Twilight tossed and turned about her bed, trying to position her body so that some comfort could be had. One pillow was not enough, but two made her claustrophobic. Every twist and bend seemed to make her discomfort worse than it had been just seconds before.
“Agh! Oh Celestia, why can’t I just fall asleep, for once? Even for just an hour. I’m not picky, just end this hell!” Twilight pleaded to her pillow. She knew she was being slightly over dramatic, but this was now the fourth night in a row that she had been unable to fall asleep. Ever since she and her friends had returned to Ponyville from Shining Armor’s wedding, sleep had eluded her.
Deciding that she was fighting a losing battle Twilight gave up and got out of bed. Her mane was a complete mess and the bags under her eyes indicated the obvious lack of sleep.
Twilight would pace back and forth for an hour or so, then reorganize and re-catalogue all of the books in the library. That task alone would normally put Twilight to sleep in seconds, but not now. For some reason, even unknown to the incredibly intelligent unicorn, sleep was unachievable.
“It must have been something from the wedding,” Twilight said to herself as she flopped on to the sofa in the main room of the large oak library. “Perhaps some sort of spell or curse.” She chuckled at the last word. She still thought that curses were just old pony tales, even though that incident with Zecora made her slightly more cautious when these types of situations would occur.
Deciding that finding any evidence of an insomnia spell would be impossible, Twilight ruled that thought out. “Come on Twilight think! What the hay could have happened?” Twilight yelled out, quickly shutting her mouth. She knew that Spike was a heavy sleeper, but she would have to be considerate. Just because she couldn't sleep didn’t mean that Spike had to suffer as well.
Twilight re-capped each part of the wedding back in her head. The changelings and the fighting, but also the happy parts. The reception, the party, and the mildly entertaining, but incredibly late bachelor party that Spike threw.
That night was one of the best Twilight had enjoyed in years. Come to think of it, there weren't too many fun things going on in Ponyville lately. She loved having all of her friends so close by, but it seemed that now and days the only excuse for them all to meet was for another boring picnic in the park, or to use the elements of harmony to save Equestria.
Twilight sighed as she thought back to the wedding. It was so hard to pick out a single even that was the most fun. Singing was definitely great, but so was getting to be best mare for Shining Armor.
Thinking of her brother, Twilight frowned. That was what the best part of her night was. Just getting to spend time with him made her heart soar with happiness. She may have not had many friends in Canterlot as a filly, but her family was so great that she didn’t even need friends.
Every evening Twilight’s parents would make an incredible meal, and Shining Armor would set the table, and Twilight got to help however she could. Those nights with the three of them were some of the best she had ever had. There was no pressure from school to slow her down, and Shining Armor hadn't joined the guard yet. Nopony would ever fight or argue.
It seemed as if these flashbacks and memories were the only things that Twilight could think about since she left Canterlot. It was all clear now. There were no spells, or evil curses. Twilight was homesick, and missed her family. She supposed that she had forgotten how much she missed them until she realized what she had been missing.
Still suffering from insomnia, Twilight climbed back up to her bed chamber in the library and browsed her privet collection of books. One of which was her old photo album. It was hard not to smile as Twilight flipped through the pages. It seemed as if each one restored some memory that she had long forgotten.
Every photo had a smile. Even if the occasion was not the best or brightest it was impossible for Twilight and her family to have a long face. As long as they were in each other’s company, everything was great.
When Twilight had reached the halfway point of her photo album she noticed a frightening trend. The smiles began to fade, and every photo was meaningless. The four would pose, and smile for the camera, but the love was gone. There was no emotion in anypony’s eyes.
Baffled by this sudden change in personality, Twilight sped thought the rest of the album. It was like a complete timeline of her adolescence. Practically every day from the morning she was born to the day she left for Ponyville had some sort of picture or memory to accompany it. Why was it that all the good times ended, and the smiles faded away?
Now no matter how badly Twilight wanted to rest, she would be forced to find the reason. Just as she usually did when she was thinking Twilight paced back and forth in her room, occasionally returning back to the photo album for a clue.
What event could have taken place that would have made her family so miserable, and why hadn't Twilight realized it until now? She couldn't remember any traumatic experiences as a filly. If anything all of their lives seemed to improve as time went on. As they got older, Twilight and Shining Armor got closer and closer. It seemed as if two were inseparable. How could anypony hate their sibling when each one was so highly regarded in Canterlot society?
The last thought made Twilight stop in her tracks. She quickly walked across her bedroom and back over to the photo album. Using her magic Twilight flipped through every page in a matter of seconds, and then it struck her.
“We became miserable once we received our tremendous responsibilities. How did I miss this before?” It all made perfect sense to Twilight now. She had been accepted in to the school for gifted unicorns, and as Celestia’s personal pupil, the exact same week that Shining Armor was recruited for officer training in the royal guard.
It was at that time Twilight was forced to study day and night, making sure she knew every last detail in the ways of magic. Meanwhile Shining Armor would train both physically and mentally so he could become an officer. By the time the two siblings returned home they were far too tired to do anything together except make occasional conversation about the incredibly difficult day they each had endured.
It hurt her parents as well. Her mother and father had gone from seeing their young foals almost every hour of every day, to just a few minutes each morning and evening. They were lucky when they were able to hold a conversation with one of their foals for more than a few minutes before they had to run off on important business.
Twilight closed the photo album and sat on the edge of her bed. It broke her heart to know that her whole family had suffered, and broken apart just because she and Shining Armor had received such important tasks.
At the time they were both so excited about the fame and honor that came along with the job, that the two of them never even bothered to ask, “Is this what I really want?” Even Twilight couldn't come up with a definite answer. Being the sole student of the princess seemed like a dream come true, and in reality it was, but she never would have thought that studying and learning would drive the ones she cared for most away.
Both Twilight and Shining Armor had left the house at a very young age. Twilight closed her eyes as she remembered the day they took Shining Armor away for good.
Twilight was sitting at the kitchen table with a dandelion sandwich she made for herself, and a book about the history and origins of teleportation spells. Shining Armor was in the back yard, already in his suit of surprisingly well crafted hoof made armor. Twilight tried to remember why he was wearing the bulky armor, but the exact details of the situation escaped her mind.
As Twilight finished the last portions of her breakfast, she placed her plate in the sink and closed the book she had been reading. Double checking that she had remembered to pack everything she need for school Twilight opened the door and left for school. On the way out of the door she looked back to see Shining Armor placing a few quick jabs at the large oak tree in the back yard. Even in their day to day troubles, Twilight always remembered to say goodbye to her brother, but for some reason, on this particular day, Twilight shrugged the thought off and continued her walk to school without a goodbye.
Upon returning home from school Twilight noticed that nopony was at the house, and it seemed as if something was missing. Not thinking about it much the young and exhausted filly went to the kitchen and opened the pantry to get her after school/ study time snack. Upon closing the large maple wood door Twilight realized that a small hoof written note had been pinned by the door knob. Pulling is off with magic Twilight read the contents of the short note quickly.
“Mom, Dad, and Twilight,
The leaders from the royal guard stopped by today and gave me some wonderful news. Thanks to my dedication and experience I will now undergo training to become the head of the royal guard. It will however take many years of further training, and it is required that I am taken to a privet location. The whereabouts are even unknown to me at this point in time, and I don’t believe that I can tell you, or even write to you from the facility. Time is short and the guard members are making me pack my things now so I must keep things brief. I will miss you all terribly and don’t know how long it will be before I see you again. Thank you mom and dad for being such great parents and allowing me to undergo this great opportunity. Twilight, I’m so proud of you and everything you had accomplished, especially as such a young age. I’m sorry I missed you this morning, but remember: follow your dreams and you’re heart.”
~You’re BBBFF
Shining Armor~
Twilight had tears welling in her eyes and re-read the note several times through. She never needed to re-read anything, but this time she was afraid of the truth. Scanning the letter multiple times Twilight noticed that there were several dried water marks on the scroll the message was written on. At this point Twilight had also added her tears the the piece of parchment as well.
The letter was true, and Twilight and her parents did not hear receive any news of Shining Armor for over six years. It was as if they had lot him completely. The first year was the hardest for Twilight. Every day on her way to school she would put her plate in the sink and look in the back yard. Every time she hoped that maybe she would see her older brother in the back yard. Practicing his moves on the old oak tree, but every time she was greeted by the same old rope swing, swaying back and forth in the breeze.
Three years after the disappearance of Shining Armor Twilight received the order to oversee the summer sun celebration in the nearby village of Ponyville. Thinking that the trip would only take a day or two at most Twilight decided that telling her parents would do nothing but draw unneeded attention to herself. Without so much as a word she packed a day bag and left the city.
As fate would have it Twilight fell in love with the small town of Ponyville and decided that a change in scenery would do her well. The fact that the once solitary unicorn now had friends excited her beyond belief. Twilight only returned to Canterlot to pack her few belongings and tell her parents.
For one last time Twilight placed her dirty dishes in the sink and turned to face the back yard. She was greeted by the same rope swing. Swaying in the gentle summer breeze. No big brother, no reason to stay.
Twilight had her bags packed and waited patiently for her chariot. Although she was being picked up by members of the royal guard there was no point in asking them for news of her brother. Only the highest ranking members would actually know of his whereabouts, and a couple of chariot drivers would be of no help at all.
Realizing that her parents were still at work and would not return for many more hours Twilight decided to once again follow in her brother’s hoof steps. Using her magic she picked up a scroll from the drunk drawer and said her last goodbyes.
“Dear Mom & Dad,
It’s not easy to say goodbye, each one of us knows that better then anypony else, but just like Shining Armor said, I need to chase my dreams. You gave me so many opportunities and I could never say how much I love you for that. Without having Shining Armor, and with you two being at work all day, the just isn't any reason for me to stay. I made some incredible friends, and throughout all my extensive work with magic, I never realized that the only way to achieve success in its purest form is to use the magic of friendship. It took me far too long to realize that now, and I won’t let this chance to study further be in vain. I will be in living in the town library of Ponyville. Please send all of my mail and my other things to that address. I’m sorry I couldn't say goodbye face to face, but the pain of being here for another second was becoming too hard to bare. I hope you understand. Talk to you soon.”
~Your faithful filly
Twilight Sparkle~
Feeling satisfied with the note Twilight grabbed her belongings and flew off to her new life in Ponyville. It was hard to believe that it had already been three years that she had been living by herself in the town library, but they had been some of the best years of her life. After reflecting on everything however, Twilight realized that the best times, were those shared with her brother and parents.
Part of the reason the wedding was so incredible, was because it was the first time that Twilight had gotten to see her brother in over half a decade. He had changed a lot. He was taller, and more muscular. Much more so then the small colt she remembered. He also carried himself with so much courage and dignity that it almost made Twilight jealous. No matter how he looked or acted could change the way Twilight felt though. Shining Armor was her BBBFF, and nothing in the world could change that.
Twilight got up off her bed and returned to the shelf that held her photo albums. She grabbed the very last one and flipped to the very past page. Wrinkled and folded under the thin plastic coating was the exact same letter that her brother had left on the pantry door all those years ago. That small scroll was still the only piece of writing that Twilight had read more than once. She didn’t mind it. In the past she read the letter to feel like she was somehow connected to her brother. Now that she could see her Shining Armor whenever she pleased, the letter seemed obsolete. For once the sight of the dried tears on the paper didn’t break Twilight’s heart. It seemed as if they brightened her day. Making her smile.
She placed the note back into the photo album and flipped back to the beginning. Now she felt like a new pony. Knowing that it was ok to have six great friends, and a loving family. She never had both before, and as the saying goes, “the more the merrier!”
Now each photo from her fillyhood brought a memory, and a smile. Twilight paused and placed her right hoof under her chin, “I wonder just how many memories a single pony can remember in a life time?” That’s one question that Twilight will just never answer. As time goes on, memories come and go. Some will be more significant than others. Some may be outright pointless, but for some reason you will remember them. Maybe for a day, maybe for a lifetime. The important thing is to try and remember as many as you can, but only focus on the good ones.
Twilight smiled and placed the photo album back on the shelf. She rose from the wicker chair she had been sitting on for hours and yawned as she cracked her back. The release or pressure and tension felt incredible as she walked down the stairs to the Library common room.
To Twilights surprise Spike was up and making breakfast. “Spike, what on Equestria are you doing up in the middle of the night cooking, you know you need your sleep!” Twilight scolded as she fell on the couch.
Spike just laughed and brought Twilight a plate of fresh hay fries. “I should be asking you the same question Twilight,” Spike chuckled. “By the looks of those bags under your eyes I bet you didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.”
Twilight yawned and nodded in unison as she rested her head on the coffee table. “You’re right Spike, I didn’t sleep at all, and I thought a lot last night. You know what I’m going to do today?”
“Um, actually get some sleep?” Spike replied with some hesitation.
“Nope,” replied Twilight with a grin. “I’m going to go make some of the best memories in my life.”
With that Twilight rose from the table, and groggily bumbled out the front door of the library. Time just keeps on going, and we’re all just along for the ride.