head and hugged him tightly.

A few tears escaped him. They were tiny, but Fluttershy could still feel them against her shoulder.

“I love you, Angel. One day we’ll be back together, I promise.”

They had one last moment. After which, he hopped out of the compartment with a small note in a side bag.

It read, help. celestia has me.

If Celestia really did do something horrible to her, Angel would be her last hope. If she couldn’t reach Luna, maybe Luna could reach her.

The guard finished up with the previous group of ponies and opened the door of her compartment. Fluttershy put her hooves in her lap and looked down.

“Name?” demanded the guard.

She jumped. “I—um... Fl-Fluttershy.”

He snickered and flipped through the papers on his clipboard. She looked up at him. His face was familiar, but it took a moment to remember where she recognized it from. He was the general who delivered the first letter from Apple Bloom. He seemed more relaxed this time around, and she noticed a light midwestern accent come through in his voice.

He looked up from his clipboard before tossing it onto the seat across from hers and sitting down himself. He leaned forward a bit, a concerning smile on his face.

"Ya know, I remember you," he said. "Ever since Princess Luna made me into a feather-flipping courier, I've been wonderin' what's so special about that pegasus?"

Fluttershy didn't look up or speak.

"Took me right off of my desk and told me that this letter needed to be delivered personally by 'only the most important of military ponies'." He said the last part in a facsimile of Luna's usual loud, monotone way of speaking.

There was a silence. Fluttershy’s blood boiled. No one makes fun of Luna.

"It was embarrassing, but hey." He tossed his hooves in the air and leaned back, letting them rest behind his head. "I'm a soldier, gotta follow orders, right?”

More silence. His veil of friendliness was clear as glass. The happier he looked, the more Fluttershy hated him. She flinched when he spoke again.

“You’re important,” he said with a sudden harshness. “More important than ya have any right to be, a threat to all of Canterlot, and yet ya don’t even speak. You don’t do anything.”

Fluttershy glared at him with as much intensity as she could muster. Some ponies told her that she could stop the world from turning with the fire that burned behind her bright, cerulean eyes. It stopped weaker-willed ponies in their tracks and could shake even the most terrifying of creatures. She hadn’t been sure how a General of the Guard would react to her stare, but was definitely satisfied when his arrogant smile fell right off his face.

“Are you going to hurry up and detain me already?” she chided cooly. “Because I have things to do today and all your talking is wasting my time.”

There was a look of pure terror that bloomed across his face for a split-second before his training kicked in. A good soldier could never show his enemies fear. His expression steeled over, passing from fearful doubt to practiced stoicism. It had been the briefest loss of all composure, but nevertheless it was priceless.

“Miss Fluttershy, come with me,” he said.

She followed him out and came to face to face with three more familiar ponies who happened to be passing by. One was Lance, another was Trixie, and the last was the nurse who had looked after Twilight on that first trip to Canterlot.

“Fluttershy?” said Lance.

“Lance?” she replied.

“Shy, yellow pony?” said Trixie.

“Lily!” said Lily.

“Corporal, report,” said the general.

Lance stood at attention. “I’ve apprehended Trixie Lulamoon and Princess Illustrious and am taking them in for interrogation.”

The general raised a brow. “Well done, Corporal. I think you already know who this is. The princess will be pleased, won’t she? Three in one day.”

“She will.”

Fluttershy and Lance exchanged glances. She sent him a pleading look. If anything, she knew Lance would be a better bet for getting out free than the general. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had broken protocol to help her. In the past it was better for everypony to simply think Luna was in her room, and not flying off somewhere more private.

“General, permission to take Fluttershy in as well. As commanding officer of today’s searches and processing, it’s my responsibility to that see all suspects be processed to interrogation,” said Lance.

The general gave him a hard look. “Permission denied.”

“Sir, I cannot breach protocol.”

“I said, permission denied.”

“Sir, these orders are a royal decree—they supercede the brass.”

The general stood up tall and got right in Lance’s face. “Corporal, are you trying to be smart with me?”

Lance didn’t move nor flinch, staring straight ahead with trained discipline. “No, sir. I’m simply following orders.”

“And what are you going to do if I take her to Celestia myself? Arrest me?” he hissed. “Do you think she will approve of such misconduct?”

Lance fidgeted, being the first to show a sign of discomfort. The general smiled.

“I thought so,” he said finally. “Corporal, I’ll be writing you up for your insubordination later. Fluttershy, come with me.”

As the general led her away, Fluttershy shot Lance another pleading look, but all he could do was turn away.

After their impasse with Fluttershy, Trixie and Lily followed Lance through a few more cars. All along the way they saw guards performing similar security searches. There was no hiding it, or even an attempt to cover it up—Celestia was looking for something. What that something was was the grand question. It was on everyone’s mind, though most could afford to disregard it. To them it was a minor inconvenience and maybe some fuel for conspiracy talk.

“Lance, are you going to help us?” asked Trixie in a hushed voice.

He looked back and gave a small nod without speaking. It was stern and cold.

The three of them came to an unusual doorway on the long side of one car. To the unaware, it would have looked like a design mistake. It was an expensive looking oak door with elegant, gilded designs etched into it and a brass pineapple for a handle. It stuck out like a sore thumb against the plain aluminum cars and cheap upholstered seats. Having studied magic formally, Trixie knew it was a portal. Not common in most parts, but academics never resisted any sort of application of magic to ease even the simplest tasks.

She watched as Lance muttered a few words and drew his hoof across some of the etchings with precision. There was a churning and clanking of metal that seemed to originate deep and far beyond the door, followed by a click. Lance pushed it open.

The room was dark, with only a single lamp. The dimensions of the room were impossible to assess, as darkness shrouded everything beyond the light of the lamp. There were no visible ceilings or walls aside from the one the door decorated. Inside was a simple metal table and three chairs. Trixie wondered if the dimensions of the room were some sort of optical illusion, or if the darkness really went on forever.

Trixie looked over to her unusual and young companion, who had her nose less than an inch from the door.

“This—” Lily said. “Trixie, do you know what this is?”

Trixie smirked. “It’s a portal.”

Lily batted a hoof at her. “I know, but it’s still neat! Do you know the logistical implications of instant travel?” she ranted. “Economics would effectively become agent centered and entirely based off of the unique point in time in which preference happens.” She plopped down to her rear and scratched her chin. “How come I haven’t seen this yet, and why only now?”

Lance huffed. “Ladies, please step into the interrogation room.”

Trixie did as she was told without speaking, Lance followed, and Lily was last, lagging behind to get one last look at the door. Once the portal closed, Lance dropped his rigid military posture and let out a deep breath. He crossed over to the table, sat himself down, and propped his legs up onto the table as though he’d just come home from a long day at work. A few moments of silence prompted Trixie.

“You are Captain Lance, then?” she asked.

He took his time to answer, the question seemingly churning over in his mind. He stared up at the endless, dark ceiling for a few good moments and then down at Trixie.

“Firstly, I’m a corporal, and secondly, I need to know what you’re doing with her.” He pointed to Lily.

“Hi!” replied Lily, waving.

He rolled his eyes. “Illustrious, please do not make light of the situation.”

“Trixie isn’t with her. We met on the train. Why? Is she important?”

Lance took his hooves off the table and sat forward, glaring at Lily. She was still sitting on the ground like a dog, a big, innocent smile across her face. Over a few agonizing moments, Trixie felt the air thicken.

“Princess Illustrious is an enemy of the state. She is a threat on par with the Changelings, King Sombre, and any sort of malicious entity that could inflict lasting harm on entire regions. ”

Trixie exchanged glances with both of them. Lily maintained her pseudo-cheeriness for the most part, but her muzzle flared and her brow twitched.

“Really?” said Trixie. “Call Trixie a skeptic, but she doesn’t believe that this little filly could have drawn Canterlot’s ire. And we are not exactly on good terms with Canterlot either. The enemy of our enemy is—”

“Our friend, I know,” said Lance, equal parts exasperated and agitated. “But can you close your big mouth?”

“You two are enemies of—Canterlot?” piped Lily as the light bulb flashed in her mind. “Are you attempting to commit treason?”

Lance held a hoof to his face. Lily looked back and forth between the two, before silently saying “oh” and smiling with clever, knowing eyes. In all her years, Trixie had never been the best at keeping secrets. Her close friends could all testify to that.

“Illustrious, you are going to answer a few questions, and then you’ll be escorted to a cell,” said Lance, trying to recollect control of the situation.

“Trixie thinks you’re being a bit harsh.”

“I think they should have sent a different pony instead of you,” he growled.

“Under what jurisdiction is my crime under?” asked Lily.

“The Crown of Canterlot, Canterlot Metro,” he said without missing a beat.

“And what am I being charged with?”

“Are you done talking?” he chided.

“Under the Articles of the Union of Cities, I have a right to know what I’m being charged with. This is unlawful arrest.”

“You haven’t been placed under arrest. This is detain—”

“Incorrect. My freedom is restricted and I have not committed an offense in plain sight or witnessed one. That is arrest. Now tell me why I’m here and what I’m being persecuted for.”

More agonizing silence.

Trixie, as much as any other pony, didn’t like being walked all over. Sure, she would probably ask an officer the same question if he had randomly arrested her, but right now that didn’t feel like the best decision. With the monarch kidnapping ponies and shutting down the capital city and all, it felt like no amount of arguing about technicalities would help Lily’s situation.

There were always stories about ponies disappearing to the government, and it was always implied that such incidents probably didn’t follow due process. It was an era of fear and control, and it didn’t help that Trixie was conspiring against a monarch to hide a potentially powerful magical artifact.

Trixie thought she should say to Lily, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, kid, but held her tongue. It wasn’t her conversation to butt in to.

“You’ll have to take that up with Celestia,” said Lance, finally.

“Do you even know what I’ve done?” prodded Lily. “Let’s presume that this ‘Celestia’ has no real charges against me, and you condemn me to whatever punishment she prescribes. Being punished for doing nothing wrong isn’t right nor just, and you’d be the hoof that did it.”

“I’m presuming that? Now, you presume this.” He was angry, the sort of controlled anger that was infinitely more terrifying than shouting. “How about you presume that I have a job to do, and that job supports a family. Presume that I don’t have the luxury of picking what orders to follow if I want to keep said job, or more importantly, my freedom.”

Lily closed her mouth and pursed her lips. She opened it a few times more, as if to speak, but never did.

“Ms. Lulamoon, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to get to Spike, who will take it from there. Initially I was going to go with you, but Illustrious needs to be reported to the brass.”

“And if I refuse?” said Lily. “I haven’t received due process, and likely won’t, so I don’t see why I should bother complying.”

“Illustrious, don’t do this—”

“Be reasonable. If I am an enemy of this Celestia, why would I go to her? Explain why that makes sense—”

“You’re a threat to Canterlot!”

“I can help you.”

“What about my family?”

“What about my life?” she cried.

“That—” He wagged his hoof at her. “That is not my problem.”

She stood up, dropped all her cheeriness, and surged her horn alight with magic. A wild glint shone in her eyes. Her mane, which had been blue with white streaks, began to glow. A pair of wings formed onto her body in a blinding, technicolour light, becoming solid in a flash. “Do you want to see a magic trick, Corporal? I have many.”

“Illustrious, stand down!” he commanded.

The moisture in her eyes began to glow bright white, and a single, beaming tear streaked down her face. The brilliance of her coat grew until she was bright as lightning, illuminating the corners of the room. “This is a trick my Auntie Rarity taught me…”

“Rarity? The fashion designer?” asked Trixie.

“Do not try and stop me, Trixie.” Lily’s voice sounded distant, like an echo across a canyon.

Lance knocked the table over and braced himself behind it. “Don’t do this Illustrious!

“Trixie knows your aunt! She wasn’t aware that Rarity had another sibling who had a child! She thought Sweetie Belle was her only sister.”

Lily looked at her, searching. Lily, as Trixie saw it, began to ‘power-down’, and her serious demeanor disappeared as quickly as it had manifested. The light of her coat waned, her wings flittered away into airy light, and she fell to her flank. She locked her huge, suddenly hopeful eyes with Trixie as though she’d been adopted from an orphanage. If there had been a more fickle pony in the world, Trixie was none the wiser. Apparently, she had said the magic word.

“You—you knew my auntie?” whispered Lily, nearly inaudible.

“Well, not extraordinarily well, but Trixie was also a fan of her last fashion line, and was told stories of her.”

Lily’s enormous eyes begged her for more details. She probably wanted to hear about what great friends they must have been. All Trixie could think of was how she once turned Rarity’s hair green and sent her wailing to the salon. And there was that time she enslaved all of Ponyville, Rarity included.

“There was a time where Rarity worked under Trixie, and we shared some interesting rapport.”

“You were her supervisor?”

“Sort of...”

“Princess Illustrious, will you be coming quietly, or do I need to call in reinforcements? We will take you down!” bellowed Lance.

She snapped her attention back to him. “No. And do not dare threaten me, as I will send you to a place arguably worse than death. I can’t be for certain, as I have not died before, but it’s a really common saying and I feel empowered saying it!” she exclaimed.

“Well, that’s just great,” he muttered.

“Trixie!” barked Lily.

“What?” Trixie shouted back, subtly mocking Lily’s loudness.

“I’m about ninety-five percent sure we are going to the same place. Are you going to see my mother?”

“The concerned mother, Stella? Yes.”

“One-hundred percent sure, then. After we find her, I need you to show me where Rarity lives. Lance, where does ‘the Spike’ live?”

“Royal Canterlot Library in-house lodging, suite fourteen,” he said, defeated.

“Also, Rarity passed some time ago,” added Trixie.

Lily turned and locked eyes with Trixie. Her brow was furrowed. Trixie felt herself sink a little, like Lily had not believed her, or was wanting to know if there was any hint of untruth to it. At once her expression lightened, and Trixie was relieved.

“Thank you. Trixie, we must go. My colour is running grey.”

Trixie pondered the meaning of ‘grey’ for a moment before shaking it from her head. Lily seemed intently focused on accomplishing something, and Trixie wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. As long as she got the book to Spike without Lily noticing it and doing—something—to it, maybe she’d get to be home by dinner time.

“Remind Trixie where we are going again,” she said.

“You know, I’m not entirely sure. I’d like to get into the castle, but you ponies have messed up my sister’s doors. This one could lead to anywhere in the castle.”

Lily approached the door, but instead of chanting words like Lance had done, she magically cast forth a small blade of pure light and held it up to her face. She turned it over and looked at it like an old friend before closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, and gashing her left shoulder with it. Lily squeaked in pain.

The blade dissipated. She grit her teeth as she dabbed her hoof into the fresh wound. A small bit of glistening, bright red blood covered the tip of Lily’s hoof. In a single fluid motion she magically drew more blood to her hoof and used it to write upon the door’s etched markings. Once she was done, the wound began to glow and was sealed.

It was painful for Trixie to watch, and she wasn’t surprised when she heard grinding metal from far beyond the door, followed by a click. Lily glanced Trixie’s curious eyes.

“I have no dissertation on this sort of magic,” commented Lily. “It is literally a pain to use, but the elaborative properties of enchanted blood as a catalyst really have no equal.”

“Trixie thought blood magic had been forgotten long ago—and for good reason.”

“Indeed, I’ve noticed a lack of ‘Colour Magic’ since I got back. I was hoping you’d be able to explain this.”

“Colour magic?”

Just then, the door opened and Trixie saw a pony that drained all the colour from her face. Sprawled out across a large cushion was a pony writing a letter. The pony looked up and locked eyes with Trixie. Her smile wanted them to come forth, but wasn’t warming in the slightest. Trixie could feel the weight of the treasure she’d been tasked with guarding grow heavier.

“Trixie, Illustrious, so good of you to bring me my diary,” said Celestia. She brought a teacup to her lips and sipped gently.

Behind the forcefield of a magical holding cell, Fluttershy sat waiting for the train to arrive at the station in Canterlot. The guards fitted her into a special straightjacket that held her wings snug against her body and could only be opened by key, along with a pair of manacles to keep her from running.

She glared at the two guards who dressed her with the same intensity that she had before with the general. It was as amusing to see them never make eye contact with her. They whispered under their breath to make sure that she couldn’t hear a single thing they said, and performed their task quickly and efficiently, minimizing the time they actually spent in the same room as her.

From behind the magical screen, Fluttershy saw the general mutter something to a nearby officer, who then walked into another room. He returned with a small wooden box. A hole then opened up in the screen.

“Private Stomp, apply this damper,” said the officer before he levitated the box into the room.

One of the guards with Fluttershy opened the box and took out a hairpin in the shape of a butterfly. The box then retreated back through the hole in the screen, which closed up behind it.

Fluttershy squinted at the ornament skeptically. “What’s that?” she asked.

No response. The one guard placed it into her mane just above her ear, while the other finished restraining her by applying a few more padlocks to her vest. Once done, the screen opened, they left through it, and it closed. She didn’t bother struggling against her bindings. All she did was go sit on the bench provided in the cell and stare with all she had at the ponies beyond the screen.

A few minutes later, Fluttershy could feel the momentum of the train slow and hear its brakes screeching. When it finally stopped, the screen went totally black, leaving her alone in darkness.

Some time passed, and she took the opportunity to fall asleep to see if she could reach out to Luna.

When she woke up, she found herself in a more conventional looking prison cell, one with iron bars and cold, stone walls. She still wore the wing restraining vest and hairpin, but now chains bound her legs to each of the corners of the cell. Just outside was a wooden table with a lantern atop it. A pegasus who resembled a dead tree in winter sat at it. He had an ashen grey coat with thin, skeletal limbs and a gaunt face. His eyes were so sunken in that she could scarcely see the colour of them. About him was a cunning, calculating aura Fluttershy would have expected from a hired killer or jaded librarian. Aside from the table and the guard there was a staircase leading up to a wooden door, and what was beyond that could have been anything.

He sat with his legs propped up, watching her from behind those two dark sockets, totally motionless. Had it not been for the slight rise and fall of his chest, Fluttershy would have suspected a skeleton was watching her. He wore a name badge. “Commander Parry”.

However, minor in comparison to that fact that she had just slept and didn’t keep track of how long. The deadline was still midnight.

“Pardon me, but do you have the time?” asked Fluttershy.

His head moved ever so slightly from left to right and back again.

“Can I have some water?”

He gave the same response.

She crossed her hooves in front of her and rested her chin upon them, unable to look away from Parry, and eventually phasing out on him.

*

Five or so hours passed without incident, and as time went on, Fluttershy felt sicker and sicker. Angel should have reached Luna by now. He was small, and his stubby legs could only carry him so fast, but he was deceptively quick. More often than not, she’d be feeding him and look away for a moment only to find him in another room of her cottage. The thought of him being captured made a pit of bile in her stomach.

Every passing second added to the sickness and her feeling of hopelessness. There was only going to be a small window of opportunity for her meet up with Rainbow Dash and she was beginning to think she had already missed it. There was no telling how long she had been out for. It could have been an hour, five, or maybe eight, and added to how long she had spent in the cell, midnight could have already passed.

She had spent the entire time looking at Parry with big, sad eyes. He was like a statue, in the same position as he had been when the general first left, but after so much time, maybe he was more willing to have a conversation.

“Not much of a talker?” she asked.

No response, not even a nod of his head.

“It must be a boring job to sit here and watch me all night.”

Still no response.

She tweaked her head a bit to get a better look at his face.

“Hey, you. I’m talking to you, come on. I’m bored.”

He was as still as a statue.

Fluttershy squinted at his dark sockets, but couldn’t even see the glint of his eyes.

Was he asleep?

She spat on the surface of one of her dirty manacles, trying to polish it off on her coat. It wasn’t very shiny, but enough so to catch the light of the candles in the cell. She angled it just right to cast a glare on his face, and he didn’t seem to react at all. She squinted and saw that his eyes were closed.

Fluttershy took the glare off him lest he awake. Of all the things to first consider, she thought it very unprofessional. How easy would it be for a criminal to capitalize on a sleeping guard? It was just the prisoner and one guard in what appeared to be a mostly soundproof cell. The thought of every guard sleeping on the job whilst guarding dangerous criminals made Fluttershy uneasy until it occurred to her that this was something she needed to capitalize upon.

The keys to her cell, which were only held loosely on his flank, now suddenly felt in reach. She looked around her cell for something to fish them with, but the cell was spotless. Maybe if she could tear her straightjacket apart and tie a weight to one end, she could toss the weighted end through the key ring and drag it back.

After a few minutes of gnawing, the fabric had barely even frayed, let alone rip any threads. Maybe in a day or two she’d have the strip she needed, but with the time constraints she was working under it wasn’t practical. Still she made sure to file that idea away for future consideration if she missed her chance and needed a long term escape plan.

“He’s asleep,” she muttered to herself. “He’s got the keys. How do I get them?”

For some reason, it felt like the answer was staring her straight in the face, but nothing presented itself to her.

“What would Twilight do?” she asked.

That was obvious. She’d use magic or try befriending him. For Fluttershy, both of those were out of the question.

“Okay, how about Luna?”

Luna would also use magic. She went through all her friends and assessed what they’d do. Rainbow Dash could travel at the speed of sound, so that probably meant something. Applejack would break out by pure force, Rarity would use magic or seduce the guard, and Pinkie Pie would do… something.

It was at this point that she realized that among all her friends, she was the only one that couldn’t break out of jail. Not a particularly marketable talent, but still something that made her feel like the weak link yet again.

She wasn’t though, there was something she could do, and it was staring her straight in the face. She considered giving up and trying to wake him to use the ‘befriending’ tactic, but then it hit her.

Luna wouldn’t just use any magic, she’d use dream magic, something that Fluttershy was more than familiar with. Luna had never intended to teach Fluttershy the art of dream walking, but after sharing so many dreams it happened on its own.

Fluttershy had never tried pushing her way into a pony’s dream other than Luna’s, but magically it was all the same as doing it to anyone else. Knowing that time was of the essence, she put herself to sleep with a speed that could only come from too much practice.

*

Fluttershy woke up in the meadow she and Luna commonly dreamt in. It was night-time, the moon in full, and the flora glowed like a soft, luminescent blanket across the rolling hills. It was a place of peace, beauty, and memories, and helped put her into the state of mind she needed to move between dreams. Luna had always emphasized the importance of having a sort of “home” dream that was unique and meaningful to her. In case something went wrong, or she needed to retreat and recollect, she had a place to go in easy reach.

Fluttershy closed her eyes and brought Parry to mind, imagining his every feature and mannerism. There wasn’t a lot to go off of, but she was happy when she opened her eyes and saw a new red brick, tudor-style building in the distance. It held likeness to the bricks that constructed it—square, blocky, and uninspired. It could have been flipped over or placed on its side and no one would bat a lash. It had tall windows evenly spaced out between three floors, and a pair of heavy wooden doors. All the windows except for one on the second story at the very far left were dark.

Fluttershy recognized it as one of the buildings of the Royal Military Academy. She chewed her bottom lip as she sized up the building and what it could mean as far as the dream went.

Luna had strongly advised against her using dream magic to influence ponies. In the wrong hooves, such power could be used to manipulate, control, or even torment ponies in a way that they couldn’t resist. Fluttershy listened, but never gave her much credence. Sure, Luna might be able to attempt such feats, but that’s because she had millennia to practice. The average pony wasn’t so skilled. Fluttershy was supposedly alright at it, but that was all in theory.

Even despite all her warnings of its danger, Luna was always very excited to show her certain techniques after the initial weariness passed. Fluttershy had learned two schools of thought for influencing a pony with dreams. Either one directly reveals themselves to the dreamer openly and talks with them, or they attempt to manipulate the dreamer’s perception of reality by confusing them about what was or wasn’t the dream.

Luna had favoured the former, acting with purpose clear to the dreamer. She’d regularly enter the dreams of the citizenry and give them moral guidance as their princess, almost always succeeding.

Fluttershy, however, liked the idea of the second. She’d already lost so much of her own ability to distinguish between what was and wasn’t a dream. Sometimes what happened in life felt surreal, things that could never really happen, where her dreams provided sense and stability. Part of her held a sneaking suspicion that when she first visited this meadow, that was the first time she really woke up.

She flew up to the window, making sure to stay out of sight, and pressed her ear against the wall. Ponies were talking inside.

“What have you done to them?” asked the voice of Parry.

“They’re… pacified,” said the voice of Fluttershy.

Fluttershy cringed for two reasons. One, that Parry was apparently already having a dream about her, and two, because she hated the sound of her own voice.

“We’re going to stop you. All of you. The elements must be brought to answer for their crimes,” said Parry.

“You don’t want to stop us—me, that is.”

Then Fluttershy heard laughing and sounds of kissing.

Her eyes popped wide open, and she blushed intensely as she listened on. It was probably really fortuitous that this exact thing was happening, and maybe Luna would have been able to capitalize on it, but all she could do was fan herself and pretend this wasn’t happening. It was just wrong on so many levels. She closed her eyes and hummed a tune to herself to cover it up.

Almost as soon as it began, it ended, the disturbing sounds replaced by casual conversation and the bustle of day.

When she opened her eyes again, she was sitting at a table with her hooves gripping a newspaper. She flipped the page and peeked out from over it. The dream had become a small Canterlot coffee shop. The smell of coffee was thick, there was a glass case-counter with baked goods inside it, and ponies around her chatted quietly or typed on their typewriters. She saw herself standing in line with Parry. He and her dream copy self were discussing the menu.

The dream had moved quickly, and that usually meant a lot of time was passing in the real world. If she didn’t intervene soon, there was a chance he’d wake up. In cases like this, Luna instructed her to treat every change in the dream like it was her last chance.

Confusion between what occurred in dreams and real life wasn’t as uncommon as some believed. Most ponies could begin to vaguely suspect certain dream world things had actually happened, but usually didn’t act upon them unless it was reinforced in the real world. To begin, she needed to give him the command, and then hopefully remind him of it somewhere else in the dream. If she kept pushing the idea, she might be able to fabricate a new memory that appeared like a real life exchange and convince him to act upon on it in real life.

She saw the general walk in through the front entrance of the shop and decided it was the time to act. He beelined straight for Parry.

Fluttershy set the paper down and went to cut him off. Before he could get Parry’s attention, she tapped him on the shoulder from behind. He turned around, still wearing that arrogant grin from their last conversation. She chopped him upwards in the throat and felt something break. Normally that would have concerned her, but she knew it was a dream, and finally seeing that grin fall off was satisfying. As he choked out a silent cough, she kept her arms at his neck and pushed him up and backward. He was heavy, but with a powerful wingbeat she managed to lift him up by his neck and slam him on his back.

No one in the shop reacted, and Fluttershy knew they wouldn’t. If the dreamer didn’t see it, it didn’t happen.

He laid there, his mouth hung open and eyes bugged out of his head. After a few twitches and futile swipes of his hoof at her, he laid still. Fluttershy undressed him, making sure to take note of every notable physical feature he had. There was a scar on his left foreleg, just above the knee. He had a typical military crew cut. His jaw was a little wider than she remembered.

They were all important details for her dream magic to work properly.

After donning his clothes, which were a little too big for her, she approached Parry and tapped him on the shoulder, just like the general had tried to do.

He turned around and saw Fluttershy, now a perfect illusion of the general. Parry’s eyes flitted between the dream Fluttershy next to him and the real Fluttershy, and a guilty look riddled his face. “Sir!” he said.

“Can you tell me what I’m seeing right now?” replied the incognito Fluttershy.

Parry looked her right in the eye and said, “No, I can’t.”

Fluttershy gestured to her dream self. “You’re fraternizing with the enemy.”

“Sir, I can’t help it.”

“Do you even remember Celestia’s orders?” she snarled.

“Of course.”

“What were they?”

“She stays in the cell until further orders.”

“You have a new order. Take her to Luna before midnight. The spell’s about to begin.”

Fluttershy blinked and was back at the Royal Military Academy. This time she was inside one of its many dark halls. The only light was coming from a crack beneath the door next to her. Walking towards her was her dream self. When dream Fluttershy saw her, she screamed, but Parry wouldn’t hear it. Fluttershy proceeded to subdue herself in a way similar to how she subdued the general: a quick chop to the throat and a body slam.

It was much less satisfying than doing it to the general.

She stepped into the room and saw Parry sitting on a bed with as sad a look as his gaunt face could manage.

“When we first saw each other in the cell, just earlier today,” she started, “I thought about you, but we can’t be together.”

“What’s this spell you and Luna are casting?” he pleaded.

She crossed over to him and sat on the bed, taking his hoof in hers. “Don’t you know who I am? I was that pony who stayed with Luna.”

For the first time, Fluttershy could really see the eyes in his sunken sockets. They were sky blue, and sparkled with tears.

“That was you?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“So, you love her?”

Fluttershy nodded again.

“Figures.”

*

Fluttershy awoke to the sound of the barred door being opened. The shackles that chained her legs to the corners fell off and clattered against the floor.

“Come with me,” said Parry.

Fluttershy never had to work so hard in all her life not to smile. She couldn’t wait to tell Luna all about what she just managed to do.

“Trixie, I think we are true friends now,” said Lily.

“Really? And what makes you say that?”

“A pony once told me that a good friend bails you out of jail, but a true friend will sit in the cell with you and say, ‘wow, we really screwed up’.”

Trixie sighed. She rattled the chains that held each of her four legs bound to the floor of the small, dark cell. Lily was right next to her in similar bondage. In both of their manes was a magical hairpin that dampened magic useage and could only be removed with magic. Lily’s was in the shape of a rose, and Trixie’s a silver star.

“Or might I say, ‘you screwed up’,” said Lily.

Trixie let a chuckle escape as she shook her head.

Lily went on. “It was you who broke the law in a tangible way. I almost had her convinced of my innocence until you threw the diary at her and pled for mercy. That makes me a potential accomplice, and the law gets really meticulous when we start getting into that technicality—”

Trixie wanted to tap her hoof to show her impatience, but the chains made that impossible, so she resorted to excessively sighing and eye-rolling.

“Is something the matter, Trixie?”

“Trixie does not think threatening Princess Celestia is a good bid at innocence—”

“I told her that she had no viable evidence for my crime. I don’t even know what my crime is. She was attempting unlawful arrest!”

“And then you threw a table at her.”

“She provoked me.”

“Are you going to break us out or not?”

“I...” Lily trailed off into silence.

She looked up and down Trixie’s form in such a way that would have made her blush in any other circumstance.

“I—umm—,” began Trixie.

“Attempt to lick my throat,” said Lily.

She stuck her chin out at Trixie, exposing her adam’s apple.

“What?”

“Just do it.”

Trixie gingerly stuck out her tongue, but realized she needed to stretch as far as she could to do as Lily asked. Just barely could she reach that soft patch of skin below the jaw.

“Can you bite me and draw blood?” said Lily tersely. “I need to use my colour.”

“Umm… stick your ear out. Maybe I can bite it.”

“It won’t be enough, I’m going to need a pool that I can stick my nose in and draw with.”

“Where do you want me to bite then?”

Lily stuck her neck out and Trixie’s eyes grew wide. Now it was very clear what Lily had been thinking about.

“You’re joking right?”

“Look at our positions in space and consider our options.” Any amount of immaturity previously present had left Lily. Her eyes and expression were grave. “We need my blood, and a sharp object to cut me with. Unfortunately we need a lot because I need to draw with my nose. Your teeth are the only sharp object in reach of a part of me that will bleed enough. You can’t reach my shoulder, and I am so not enduring permanent facial scarring for this.”

“Will you be able to make yourself stop bleeding in time?”

Lily looked up at her hairpin. “I don’t know… I’ll draw as fast as I can.”

Trixie was silent. She went to open her mouth around Lily’s exposed neck, but drew back. Out of nowhere, she began to tear up.

“Lily, I’ve never killed a pony before...” she cried. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I mean, this is how ponies kill themselves, slitting their throat. You could die...”

Lily looked at her and smiled.

“I’ve been in worse places before,” she said. “I’ll be okay, I promise. I’ll get you out of here.”

Trixie’s face crinkled up and she tried to hold in her sob. Lily crossed her neck with Trixie’s.

“It’s okay, I’ve lived long enough,” she whispered into her ear.

That made Trixie burst out, sobbing and crying openly, though she still tried to hold it in. She looked at Lily’s exposed neck and in a quick motion, she bit into her soft flesh. That salty, copper taste flooded her mouth. Her tears mixed with the blood and it all dripped to the floor.

Soon her “true friend” was cold and lifeless on the ground.

Parry led Fluttershy down the familiar halls to Luna’s room, passing more than two dozen guards who gave them skeptical looks. Parry didn’t seem fazed, but that was expected, his stern unfeeling expression like that of a stone statue. Fluttershy, however, couldn’t help but worry that someone would notice she shouldn’t be out walking around. If she passed by Celestia, the general, or any pony who knew how important she apparently was, it wouldn’t be a very long chase.

It all passed without incident, though. Soon she faced the front door of what had become her true home, Luna’s observatory and personal chambers. Parry approached the two guards who flanked the door. They clicked their heels at attention.

“Commander,” said one of the guards.

“Lieutenant,” replied Parry. “Dispatch to Celestia that Fluttershy has arrived at Luna’s Observatory and then return to your post.”

The guards exchanged glances.

“We weren’t notified that Fluttershy would be changing custody,” said the same guard.

Parry huffed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Not everything is told to everyone. Regardless, those are your orders.”

“Commander, with all due respect, Princess Celestia is currently visiting with her sister just inside."

“I suppose it should be a short walk then.”

Fluttershy’s heart stopped. The pony she couldn’t afford to run into was in the one place she needed to be. If there was a worse place for Celestia to spend her evening, it escaped her imagination. Her luck must have run dry from her miraculous dreamwalk with Parry.

Behind her the hall was empty. Maybe she could run from them. Maybe if she broke one of the windows, she could escape. Midnight couldn’t be long now, and making it to Paradise without Luna was still preferable to being locked up in a dungeon.

The guard wore a flat look. Yes sir,” he said. He opened the door and slipped through.

Fluttershy felt her heart pounding in her throat. It was happening again. She was going to black out from sheer stress. It happened so often that she learned the signs: the sudden, random fear of having a heart attack, cold sweat that dripped, the feeling of her lungs freezing up. Part of her hated the fact that she could identify each and every sign, but still couldn’t do anything about it.

More importantly, of all times in her life to have a panic attack, this moment had to be the single worst moment. She always imagined this to be her shining moment to be awesome, sweeping a princess off her hooves and taking her to Paradise. Maybe she’d even say something cool. But here she was, on the cusp of a mental breakdown. They’d open the door and see her crying on the floor. Just the thought of paralyzing on the spot ended up doing just that.

She wanted to cry, but something about the thought of breaking down struck her. How odd would that be? The implications of tonight challenged the nature of fate itself. There was so much mystery and uncertainty. Crying had a time and place, either when no one was around to see it, at funerals or when she got hurt. But sometimes it didn’t make sense at all.

Like now, when her friends had found a way to reach out from beyond the grave. If they could move the world and heavens just to include her, she could at least be brave enough to do her part.

She took a deep breath and her heart rate returned to normal.

The guard returned through the door. Fluttershy faced him head on.

“Two things,” he said. “First, Princess Celestia advises Commander Parry to not sleep on the job, and that there will be repercussions for his incompetence.”

There was a pause as all eyes fell on Parry. He did his best to remain stoic, but Fluttershy knew that the rug had been pulled out from beneath him. Once it was clear that he wasn’t going to say anything, the guard continued.

“Secondly, despite this, Fluttershy’s presence is allowed, but not required. At this point in time she is not in the custody of the state.”

Fluttershy blinked.

“I can go free?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am. However, you should know that the offer is tentative. You’re not being pardoned for your offenses, but more given a head start at running.”

“Really, Celestia said that? Why?” asked Parry, eager to deflect.

The guard nodded. “You know, Commander, I’ve just stopped asking questions altogether. It’s not like doing so makes anything make any more sense. Anyway, we’re not meant to question orders, no matter how odd they sound.”

Parry nodded and with that, the guard turned to Fluttershy.

“Ma’am,” said the guard. “It may not be my place to speak, but you seem like a good pony mixed up in the wrong things. Maybe you’ll have to run, but it’s better than tempting our princess’s good will.”

Fluttershy took a moment to gather everything she was just told. Celestia was somehow aware of Parry’s sleeping on the job, and maybe to the same extent, her dream-walking. Yet, she seemed unconcerned. As strange as it was, there was a more pressing matter to consider. Why had she been offered a choice?

Celestia’s intent had never been clear to her, but she could only either want or not want Fluttershy around Luna for whatever reason. It could also have been that Celestia wasn’t sure, but that seemed unlikely, and it still didn’t make sense for her to leave it up to Fluttershy.

Then it hit her.

“Unless she wants what I want…” she whispered to herself.

“What was that, ma’am?” asked the guard.

“Oh, nothing. Let me through, please.”

He raised his brow. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.” He turned to Parry. “You’re dismissed, commander.”

Parry threw him a half-hearted salute and left. She watched him go, having the weird thought of knowing it’d be the last time she’d ever see him. It wasn’t that she particularly liked him, but it was another reminder of the finality of her choice should it all go as planned. There was an unnamed feeling that she had learned to both love and hate. It came on the last day of school or the last day of working a long time job. It was this weird anxiousness and eagerness all wrapped in one.

The door opened for Fluttershy and she stepped through, leaving Equestria behind her.

Celestia sat sprawled out upon a couch on the balcony at the far side of the room. The moonlight showered her in a silvery sheen that gave her an other-worldly glow. The princess had always maintained a regal aura about her, but now it defied description. She looked so light and sleek that the couch probably would be surprised to know a pony laid atop it. Where other ponies might try to imitate such poise, she held it effortlessly. It was perhaps this detail that made her so uncanny.

A book lay open in front of her. She turned a page, her hoof but a gentle breeze to it.

“Your choice has always been an interesting one to me,” said Celestia without looking up. “I offer you freedom every time and you never take it.”

“Where’s Luna?” demanded Fluttershy.

“She’s sleeping,” Celestia replied, raising her arm and rolling her hoof in the direction of the bed. “You may be tempted to go and try to awaken her, but I’d suggest you resist that temptation.”

“Why is that?”

“She won’t wake up until the time comes.”

Celestia looked up and locked eyes with Fluttershy, and somehow, with that simple expression, reminded her that the pony who sat on the other side of the room was more than the powerful, immortal ruler of Equestria. Celestia radiated an aura of dangerous, eccentric curiosity, like she didn’t understand Fluttershy, or ponies in general, and would like to sate her curiosity with an autopsy.

“I wouldn’t fret, however,” continued Celestia. “She’ll wake up tonight, because tonight is very special, as you probably already know.”

“It’s a night just like any other,” lied Fluttershy. She didn’t bother going to check if Celestia was right about Luna not being able to wake.

“Let’s suppose it is.”

Celestia closed the diary, got up, and crossed over to one of the many elaborate astronomical devices that littered the space. Luna had every sort of telescope, star-charter, and sextant in the world, all connected by a massive clock contraption that rested like a skeleton against the inner-dome of her observatory. Dials and levers sprung out in odd places with no rhyme or reason.

“Let’s suppose neither of us has any paramount reason to be here. Is there anything I might be able to do for you? I am but a humble servant to all of Equestria. I might have some answers to your questions.”

“You want to talk?”

Celestia turned a large dial on a device clockwise, causing it to whir. She watched it with the same bored disinterest one would give an office desk plaything like a drinking bird, zen fountain, or floating globe. It appeared like her small effort would put some grand clockwork into motion as it began to wind up, but it fizzled back into silence.

When Fluttershy stole her eyes away from the device, she found Celestia staring straight at her with the same bored look. “Only if you’ll entertain it,” she said.

“Sure,” said Fluttershy.

Celestia’s expression didn’t change, but Fluttershy approached her anyway and moved a few dials on the same device. It whirred in a similar way, but this time a small orb above them lit up with heavenly light. Around the room, devices similar in construction but different in purpose began churning with tiny spinning sprockets. Five orbs affixed to various parts of the contraption projected the expanse of the universe into the space around them.

“You’ve spent a lot of time around Luna,” said Celestia, intrigued by the display.

“I have,” Fluttershy replied. “So, my first question. Why separate Luna and I? What purpose does that serve?”

Their words were quaint, and to Fluttershy they felt like little more than idle banter. The projected star charts held more appeal than their exchange.

Celestia sighed. “As you can probably gather, your relationship with Luna has been of concern to me,” she said. “I thought separation would douse it, but I was wrong. And I’m going to have to ask you to end it as a favor to me, Equestria, and even Luna.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to do that for you.”

“Do you ever wonder what sort of state you’ll leave Luna in upon your death?”

“You’re asking me to consider what will happen if I fall in love with Luna and leave her behind?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes.”

“I already have,” Fluttershy said nonchalantly.

“Have you?” Celestia asked, her tone sharpening. “Do you know what happened the last time she gave her heart to a pony and had it broken?”

Fluttershy was silent, and her eyes drifted in the direction of the bed, where Luna’s form slowly rose and fell.

“Nightmare Moon. She tried to kill herself by becoming Nightmare Moon. I didn’t seal her in the moon to save Equestria. I did it to stop her from destroying herself.”

Celestia crossed over to small sextant, and adjusted a few knobs, moving it less than a few millimeters. A series of small holes in it cast a shadow across one of the floating orbs, dimming a space to isolate a specific constellation. It was in the likeness of Nightmare Moon, sitting and looking heavenward to what must have been the moon. A starry stream of tears fell from both eyes, several drops suspended in time as they fell to her hooves.

“This is what she’ll become if you continue on,” said Celestia.

“I’m not giving up on her...” replied Fluttershy. “She hasn’t given up on me.”

Celestia shook her head and sighed. “Fluttershy, please. I know it might seem unlikely, but I only come to you out of desperation. I will not fault you for finding love, but Luna is a pony of passion. Your life with her will be the calm before the tempest. The love she has for you will turn to pain, and that pain will undo her.”

Fluttershy stood up to Celestia unafraid. “I suppose we’ll have to see about that, because I’m not changing my decision. Kill me if you want, but this life isn’t worth living if it’s not with her. I only hope that the next one is worth living without her.”

“Fluttershy,” said Celestia. “I don’t want to do this to you. I’m withholding one piece of information to save you the heartache, but I’m willing to reveal it for my sister. Please, when she awakes, tell her you’ve forgotten about her and don’t look back. We don’t have to do things the hard way.”

“Tell me what you wish. I’m not afraid.”

Celestia frowned before pulling another lever on the clockwork contraption. It whirred to life as she pulled another. She turned a dial and a large arm of the device swung through the air. Fluttershy stepped out of the way as a wayward gear dropped down. Celestia pulled and yanked at every protruding piece of brass that stuck out from the device.

It all came together, folding in on itself, until finally a chest was all that was left. The thing ticked and churned. Celestia turned a dial on the front of it like a safe, forward twice and backwards once. There was a click and the gears slowed to a stop.

Silence permeated the air. Fluttershy waited to see if she’d do anything else. For the first time, Celestia wouldn’t make eye contact with her, and instead looked to the distance. Celestia blinked a tear to her cheek.

“What’s inside the chest?” asked Fluttershy

“The truth that makes you forget about Luna forever.”

“Really? Then why not tell me that first?”

“I needed to know how far you’d go for her. I gave you choices and ways out of this horrible situation, and every time it’s always the same,” she said. “You forego your freedom for her, you ignore her sister who begs you, you forsake her well-being and Equestria’s safety, and then at the end you learn that you stand on nothing.”

Fluttershy showed no change, no anxiousness or fear. She stood watching Celestia, the ruler of Equestria, begin to cry in front of her.

“I’ve seen you do these things more times than I can count,” said Celestia. “I tell you every time that you have the power to choose. You could have something at the end of the night if you would stop being stubborn. Go home. Forget about all this and you might learn to live with it.”

“I’m going to look, but I don’t fear for Luna. She’ll be alright, I promise.”

Celestia shook her head, her face scrunching up in more tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry the future has been the same.”

For a moment nothing happened, but then Celestia suddenly clenched her eyes and brought her hoof to shield them. She exchanged glances with Fluttershy one last time before quickly making a break for the door.

Fluttershy watched her go, heard the door slam behind her. The thought of going after her crossed her mind, but it was only to put off the inevitability of opening the chest. She kneeled down and lifted the lid.

Inside was a small stack of letters, an inkwell and quill, and a jar of dust. She picked up the letters and flipped through them. It took a moment, but she began to cry. The full weight of what she held in her hooves didn’t hit her until a few good minutes after she started crying, but when it did, she knew why she had to let go of Luna.

In her hooves, she held her own letters, the ones she’d sent to Twilight and Rarity. Notes filled with the hope that maybe one day she’d be able to see them again, and Celestia had those letters in her possession.

From there, everything fell into place. Paradise had been a lie. She wouldn’t live forever. One day she’d die, and if Celestia was telling the truth, that meant Nightmare Moon.

Luna began to stir. Fluttershy watched her awaken in horror. She began to back up, looking for somewhere to run. The entire room led to balconies and she could fly off with ease, but should she? The more time she spent around Luna, the more she’d hurt her. The feeling of being afflicted with a virulent disease overcame her. She should get away. Go somewhere far and secluded.

Never dream again.

When that thought crossed her mind, her heart grew heavy.

Luna sat up on the bed and looked around the room. A mixture of pleasant surprise and confusion riddled her face upon seeing Fluttershy. Nonetheless, it turned into a smile.

“Hey,” said Luna with a groggy playfulness. “What’re you looking at?”

Fluttershy blushed, scarcely able to breath. Seeing her smile was like having a shard of glass gutted in her stomach. “I, um… You, I guess.”

Luna patted the bed. “Well, come sit. I missed you.”

Fluttershy did as Luna asked and sat next to her in a rigid position, twiddling her hooves in her lap. Luna gave her an inquisitive look.

“Something the matter?” she asked, poking Fluttershy in the side.

Fluttershy didn’t wince or squeal like she usually would have. Luna frowned and put her arms around her.

“I’m sorry,” said Luna. “I know you’re mad at me, but please know I haven’t forgotten about you.”

Fluttershy placed her hoof on Luna’s and turned towards her.

“I’m not mad…”

Their lips slowly moved towards one another. It was in this moment that Fluttershy finally understood what was at stake.

Ever since she fell in love with Luna, she wondered what their last kiss would be like. It was a small thought always in the back of her head. Would they drift apart in their later years and forget about it? Or would they cherish every moment together and be able to part with one of them on her death bed?

They connected briefly and broke apart. There was a pause, and Fluttershy wondered if that had been it. She couldn’t even remember the sensation. Maybe that was a fitting end to what they had. They pulled apart and gazed at one another. Fluttershy could feel her eyes growing wet again.

That couldn’t be it. She barely felt anything.

Luna was frowning, sadness apparent on her face. “Something is different about you...” she said.

Fluttershy’s face scrunched up. She didn’t want to be different. She didn’t want anything to have changed. “No!” she cried. “That was horrible!”

She grabbed Luna with both hooves and pressed their lips together. Their breath exhilarated into each other’s mouths. Electricity surged between them.

Fluttershy didn’t want it to end. Some things in life were just too incredible to let go of, and this time she’d make it last.

The slippery wetness of her lips, that unforgettable flavour of mint and fresh water that she tasted as their lips opened up, and the warmth of her tongue—it was the most wonderful sensation in the entire world. Reality melted away and all that was left was this exchange. They weren’t in Luna’s room, they weren’t on a bed, they weren’t even ponies anymore. All that mattered was the play that took place between their open mouths.

Fluttershy broke away momentarily to grab hold of Luna and press her back to the bed. She got a good look at her princess and saw that she was blushing like mad. It all came back to her.

What was she doing?

What had been the already hard task of ending her relationship with Luna had just been made so much harder. Fluttershy bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, letting her forehead duck to run against Luna’s breast.

“Are you alright?” asked Luna.

There was a heart-wrenching silence.

“I love you,” replied Fluttershy, her face scrunching up.

“I love you too.”

“I love you so much, but I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be,” said Luna, holding Fluttershy’s chin up and giving her a peck on the lips.

“We’re not going to be together forever. When I d-die, Celestia told me you’re g-gonna try to hurt yourself, and I don’t want you to...” Fluttershy trailed off into incoherent babble.

Luna was quiet, tears trailing her cheeks now. She held Fluttershy’s head in her arms, stroking her mane.

“Are you gonna do it?” asked Fluttershy, sitting up. “Are you gonna try to kill yourself?”

Luna shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t want to. The last time I tried, I was put into solitary confinement for one-thousand years.”

“No!” cried Fluttershy. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but all I want to do is work this out with you. I believe with all my heart, that we will be together forever. I can’t tell you what will happen, and I don’t know if I can make any promises, but I’m gonna try really hard if you’re willing to work with me.”

Luna searched Fluttershy’s eyes before smiling and kissing her.

A deafening boom rang out through the air. To most, it would have sounded like something had exploded, and even though Fluttershy hadn’t heard that sound for almost a year, she knew she’d recognize it anywhere.

She looked out beyond the balcony and saw a massive rainbow shockwave.

“It can’t be...” said Fluttershy.

“What? What can’t be?” asked Luna. “You speak of the noise and not our romance, correct?”

As the boom faded and echoed off into the distance, she heard a thunderous applause. She took to the air and landed out on the balcony. Below, she saw a massive conjugation of ponies all dressed in formal attire gathered in the courtyard. Luna followed her outside, curious as well.

“Fluttershy, who’s getting married?” she asked.

Fluttershy shrugged, leaning over the balcony and squinting her eyes to see the tiny figures far below.

Bewilderment forced Luna’s hooves to the railing as well. “Those are royal horns,” she mentioned. “This is a royal wedding—in the middle of the night?”

A pair of figures were meeting with the crowd, and Fluttershy strained to see if she could make out who they were. “Oh my goodness,” she whispered. “It’s Cadance and Shining Armor…”

There was a second rainboom. A few moments later, a massive purple dragon with green scales grew through the roof of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. On the streets of the market, Fluttershy could hear somepony singing a song about generosity.

Back in the room she heard herself and Luna giggling. Another Luna and Fluttershy were back in their bed cuddling, seemingly unaware that they were being watched by themselves.

The real Luna and Fluttershy exchanged wide-eyed looks.

“Is t-that—?” stammered Fluttershy.

“What in the world…?” replied Luna.

Before they could really manage any further reaction, some heavy panting drew their attention to a cyan pegasus sitting on the balcony next to them.

“What up, Fluttershy?” said Rainbow Dash.

No words at all came to Fluttershy, though it didn’t matter because Rainbow Dash wasn’t waiting for a response.

“You know—” she huffed. “If Pinkie ever tries to tell you how to rebuild all of time and existence, ignore her and listen to Twilight.”

Fluttershy blinked.

“Also, that whole Paradise thing has gotten a little messy.”

Stella approached Trixie and the dead princess. Trixie was crying over the corpse, wailing and bawling.

“Trixie…” said Stella.

“You!” said Trixie, an accusing hoof outstretched and pointing. “Is this all worth it? Trixie killed a pony! Is your diary worth this?”

Stella looked down at Lily and sighed.

“What? Don’t you have anything to say? Maybe a tear to shed?”

Silence.

After a few tense moments, Stella finally spoke. “Illustrious, you were always so dramatic, resorting to the most grandiose solution to any problem.”

“What?” asked Trixie as if struck with a daze.

“Trixie, something really big is happening, and as much as I’d like to think it was all my fault and that I can fix it alone, I can’t. I need Lily.”

Stella’s horn stub sparked and Trixie’s hairpin fell out.

“Don’t worry, Lily will be fine. She, like my other girl, runs home when she has a problem. It was all we had before those witches we call ‘princesses’ decided to ruin my children’s one chance at a normal life.”

“She isn’t dead, then?” asked Trixie, wiping her nose. “Trixie didn’t kill her?”

Stella laughed a shrill, startling laugh that made Trixie’s blood run cold. “Dead? I’m not so sure I really know what death is anymore!” she exclaimed. Her wild smile faded into a frown and she sighed. “All I want, for me and my daughters, is to live. And is that so much to ask?”

Trixie was silent. In her strange relationship with Stella, she’d seen her as a quiet, studious sort of pony. Sometimes she said some offshot things, but Trixie figured no pony was reasonable all the time.

“No, no. My little Lily went home. It can’t ever be that I finally find one of them and they stay with me. They’re there for a few months and then they’re gone, always just out of reach,” she said. “Trixie, never have kids, because they’ll break your heart worse than any silly boy could.”

“Alright then. Why are you telling Trixie all this?” she asked.

“Because, Trixie,” Stella said. “I don’t have half the magic I used to, and I need someone with enough magic to help me stop Twilight Sparkle from following through with her plan. She’s stumbled upon magic she doesn’t understand.”

Trixie magically popped the lock of the cell and swung the door open. “Twilight Sparkle? What could she possibly be doing that’s so evil?”

“Bless her heart, but the blasted unicorn wants to forge the destinies of others, and she needs to be stopped. I tried it one time and it didn’t work out too great.”

Her Happily Ever After

From: Fluttershy

To: Whomever may find this letter,

One Hundred and Ninety-Nine days after the death of Rarity

To whomever may find this letter,

My name is Fluttershy, and by the time anyone reads this, I’ll be somewhere else.

A little over six months ago, four of my best friends left on journeys of discovery and never returned from them. What caused these sudden departures were a mystery to me, but not to them. Even if they didn’t choose to go, I know now the wouldn’t take back that choice if they could. They’d found their way to Paradise, and even though they’re no longer with us, it’s something I wouldn’t condemn them for choosing over us.

Now, I found myself unable to live without them. It hurts. It hurts to be alone, to be without friends, to have everything you care about thrown into the wind, and be expected to get over it. It hurts so much I didn’t think it real. How could anything in the world feel as surreal as losing almost all of your closest friends? It’s absurd. It couldn’t happen, but it did.

So I ran.

I ran away from my home to a fairytale, a magical castle full of mystery to distract myself from the paramount need of learning to cope with what had happened. Somewhere inside me I figured coping was hard and that facing the future would break me. I couldn’t even think of one memory without breaking down, getting angry, or feeling guilty. It made me sick after a while and I was sick of being sick. I wanted to feel better, to be better, and I childishly clung to the first thing that did that. Love.

It presented itself, and I took the chance. Only because of how wonderful a pony my love was did I make it so far. At times I’d feel whole again. I’d never fallen in love before. It wasn’t my first priority, but I still wondered why it had happened. I think some fall in love to complete themselves, like a puzzle. Maybe I’m the same way, but I don’t think I am. I think I fell in love because I was broken, and I needed someone to put me back together. So, I thank you, Luna.

But to you, founder of this humble letter, you need to only know a few things. I’ve found my own way to Paradise, and I have hope again. There are so many things that ponies tell me are important—quintessential to life—money, knowledge, power, but now I know that there is only one thing that matters anymore.

Happiness.

With a heart full of love,

Fluttershy

Her Happily Ever After

Sweetie Belle sat alone in the darkness of the Carousel Boutique Showroom, staring at the broken mirror, whose shards had taken her sister's life. The showroom had long lost the flair and sheen it once held, now a memoir to its past owner. Her sister’s will designated her as the new owner, but Sweetie Belle didn’t want it. What she’d even do with it, she didn’t know. She didn’t like fashion the same way Rarity did and she’d never have the same caliber of art to fill it with. It may be her’s legally, but it’d always be Rarity’s.

Ever since she learned her sister’s grisly end, the showroom had become a shrine to Sweetie Belle. They tried to come clean it up, but she wouldn’t let them. It had to stay the same. The glass of the broken mirror still littered the floor, jagged shards caked with Rarity’s blood.

So artistic, thought Sweetie Belle. I wonder if she stared at her reflection while she did it.

Of all the things that opened her mind to the artistic way of looking at things, Rarity’s death wouldn’t be her first guess. So many ponies thought of death in such a simplistic way: a long, dreamless sleep, clouds and pearly gates, misery surrounded by fire or darkness. It baffled Sweetie to think all the possibilities of death she heard in her life could be written on a single page.

One could die, but who's to say that meant they were gone forever. And where even was "gone"?

Leaving Equestria could mean so many things, to the departed and those left behind.

Without saying a word, Rarity had taught her that death was what she made of it. Every other pony could stay convinced that their fathers and grandmothers would just live as memories, but that seemed too simplistic. It felt asinine to think that everything a pony was ended up nowhere else but our mind when we choose to remember them.

Existence is a big place, and there was no way that Equestria, the world, could hold all of it.

That meant Rarity could still be out there. She may be done living in Equestria, but that didn’t mean she was done living. She was on a journey, in a different chapter of her story, and yet they were connected. It didn’t matter where on their journeys through life and beyond Rarity and Sweetie Belle were. Through all of time, they'd be connected.

In the room Sweetie Belle could feel Rarity next to her, sad enough to take her life, but still with her. In this place, in this single moment, they could be together, through time and space.

She took a deep breath.

There was a task Sweetie belle had given herself awhile back. It was the day she realized she had a choice in life. It was the day she decided there was one thing in the world that could bring Rarity back, so to speak.

Sweetie Belle picked up the shard caked with her sister’s blood. In it she saw her reflection, her face calm and melancholy. The world had tried to take away her best friend, her sister, but she wouldn’t let herself be walked all over. No, she’d show the world. She’d show it that it couldn’t tell her ‘what’s what’. It said that she couldn’t see Rarity again, and for all she knew, it was right, but a broken life could be put back together.

A broken mirror could be put back together.

She was going to give reuniting with her sister her best shot, and if it didn't work out, who cared? Starting the next chapter of her journey didn't have to wait. She moved the bloody shard to her stomach.

“Sister…” she whispered to herself.

She pressed the sharp into her stomach.

“Sweetie Belle,” barked Rarity. “Put that down this instant!”

Sweetie Belle snapped to the source of the noise. It came from the shattered mirror. The various shards of glass still in the room began to rattle across the ground like an earthquake.

“Rarity?!”

In a single moment, the glass shards flew up from the floor and replaced themselves in the mirror. They arced and shot, rapid-fire, from the ground to their respective spots until one hole remained. The shard in her hooves shook lightly, pulling itself towards the mirror, begging to be reunited. Sweetie Belle let go of it and it flew into place. The cracks sealed in a brilliant light and, Sweetie Belle saw a fast-approaching Rarity. Her sister was dashing at the mirror from the other side, a full gallop.

“Don’t you even think about it!” she said.

Before she knew it, Sweetie Belle tumbled across the floor in the embrace of her sister: her weeping, whimpering sister. Sweetie Belles mouth hung open, her eyes were growing wider with each passing second.

“What the flipping heck?” swore Sweetie Belle, her voice cracking.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Big sister has you. You’re okay…” said Rarity, stroking her mane.

Of all the things for Sweetie Belle to consider at the moment, her sister saying ‘you’re okay’ seemed to stick out. “I’m okay?! You’re dead!” she said. “Am I dreaming or something? If I am this is really, really real!”

Sweetie Belle slapped herself twice. Rarity grabbed her hoof as she drew back for a third one.

“Sweetie!” she exclaimed. “You really shouldn’t hit yourself. You have a pretty face and don’t want unnecessary scarring.”

Sweetie Belle subtly bit the inside of her lip until she tasted blood. She winced from the pain, but didn’t wake up. Usually pain would have jolted her awake. Countless instances of falling out of her own bed in the middle of the night assured her of that conclusion.

The realization that Rarity had just come out of a mirror hit her like a train.

“What...?” she said without a trace of wit left in her eye.

By this point in time, Sweetie’s eyes were somehow much larger that the sockets they inhabited. The fuse had been blown, her reasoning power long gone.

“Sweetie, you have no idea the sort of trouble I went through to save you...” cooed Rarity.

Sweetie Belle did nothing notable in response beside blinking. Either she was hallucinating, or Rarity was. Either way something was most likely wrong, and everything was absolutely confusing.

“I—uhh, thanks?”

“Anything for you, little sister, but as much as I want to sit here and catch up, I must find a friend of mine.” Rarity broke their embrace and looked out the window. It was dark, the sun having set a while ago.

“Are you real?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Of course I am,” replied Rarity. “Why would you think I wasn’t? Oh my, have you slept recently? You look so very tired.”

“I think something really important happened…” said Sweetie absently.

“Tell me later. We need to be in at my friend's house five hours ago,” she said firmly. “As much as you need rest, I’m not letting you out of my sight, and anyway, it won’t take us long to get there.”

Sweetie Belle snapped out of it, sort of. “I uhm… What should I bring?”

“Art supplies: crayons, paper, paint, and don’t just think visual art. I know how fantastic of a singer you are and have some very special sheet music in my nightstand drawer I want you to bring.”

*

Ten minutes later, they both had saddlebags filled to the brim with everything listed. They went back to the repaired mirror in the showroom and Rarity touched its surface. It rippled like water, with each small wave shining a different colour of the rainbow. Rarity stepped through the mirror and Sweetie Belle followed.

Trixie and Stella sprinted down the unnaturally empty halls of the castle. Trixie hadn’t noticed any patrolling guards or late-night scholars. Luna’s embassies hadn’t convened and the apparency of wrongness grew with each passing second. Yet, Stella seemed unfazed by their solitude. All that seemed to matter to her was closing the gap between her and Twilight as quickly as possible. The subtle chill in the air crept up Trixie’s spine. Canterlot Castle didn’t rest at peace on a lazy summer night.

Silence and stillness petrified it.

“Stella,” said Trixie. “Could you explain to Trixie what exactly is going on?”

“There are so many things. I don’t know where to start.”

The two of them rounded a corner, sliding across the cold marble. Stella’s pace never slowed, even picking up a bit.

“Well—How is Twilight Sparkle trying to change fate?” panted Trixie. “And why is it bad?”

Stella took a moment to gather her thoughts. When she spoke she did so quickly without pause.

“It’s a long story, but basically a very silly pony told me to figure out how to move her through time. She'd made the incredibly intelligent decision to imprison her lovey poo for a long time, and then realized she couldn't wait."

Stella was cut off by a thundering boom that echoed through the resounding marble halls. Trixie winced and looked up as though the sky was about to fall. Stella on the other hand, slowed her pace and searched the floor with no object in mind. She cracked a smile and laughed breathily, shaking her head.

“What was that?” whined Trixie.

“I can’t believe it,” said Stella to herself. “That was a sonic rainboom approximately one year ago.”

“What? What do you mean ‘one year ago’?”

Stella laughed nervously. “So, time traveling to the future is really hard, right? Because that stuff hasn't happened. It's so hard, in-fact, that its actually easier to predict the future, and then use multiple dimensions to effectively time travel your target and then bridge the dimensions for them to return."

There she was.

Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy tried to form words, but they didn’t come. All her mouth could do was curl into a smile. The last six months had felt so surreal, living without her friends, coming to Canterlot, and falling in love with Luna. She wondered when the dream would be over. When would she wake up from the nightmare to see none of it had really happened?

Yet, given everything that transpired, nothing felt more surreal than Rainbow Dash standing right in front of her face.

She fit Fluttershy’s memory perfectly: same cyan coat, rainbow mane, and borderline flippant attitude. It felt silly to think, but Rainbow Dash almost looked majestic, and the scratchiness of her voice held a melody to her ears.

So much so that Fluttershy had no idea what Rainbow Dash just said.

“Fluttershy?” asked Rainbow Dash, waving her hoof at her. “You okay?”

“I—Um! Yes! Very much so!” she replied, before nodding her head like a rabbit. “Can I hug you?”

Rainbow Dash looked like she’d just been asked how often she picked her nose. She shifted her weight between the heels and toes of her hooves uncomfortably.

“Uh—Well, there’s kind of stuff we need to take care—”

“Please?” interrupted Fluttershy, a frown forming on her face.

Rainbow Dash looked surprised and even less comfortable as Fluttershy crept into her personal bubble with big puppy dog eyes.

“But it’s really, really important—” tried Rainbow

“Please?!”

“Ya know, my back hurts—”

“Please?!”

“I—” she started. “Maybe a quick one—”

Rainbow Dash didn’t get farther than that. Fluttershy had her strangled and pinned, crying into her chest like a little schoolgirl. Trying all she could, Rainbow struggled to break free of her iron grip, but it was no use.

“F-fluttershy...” choked Rainbow Dash.

“Not done!” she protested, squeezing tighter.

“Can’t breathe!”

“Not done!”

Fluttershy peeked through slitted eyes to see Rainbow’s eyes bugging out of their sockets. She released her and took a step back to give Rainbow some breathing space.

“Oops, sorry,” she said with a blush.

“You’ve—been—working out,” replied Dash between gasps of breath.

“I just really missed you.”

“Glad to know I was missed.” Dash eyed Luna who observed with a distant curiosity. “You don’t want a hug too, do you?”

Luna shook her head. “I don’t, but your presence confounds me as does a few other things. I wouldn’t put it past our Princess Cadenza to want yet another wedding, but the witching hour seems an odd time. Can you explain this?”

“Yeah, I can,” replied Dash, rubbing the back of her neck. “So Twilight and Rarity figured out how to time travel awhile back. Twi went to the future, and Rarity to the past. And I mean serious time travel. We’re talking the very beginning of time and the very end of time. Creation and Paradise. Big stuff here.”

“Is that where they’ve been?” asked Fluttershy.

“Yeah, and recently something connected them, pulling them together. That doesn’t sound so bad, but what’s happening is that instead of them just traveling back through to the same time, they’re staying where they are and time between them is being squashed, like a big, dumb time sandwich, until everything is in the same time.”

“Time is being squished between them?”

There was a grim look on Luna’s face. “I know what this is,” she said. “Imagine all of eternity passing in one second. That’s the catastrophe we’re moving towards. The two ends of time are coming together to make any difference in time indistinguishable.”

“Yeah, she knows,” iterated Dash. “It means everything that has ever happened, and will ever happen, is going to start happening right now. Basically the world is ending.”

“Do you know what’s connecting them?” asked Luna. “If we sever the connection, time should return to normal.”

“Sort of, but I don’t think we should just cut them off. If we do, Twilight and Rarity might get stuck where they are and never come back. They’re working on a way to fix this, but need give them as long as we can.”

“What can we do to help?” asked Fluttershy.

“You.” Dash tapped Fluttershy on the chest. “You need to stay alive as long as you can.”

“Why me?”

As if on cue, blood curdling screams from far below broke it. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy followed the noise to its source and saw black, writhing masses terrorizing the wedding. Fires started to break out.

A vaguely feminine voice with the hiss of a snake crept into their ears.

“Princesss Luna, sso wonderful that you made it to my very ssspecial day. Where iss your ssister?”

They turned and saw the tall, wicked Queen of the Changlings.

“Chrysalis?!” said all three of them.

She flipped her ratty mane and gave them a seductive look. “Sso you do know my name. How are you three tonight?”

“Surrender,” commanded Luna.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “I can ssee you share your sisster’s mannerss.”

At her sides, two glowing green whips flashed into existence. They wiggled and cracked on their own accord. She snapped them at Luna who rapidly cast a few strikes of lightning to deflect them. Fluttershy squeaked. The dust settled, each side staring the other down.

“Hmph,” said Chrysalis. “Would you be inssulted if I said I expected that to work?”

“No, but I am saddened by the increasing likelihood that I may have to beat down somepony so mentally incapable,” replied Luna.

Chrysalis transformed into a mirror image of Luna and smiled.

“Oh, the irony.”

Her horn lit and behind them a swarm of changlings rose into the air. Luna and Dash noticed them out of the corners of their eyes, but didn’t move. All at once, the drones rushed in from behind with Chrysalis firing a neon green power beam from the front.

Quick as a lightning’s flash, the full moon shone a pillar of light over Luna. Her eyes glowed white with power and a pure white blade of light erupted from her horn. She swung her head to the right and used it to parry Chrysalis’ attack as it traveled to its target. Taking advantage of spinning her momentum, Luna brought her back right heel high up to crack Chrysalis in the temple, sending her to the ground.

Dash launched straight up with a sonic rainboom, its explosive force breaking the drones’ tight formation and disorienting them. High above them, she bounced between storm clouds, sending lightning strikes at the dazed changlings. Most of them missed, but the rapid fire electrical discharges thinned their numbers enough to rout the swarm in an instant.

Once they dispersed, She floated back down to the balcony.

Fluttershy blinked.

They stood over the downed Queen of the Changlings. Chrysalis sat up and cracked her jaw back into place, a thin red line leaking out the corner of her mouth. She smiled, unfazed. Luna looked discomforted by the non-effectiveness of their attack while Dash just dug at the ground.

Chrysalis stood up and brushed herself off. “This form,” she said, staring straight at Fluttershy. “So full of love and passion. And power.”

Chrysalis called down her own barrage of lightning strikes to assail Luna. She rapidly cast shields and barriers to deflect each strike, but could only barely keep up. Her greens whips flailed outward, wrapping around two of Rainbow Dash’s legs. Three more whips appeared, wrapping around her other two legs and neck. Dash struggled to fly away, but it was no use. Chrysalis pulled her closer until her sharp horn pressed into Dash’s back. Dash screamed at the top of her lungs.

With a strobe of lightning setting background to the horror, Fluttershy watched the silhouette of whips pull her farther back. It happened so quickly. One moment, Dash was screaming, she heard a crack, then silence. The next moment, Dash’s limp form hung upon the end of Chrysalis’ horn.

She dumped the corpse to the ground and turned to Fluttershy. The whips had her legs and neck in an instant.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle found themselves in an old, dark cottage. By the looks of it, it had been abandoned decades ago. A thick coat of dust covered everything, no corner was without cobwebs, the ripe smell of mothballs permeated the air.

The place was in the shape of a half-circle. Along the flat wall two beds flanked a hearth, and along the rounded wall were closets, bookshelves, countertops, and cabinets. The wood used to build the furnishings looked dry and delicate, like the gentlest touch would crumple them to dust.

Sweetie Belle hacked as she walked face first into a cobweb.

“Blech! Rarity, what are we doing here?” asked Sweetie Belle.

The sound of crying sounded through the house.

“Lily?” said Rarity. “Darling, are you here? It’s Auntie Rarity.”

The crying stopped. Sweetie Belle tensed up. The place was already creepy, and the sounds of a crying pony only ever meant bad things. At least that’s what the movies had taught her.

“Rarity, what was that?” whispered Sweetie Belle. “Can we leave? This place is giving me the creeps.” She peeked out the nearest window and saw a barren wasteland littered with rocks and dead trees.

“Nonsense,  it just needs a little sprucing up, and we can’t leave without my friend.”

Almost as if on command, the two of them broke eye contact looked and around the small establishment. The fact of it being a one room house, and not being a house anyone would want to live in anyway, didn’t inspire confidence.

“She’s here,” said Rarity reassuringly. “Just look around and tell me if you see anything out of the ordinary.”

“Okay…”

Sweetie Belle eyed the central table, and upon seeing Rarity go to check another part of the room she figured she should check it out. Apprehensively, she approached it. On it, someone had neatly set up three sets of pewter tableware for a meal that never happened. In the center of it stood an empty, four-pronged candlestick. Sweetie looked from side to side before reaching out and poking the candlestick with her hoof.

It wobbled.

She searched the table for anything else of note. On the fourth edge of the table where there wasn’t a placing set, she noticed that beneath the dust was something white. A quick puff of air revealed a pristine white piece of paper with a drawing of a white unicorn on it. She raised her brow at it. The pony held a shocking semblance to Rarity the only difference being her mane colour and style.

“Hey, Rarity, I think I found something,” she said. “It’s a picture of a pony.”

Rarity turned her head up from the trunk she had new nose stuck in.

“Oh? Let me see.”

Sweetie levitated the drawing over to her. Rarity barely glanced at it.

“Well done, little sister,” she said, patting Sweetie on the head. “Alright, give it to me.”

“Why what’s going to happen?”

“A lot of things, darling, but there is no time to waste.”

Sweetie Belle looked down at the simple drawing she held, and then back up at Rarity. The expectant look on her sister’s face bothered her. She’d spent six months crying over the thought that Rarity had killed herself because of her. She missed her so much, and now she was back and apparently too concerned with “her friend” to even give an explanation. Maybe it was wrong to get angry at someone because their death hurt and they didn’t seem to care.

She didn’t want to admit it, but part of her resented Rarity’s sudden rising from the grave.

“First, can you tell me where you went?” asked Sweetie. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you…”

Rarity looked surprised, her mouth forming the shape of a tiny “o” and her pupils shrinking a bit. She recovered with a nervous laugh and disregarding wave of her hoof.

“Oh, Sweetie, it’s—it’s too complicated. A lot of silly magic things. We’d be here all night.”

“I have time,” said Sweetie. “I have all night.”

Rarity grimaced. “I’m sorry, but I don’t. Now, if you’d hurry up and let me see that already.”

She tried to levitate it away from Sweetie Belle, but she held firmly. Even the slightest tug gave it a small tear.

“Sweetie, give that to me this instant.”

“Rarity, where have you been?!” she outburst suddenly. “Off in who-knows-where doing silly magic things? Is this picture one of those silly magic things?”

“Yes, I suppose that is one way to describe it,” she admitted.

“Are you gonna leave again if I give it to you?”

“That’s not important—”

“Whoa!” protested Sweetie. “Not important? It’s like the most important-est thing there is! Why would you go off again when you can just stay here? Forget that other junk, that’s the stuff that's not important.”

Rarity chewed her lip. “It is though…”

“No, it’s not! It takes you away from your family and friends.”

Trixie was completely out of breath by this point in time. This must have been the fifteenth long, dimly lit hallway they turned onto. All this running confirmed her sneaking suspicion of Canterlot Castle being bigger on the inside than the outside. Thankfully at the end of this hallway was the door they seeked, Celestia’s private chambers. With this they slowed to a slow trot to give them a moment to catch their breath.

“Okay, so you time traveled,” said Trixie, still winded.

“Almost. The diary you recovered contains the spellwork for an artificial dimension whose purpose was to replicate real life exactly. We thought that we might be able to send the silly pony through time faster in this other dimension and then bring her back when she was in the right time period, but I don’t think it worked exactly like that."

"It doesn’t sound like it would."

“Now the problem is that Twilight Sparkle has done something to connect our world and run them parallel to each other. Our timelines don’t merge cleanly because time doesn’t work the same way here as it does there. To make matters worse, the diary also controls the other dimension. If you change the diary, you change the other dimension—"

“And Equestria,” said Trixie thoughtfully. “Does that mean Celestia was trying to protect us the whole time...?”

“That’s what she says she wanted. I doubt it though. Originally, changing the diary had no effect on Equestria, and really, it’s not like whatever she writes is going to make things any worse than ‘ending all time’.”

“So what do we do?” asked Trixie.

“The worlds are connected and we just need to break the connection.”

They arrived at the doors.

Stella pushed them open. The grand room marble and gold room was empty aside from one small, purple form on the bed, Twilight Sparkle. The clops of Stella’s hooves echoed through the cold room.

“Trixie, I need your assistance,” said Stella.

“What is it?”

“I need to cast a spell. To do this, I need you to give me a drop of your blood and a tear.”

Trixie shifted her hooves uncomfortably. “Um, okay—go ahead.”

“Think of something sad that you might be able to force a tear out with and I’ll make a small cut on your leg.”

Trixie almost found the request humourous. Think of something sad. She’d lived a sadder life than most ponies knew. Up until these last fews months, asking her to think of something happy would have proven a much more difficult task.

She brought to mind the first show she tried to put on since the first incident in Ponyville. It kind of made her sad, but she moved on to the time she spent on the Pie’s rock farm. She thought of the day she left and felt enough water in her eyes to push a tear to her cheek.

Stella’s weak magic tickled it off her.

“Very good, you’re doing an excellent job. Now, hold still.”

Trixie closed her eyes and felt a prick of pain on the inside of her leg. She winced, but saw as Stella levitated a drop of blood from the cut, mixing it with the tear. She then moved it to the stub that remained of her horn. In a flash of light, a ghostly projection of her horn glowed where it should have been.

“Thank you. That’s all I needed. You may leave, now.”

Her horn flashed and a blade of pure light appeared at her side. Stella walked straight towards Twilight, swirling the blade through the air. Trixie noticed her horn had shrunk in size.

“Wait, what do you plan to do?” asked Trixie, her eyes fixed on Stella’s weapon.

“Break the chain…”

Trixie’s eyes went wide.

“You’re going to kill Twilight Sparkle?!”

She raised the blade above Twilight, sighing deeply. “Don’t make me sound like the bad guy. My daughters deserve a world to grow up in…”

Stella brought the sword down.

Without thinking, Trixie magically propelled herself between the two and manifested a glowing blue shield to block the blow, roaring as she did. Stella’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What are you doing?!” bellowed Stella.

“I can’t let you kill Twilight Sparkle. She—She’s my friend.”

Trixie threw Stella off her with a swing of her shield. She skid across the smooth marble floors. Her face twisted with anger.

“You’re a fool, Trixie,” she said, materializing a second blade of light. Her horn diminished.

“Trixie knows this,” she replied. “But she owes Twilight Sparkle a favour.” The events following her second visit to Ponyville filled her mind. She could have been imprisoned for years, but Twilight had asked that she be pardoned. “One reprisal for another.”

Stella leaped high into the air, bringing down one blade and then the other onto Trixie. Energy swirled about Trixie’s horn as her magic built up. Her shield twitched and shook as pink lightning crackled around it. Stella struck it and magic discharged, the resulting shockwave throwing Stella back once more. Trixie dispelled the shield and brought forth a similar energy longbow. Trixie surrounded it with a series of mirrors and magical smoke. Dozens of reflections of the magic bow being drawn back shone through the smoke, and all at once, a barrage of arrows left the cloud leaving behind long trails of light.

The attack struck home. Stella deflected a few, but she lost a blade in the process and ended up getting her wing clipped. Blood flowed from the open wound. As she fell to the ground, she dipped her hoof in it and from that tip, fired a ball of energy at Trixie.

Trixie dismissed the smoke and mirrors only to take the blast straight to the face. Trixie shook it off though.

Stella had landed on her back, but didn’t miss a beat and tossed a forceful blast of magic in direction opposite of the bed to propel her beneath it. Once beneath Twilight, she used her blade to slice the bed apart, but the deeper parts of her strikes bounced off of Trixie’s bubble shield.

Trixie screamed intensely with each strike. The shield began to crack. With few options left, she tossed Twilight high into the air and did an aerial flip backwards to avoid Stella’s onslaught.

The bed nearly exploded as her a few dozen slashes tore it apart in a matter of seconds. Stella saw her target falling back towards her, but Trixie jerked Twilight out of her reach.

Twilight slid across the floor behind Trixie, who took a defensive stance.

“How did you like smoke and mirrors?” taunted Trixie.

Stella folded her hurt wing back in. “It was lovely. I didn’t have to see your ugly face for once.”

“Trixie’s glad—” Her horn lit up and entire room became shrouded in a smoke and mirrors.

Stella could scarcely see the other side of the room. Trixie’s form ran throughout the smoke in more places than she cared to count. The clops of Trixie’s hooves echoed throughout the room.

“Do you even know what happens if Twilight is allowed to live?” said Stella calmly, watching every movement she could.

“It doesn’t matter,” she replied. “The ponies closest to my heart taught me what it means to be in another’s debt, especially after treating them so poorly.”

Stella’s ear twitched. Trixie was behind her. She swung, but nothing connected. A bolt of magic shot at her from the smoke, exploding on contact and sending her rolling and crashing into a mirror.

Stella got to her hooves, and began pacing about the room. Moving would distract her more effectively. She slashed at each and every mirror she came across, shattering them.

Another bolt shot out, but Stella caught it out of the corner of her eye and slid out of the way. She followed the source of the attack and carefully watched the mirrors.

Movement behind her. The sound of hooves against marble pointed to behind her. A bolt flew out, but Stella deflected back at its source. It hit Trixie right in the face. She screamed and the mirrors and smoke disappeared.

Trixie took a moment to rub her eyes and try to shake off the stunning attack. Stella swung in with her blade

Less than two seconds later, Trixie screamed out in the most excruciating pain she’d ever felt. Her horn rolled across the floor a few feet away from her. She buckled to her knees, her hooves permanently affixed to the stub that used to be her horn.

“Hurts, doesn’t it?” whispered Stella, still in the stance she used to take away Trixie’s magic. “Be happy you’re still alive.”

Nothing but screams, blood curdling screams.

“Unfortunately, the magic of friendship goes beyond unicorn magic, so I can’t offer Twilight the same courtesy.”

Stella looked back towards Twilight who still laid on the ground where she landed. She used her blade to make a small cut across Twilight’s cheek. She grimaced in pain but still didn’t wake up.

“Just a stray dog that Rosetta brought in off the street,” spat Stella. “That’s what you are.”

She swung the blade at Twilight’s neck, but a yellow beam of energy shot out and destroyed her weapon. It took her a moment to realize it, but when she did, she screamed.

“Who did that?!” she bellowed.

A tall, white pony approached.

“Stella,” said Celestia. “I think you misunderstand what needs to be done.”

Stella glared at her with burning eyes. “You said, ‘break the chain’, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Celestia shook her head. “Killing my student won’t break the spell. It continues as long as the diary does and I don’t think we have the time to find a way to destroy it. To save Equestria, we need to remove that which ties it all together.”

“Kill the pegasi then,” chided Stella. “But that won’t stop Twilight Sparkle from rewriting anything else. She needs to die to secure Equestria.” She materialized another blade, leaving her horn’s magic half-depleted. “Please don’t stand in my way.”

Celestia brought forth her own weapon, a golden white energy lance. She gently parried Stella’s blade to the side. Stella let her push it without reaction. They locked eyes and Stella looked a deep breath.

“So it’s come to this,” said Stella. “Quite the underdog story isn’t it?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” replied Celestia. “This time, I won’t stop at your horn.”

Fluttershy flapped her wings frantically, but the whips around her limbs and neck had her in a iron grip. She was helpless as they reeled her in.

“Luna! she screamed. “Help!

It seemed like the more she yelled, the faster the bolts of lightning struck Luna. Soon, even she slipped up with her defense after defending for so long against attacks that moved at the speed of light. Once one bolt slipped through, more did and the effect snowballed.

“So much love,” said Chrysalis.

She lifted Fluttershy into the air and to her horn. Fluttershy felt it begin to dig into her spine. The lightning stopped and she saw Luna on the ground trembling even to get up.

“Princess Luna,” said Chrysalis. “Wouldn’t you like to stare lovingly into her eyes during her last moments?”

Luna grit her teeth in frustration, tears flowing down her cheeks. She couldn’t even lift herself up.

“Let her go you miserable, worthless insect!” roared Luna.

“It’s okay, Luna!” cried Fluttershy. “I just want to tell you that I lov—”

The digging horn in her back cut her off. She released a pained screamed.

Chrysalis laughed. “This is so precious! Princess, I do believe it’s your turn to reply.”

Luna had nearly managed to get to her knees. Her horn sparkled weakly. They heard thunder above.

“Oh no,” said Chrysalis. “We can’t have that.”

Without warning, another whip came out and cracked Luna across the back, leaving a deep red gash. She collapsed to her stomach.

“No magic. Only tender, heartfelt words of endearment and longingness.”

Chrysalis wrapped the whip around Luna’s neck and held her up to Fluttershy, her legs dragging behind her. Luna couldn’t look her in the eye, guilt filling them with too many tears.

“Go on. Say something. Kiss even. Doesn’t matter to me. I’m starving for anything.”

“I love you, Fluttershy,” whispered Luna too quiet for anyone to hear.

They heard the snap of fingers and the whips turned into wet noodles.

Fluttershy and Luna dropped to the ground and a deep, sarcastic voice that always seemed on the cusp of a laugh rang out.

“Hungry, Chrysalis?” hissed Discord, suddenly behind her. “I got something nice and hard for you to chew on.”

She turned around. Discord stood ready with a metal baseball bat over his shoulder, ready to swing. With all his might, he smashed her right in the mouth, leaving it a pearly, bloody mess. She screamed in agony, held her hooves to her mouth and fell out of her Princess Luna disguise.

Discord followed up with a backstroke, breaking her jaw. A vertical spin attack to spike her to the ground. A stomp of his foot to bounce her up. He landed a flurry of strikes, very stylishly at that, Chrysalis stunned and defenseless. It was a savage beatdown that finished by knocking her high up and grand-slamming her all the way to Cloudsdale.

“No one hurts Fluttershy,” he snarled, watching her blink off in the distance.

“Discord!?” exclaimed Fluttershy. “Wh-what? Did you just save me?”

He turned to her and smiled. “That I did. Anything for a dear friend.”

“Friend?” The word felt like a foreign sweetness on her tongue.

“Indeed. You’re probably not aware, but in the future, we’re actually very good friends.” He frowned and between Luna and Rainbow Dash. “But as much as I’d like to catch up, I think we have more pressing matters to attend to.”

She knelt down next to Rainbow Dash and place her ear to her chest. Chrysalis’ horn had left a puncture wound in her abdomen, but regardless, she still drew shallow breaths. Normally, the thought of her friend dying would be enough to send Fluttershy spiraling in a black out. It had before, and probably would in the future, but right now she didn’t have the luxury to not take action. Rainbow Dash needed her.

“She’s still alive,” said Fluttershy putting her hoof directly into the wound to prevent further bleeding. “Discord, can you do anything?

He knelt next to her on his stubby legs and waved his hand over the wound. Magic light danced from his fingertips, but it met an invisible bubble and ran down its sides, failing to meet its target. He raised a brow and stroked his beard.

“Alicorn magic. It’s a little outside my realm of expertise,” he said. “Celestia will know what to do.”

He snapped his fingers and Rainbow Dash popped upward into a black bubble, floating in the middle of it. He tied her by a string to Fluttershy’s wrist like a balloon. Dash bounced about weightlessly.

“I put her in a stasis. She shouldn’t worsen while under that spell, but you ought to get her to Celestia asap. And for Luna—” he said. “Something extra special.”

He pulled out a massive magnifying glass and used it to capture the concentrated light of the moon and focus it on Luna. She stirred to life and fluttered her eyes. Her hoof ornaments, cutie mark, eyes, and necklace began to glow hot white. The wounds across her back began to close up. She moaned from the sheer intensity of the magic flowing through her. Static cracked through the air, searching for a source to discharge to.

The grit her teeth and looked up at the magnifying glass like a caged animal. With a roar, the static shattered it. Her eyes and cutie mark returned to normal, but the light on her hooves and neck only fell to a low shimmer.

“Discord? You’re free as well?” exclaimed Luna. She took up an aggressive stance. “Surrender! Or face me!”

He chuckled. “Really? Didn’t you just do this and fail miserably?”

Luna blushed scarlet red.

“You dare mock the Princess of the Night?”

“Yeah,” he said, scratching his nose. “I do almost daily.”

“It’s okay, Luna. I think he’s on our side,” interjected Fluttershy. “Look, he helped Rainbow.”

She held out her wrist. Luna went from distressed to confused in an instant.

“I—a stasis. Not a bad idea,” she admitted. “And you’re trying to help our cause?” she asked to Discord.

“Somepony thinks they can tell me fate is a thing, like—like I can be predicted!” he said. He clenched his fist and shook it at the sky. “Spoilers are not a thing!”

“What?” asked the ponies.

“Nevermind. You two, go.” Discord put on a pair of sunglasses, poofed a baseball cap on his head, turned it backwards, and spit in his hands before clapping them together and gripping his bat.

“Where are you going?” asked Fluttershy.

In the distance, a massive, red, centaur-like monster terrorized the countryside, firing laser beams from a ball of energy between his horns.

“To unsettle some finished business.”

Sweetie Belle glowered at her sister who returned her animosity.

“Sweetie, I’m not sure that you’re aware, but I have moved literal mountains to return to you. I’m not at all excited about the prospect of using this silly magic to do more silly things,” said Rarity.

“Then don’t!” replied Sweetie Belle.

The house began to creak as if the wood itself was growing restless.

“It’s not that easy. There are things I need to take care of that you just don’t understand—”

“That is the cheapest excuse,” chided Sweetie Belle. “What? Because I’m a kid and you’re the older sister that nothing I say matters and everything you say is always right?”

Rarity fumed in a silence only broken by the increasing restlessness of the house.

“All your dumb magic has done is break ponies apart! I bet Twilight and Rainbow are both part of this, aren’t they?”

More silence.

“Do you know what it was like in Ponyville when all three of you disappeared forever? Pinkie has been in the hospital because she’s so flipping sad! Scootaloo wouldn’t stop crying and Fluttershy had to leave to go take care of Twilight!”

Sweetie Belle was crying in frustration now. Only half-aware of what she said, the words came flowing out.

“This happened to us on accident!” protested Rarity. “We didn’t search this out. It found us!”

“Fine! Go back! I don’t need you anyway, cause I’ve learned to live without you and it’s freakin’ awesome!” cried Sweetie Belle.

Rarity’s anger vanished. Her lip trembled and her face scrunched up.

“You—You don’t mean that, do you?”

“You leave, and then you come back! And then you leave again! I hate you! I hate you so much!”

Rarity’s eyes fell to the floor, searching it like somewhere was a button that’d end this nightmare. She could hardly breathe and tried to swallow but her mouth and throat felt like sandpaper.

“I—I’m…”

Rarity began to cry, but did everything her power to not make a peep. Her face scrunched up and she looked up to the corner of the room. She choked down every sob and bat her lashes to soak up the tears.

“I’m happy for you…” she said. “If I remember correctly how much you said you loved me, then being able to get over me makes you a strong filly. Stronger than me.”

Sweetie Belle didn’t say anything.

“You can leave through the mirror we entered, it’s a two way portal. Break the mirror on the other side, and you don’t ever have to see me again,” said Rarity.

Rarity glanced down at Sweetie Belle and the locked eyes. Never before had Sweetie Belle seen her sister so desperate. It was almost pathetic how broken up Rarity looked. It ripped Sweetie Belle’s heart right out of her chest. They held each other’s eyes for only a second before Rarity let a sob through, and once that happened, it took no time at all for them to be crying in each other’s arms.

*

“Are you going to go?” asked Sweetie Belle, some time later.

“I’m afraid Equestria isn’t going to be here much longer. I can’t stay here.”

“Can we go together?”

“I wouldn’t leave without you.”

Sweetie Belle held out the drawing for Rarity to take. Rarity smiled and quickly tore it in half, then fourths. Sweetie Belle ripped a piece off and then laughed as they tried to rip it into as many tiny pieces as they could. The paper fell to the floor and they left through the mirror they came, back home.

*

On the other side unicorn familiar to Rarity stood waiting. She was white with a baby blue mane and amethyst eyes.

“Illustrious,” said Rarity. “I’m glad to see you’re finally free.”

“Freedom, a most essential qualitative liberty that I have never been able to accurately define,” replied Lily with a bright smile. Her eyes went wide and she held a hoof to her mouth. “But wait—” she whispered. “That’s not what we’re talking about right now, is it?”

“No, darling. Well, technically it is, but we should probably discuss how we’re going to fix this.”

They watched a parasprite buzz by above them. A hundred more followed.

“I agree,” said Lily.

“My friend Twilight told us that there is a way to Paradise. My efforts in your world have only concerned accomplishing this goal, but we have ran into some issues.”

“Like the cessation of a tangible concept of time?” replied Lily.

“How did you know—?”

“Remember how it’s my world you’re using for this? The one that I poured my heart and mind into? I’m aware.”

“Oh.”

“Anyway, the spell that underlies this problem has been modified. I believe your friend in Paradise doesn’t fully understand the ramifications of her actions, so we need to give control of the spell to somepony who does.”

“Who? You?”

Lily smiled and shook her head. “I’m probably only the fifth most qualified pony. The pony we need is Pinkie Pie.”

In the span of ten seconds the wind outside had picked up to a roaring gale. House sized debris seemed to come out of no where, crashing into the city below and escalating the chaos. A thunderless lightning storm flashed the sky like an oversized strobe light. Both the sun and moon were out, and the light of day mixed with the starry night like a tye-dye shirt. Fluttershy shouted at the top of her lungs just to be heard.

"I don't get it! She was just here a few minutes ago!" she said scanning the approaching hallway to Luna's observatory. "Where could she have gone?!"

"By now she has probably recognized the impending calamity and gone to secure Twilight Sparkle!" replied Luna. "We need to go to her personal chambers!"

Fluttershy nodded and they both took off down the hall. Celestia’s room wasn’t far. They could hear crashing and crumbling as debris pelted the walls around them.

“What is the calamity?” asked Fluttershy. “What’s going on? Why did Rainbow tell me I need to stay alive?”

“I—I don’t know.”

“You’re lying.”

“Well of course I am. I just don’t want to say it.”

“I don’t care. Tell me.”

The hallway seemed to stretch on forever. No matter how fast they ran, they never got anywhere.

“You want the truth?” spat Luna.

“Yes.”

“You’re what connects Rarity and Twilight. I don’t know how you did it, but you all got caught up in an old, broken spell that should never have happened in the first place. You brought two ponies at the ends of time together.”

“Is everypony outside dead?! Because of me?” cried Fluttershy.

“Is that really what’s important right now?” deflected Luna.

“Yes! All I did was write them letters. I wanted to see them again because I didn’t want to be alone and you left me. I didn’t want any of this to happen!”

Luna slowed to a stop. She looked forward and behind her. Both ways went on forever. Fluttershy didn’t want to stop, but did anyways.

“This is useless,” said Luna. “Time is about to collapse, and then it’ll be over. Everything.”

“So, this is it?”

Luna shook her head, tears welling up. A wayward tree crashed through the skyway behind them. Gusts rushed to fill the empty halls. Another one crashed into the skyway in front of them. Luna leaped over to Fluttershy to shield her as debris began to circulate around. They pounded her shield, each blow weakening her. Luna’s magical shield cut off Rainbow Dash, the threshing debris turning the bubble into a red mist.

“We’re gonna die,” sobbed Fluttershy.

Luna grit her teeth, cracks in her shield webbing everywhere.

“I don’t want to live without you,” continued Fluttershy. “I love you too much.”

“I—I love you too.”

They heard a voice. It came from in front of them. At the other side of the chasm a light shone through. Their only hope.

“Fluttershy!” called Twilight from across the gap. “Are you alright?!”

“Twilight?! Is that you?!” replied Fluttershy.

“Yeah, come on! The door isn’t going to be open for much longer!”

Fluttershy looked up. An onyx black door now stood where the infinite hallway to Celestia’s chambers used to be. Across it she could read a few etched names: “Fluttershy”, “Twilight Sparkle”, and “Rarity”.

“Luna’s having trouble keeping her shield up. I don’t know if we can make it!”

“Fluttershy— she can’t come!” replied Twilight. “I messed up the spell. I messed up everything! Everything I love is being destroyed because I’m the dumbest pony in the world! Everything except for you!”

“Wait, what do you mean ‘everything except for you’?” parroted Fluttershy. “Where’s Rarity and Pinkie?

“I don’t know where Pinkie is, and Rarity is out in the storm. How many times do I have to say this? I messed up. Now, please, come on. I have no one else!”

Fluttershy turned back to Luna. Luna’s clenched her eyes in focus, putting every last ounce of magic she had into her shield.

“I… I—” began Fluttershy.

“I can get you across…” said Luna weakly, cutting her off. She looked up at Fluttershy with desperate, bloodshot eyes. “Go.”

Fluttershy searched deep into her, to her soul and back. She chewed her lip, her face scrunching up in tears. The decision she dreaded was finally her’s.

“If I die, is the connection broken?” asked Fluttershy. “Will the world stop ending?”

“I—I’m not living without you,” refuted Luna. “I don’t want to become that nightmare again.”

“It’s not your choice. It’s mine.”

Fluttershy backed up, stepping outside the shield into the chaotic storm. Luna moved the bubble shield in the same direction, continuing to protect Fluttershy. However, the shift came to exclude part of Luna’s tail. She cried out in pain as the storm shredded it. Fluttershy heart sank seeing her princess hurt so.

“Stop it!” cried Fluttershy. “You stupid, stupid pony!”

“I think we’ve reached an impasse…”

“No! We both don’t have to die. Only me!”

Luna laughed weakly. “I don’t want to live… I just want to spend eternity with you…”

“How’s that gonna happen if we both die?!” Fluttershy’s eyes went wide. “Oh my goodness…”

“You’ve brought of time together for us. All of eternity passing in a single moment,” repeated Luna. “That’s just what I want, but if you don’t want that, you can go with Twilight…”

Fluttershy blinked, and when she did, she was somewhere else. The roar of the storm evaporated into thin air.

The world around them changed to the meadow and cottage they’d dreamt of so much. It was calm and quiet. The fresh fragrance of flora filled her nose. Where she knew a dream from reality, this place was real. Far above them, the sunless daytime sky dimmed to dusk and she afforded a deep sigh. Her eyes became dry and a blink later they sat in Luna’s room, on her bed. She could smell a familiar scent, fresh-baked scones. Luna kissed her on the cheek, and felt warmness in her face and chest.

She sat in the meadow with all her friends. The spa with Rarity. In her cottage with Angel and her animal friends. Every moment before passed by, some she remembered and some she didn’t.

Another blink and they returned to the hopeless dreary storm inside the hallway.

“Fluttershy! Our time is up!” called Twilight. “Come on! We need to go now!”

Fluttershy smiled and began to cry.

“Fluttershy?!”

“Twilight… I think,— I think I’ve found Paradise. It’s not a place I need to go because I’ve been here all along.”

All things swirled together like a sleepy summer day lost to obscurity. The storm started to feel a lot like everything else.

“I’ll see you soon,” said Fluttershy to a Twilight Sparkle she wasn’t sure was there anymore.

With that, the shield collapsed and Fluttershy and Luna were no more.

Celestia stood over the defeated Stella, her lance to her throat. All the magic she amassed from Trixie was spent fighting a losing fight. She could know the most powerful spells in the world, but the sheer brute force of Celestia’s magic couldn’t be circumvented. Still, she locked eyes with Celestia, unafraid, with a scowl on her face.

“What’re you waiting for?” asked Stella. “Afraid to do it?”

Celestia’s expression was hard to place. Somewhere between curious and agitated, but intense either way.

“Yes. I am.”

Stella laid back and relaxed with her hooves behind her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever really understood you.”

Celestia pushed the lance head deeper into Stella’s neck. She frowned as it nearly broke skin.

“You whine and complain so much about living forever, but you don’t act all that old,” she said.

Celestia didn’t reply, only listening.

“You throw a tantrum. Things escalate, and suddenly your love turns into a maniac to which you answer with imprisoning her in the moon, with the elements of all things.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Using the elements on an element holder. So smart,” mocked Stella. “They go into hibernation, and what do you do? You throw another tantrum three-hundred years later.”

Celestia’s eyes went ablaze. “Don’t test me, Stella! I may just forget my fear momentarily!”

She shook her head. “Another tantrum.”

The lance broke through. Stella winced, as a thin stream of blood ran from her neck. Stella knew it wasn’t fatal, but it definitely hurt.

“Listen to me,” growled Stella. “Why are you so afraid of old age when you aren’t old at all?!”

“Shut up. I’m millennia old. I’ve outlived entire nations.”

“Yeah, has all that time robbed you of the richness of life? You fell in love, made promises, and boy oh boy, did you get your heart broken. Sounds like you’re right there in the moment.”

“Should I expect that your last breath will be a baseless insult, because I’m obliged to hasten the process!”

“You know, in a weird way, I love you like my own and I want the best for you. You have it in your head that you’re old, that life has nothing new for you.”

“It doesn’t.”

“But, you tore fate in two just to have her back in your arms. Despite living forever, a thousand years was somehow too much for you to handle. It’s the blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things.”

“I— missed her. Was that so wrong?”

“No, it’s not. That’s actually the beauty of it all. Time hasn’t numbed you as much as you think it has. You’re still a young mare.”

Pinkie Pie laid in her own bed back at the rock farm. The early morning sun tickled her eyelids to a flutter. She looked out the window and saw two familiar figures just turning into the farm’s perimeter. They smiled and laughed, and Pinkie couldn’t help but return the subtle favor.

She wound up a jack-in-the-box and used it to startle her mane from its bedhead poofiness to its trademark poofiness. Her mane, at the top of its form, grabbed the diary on her bed stand and proceeded to consume it into its depths. After a five second breakfast of apple scones, she raced outside to meet her friends.

Morning routine? Managed in thirteen seconds.

“Hey, you two!” said Pinkie. “How is my favourite royal couple doing this supertastic morning?!”

Fluttershy gave a look of friendly concern. “I—umm, it’s been odd, but I think we’re doing alright.”

“Favourite? You’re not a fan of Cadenza and Shining Armor?” replied Luna.

Pinkie thought for a moment. “Oh right, they exist…” She tossed her hooves up. “It’s a tie!”

“You know, we wouldn’t hold it against you if you played favourites,” said Luna.

“Pinkie Pie has no favourites…” replied Pinkie.

“Umm— I really do enjoy the quaint juxtaposition,” said Fluttershy, “but what in the wide world of Equestria happened?”

“Oh it’s easy!” said Pinkie, batting the air with a hoof. “I toodled the mathbusting mcnobbleknob to reset the ratios of space-time after Twilight geared the clocker double dum dum off the winker tink.”

The two sane ponies blinked (nothing unusual happening because of this).

“Really?” asked Fluttershy.

Pinkie giggle-snorted.

“Ha, no. It was just really fun to say. I think Luna should be the one to explain what that big, silly Ferry was originally meant to do.”

Fluttershy looked up to Luna. She blushed uncomfortably, looking down at her hooves.

“Yes, right,” she said quickly. “So, about seven-hundred years ago, three-hundred after my banishment, Celestia’s heart was broken. She wanted me back and would do anything.”

“Couldn’t she just bring you back?” asked Fluttershy. “I mean, she did cast the spell.”

“No, Nightmare Moon was still a threat, and without the elements I’d stay that way,” replied Luna. “It was no coincidence that the elements reawakened when I did, but that’s another story for another day.”

“A really good story too!” added Pinkie.

“Right, so Celestia, looking to reunite with me, enlisted the help of a few ponies to craft a powerful spell to help her travel through time to that moment seven-hundred years later. It was part time-travel, but we also managed to change fate a little bit.”

“They called it The Ferry,” interjected Pinkie again.

“It would bring Celestia to me, and then let us live together for eternity, thus the name, but we feared other ponies would use it for malicious purposes. It was supposed to end when we were reunited. Celestia would travel through seven centuries to reunite with me, the Ferry dispelling itself.”

“All this was written in a diary that contained the spell, which Twilight found,” said Pinkie. “Then she went and rewrote it cause she’s cray cray!” Pinkie’s mane produced the diary. “But then I was like, ‘silly Twilight, rewriting time is best done Pinkie Pie style’, and then I fixed it all!”

“That detail eludes me,” said Luna. “Could you enlighten us as to what you did?”

“Oh princess, it was easy. Do you know why when you reunited with Celestia, the Ferry didn’t dispel itself?”

Luna shook her head. “I figured it was because we never truly reunited. I mean, she didn’t even remember my name when I returned.”

“Name?” asked Fluttershy.

“Selena.”

“Well, Princess Selena,” said Pinkie. “The spell didn’t end because it was never about you and Celestia. It was about you and Fluttershy.”

“Us?” whispered Fluttershy.

“Bingo. You two ended the spell. Pretty romantic if you ask me.”

“And, pray tell, how did this happen?” asked Selena. “Did you change the spell?”

“I—umm… Long story,” she replied. “But yes. For saving the world, I take payment in cupcakes, helium tanks, and rent money."

“So, does that mean everyone is okay and that I didn’t end the world?” asked Fluttershy.

“Yeah, they’re on their way with a few friends,” replied Pinkie. “Try to be really supportive of Twilight though. She’s beating herself up pretty bad over this…”

The three of them heard the sounds of voices. They turned in the direction of the rising sun as it peaked over the distant mountains and saw the silhouettes of familiar ponies approaching. Fluttershy almost began to cry.

“Oh, one last thing,” said Pinkie. “Ever wonder what we grow on a rock farm?”

Fluttershy and Luna turned to one another with confused looks, but noticed a flower on the ground between them sprout up beneath the dirt. Then, even beneath their hooves, lush greenery and wild flora bloomed to life like wildfire across the farm and countryside. The magic of it all left Fluttershy speechless, even more so when she realized where she was.

Pinkie Pie picked up a flower and sniffed it heavily, leaving her a little light-headed. It began to glow and so did the rest of the meadow.

“They ask me, Pinkie, how do you grow rocks? Isn’t that impossible?” she said. “And I say, *Silly goose, we don’t grow rocks. We grow happiness.”*