//------------------------------// // Twilight Sparkle // Story: Dead and Gone // by Raidah //------------------------------// Chapter 3: Twilight Sparkle Written by: MrDevastation101 (originally Scalor barracuda cyborg, but he had to drop out last minute...) I enter the library, tears still dripping down my face as I step inside my home. Spike is with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They were having some sort of sleepover while the more adult ponies attended Fluttershy's funeral. I wish that there was something I could have done... but oh well. There's nothing I can do now but grieve. I'm Twilight Sparkle, I hold the Element of Magic, but no matter how many spells I know, I couldn't have saved Fluttershy. I drop my crown near the door, not caring about where it is right now, and slowly climb the stairs up to my room, hanging my head in sorrow. I reach the top of the stairs, and head for my bed. Not wanting to be in this day anymore. Three days ago, when Fluttershy was alive and perfectly healthy, we all had a picnic, the first we've had in months. It was great. Everypony was there, we all had a good time... and then Fluttershy started having wing cramps. She went to the doctor, and he told her that she had been infected with a very rare disease that is only seen among pegasi. There was no cure, and she only had three days to live. I was with her in the hospital for all three of those long, horrible days. I helped her eat if she was too weak, I kept a close eye on her while she slept, not wanting anything bad to happen while I wasn't there. And then came the third day... I could tell from the way she spoke to me that day that she was both in incredible pain, and that she was dying. I tried to use one of my painkilling spells to help ease her through it, but the doctor told me I might just end up killing her faster. I wanted to hit him in the face for saying that. Sure I didn't want her to die, but it was better than seeing her live her last moments in utter agony! I could have let her slip away peacefully, and painlessly. I didn't want to see her suffer anymore! But I couldn't... The doctor had told me to just leave her be, and so that's what I did. I sat by her bedside as she slipped from this world and into the underworld, clutching her hoof tight between my own. I reach my bed, and collapse onto it, not caring whether or not my wings are sticking up. I just want to sleep, to escape this nightmare of a day. I takes a while, but I manage to cry myself to sleep. My dreams are horrible. I go from watching Fluttershy cry out in pain on an infinite loop to being in her place. The pain in my wings becoming so intense, that I wake up screaming for it to stop. I look at the clock on my bedside table. 3:00. I sigh and collapse back onto the bed. I try to sleep, but my brain just won't shut down again. I can't stop thinking of Fluttershy, and wishing I could have been able to help her... I get up, since I won't be going back to sleep any time soon, and go down into the library, floating a lit candle beside me. I look on the shelves for any books I have on rare diseases. Luckily, I find three. I place them all on the table, and open the first one. Scanning it's pages for anything about the illness that killed Fluttershy. I turn page after page, not finding anything. I close the book, and move on to the next one. About halfway through it, I find what I'm looking for. Wingosis, Teraphytis. Causes extreme pain in the wings, rendering them unusable. The disease paralyses the limbs, and then the heart. Killing the victim within three days. No known treatments or cure. What? That can't be right. I read the discription over and over again, but nothing changes. If there is no cure, I don't know what I'd do if Rainbow Dash were to catch it... and what about Applejack? She'd be beyond devastated if anything were to happen to Rainbow... "Calm down Twilight, you're overthinking it." I say to myself. I knock myself in the head with a hoof, and try not to start worrying myself sick over nothing. Just because Rainbow Dash was with Fluttershy while she was in the hospital doesn't mean that she caught the infection... does it? No, Twilight. Stop it. Stop worrying about nothing. Rainbow Dash is fine, and so are you. This honestly reminds me of the time I went paranoid over a late letter to Princess Celestia... I sigh and close the book, not wanting to look at it anymore. I look at the clock, 6:30. Wow, I've been up this long? I should get some sleep. I walk back to my room, close the door, and lay on the bed, exhausted. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. No more nightmares. It's around midday when I wake up. I can tell because the sun is high in the sky through my window. I lazily get on my hooves and go downstairs. I still can't help but worry about Rainbow Dash catching that disease. I can't lose another friend, not this way. From now on, I am going to try to create a spell that can cure Wingosis Teraphytis, so I can keep anypony who has it alive. I need to check on Rainbow Dash, however. I just can't stop worrying that she might be infected. I hurry out the door, and close it behind me with my magic. I run full speed to Applejack and Rainbow Dash's house, not stopping for anything. I arrive at the house, and take a minute to catch my breath. Once I'm properly composed, I knock on the door, and wait for an answer. The door opens a bit, and Rainbow Dash's head pops through the crack. "Oh, hey Twilight. What are you-" she doesn't get to finish her question because I tackle her and hug her. "Thank goodness you're alright." I say, almost crying tears of joy. "'Alright'? Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" She says, struggling to break free of my grasp. I release her. "Oh, no reason." I say, slightly embarrassed. "O-kaaaay...?" Rainbow says. "Oh, never mind Rainbow." I say.