The Witch

by Moonlit Path


Fire

“Hey Twi, why don’t you take a break and come eat dinner. You know, like you said you were going to an hour ago.” Spike walked into Twilight’s room slightly annoyed, only to find her in the same spot that she had been all day.

“Sorry, Spike. I discovered this book in a back room at Canterlot Castle. It’s in encoded, but I believe this spell in the back of the book can dramatically improve one’s magic!” Twilight exclaimed, writing down a couple notes.

“Right, because that’s what you need; more magic.”

“It’s not for me. It could help anypony in need a magic. That includes pegasi, earth ponies, and unicorns.”

Spike shook his head, as Twilight wouldn’t even look away from her book to explain that to him. “I’ll bring you up your dinner after I reheat it. And Twi?”

“Yes Spike?”

“Please don’t blow anything up. I just cleaned in here.” Smirking Spike ran back downstairs hearing Twilight groan and mumble something about trying to limit explosions to one a month.

A couple minutes later, Spike turned the fire off on the stove, and placed the hayburger on a lettuce bun when he saw a bright light shine in Twilight’s room. Sighing, he grabbed the plate and headed back upstairs.

“I brought your...dinner.” Spike looked around the bedroom, finding a passed out Twilight, with the book she was reading burnt to ashes on the desk. Looking Twilight over, he noticed that she had been very pale, with a weak heartbeat. “Not this again.” He sighed, as he began to write a letter to Nurse Redheart asking for help.

“Good morrow, how do you fare?”

Twilight slowly opened her eyes, a bright light momentarily blinding her. Taking a moment to, she realized that a man had been standing over her. “Am I on the other side of the portal?” Twilight mumbled to herself while looking over the man. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and was muscular. He wore a tan shirt, green pants with black boots.

“Pardon me?”

“Oh, sorry. Hi, I’m Twilight Sparkle. I’m sorry, I’m just trying to figure out where I am.”

“Thou art in Massachusetts. I found thee near the water edge. Mine name is John.” He slowly helped Twilight sit up, and held up a cup of water for her to sip out of.

Graciously, Twilight took a drink of water while looking around a wooden cabin. “Thank you.”

“Where art thou from?”

“I’m from a far off land. I’m not quite sure how I got here.” A little confused by her speech pattern, John decided it was best not to question it.

Sitting up on the edge of the bed she had been lying in, she looked around and quickly discovered a small purple crystal necklace on the nightstand next to her. She now wore a black dress and had a white bonnet on.

“We thought the necklace belonged to thee.” He explained, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to her.

“It does, thank you.” Smiling Twilight took the necklace and put it on. Immediately, she had ponied up. Her hair grew into a long ponytail, her round ears disappeared and pointed ears appeared on the tip of her head, and wings grew out of her back.

“Witch! Witch!” John shrieked, running out of the room. Not even a moment later, a group of people rushed into the cabin and dragged Twilight out in handcuffs.

“What are you doing!” Twilight yelled, trying to wiggle free of her captors. “I didn't do anything! Please, let me go!”

Twilight kept fighting, while only receiving dirty looks while a crowd of people yelled behind her. After a couple minutes of walking, Twilight found herself being shoved up against a large stake sticking out of the ground, surrounded by rocks. Twilight felt her arms being pulled back by two large men, and her wrists tied together with thick rope.

“What did I do?” Twilight whispered, wincing as the rope cut into her skin.

A man in a black mask walked over to her, causing immense fear to course through Twilight’s body. “A trial is not needed. Ye stand today for witchcraft. Any last words?”

“What?” Twilight froze, her eyes becoming pinpricks as she looked out around the village mob. “I’m not a witch! I mean, my friend Zecora may be considered a witch, but I’m not. I’m just a plain, ordinary girl."

“We shall see.”

Bending down, the executioner hit two stones together, successfully lighting a fire under Twilight’s feet.

Twilight backed up as far as she could from the fire, but it quickly surrounded her. Blisters and burns quickly started covering her body. Unable to hold her breath anymore, Twilight let out a blood-curdling scream as the fabric of her dress caught fire.

Twilight’s vision started to dull as she began coughing. Smoke engulfed her face, burning her lungs and eyes. All she felt was pain searing through her body. It didn’t take long for her world to fade to black.

Blackness. That’s all she knew now. She couldn’t see anything, she couldn’t hear anything but a steady beat coming from deep in the abyss. A cool sensation covered her body, but a strange liquid prevented her from breathing.

Is this my life now? What happened back there? Am I dead? Am I in the afterlife’s version of Tartarus? I don’t want this to be my life. Please, somepony...anypony.

Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to relax. Days, weeks, even months went by, and the darkness had become the only thing Twilight knew. That is until an overwhelming pressure came over her.

“Am I being freed? Is my punishment over?” Twilight’s senses became overwhelmed as a blinding white light and yelling surrounded her. “No...please. No more fire. Please.” Feeling her body being held, all she could do was cry in fear.

“Shuuuu, it’s alright. You’re okay.” A soft voice cooed. Looking up, Twilight noticed a familiar face.

“Cadence? Is that you?” Twilight discovered she couldn’t talk anymore, she had become too weak. So instead she just continued to cry.

“Welcome to the world.” Shining Armor whispered, nuzzling her head.

“Congratulations you two. Equestria has a new alicorn.” Celestia smiled, nuzzling Twilight until Twilight couldn’t help but laugh.

“Am I back? Am I free now?” Twilight thought to herself, unwillingly starting to fall asleep.

“What are you going to name her?” Celestia asked, as something warm wrapped around Twilight’s body.

“I don’t know yet. I’m sure we will think of something. Right now, I should notify Twilight and her friends. I’m sure they will love to meet our daughter.”