//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Aftermath // Story: Liberation // by TailsIsNotAlone //------------------------------// It was all over, Princess Twilight Sparkle said to herself. The crisis was averted. Tirek was imprisoned in Tartarus once again. Ponyville and many other cities across Equestria had celebrated. To use an expression she once heard from Applejack, it was all over but the crying. She laughed weakly through her tears. Almost over, then. The night of their victory was euphoric, like a dream. Pinkie Pie launched an impromptu "Saving Equestria (Again) Party" and they were off to the races, celebrating until they couldn’t keep their eyes open and had to drag themselves home. Twilight had conked out right on the floor of the new castle. But it ended as all dreams must, and the sun rose again--much more smoothly now with Princess Celestia back on the job--and brought her this. The charred ruins of Golden Oak Library. It had taken until now to sink in. Volumes of Equestrian history and culture. Manuscripts and notes from generations' worth of pony scholars and sorcerers. Every Daring Do book from The Sapphire Stone to The Zirconium Zebra. Her precious shelving system that took years to perfect. Copies of her friendship letters, records of her countless experiments and all of the needed equipment. And when she wasn't too busy to notice them, four walls and a bed. Her home. Gone. Twilight poked one hoof limply into the rubble. Perhaps with time she would unearth something salvageable. All she could see now was a pile of torn pages here, shards of broken glass there. From the windows, she realized. She'd liked those windows. Spike whistled softly beside her, and she jumped. She'd forgotten he was even standing there. "Wow. That Tirek guy sure didn't mess around." Twilight shook her head. She couldn't seem to look away. The baby dragon picked up Twilight’s scorched globe of Equestria, grimaced, and tossed it away. “I was hoping I’d get a day off, but not this way.” “Spike…how can you joke about it?” Twilight wiped her eyes and gestured all around them. “This was…it was…” “Our house. I know, Twilight. But that was yesterday,” Spike said solemnly. “We have to plan for today, you know? These things happen.” “Happen? It did not...just...happen.” Twilight looked up slowly. She felt something boiling inside of her. That familiar mixture of panic, rage, and the need to control. Her left eye showed the barest hint of a twitch. “He did it!” Spike backed up a step. “You know what I mean. Hey, Twilight…take it easy.” “Take it easy? Take it easy?!” the Princess shouted. But no. No no no. Not Spike's fault. Stay focused. Her expression immediately changed to a desperate, hollow smile. “...Yes! That’s a great idea! I’m going to take it easy. Nothing to worry about here, right? Sure it’s hundreds of books and four years’ work down the drain, but we’ve suffered setbacks before! If I send letters to the other 32 libraries in Equestria asking for spare copies, and put in a few hundred special orders to the Canterlot Archives, and work exactly 18 hours a day, then I can replace it all in…” “But aren’t we going to live in the castle now?” Spike interrupted with one eyebrow firmly raised. “What?!” She tilted her head, startled. “Oh…yes. My brand new castle. That’s…well, that’s just perfect, isn’t it? Just so darn convenient. All our stuff is destroyed--we won’t even have to pack! And it’ll be like the tree was never even there, huh? Isn’t that great, Spike?!” “Um...yes?" The stony silence told him that was the wrong answer. He saw her pupils shrinking as she studied the ruined books, seeing things he couldn’t begin to imagine. It was going to be a bad day. "I’m gonna leave you alone for a while, okay?" No answer. "See ya.” She watched him scamper away, off to Sugarcube Corner or Carousel Boutique or some such place. The sun was rising higher and other Ponyvillians were stepping cautiously out of their houses, just watching her. Twilight saw the look in their eyes and quickly turned away. She didn't want their pity. She could still make this all okay. She just needed to leave and develop her plan. A perfect, lovingly crafted plan to rebuild what was lost and go right back to the way things were before. There was only one more thing she needed to do first. Without a word she teleported into the restroom of the Quill & Sofa, cast a quick soundproofing spell, and cried like a foal. Tap, tap, tap. Nudge. Tap, tap, tap. Nudge. Tap, tap, tap... Fluttershy groaned softly and opened her eyes. Something was tapping on her bedcovers. And nudging her, if she wasn’t mistaken. She stretched her slightly sore muscles and turned over to face the grumpy gaze of Angel Bunny. “Hmm?” The petulant furball tapped his foot and held out his food dish expectantly. “Is it that time already?” Fluttershy sighed. “Oh my, I’m sorry, Angel! I was just so tired from helping Twilight save Equestria yesterday…” She paused as Angel gave her another look that only she could interpret. “Hmm? How many times is that now? Well, I’m afraid I don’t remember. But you should be very happy that we did it again. I don't know what Tirek would have done if he took over Equestria, but he certainly didn't seem like an animal lover to me.” The bunny shivered slightly at the thought. Fluttershy relented and got up, flapping a tad unsteadily to the bedroom doorway. “Don’t worry everyone, I’m coming,” the yellow Pegasus called soothingly to the other hungry woodland creatures who must be gathered in her sitting room. “Would you like me to sing for you while I get your breakfast? La la, la la laaaa…” Her performance was interrupted by a deafening yawn from the bed. “Yaaaarrrrgh…where’s the radio?” groaned a cyan blue fellow Pegasus who lay atop the covers. “R-Rainbow Dash!!” Fluttershy cried out, blushing fiercely. Her friend sat bolt upright with wings akimbo. “Huh?!” “What are you still doing here? I mean…um...I thought you said you were going home.” “In a minute! I told you, I’m just resting my ey—“ Dash squinted against the morning sun. “…Oh. Oops.” Fluttershy shook her head. “No no, it’s okay. Since you’re still here, you can help me feed the animals!” The athletic pony hesitated a bit. “Not that I don’t want to, Shy, but that didn’t work out very well last time. Remember?” “It wasn’t your fault. It was only Starswirl’s spell. At least none of the animals got hurt…” Dash stared at her in disbelief. “At least they didn’t—Shy, they were about to cook me for dinner! Remember me? The most awesome flyer in Ponyville! Your best friend at flight camp?” “And I’m very sorry about that, but…it’s all the more reason to get on their good side, right?” Fluttershy put on her best remorseful smile. Dash rolled her eyes and trotted over to join her. “Okay, okay. I just hope I don’t regret this.” The two friends flew into the sitting room only to witness something truly unprecedented: Rarity snoring softly on Fluttershy’s couch, surrounded by animals, no makeup, mane and tail a tangled mess. “Oh dear. I guess you weren’t the only one…” Shy whispered. Dash gawked in delight at their slumbering friend. “Oh, WOW. I will NEVER regret seeing this!” Fluttershy demurely raised her hoof to hide a smile. “Shhh. We shouldn’t stare. Let’s just try to feed them all without waking her up.” Right on cue, a loud pink blur with boundless energy jumped out from behind the couch. Fluttershy squeaked with fright; Rainbow just watched in silent anticipation. “GOOOOOOD morning, everypony!” Pinkie Pie shouted. “Oh my gosh, wasn’t that like the best party EVER? I don’t know how I’m gonna top that. Wait—I know! Next time I’ll give Gummy his VERY OWN punch bowl. Oh my gosh, I can’t wait. Let’s all start planning it right now! Rarity? HEY RARITY, are you awake?!” Rarity’s blue eyes snapped open, first registering confusion, then a growing sense of terror at her current situation. “It’s okay, Rarity,” Dash tried in vain to calm her down. “You really don’t look that b—” “EEEEEEEEK!” Fueled by sheer panic, the white unicorn’s horn flared to life. In a shower of light blue sparks, she disappeared. “Wow! I didn’t know Rarity could teleport,” Pinkie chirped innocently. “Should I follow her?” Dash put a hoof to her forehead. “I wouldn’t do that, Pinkie. Give her some time to get ready. Like a week, maybe.” “Didn’t anypony make it home from here last night?” Fluttershy said. Her ears had lowered almost imperceptibly. Rainbow knew that look. She was probably uncomfortable with all the early morning socializing, but too nice to make a big deal about it. “Yep! Twilight went to her great big castle thingy and Applejack is back at the farm,” Pinkie replied, raising her head and squinting. "She's already bucking apples. Big juicy green ones...yikes! There's a worm in that one! Oh. Good. She got it." “Pinkie, how do you…oh, forget it,” Dash yawned again. “Hey, let’s just help Fluttershy clean up and feed these critters and then we'll scram, huh? I’ve got a lot of Daring Do to catch up on.” “Okie-dokie…” Fluttershy cast a worried look around the cottage. “Thank you both very much. But…I wonder where Discord is? I haven’t seen him since yesterday.” The other Pegasus’ expression soured. “You’re worried about him? As long as he’s not causing trouble or betraying anypony else, he can be wherever he wants.” Applejack’s back hooves thundered into the trunk of one tree. In a practiced movement, she pivoted on one front hoof while wiping sweat from her eyes with the other, then bucked the second tree. She smiled at the familiar sound of apples falling into the baskets. It was good to get back to the Acres after yesterday’s excitement. They’d sure taught that overgrown magic gobbler a thing or two. According to this morning’s Ponyville Gazette, which Apple Bloom helped Granny Smith read out loud at breakfast, ponies all over Equestria were making a strong recovery. Princess Celestia was also increasing security in Tartarus so everything that belonged down there, stayed there. She turned to the next tree and saw a familiar face approaching. Spike was shuffling slowly up the path. Judging by his slumped shoulders and troubled eyes, a “good mornin’ ” probably wouldn’t do him much good. “Well, howdy Spike,” she nodded to him. “I thought you’d still be asleep at this hour.” The baby dragon sighed. “Hey, Applejack. So did I. But Twilight wanted to get a look at the library, and…” He trailed off. Applejack thumped him gently on the head. “Oh, I saw that on my way home. I’m mighty sorry about that, sugarcube.” “It’s not just that. It’s Twilight. I hope she’s going to be okay. She was still sitting there when I left.” “You don’t say,” Applejack paused before attacking another tree. “…Tell you what, I’ll round up the other girls a bit later and we’ll go over there to check up on her.” “Thanks. I’m sure that’ll help.” Spike said. He shuffled his feet and looked around. “…Somethin’ else the matter?” “Do you mind if I give you a hand here for a while? I’m kinda bored, and…the castle isn’t really home yet, you know?” “Don’t you worry, honey. We’ll fix that soon enough,” she winked at him. “In the meantime, sure. Grab me some more apple crates from the barnyard, and later we’ll go help Twilight—” “—Move in?” Twilight asked Celestia a few hours later. “You mean, now? Just like that?” “It is for the best, I think,” her mentor said delicately. “It will take several weeks to build and restock a new library.” Twilight held up a folder of extensive notes. “That's just it! I can take care of the restocking! I’m sure my friends won’t mind helping, either. We just have to nail down a schedule and—” “Twilight,” Celestia held up a gold-shod hoof. “I appreciate your concern as always, but I believe this is something the City of Ponyville can manage. For now, there are other things that need our attention. And I could hardly expect you to run the town library for the rest of your life.” “But I…” Twilight was so disappointed she could hardly speak. Didn't Celestia even want to see her plan? But...wait. Her mentor had always been right before. It made sense, after all. A library really wasn't the right place for an alicorn. She paused and met the Princess’ eyes. “I liked it,” she said weakly. Celestia smiled. “I know you did, my dear. And I realize the change may not be easy for you. Princess Luna, Cadence and myself have all had to give up things that we enjoyed for the sake of Equestria. And I think you will find that as a Princess, especially the Princess of Friendship, the sacrifice is often its own reward. Just as you said yourself, you have chosen your new role—and now is the time to step into it.” “My new role?” “ ’As Princess, I believe I have the power to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria. That is the role I am meant to have in our world—the role I choose to have.’ That is what you told me the other day, isn’t it?” Celestia winked at her in an effort to lighten the mood. She did say that. But now it sounded strange to her ears. Spread the magic of friendship...the role I choose. Twilight repeated to herself. …Choose? “Twilight?” She knew how this visit was going to end. Dutifully, she nodded and tried her best to smile. "Y-yes! I...I understand, Your Majesty." Something flickered, faintly and only for an instant before they said their farewells. It was the last thing Celestia expected to see in her beloved student’s eyes but it was there now, so familiar as to be unmistakable. Doubt.