“Promise me, Twilight.”
“I promise.”
“Promise me…”
“I promise.”
“Promise…”
“I promise, now sleep.”
Twilight stepped off the train and onto the platform of the train station in Ponyville. After being gone for many months it was no surprise to her that her friends were there to welcome her home. As her friends gathered around her, they realized that she was carrying a foal in her saddlebag. Her friends took a step back and stared at the precious sleeping foal. The Princess of friendship frowned as she tried to come up with a story for the foal, because she knew that the truth would break her promise.
“Twilight, darling you have a foal.” Rarity said.
“Yeah, so what’s with the kid?” Rainbow asked.
“What happened?” Starlight Glimmer asked.
All of the questions started flowing in about the baby. The questions started melting together and the world went dark. She heard the sounds of battle. The sound of the foal crying snapped her back to reality.
Instantly, she used her magic to hold the foal, comforting her. Twilight then placed her back into the makeshift carrier of her bag. She glanced around at her friends, who were still waiting for an answer to their questions.
“I’m very tired. I will answer your questions when I am rested,” Twilight declared.
Though a part of her felt horrible for blowing off her friend’s questions, she was really tired, and she wanted to get some rest. Many months of fighting in vain to hunt down the monster who took someone she loved left her drained. She wanted to forget that it ever happened, the foal was a constant reminder.
After thinking about it, she decided to tell them something to make her feel better.
“She’s mine, and we need rest,” Twilight said solemnly.
It’s better they don’t know specifics, Twilight thought to herself as she trotted away, leaving her friends baffled at the surprising revelation. In actuality, she didn’t lie about the foal. She was hers. She didn’t feel bad for claiming the foal. After all, now she has a fighting chance of life.
As she passed through town, she paid no attention to the ponies that gathered to welcome her home. Ponies called out her name, but she didn’t acknowledge them. Fillies and colts danced around her to get her attention, but still she moved onward, giving them no attention. She didn’t mean to ignore so many of those who loved her; it was just that her mind was elsewhere.
Everything was just as she left it. It was the same quiet town with the same ponies, living in the same houses and living their same mundane lives. Nothing in the town changed, except her. She had seen many things and had felt so many things. Deep down, she felt as though she couldn’t relate to anyone, even her own friends.
Finally, as she stepped back into her castle, she sighed as she removed her saddlebag. Before walking away, she made sure to grab the foal. She was then greeted with a big hug from her number one assistant, Spike.
The purple baby dragon hugged Twilight for what seemed like an eternity before Twilight returned it. It had been a long time since she had hugged anyone, and she was happy that it was Spike. When Spike noticed the foal, he took a step back and looked at Twilight in confusion.
“I’ll tell you everything as long as you keep it a secret,” Twilight said.
Spike simply nodded. Twilight knew that he really didn’t know how to react. After all, he was just a baby dragon. Together, they walked to Twilight’s room. Her room was neatly made, and it was maintained so well that it appeared that she wasn’t even gone that long, when in truth she was gone longer than had been expected.
“So…we’re gonna need a crib,” Spike said.
Twilight set the foal on her bed. Stepping outside, she closed the door and soundproofed the room. She turned her attention to Spike.
“Yes, we will need a crib, as well as many other baby products,” Twilight replied.
“Is she yours?” Spike asked.
“Relatively speaking, yes.”
“Do I have to ask about-”
“No. I failed, Spike. I failed her.”
“Oh.”
“I’m so glad to be home.”
Twilight hugged Spike tightly and started to cry. Spike simply embraced her and allowed her to let it out.
“There is so much that’s happened, and I guess if there’s anyone that I could talk to, it’s you.” Twilight said.
“What happened?” Spike asked.
“I chased him around the world to get her back…” Twilight said.
As the foal slept, Twilight told the story of what happened. It took a long time to fully explain. The only thing she left out was the promise she made.
After she told the story, she sent Spike away so she could get some rest and so he could gather the supplies she needed. Twilight lay her head down on the soft pillow and drifted off to sleep.
Twilight ran up the stairs as fast as she could. She was determined to finally rescue her friend. Earlier she sent her companions off to pursue the coward that had taken her.
As she got to the top of the tower, she could hear sobbing. Quickly she broke the door down and rushed in. It was a cell with poor accommodations that included a soil bucket, a small barred window, and a bed of straw. Twilight stared in horror as she found who she had been looking for.
On the bed of straw lay a disoriented Sunset Shimmer. Twilight approached Sunset, then stroked her mane. Sunset looked into Twilight’s eyes and managed to crack a slight smile. Tears still fell down Sunset’s cheeks.
“Twilight…” Sunset tiredly said.
“I’m here,” Twilight said.
“I knew you’d come.”
“I know.”
“Twilight, I’m not going to make it.”
“Sunset, don’t talk like that. We’ll get you some help.”
Twilight started to look around and call out for help.
“Twilight,” Sunset said.
“I’ll find someone.”
“Twilight.”
“I’m going to save you.”
“You already have.”
“I haven’t…Sunset, I haven’t yet.”
“You have saved me.”
As Twilight continued calling around for help, Sunset gathered her strength and used her magic to reveal a foal. The foal started crying and Twilight looked back at Sunset in surprise. Twilight sat down next to her friend and took the foal.
“Twilight, I have something to tell you.”
Twilight leaned closer to Sunset and she whispered something in her ear. When Sunset was done she lay her head down.
“Twilight, promise me.”
“Sunset, I-”
“Promise me, Twilight.”
“I promise.”
Promise me…”
“I promise.”
“Promise…”
“I promise, now sleep.”
Twilight kissed Sunset’s forehead and started crying as she watched the life leave her dear friend. She stood up then brought the foal closer to her. The foal looked at Twilight with the most innocent eyes that reflected Sunset’s eyes.
“I promise that I’ll keep you safe, and that I will love you as if you were my own,” Twilight said softly to the foal.
The words that Sunset had whispered to Twilight echoed in her head. They were words that Twilight would never repeat until the time is right.
Twilight woke up to a newly built crib with the sleeping foal in it. There was a note left on the side table. She picked it up and read it over.
Twilight,
We’re all so sorry about earlier. It was that the baby caught us off guard, and we wanted to congratulate you. You don’t have to tell us everything if you don’t want to. Just know that if you need someone to talk to, we’re all here for you. Once again, we are so sorry.
With much love,
All of your friends
Twilight smiled as she set the note down. She lay her head back down on the pillow and fell back to sleep.