Chapter 1: When I’m gone...
Twilight Sparkle was lying down on a white bed sheet. A pile of ‘already read’ books placed at her side. She sighed and began to look around the room. The clean light blue room filled with cloud-shaped wallpapers seems clearly different from what she had in mind. She gazed down to find that there were wires come from some kind of machine attached on her body.
Her eyes darted outside the room and saw pained expressions on the faces of visitors waiting impatiently in lounge. She soon found out there was nothing else to do, with a quick sigh she decided to grab a random book from the side and read it again. But before she could begin, suddenly, a voice interrupted her.
“Are you sure that you’re not going to tell them, my faithful student?” Princess Celestia walked in with a grave looked on her face.
“Good morning, Princess Celestia.” Twilight gave her a smile before answer. “I know it’s important, but… I’m not ready yet.” She put down the book. “I don’t want to see them sad because of me.” She spoke while trying to avoid eye contact with her mentor as she sat down next to her.
“You can’t hide it forever, Twilight. One day it’s going to happen anyway. Why don’t you just make them accept it early?” Another voice filled the room. Twilight look behind her mentor and saw a dark blue Alicorn entering the room as she spoke.
“Oh! Hello, Princess Luna!” She said while trying to get up.
“Just lie down, Twilight,” said Luna, “and please just call me Luna, we are friends, right?” Luna smile at her. “Anyway, I’m here with the good news from the doctor, well… maybe not that good.” When she finished, she noticed her sisters eyes grew wide.
“Did they found the cure? Is she going to recover? Is she going to survive?” Every question came out with excitement in her voice.
“Please, sister… You’re making it hard for her and for yourself. You already know that this kind of disease is incurable, even the doctors said they've never seen any case like this before.” She replied with a frown.
With that answer it was like all of her hope had been shattered by it. Tears began to fall down from her eyes.
She looked her sister into her eyes; the once calm and joyful eyes had turned into anger and sorrow.
She yelled, “I already know that!” Twilight was startled before she quickly hid herself under the blanket terrified of her angry mentor.
“I just wish that I can do something. What kind of princess am I? I can’t even protect my own student...”
With anger and sadness, she couldn’t get a hold of her emotions. Luna looked away from the bed like she didn’t want to see her sister, who was crying and trembling beside Twilight.
“Princess it’s alright, don’t worry about it.” Twilight wiped her tears and leaned in to hug Celestia doing her best to calm her down.
“Ahem! Anyway-” both of them quickly turn to look at Luna “-I have spoken with the doctors. They said that your disease is incurable right now, but in the future they might. They are trying to find a cure for it.” As she finished she saw two pairs of eye staring at her confusingly.
“What?”
“Lulu, didn’t you just said it was an incurable disease?” Celestia asked raising her eyebrows showing her red and puffy eyes; tears still rolling down her face.
“Right now It’s not, as I was trying to tell you. They have to put Twilight in a sleep state which keeps her body functioning and stop magic from damaging her body; while we run an experiment on her.”
“They are going to use her as an experiment? I cannot allow that to happen!” Celestia quickly stood up with anger.
“No, Tia, you misunderstood. We’re only doing this to help her survive; this method is the only way to make sure that she stays alive until we are able to find a way to make her better.” Celestia stood there, blinking, unable to believe what she had just heard.
“She’ll be alive? That’s... Great! I can’t believe it! Twilight did you hear that-” Her smile faded as she turned and saw the unreadable looked on her students face.
Twilight went silence she could sense gears in her head turning trying to think about what to say, and then she spoke up.
“How long is it going to take, Princess?” Luna looked downward to the floor avoiding eye contact with her before she answered.
“That’s… what I’m afraid to say. They don’t know either…” Her voice trailed off. “It could take a several months, a year or longer. We can’t tell and we are not sure about finding the cure either.” She looked at her sister in concerned.
“But-” Celestia was trying to speak but she was cut off with Twilight voice.
“When can we begin, Prin- um... I mean… Luna?” Luna chuckled at Twilight attempt to call her name.
“Whenever you’re ready, Twilight, but you have to hurry or your condition will only get worse.” Luna frowned.
“Oh! Speaking of your condition, I almost forgot. The doctors gave me this pill.” Luna showed Twilight a red capsule. Both of them gave Luna a confused look.
“What is it for, Lulu?” asked Celestia.
Luna gave Twilight a reassuring smile and answered her sister. “It’s specially designed; it has enough pain killers in it to relieve you of all of this pain for one whole day. The doctor designed this pill for patients who had no hope of being able to survive-” Twilight flinched at Luna words.
“-so that they can go back to see their family and spending time with them for a day, but in your case, we use it so that you can go finished your unattained business with your friends at Ponyville before you will be in a long slumber.” Luna gave a wink at her sister before she continued.
“I suggest that you use this pill to finish things you didn’t get a chance to do. Is that what you want, Twilight?” Then she glanced at Twilight who seemed to look a lot better after what she just heard.
“Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much, Luna! Now I am able to go and talk with my friends again after such a long time, especially-” Her voice trailed off and Twilight went silent again, she put her hoof under her chin, thinking of something before a voice interrupted her.
“Are you okay, Twilight? Did you forget something?” Princess Celestia gave her a concerned look.
“I’m alright Princess. I’m just thinking of something." She quickly turned away from them before she spoke. "Umm… If you don’t mind, Princess I have a favor to ask.” She smiled nervously. This seemed to put interest into two Alicorn princesses, they looked at each other.
“What is it, Twilight?” asked Celestia.
“Can you tell them the news when I’ve already been put to sleep?” Twilight answered nervously.
“Why, Twilight? Why don’t you tell them yourself?” Luna asked and both of them stared at her, confused.
“I actually have something else I need to do and I think I don’t have the courage to tell them myself.” She answered while looking back at both of them.
Celestia saw determination in her pupil’s eyes. She sighed and nodded.
“I will tell them, Twilight. Whatever you have in mind must be really important.” Twilight sighed in relief.
“I hope that things would never turn out like this. I’m sorry again, my faithful student.” She leaned in to hug her student again.
“Thank you, Princess.” She hugged her mentor back with tears in her eyes.
Behind her, she saw Luna wiped off the tears from her eyes. “And thank you too, Luna.” She added and gave Luna a reassuring smile while she smiled back at her as well.
They continued to stay like that for a moment before Luna spoke up.
“So, what are you going to do when you go back to Ponyville, Twilight?” It seemed that this question poked interest in Celestia as well so she kept quiet about it.
“I have quite an idea in my mind, but I need to think this through first. I am going to-” Twilight had been cut off by one of the guards walking in.
“Your highness, we have an emergency in Canterlot. A lot of ponies are gathering at the castle ground. They seemed to be fighting with each other, something about equality between noble and lower-class.” Celestia sighed.
“Just when I thought this situation couldn’t get any worse." Celestia growled. "Luna, I need your help back at the castle.” Luna nodded as she approached Twilight.
“Twilight, we will be back shortly, but if you need anything just call the guard and we will be here as soon as you call.” She said with a wink.
“Just remember, Twilight, Do not give up.” Celestia said before her horn lit up as she casted a spell and disappear with her sister.
Twilight had been left with herself again. She sighed before closing her eyes and went deep into thought. Pictures of her friends and family floated around in her head; before it focused on a certain Pegasus. “Rainbow…” She mumbled to herself.
This past three months she had been spending time with her a lot at the library, reading the Daring Do books with her. Usually they would forget about the time and Rainbow had to stay over at the library. She felt good while Rainbow was around and it developed into a crush; one that she never had a chance to confess or had the heart to at this time.
‘I wonder if she likes me back?’ she wondered. She sighed again and shook her head, dismissing the wild thought in her head.
‘There must be something I need to do before it’s too late’ she thought to herself as she began to think.
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In Ponyville, The bearers of the Elements of Harmony have been gathered in the Library after Spike had informed them he had something important to tell them.
“Is everypony here yet?” A purple dragon asked while he was walking down from the library to the main hall with a letter in his hand.
“Oh dear, I feel terrible Spike. Pinkie has never been like this before. It’s like something bad is going to happen. Where’s Twilight anyway,” said Rarity a white unicorn, beside her was a pink mare name Pinkie Pie. Since she left Sugarcube Corner, her body hadn’t stop shaking and everypony was starting to worry about it.
“I am going to tell you! You see, Twilight had-” Spike was about to finish his sentence but was interrupted by a bouncing Pinkie Pie.
“Has something bad happen to Twilight? Is it because of the special cupcakes I gave her yesterday and the day before yesterday and the day before the day before yesterday and the-” Before she could said anything more, a cyan Pegasus put her hoof on Pinkies lips.
“Spike, Please continue!” said Rainbow Dash.
Spike blinked and continued.
“Thank you, Rainbow. Let’s see… Twilight has left a letter, it said that she was going to Canterlot for a while and she will be back tomorrow.” Spike put down the letter and looked at the shocking expressions of the five mares.
“Didn’t she say anything to ya at all, Spike?” The orange mare asked, before she picked up a letter and read in disbelief.
“No, Applejack. I haven’t met her either. I woke up this morning and found this letter at her desk.” Spike replied.
“That’s strange... Twilight usually tells somepony first when she’s going somewhere,” said Fluttershy a yellow Pegasus.
“Ah know now that Twilight was goin’ somewhere, but is that the reason ya need to call us here in the mornin’ Spike?” After what Applejack said, everypony turned to look at spike.
“Yeah, come on Spike spill it out already!” Rainbow dash shouted and stared right into the poor dragon’s eyes. He was nervously looking around and then he sighed.
“Okay… I have a suspicion that something might be bothering her; she’s kind of been down lately. She hasn't been her usual self. She always looking to the skies and zoning out all the time. I even heard she’s crying sometimes too.” He answered with a frown. The five mares were shocked from the news.
“Twilight’s crying? That’s serious, I didn’t even know...” Rainbow said with a gloomy face.
“Have ya tried talkin’ to her Spike?” Applejack said with a concern look at the dragon.
“She wouldn’t talk to me AJ. Whenever I bring it up, she’s always talking about something else instead. I don’t know what it is, but it’s bugging me for a few days now. She didn’t even care when I was slacking.” He answered with a shaky voice as he continued.
“It feels like I’ve been left out and… and-” He stopped and started to cry. Everypony in the room felt their heart sank to the ground, silence was all that the room held, and it wasn’t long until Rarity stepped up to him.
“I’m sure she doesn’t mean it like that, Spike dear. I think she just don’t want you to worry.” She wiped off the tears from his purple face and gently smiled at him as he smiled back.
“Now that I think of it, I haven’t seen Twilight for about a week. We usually hang out at Fluttershy cottage. Have you seen her lately AJ?” Rarity said turning to Applejack.
“Nah, Ah haven’t seen her since the last Pinkie Pie party, right Pinkie?” She looked towards the pink mare.
“Nope, I saw her board the train this morning she looked really upset about something it’s just making me really sad to see Twilight like that. I think I’m going to throw her a huge superfunirific party to cheer her up when she’s back!” Pinkie said with a wide smile.
“So that’s why- Hey! Wait a minute, Pinkie! You said you saw Twilight boarding the train this morning? Why didn’t you say anything?” Rainbow gave Pinkie a curious look.
“Well duh! I am saying it now.” Pinkie smiled innocently while Rainbow put a hoof on her face.
“What about you, Rainbow? Didn’t ya have readin’ sleepovers with her for a while?” Applejack finished and everypony turned to look at Rainbow.
“How did you know that? And no, the next Daring Do isn’t coming out for a while. Last time we had the chance to read together was a whole two weeks ago and I haven’t had a chance to speak with her all that much either.” Rainbow looked down at the floor, feeling disappointed.
“Fluttershy, what do think of this, dear?” Rarity asked Fluttershy who has been quite all this conversation.
“Umm… Maybe she was just feeling depressed and need to see the Princess? That’s what I think, um… if you think that’s okay.” She said in a whispering tone that everypony had barely heard it.
“If she’s having a problem why doesn’t she come to see us? We are her friends for Celestia sake! I’ve tried talking to her, but she’s always been so busy all of the time!” Rainbow spoke up feeling upset.
“Now now Rainbow, I think she had a reason and that’s why we need to figure it out ourselves,” said Fluttershy.
“Anyway, girls, as much as I would love to help Twilight as fast as I can too, but she’s not here right now. I think we should try talking to her when she gets back.” Rarity suggested.
“What if she doesn’t come back? What if something bad happened and she needs our help and we couldn’t go there to help her? She might hate us forever and-” Pinkie was cut short when her body stopped shaking.
“Did your Pinkie senses stop?” asked Rainbow with her eyebrow quirked up.
“Yeah I think the ‘Doozy’ is gone. I think Twilight is going to be alright after all!”
“How could you tell darling?” said Rarity, feeling a bit confused.
“I don’t know I just feel it in my stomach.” She poked at her tummy and pulled out a huge chocolate cake from behind and ate it up in one big bite. “Mmm, that was really yummy!” She said with a bright smile on her face before she saw everypony staring at her.
“What?” She asked with a very confused look upon her face.
“Uh… Okay everypony ah think ah should head back to the farm. Right now I don’t wanna miss my mornin’ those trees aren't goin’ to buck themselves, Big Macintosh will have a hay day if I don’t get started soon.” said Applejack.
“But… what about Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
“As Rarity said. We should ask her when she’s back. She told us that she will be back tomorrow right?” said Applejack while Fluttershy nodded in response.
“Don’t worry, Fluttershy. It’s not like we are never gonna see her again right? She’s the coolest and bravest unicorn I’ve ever seen!” Rainbow replied with confidence. Suddenly her eyes went wide as she realized what she had said.
“Wow! Rainbow, I didn’t know that you can complement others too. Did something happen to you? Did you hit your head or something?” Rarity said with a smirk while Rainbow was blushing.
“N-n-no, um…, err... I mean... Yeah! She can be fine on her own, you know… the way she defeated that Ursa minor and the way her mane flew when it touched by the wind and her beautiful eyes, and you can see the way she-” while she was lost in her own fantasy Applejack spoke up.
“Yeah yeah, we know ya have a crush on our librarian, but we don’t want to know about the detail,” and again Rainbow seemed to realize what she had just said.
“Err…” That was the thing she could say before everyone burst out laughing.
After a laugh die down, everypony was going to get back to their work until they saw Spike, who was still looking at the ground and from the look of his eyes everypony could tell that he was close to tears at any moment.
Suddenly, Rarity walked up to him and put her hoof under his chin.
“Don’t worry, dear. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Beside I don’t want to see my Spikey-Wikey all sad and sappy, alright?” She wiped off his tear and gave him a gentle smiled and he was smiling back at her.
After that everypony said goodbye and went their separate ways.
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Three hours had passed since the two princesses had left. ‘I wonder if they will miss me.’ She thought to herself. Twilight was still lying on her bed and sighed.
She thought back to the moment of her first Summer Sun Celebration, where she first saw Princess Celestia raise the sun. After that she had made it her number one priority to become her student. If it wasn’t because of that moment she would have never met them, her best friends. She would still be alone at the Canterlot library with piles of books. She had so many great memories with them.
They have done a lot of things together. They shared lots of good memories together. Especially a cyan Pegasus, who was spending more and more time with her in the library since she introduced her into the Daring Do book or what Rainbow called it ‘the most awesome book in the history of awesome, right after me of course!’
She smiled when she thought of her, the memories of their laughter and the time they had spent together.
“I don’t know when I fell for that cheeky Pegasus.” She smiled but it soon turned into a frown. ‘I don’t ever want to leave them. I would miss them so much.’
Her thoughts drifting back to a certain Pegasus once again.
‘What can I do?’ She thought while her tears began to fall down from her eyes.
She looked out the window and sighed again. The sky turned to a pale tint of orange with the sun falling down. The cloud was bathed with orange it almost looked like an orange sea in the sky. It reminded her of the time that Luna had to raise her moon and stars into the night sky. She thought to herself.
‘Every day and every night the princesses sure leave something nice for us to watch.’ Her eyes went wide with the wild thought came into her head.
‘That’s it! I have to leave something behind for them.’ She beamed brightly
And with that she got up from her bed and called the nurse up to bring her some quills and papers. She wrote something down with determination. She hadn’t practice writing with her mouth for a long time.
‘My writing is probably worse than Rainbow’s right now.’ She giggled.
She kept writing down everything she had in mind.
“This is it.” said Twilight with a grin on her face and she held her writing up into the air.
‘This will make sure they will never forget our friendships.’ She pulled her paper close to herself as she began to yawn.
“But first, it looks like my body needs some rest.” She closed her eyes and she slowly drifted off to sleep.