I like tea.
Especially Princess Celestia’s tea. Its always fresh and of high quality. I’ve asked several times what kind it is, and she tells me ‘its not the kind of tea it is. Its who you are sharing it with.’ It wasn’t until after I first went to Ponyville that I understood what that meant. Since then, all drinks shared with somepony close to me I really like.
But the taste is sullied this time around. Because of one mistake, one miscalculation, everything I love to do brings me no joy. My friends, books, good food, anything. One mistake.
I look at my reflection in mirror table the tea cup is resting on. My mane is disheveled, my coat has hairs sticking up all over, theres bags under my eyes, and my eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep. My nerves are shot from all that has happened to the point where I have yelled at Spike three times yesterday. I finally had to tell him that it would be best if he went to Rarity’s for a little while.
“Twilight?”
The voice makes me jump, my head snapping upwards to look at who had spoke. Princess Celestia is looking at me with concern from across the table. I want to force a smile, to assure her everything is fine, but I just don’t have the energy.
“Sorry princess, where were we?” I asked tiredly.
“Its quite alright,” she responded with her usual serene voice. In the past, it made my heart soar to hear her speak. Now, It feels by just hearing her voice that I’m disgracing it. “We were almost to the point where Thomas first appeared.”
The start of my sins.
“Right… well…
I was practicing a new spell outside my castle, when my friends showed up to take spike and I out to lunch. I wanted to finish what I was doing before we left. They wanted to watch. It was a simple spell. Teleport an inanimate object, from a distance, to a predestined point in the room without touching or seeing said object, but knowing where it was. A bit complicated, I admit, but simple enough for me.
Or so I thought.
As I started to think about the object, I channeled the energy needed for the spell into my horn. Thats when it started to go wrong. After a few minutes, I thought I had done it wrong. I did it right, I just miscalculated the power needed. There was also a variable I hadn’t accounted for, but didn’t figure out till later. I’ll come back to that. Once I realized that the spell wasn’t working, I tried to cut off the power flow. But it wouldn’t stop. Its just kept draining more and more from me. If I was still a regular unicorn, I would have run of power with as much power was already put into it, and the spell would have fizzled out. But because I’m an alicorn now, my reserves run much deeper.
Not even a few seconds after I realized that the power wouldn’t stop, there was a small ‘pop’, that usually accompanies a teleport, but followed by a much louder thud. Looking towards where the sounds had come from, I saw a being that I had never seen before. From first glance, I could tell he was huge. He must have arrived crouched, because he stood up almost right away. He was very tall. Almost, if not, taller than you. One of his forelegs were bent, and the claw at the end was grasping at his head. Then he let out a growl.
Then everything got worse.
Before I even could comprehend what had just happened, Rainbow Dash had flown over me in a charge at him. She let out a yell. His head jerked up at cry. He brought up his arm in defense. Then… a loud, terrifying, wet, snap resounded out.
H-he started to scream in pain. Then applejack ran at him, a rope in her mouth… she started to tie him up, his legs first… i-it m-made him fall… a-and… hit his head…”
I’m crying now.
Hot tears rush down my face as I hiccup, trying to reign it all in. Princess Celestia sits quietly as I compose myself.
“T-the fall knocked him out. Split open his forehead, too. Fluttershy started to yell at them all. She made Applejack untie him, and had Rainbow flip him over.
I could see the bone poking out of his arm.
Rarity gaged and ran out the room. Pinkie started helping Fluttershy stop the bleeding. Rainbow looked shocked at what she had done. Applejack looked remorseful at the sight of the blood streaming down his face. I did nothing.
I. Did. Nothing.
I accidentally summoned him from who-knows-where, and all I could do was stand there in shock. Shortly after that, Fluttershy coordinated the rest of the girls to get him to the hospital. After they had all left, I finally snapped out of it when a glint from the grass went across my eye. I walked over to it.
It was a watch. A wind up watch on a golden chain. It was what I was trying to teleport. But it was different. This both had an eagle on it, but this one was sitting on top of a globe with an anchor behind the globe. It was old and worn. Identical, but not the same.
Then it clicked.
I was trying to teleport a watch with an eagle on it, he had a similar watch, and because I miscalculated the power, I brought him here.”
I don’t say anything else. I don't know what to add.
“Is that exactly how he came to arrive here? By accident?”
I nod yes.
“I need a vocal answer, Twilight.”
“Yes,” I croak out.
“Then thats all I need. Thank you Twilight.”
“What happens now?”
“Well, if all of your friends stories corroborate, then that is the story we shall go with, seeing as Thomas doesn’t remember exactly what happened,” she sighs, “and, if he decides to press charges, then Rainbow will most likely be charged with assault, along with Applejack, and you with kidnapping.”
I simply nod my head yes. Knowing all of what happened to him since bringing him here, I know that is the least of what I deserve.
“I know I’m sounding harsh here, Twilight, I wish it didn’t have to be this way. With everything that has happened to him these past few weeks, and how public the events turned out to be, I have to be strict about this. A being has suffered greatly, almost died by my hooves. This is the way it has to be.”
“I know,” I whispered, “I know.”