Awards of the Heart

by Twifight Sparkill

End of the Line

Awards of the Heart: End of the Line – by Twifight Sparkill

The weather and landscape started to brighten once the train had moved beyond the sprawling soot-grey reaches of urban Bridleburgh. The polluted shroud of industrial progress relented to reveal an endless ceiling of grand, immaculate blue sky, rooted to miles of fertile farmlands, blurry mottled greens polka-dotted periodically by barns, silos, and derelict harvesting apparatus. Which was fine, really.

Applejack wouldn't miss the stiff concrete sights or questionable smells of the bustling mining town left miles behind her, that was for damn certain. She longed to be back on the soft cool soil she'd tilled since physically able, surrounded by all of her siblings and loving extended family – complete with newly-repaired apple cart in tow.

However, it soon came to pass that the cruel ministrations of Fate had once again fostered alternative plans for her, despite hours of careful planning and scheduling beforehand. Come to think of it, since having become a member of the indefatigable Elements of Harmony, Applejack couldn't quite remember the last time she'd used phrases like 'everything is going according to plan' or 'well, that was quick and easy', unless ironically. Must be some sort of sardonic coincidence.

Now she was on a train to the capital of Equestria with an abandoned friend, in search of a friend who was looking for another friend, if she understood the besotted mess.

"... okay, let me get this straight: you arrived at the library to throw some surprise party for Spike, and he didn't show up," Applejack recited in a breathy sigh, "then you followed Twilight to Rarity's place, and afterwards she said something about fixing things?"

Pinkie Pie nodded absently, admittedly halfway distracted for the blurred landscape speeding by outside her window seat.

"... right. Next, y'both boarded a train to the royal castle and after a time Twilight gave you some bits and asked you to disembark. Then you inevitably found me in Bridleburgh, as luck would have it. Have ah got all that straight?"

Pinkie considered Applejack's recount, then tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Did I mention that Twilight was acting super-duper weird? Like, weirder than weirdly weird?"

The orange mare acquiesced, bowing her head in consent.

"Now you and I are going to visit Canterlot to figure out what the heck is going on with Twilight and Spike," Applejack finally surmised. "Except ah don't understand why Spike would be in Canterlot in the first place, or why Twilight went all crazy."

"We're not going to Canterlot station, though," Pinkie corrected, shaking her head. "Twilight stayed on the train."

"What the buck!? You just finished tellin' me that ..." the farmer started to speak, then quickly thought differently about it. There was no rightful way to discern the transcendental powers that Pinkie Pie possessed; after so many accounts being proved as true, better not to question her uncanny predictions.

"Sorry, pardon mah outburst. So where is she supposed t'be heading to exactly, Pinkie?"

"The Crystal Empire. My twitchy tail spun sideways and did a flippy-flop after I found your coin purse, then my right eye twitched three times; she definitely rode the rails as far north as they'd go," Pinkie stated. "The end of the line, anyway. That's what my sense says, so mote it be. Never question the sense!"

Applejack flinched, touching at her thin coinpurse dejectedly.

"... well, buck my behind. There goes almost all the rest of my money then," she grunted. "Why couldn't these happenings be more cost-efficient? You'd think that national heroes would get some sorta transit discount, but no-oooo. Ah guess I'll upgrade our tickets, consarn it. Where'd you put yours?"

Pinkie opened her mouth, unfurled her tongue, and presented her permit.

"Nyeh!"

"Yer gross, sugarcube," Applejack muttered. "Thank Celestia we ain't related."

---

"Can you see what's down there yet?" the young dragon called out.

"Not yet," Twilight responded flatly, gingerly testing each step with a forehoof before proceeding down the treacherous spiral stone staircase they'd discovered beneath the Crystal Castle throne room. "I can't even see how far down this goes!"

Spike stared at Fluttershy's mirror for a long while, studying the troubling image reflected there. He didn't recognise the neon green eyes staring back; narrow slitted pupils rimmed with deep, wicked red irises, billowing purple mist at the corners...

These weren't his eyes. They were menacing and piercing and... eerily familiar.

"Twilight? Twiii-light!" the little dragon bellowed, racing down the winding crystal steps.

As Spike reached the bottom, he spouted hurried explanations at the unicorn for directly disobeying orders before she'd thought to ask.

"I know you'd told me to stay up there, but you were down here for such a long time and you weren't answering and I got worried so I came down here and you were just staring at that wall and... I was calling your name, but I couldn't seem to get your attention, and..."

Twilight shook her head dazedly, then regarded Spike with wide, panicked eyes.

"What were you looking at? I mean... it's just a wall," he noted, regarding the impasse curiously.

There was a sudden shift in his senses that felt altogether unnatural, spinning him into a dreaming form of reality. The dragon was soon standing in his hometown of Ponyville, near around the center of the main bazaar plaza.

"... I'm home!?" he exclaimed, looking about incredulously. "Wait, how did I get here??"

He was next transported into the library. Spike hadn't so much as blinked, and he was standing in the middle of the Golden Oaks athenaeum. The smell, the details... everything was accurate – save for having to confront a very indignant Twilight Sparkle, who was terribly angry.

She eventually spoke. Angry words, cutting him to the core. The barest, most painful things that could be, leaving the dragon flailing and terrified.

"No! I don't wanna go! Please, Twilight, don't make me!"

Just as Twilight's eyes were when she'd confronted the dark magic trap Sombra had placed within the Empire's deepest confines, all sinister manifest and otherworldly malice ... worn solely by Twilight and himself.

Twilight's eyes. Her eyes were like this.

Spike approached the door at the bottom of the spiral stone staircase. His eyes spouted a billowing purple darkness and he cried out.

The purple unicorn regained herself and slammed it shut. She hastily explained that King Sombra had bewitched the door to make it show their most terrible fears, and that's what they'd been affected by. She reassured Spike that she'd never send him away, and used magic to locate and open the real door beyond it.

Passing through it, they found a light blue staircase snaking up the exterior of the tower. Like the dark staircase, this one seemed to be as arduous.

Possessing unique magical abilities, Twilight was able to navigate the pair through several enchanted traps, until she and Spike eventually reached the uppermost reaches of the castle. They found the Crystal Heart mere moments before Cadance's magic failed, forced to watch on helplessly as it was swallowed up by a thick spiked prison of dark crystal tendrils.

The mirror slipped from Spike's grasp, turning onto its edge before impact; it didn't shatter, but the loud noise was enough to startle everyone present.

"... we have to stop her! We have to stop Twilight!" he shouted, then promptly passed out.

"... you were right, Zecora." Fluttershy gasped. "What do we do now?"

"We need to gather your Harmony crew if we're going to see this calamity through," the zebra remarked, checking the vitals of the poor sleeping dragon. "Two are here and two are there. We haven't any time to spare."

---

The train started to slow, chugging laboriously against staunch icy resistance as snow and debris marked that they'd arrived at the Crystal Empire.

Applejack shuddered as she spied the frosty landscape, wishing she'd had the forethought to bring a coat and boots. Pinkie Pie flew from her seat before they'd come relatively close to stopping, hopping about in place by the exit with frenzied jubilance. The orange mare chuckled, gathered their various belongings, and relented her typical staunch demeanor for the infectious tend of her excitable comrade.

"Settle down there, girl," Applejack said with a grin. "You've got everything, right? You're all set?"

"All set!" Pinkie responded, bouncing happily. "Bring on the frigid winter! WOO! Let it go, let it go-ooo!"

The passenger car doors opened, and the pair walked out onto the platform. The air was still and quiet, save for the gentle sound of snowfall.

Applejack stepped carefully onto the station deck, then froze in place, mouth agape.

Bodies were littered about the station. Ponies ranging from elder to toddler were strewn about and throughout the depot, having probably dropped where they'd stood for some of the awkward posturings. The conductor and stewards from their own train stopped and fell as well, succumbing to some mysterious invisible blight.

"Wow," Pinkie gasped. "Now this is what I call a seriously super siesta, ¿sabes? Espero que estos ponis están dormidos, de lo contrario voy a perder mi mierda!"

The orange farmer stared, considering the assemblage of lifeless citizens scattered everywhere. She finally covered her mouth with a kerchief from her saddle pack, then forcibly marched Pinkie away and a good distance from the macabre site.

"We're gonna need help here, Pinkie," Applejack whispered once the pair were well outside the apparent sphere of influence, trying to shake off the creeping dread scratching at the walls of her mature repose. "This situation is way beyond the abilities of a couple of simple earth ponies."

"You're right!" the fuschia mare wailed, hugging her companion tightly. "Let's hope some complicated earth ponies show up soon! With candy!"

To be continued.

Comments

[Twifight Sparkill]

SEE?? IT AIN'T OVER!

[TheMyth]

[Twifight Sparkill]

7568462

HEY! i'VE MISSED YOU!

[TheMyth]

7568470
Same here

[theRedBrony]

"... well, buck my flank.

It's about effing time! I missed you...

[Twifight Sparkill]

7568529

I agree. I missed me talking to you too.

7568500

I'm still gonna steer this story the way we talked about. ;)

[Fido]

*Dusts off the spiderwebs* *Coughs*

It's back!

[Angelus Alvus]

ayay! I'm glad you're continuing this!

[Phazon]

So that cursed door had a more lasting effect on the two than we were led to believe. Interesting... I just wish you'd written this story four years ago, when season three was fresher in everyone's minds.

And now for some Google Translate:

¿sabes? Espero que estos ponis están dormidos, de lo contrario voy a perder mi mierda!"

"you know? I hope these monkeys are asleep, otherwise I will lose my shit!"

ponis

ponies

Don't you just love Google Translate?

[RadicalDishonesty]

I had to reread this whole thing, it had been so long.

That being said, I'm glad I reread it and enjoyed it, and now I remember all the stuff that's been happening! And am looking forward to more.

[DarkDMan]

Well, fuck. Things are getting serious!
Welcome back!

[Twifight Sparkill]

7568829

I know, right? I had to reread this story a ton of times, fixing issues and polishing sentences as I went. I basically rewrote half the darn thing for not liking some of the cumbersome language. Regardless, it is back. I still love this story, and I will see it finished. Thank you for coming back, Fido. Good to see you again!

7569185

I'm just as shocked as you, Angelus! I've been stricken with a crippling block for a year and then some, and I just sort of... got over it. Don't ask me how. Glad to have you back.

7569352

The Spanish was solely for you. Just so you know.

7569740

YAY! I am so happy! You read this story in its optimum make, and I am SO glad you enjoyed it still. I fixed a ton of things - like, a TON of things - as I reread it as well. Thank you for sticking with me, and here's to your being awesome, RadicalDishonesty. By the way, I'm following you now. Be afraid.

7570625

THANK YOU, DarkDMan! It is wonderful to be back. I just hope this recent flux of inspiration stays for a while. I am loving writing again! LOVING IT!

I'm very pleased that I got back to this story. Thank you everyone for paying attention to it. I cannot thank you enough! CHEERS!

[Learn for Life]

At your blog's behest, I came over here and read the story. So far, I think this is pretty entertaining. This is one of the few stories where I think the third-person multiple works to the story's advantage; I wasn't on board when Fluttershy got her own part, and I thought it would derail when Applejack got her own part out of nowhere, but you managed to pull it all off. I especially like how all of the conflicts revolve around the incident at the Crystal Empire, and how you wove both Spike's and Twilight's plight together as well as separately.

I do have some criticisms, but those can wait until after you're done writing this. Keep on at it!

[Twifight Sparkill]

7587187

You're too kind, NW! I really appreciate the sentiment, and am looking forward to reading your analysis. All help is good help!

... yes, I will be likely referring to you as NW from now on. You have no choice. Sorry!

[Knux]

7587594

Would you say he's... not worthy of being called by his own name? -wags eyebrows-

But seriously, great to see this continued.~

[Twifight Sparkill]

7593982

OH YOU! LOL! Wish I'd thought of that joke!

I'm glad you're glad, Knux. Welcome back!

[Phazon]

You see, this right here. This is exactly why I didn't take you for an artist. Until just now, you've never done your own cover art.

Looks cool, but isn't it a little spoilery?

[Twifight Sparkill]

7619567

"You see, this right here. This is exactly why I didn't take you for an artist. Until just now, you've never done your own cover art."

Two things contributed to my suddenly drunk art again - my friend "acquired" a copy of CorelDRAW 12, which is the only art program I know how to use, although I never bothered with it. Then... I made you a drawing to thank you for your editing help and friendship, so I arted. Now I love it again. So thank you for ruining my life! I never thought I'd be bothered to do artwork again, but that Fluttershy REALLY inspired me! Now I can't stop myself!

"Looks cool, but isn't it a little spoilery?"

Yup. Mystery doesn't evoke enough curiosity these days. Trailers tell you everything you need to know about a movie, for instance, so. .. well, I'm happy with making things less complicated.

I'm glad you like it!

[Ultra-the-HedgeToaster]

Small tip regarding the cover-art; in the "source"-field, I'd advise to link here rather than directly to the png itself.

That way people have an easier time finding your dA-account.

Plus, bonus-tip: I'd also recommend stating in the story description that you made the cover-art yourself.

Just a simple line in the story-description. "Cover art by myself". Maybe after a linebreak to separate it from the main text.

I don't know how it is for others, but if I see a custom-made cover that clearly was made for the story, and then also by the author of said story themselves... well, it automatically bumps up my assumptions about the level of quality to be expected.

[Red Bomber]

Shoot, I forgot what was happening now.

[Twifight Sparkill]

7657107

Thank you for the suggestion - I followed your words to the letter. MUCH better! I shall eventually learn, eh.

7677131

The chapters are short, and to be honest I've rewritten a ton of the material so it flows a little better. Might be worth a new read, if you're bored? My stuff is like candy - a bit of sweet, then you forget you'd ever had it. If you DO reread the story, rest assured that after recent edits from Not Worthy, my idea of flow actually MEANS flow.

Also, HI! Long time no see! How are you?? Here, I'll follow you so this doesn't happen again.

[Red Bomber]

7677231
No wonder things seems so strange and different now. Because the only thing I remember from this fic is that both Spike and Twilight felt that Spike getting almost all the credit didn't feel right and he felt that he doesn't deserve this much credit and Twilight admitting that she realized that she was actually feeling jealous of Spike. They both tried to find ways to deal with these revelations on their own and Twilight going to the Crystal Empire is trying to figure on how to deal with that jealously, I forgot what Spike was doing though. That's all I remember from this story.

But now that you said that it's different. I guess this will be the second story that I have to read all over again to understand its new direction. Thanks for the watch by the way.

[Twifight Sparkill]

7678144

"But now that you said that it's different. I guess this will be the second story that I have to read all over again to understand its new direction."

Oh no, no no. The direction is the same as ever - all that I've changed is the language. You have the gist of it, really. All I can suggest is, seeing as this story has VERY short chapters, it might be worthwhile scanning through. Otherwise? I haven't altered the premise, so you're not really missing anything.

"Thanks for the watch by the way."

I love nostalgia. You're very welcome, Bomber.

[ShadowXper]

Is this dead..?

[Twifight Sparkill]

Surprisingly no.

[ShadowXper]

9151079
Can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Twifight Sparkill]

9193900

- ME EITHER! The following incomplete chapter has been sitting in the story folder for about SEVEN MONTHS, and there's only a paltry 800+ words in it! Mostly some junk about Twilight being covered in snow and driven mad by the ...

- HEY! PINKIE, NO SPOILERS! PLEASE!

- OH GOOD GRAVY, GIRL! The only thing spoiled around here is your work ethic, my hippity-hoppity-horsie-hypocrite so-called writer bestie librarian princess nerd FRIEND! This authored atrocity was based on a season finale um... was it ten years ago? Twenty? I forget now.

- ... just stop, please. You're absolutely right about everything. Fudgecakes on whipped cream, I hate it when you're right.

- OH YEZ! HUZZAH! SCORE ONE FOR THE EARTH PONIES! WOOHOO! DAB, WHATEVER THAT IS!

- Yeah, great for us. That makes everything even, except for the lack of magic and wings n' whatever. Yay fer us.

- Well, no matter the issue, at least you know your place, dear Applejack. Which is very perceptive, what for your being a... what's the acceptable politically-correct term, a mud horse? Yes, that's it.

- Shall I kill her last?

- First, please hon.

[Justin Mershimer]

Is this continuing?