Her red eyes cracked open. As she noticed her surroundings, she gave a sigh of relief and sorrow. Twilight sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her stomach growled with a fierce hunger, but she ignored it. There was a slight pain in the back of her spine. She turned around a saw a wound covered in a bloody mess. It wasn’t cleaned, yet it showed signs of scarring.
A wound like this must have been at least weeks old. She thought. I wonder how this happened?
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4 Weeks Before The Event
She peered over the hills. There stood the grand city of Manehattan. The city with the highest crime rate in Equestria shall fall today. She would grin at this fact, but there was something about the the scene before her that made her frown. There seemed to be more destruction than what she wanted. The once prosperous city looked to be in ruins. The skyscrapers’ glass walls were cracked and broken. All of the lower buildings were in flames, ponies, families and not, were running around; screams filling the air.
Her eyes almost watered at this, but one blink later, her frown turned to a grin. What a canvas to work on! Her first visit to the battlefield and it was spectacular! My minions are working perfectly. She began to trot down to the ruined city.
Her minions raced around her. Their shadowy forms glistened in the moonlight, blending into the night. They climbed the buildings and ran through the streets. Manehattan’s island fortress had fallen into her control.
But as she stared at the scene before her, she failed to notice a pony behind her. The pony leaped, revealing a shining blade.
As the blade flew down, she turned but couldn’t react fast enough. Time slowed down as the guard’s blade plunged into her lower back, right next to the spine. The pony, however, was evaporated as she unconsciously cast an absorption spell. He let out a scream in terror as his body began to separate into black and white particles. His armor feel to the ground around her.
She collapsed on her front knees, groaning in frustration and pain. Her horn sparked with magic and the blade slowly lifted from her back. So this was my first REAL battle wound. She thought. Quite pathetic... I expected more, maybe from... THEM.
She examined the blade. Its hilt had a dark black diamond with streaks of green emeralds swirling up to the blade. The blade was just as ceremonial. It was a silver-ish steel with a single strip of gold. She could tell it was enchanted; an aura seemed to flow off of them. It was meant to break shields, powerful shields. Only 2 ponies could enchant a spell like that and one is in a coma. She thought, a scowl growing on her face. This is the last straw; you’re trying to kill me, eh Celestia? She took the blade and struck it through the helmet, where the horn usually goes. She then teleported the combination of twisted metal to her favorite mentor. I wish I could see the look on her face when she see this. Too bad I’m not welcomed home, at least not now.
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She sat up. Her scars flowed along her flank and back as she wandered around her prison. The cruel irony; I am stuck in the only thing keeping me alive, but it is also my cage. I just want to go home. I wonder what is going on, back there? Ponyville? Canterlot? Manehattan? Equestria?
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Canterlot Castle: Current Time
White, marble, crystal. It flowed down rows and columns. They were beautiful; they brought tears to ponies’ eyes. They ran in thousands by thousands. Running down the mountainside were tombstones of guards-ponies, stallions and mares who served as Equestria’s finest. Among them stood not an ounce of blood that hadn't swore an oath of service to her. All roads lead back to a singke pony, the ruler of Equestria, the white knight, and the silent shadow of fate.
A white mare overlooked them all. She had bandages along her wings; an eyepatch covered her left eye, underneath laid an empty socket coated in scars. The other eye was no worse for ware; it was soaked in tears. Her flowing mane and tail was in ragged lines.
“Princess Celestia, the doctors wish to inform you that Princess Luna has woken up from her comatose,” A white unicorn saluted behind the figure.
She turned, lifting a hoof and wiped her eye. “Have any of the other five woken yet?”
“No, they are still in a subconscious state, but they are stable at the time being”
“Please update me on their status when they awaken, Captain Armor.”
“Yes, commander!” The pony flipped around, his blue hair whipping and with a flash, teleported off.
Commander... I miss those days when the only name I had was Celestia. Or maybe mother, mentor, sister, friend. Now its commander, tyrant, ruler, murderer... It just goes on and on. She thought with frown. Celestia’s eyes drew up to the moon. Twilight... Why did you have to go?
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I hope I didn’t cause too much trouble. Twilight grimaced. Over the last few hours I’ve been searching, it seems like I went on a streak of terror that lasted months.
I hope my friends are doing well without me. I’m sure the Apple’s will still be farming, Pinkie throwing parties, Rarity making dresses, Fluttershy caring for animals, Rainbow will probably make it into the Wonderbolts... Her train of thoughts stopped, and she collapsed onto her side. Dear Celestia, have I been that blind? How could I have forgotten my friends! After all they’ve done, why am I forgetting them! They’re going to die long before I come back; they’re going to die without me. Me, the pony who caused this mess.
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8 Weeks Before the Event
“What do you mean they had to die!?” Twilight’s voice echoed through the ruins of Everfree Castle, “they were the ponies I held dear to me and you let them die!”
“Twilight,” The white mare stated calmly, “everypony has a destiny that they must live by. I cannot interrupt it, only let it flow.”
“Don’t you dare call me that vile name, tyrant!” Her eyes glowed and her horn lite up, preparing to cast a spell, “Twilight is dead, she’s gone and you will never see her again!”
“My faithful student, perhaps we can...”
“Silence!” The mare hissed in a demonic tone. She coughed as her voice settle to its usual pitch. “I will not settle deals with murderers,” she said, glaring at the princess. With that, she sent out a bolt of magic, a blinding glow filling Celestia’s eyes as the mare teleported away.
Twilight looked back at the castle before turning away. “Ignorant whelp, she never deserved to rule, to guide, or to live.” Twilight whispered, putting her hood and cloak back on as she departed into the forest.
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Twilight was now curled up in a ball, eyes in a flurry of pain. Her eyes were soaked, yet no tears came. She bit her lip, and soon a small trickle of blood flowed down her mouth, onto her neck, until it stopped.
She looked down to see a small, almost translucent red gem. It was wrapped around her neck by an ornate mix of silk, wool, and cotton. One word escaped her lips as she stared at this gift, this blessing, this curse…
"Rarity"