They say honesty is the best policy. They're right you know. It's always better to tell the truth than it is to lie. Why, I've been working Sweet Apple Acres and selling off my produce since I was a filly, and I've never once made a crooked deal!
Honesty. That's me alright.
I'd been working on the farm when it happened. Princess Luna came to me and said she needed me for something important. I thought that those fancy Canterlot ponies had finally gotten a craving for some of my sweet apple pies. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Something seemed... off about the Princess. Looked like a storm cloud was hanging over her head. I asked her what was going on. I wished I wouldn't have.
"Celestia is dead, and Twilight Sparkle is responsible. I am here to gather the remaining five elements. They may be Equestria's last hope."
I just couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. Twilight? A murderer? It sounded like one of Pinkie Pie's bad jokes. But, as I soon found out, this was no joke. The other four came, and with heavy hearts, we boarded a train bound for Canterlot.
When we arrived in the city, I was shocked. The last time we had been to Canterlot, the streets were bustling with ponies, the air was heavy with the smell of perfume and cologne, and the din of juicy gossip rang out in all directions. Now, it felt like a ghost town. The town was silent, empty, and, for lack of a better word, dead. The faint echo of the wind whistling though the decadent white columns was the only sound. It felt scary and foreboding, not warm and welcoming as it had in the past.
We delved deeper and deeper into the city, the unrelenting silence nearly palpable as we neared the palace. There were no guards. No royal court. No mob of admirers trying to sneak their way in. Only the soft clip clopping of hooves against stone as the six of us breached the deserted gates.
The Princess lead us through the courtyard, and into the throne room.
The floor was spattered with crimson flecks of blood. Two princesses, Cadence and Celestia, lay dead. I... I cannot even begin to describe the sight. It was a nightmare from which I could not awake. I swallowed the lump in my throat, and fought back two urges. The first was the urge to cry, the second the urge to vomit.
What Luna had said was true. Twilight Sparkle, my friend, had become a murderer. I didn't know how, and I didn't know why. Those things didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was the harsh reality I faced.
We were Equestria's last hope.
I was honesty.
"Twilight Sparkle, you have committed crimes against Equestria, against the Royal Court, and against Harmony itself. You have made yourself an enemy of Equestria, and thus an enemy of Harmony. Prepare to face justice."
I felt an all too familiar sensation start to take me over. The Elements were at work now. I was lifted from the floor and surrounded by the glow of honesty. Yet, somehow, it all felt wrong. The Elements always put my mind at ease, but now, my head was swimming. What would happen to Twilight? Would she be turned to stone, like Discord? Was she perhaps possessed, as Nightmare Moon had been? Or would she be destroyed entirely?
These questions bounced about in my head as I hovered. I watched as a bright orange light engulfed my body, and twisted like a corkscrew to join five other streaks in a brilliant rainbow of magic. It hurtled towards our former friend, and I awaited the imminent collision.
"Enough!"
The collision never came.
There was a flash of pure white light, and I was thrown back. I tumbled over and over until finally slamming into the marble wall. I had a large gash on the back of my head, but I was otherwise unharmed. Apparently, I was the lucky one.
I wearily rose to my hooves to survey the damage. The room had been rocked by a massive explosion, no doubt caused by Twilight. The other five were badly injured. Some might have been dead. I couldn't tell. The whole world seemed to be shaking. Or maybe that was just me.
My friend turned enemy stood in the center of the throne room, surrounded by cracks of bright purple lightning. She was terrifying, yet beautiful at the same time. She looked like a real goddess.
"Listen Twilight. I'm your friend! I always have been, and I always will be. C'mon sugarcube, I'm tellin' the truth!"
My plights fell on deaf ears. I knew now that there was no way out. I had failed. We all had. We were all going to die.
Then, I heard a voice.
I didn't "hear" it, with my ears, but rather felt it. I felt it inside my head.
It was her. She said only one word to me.
"Liar."
That single word hit me harder than any insult ever had. I'd never told a lie in my life. I was the Element of Honesty.
I choked back the tears. Now was not the time to cry. Trembling, I made my way over to Fluttershy, who was now sobbing pitifully. I couldn't bear to look at her. Her back legs had been torn to shreds, leaving her unable to move. I placed a hoof on her as she blubbered, never taking my eyes off of the goddess. Her tiny frame was shuddering violently as she cried, and I was unable to comfort her.
The goddess looked at us. I knew what was coming next.
Fluttershy asked if we would be okay.
I lied.
I just read through the entire story (so far) and I think it's great. Nice to see a more darker side to Alicorn Twilight, in a way that I find to be rather believable, when considering Twilight's flaws.
Though the comments on this story just reek of Alicorn Drama I thought people got over that a while ago.
This is really well written and emotionally stirring, despite the short chapters. Well done, mate.
These two chapters today and the last part to this chapter, no words can describe it.
i.imgur.com/EUElLjy.png
I like this story.
I also like this story's cover art. But I don't think it properly fits the feel of this story.
Allow me to remedy that:
fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/049/d/a/empress_lucea_of_equestria_by_neustrasbourg-d5vfqk4.jpg
Created by NeuStrasbourg on DeviantArt.
this story is getting better! your writting is very dramatic and epic!
....THIS IS EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've already told you what I think of this story, so have the sea pony song.
SHOO-BE-DOO SHOO-SHOO-BE-DOO
Call upon the Sea Ponies when you're in distress
Helpful as can be ponies - simply signal SOS
If you find you're past the drift and haven't got an oar (oar)
Count upon the Sea Ponies - they'll see you to shore
SHOO-BE-DOO SHOO-SHOO-BE-DOO
Are you sinking fast?
Had some nasty shocks?
Feeling like all hope is gone and washed up on the rocks?:
(Washed up on the rocks!)
SHOO-BE-DOO SHOO-SHOO-BE-DOO
Call upon the Sea Ponies when you're in distress
Helpful as can be ponies - simply signal SOS
If your rudder runs aground or seeweed holds a grip (kelp)
Count upon the Sea Ponies - they'll see you get help
Sea Ponies, Sea Ponies
Simply signal SOS, simply signal SOS
Sea Ponies, Sea Ponies
Simply signal SOS, simply signal SOS
Oh, yes!
2472110
People never truly "get over" anything. Some people hate it, some people love it. I'll remain neutral.
Except during "Party of One" where you lied to Pinkie Pie.
2472739
when I saw that I was like "mother of god"!
The Element of Honesty lies to Rarity during Boast Busters.
It lies to the whole of Ponyville that it had produced enough cider for the whole town, when RD didn't get any.
It lied to Pinkie Pie twicein PArty of One.
...Meh just saying. Applejack may be the element of honesty, but she ain't no liar. Not hating though, just stating
Just up to Liar. Good grief, this is intense.
This is intense! I tried to stop reading one chapter ago, and I'm still reading. I haven't been this intrigued in a book since ever. It might be hard to believe for some people, but this was the first thing on my mind the second I read the first chapter-"She could publish this in a freaking second!!!!!"
I have a feeling that you'll be the next best author in no time.
The story itself and the concept are awesome. It just bothers me that it's, basically, the same story only from different points of view. It might be just me but then again, I was expecting it to be very different.
Holy shit
3212597 Yes, but almost anyone would tell a silly white lie to comfort a distraught friend. And in the last roundup, that technically wasn't a lie. She said she would tell them at breakfast, and she left before breakfast, remember?
This is beautifully written. Great job !
The sense of irony and betrayal you're building up for both the overall story and each chapter is beautiful, but I'd really suggest adding a gore tag if I were you.
This is hurting me. Those last two lines were just perfect daggers to the heart.
And on top of that, I love both Twilight and Fluttershy.
Celestia is dead Holy shit i should have know. Ah maybe should’ve had known better.