//------------------------------// // Regret // Story: My Little Short Stories: The Princess of Friendship // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// Spike, could you tell me about a sad time for the Princess of Friendship? One where she couldn't see or magic her way out of a problem?" Actually, there was a time like that, When Twilight had been pushed to her absolute limits, and lashed out in anger at the ponies who cared about her the most..." "Well, maybe I would've been better OFF without friends like YOU!" The words are barely out of her mouth, and already she regrets them. The gasp, heartbroken look on Pinkie Pie's face, the looks of disapproval and disgust in the other three's eyes... she hadn't meant to say it, but she had been under so much pressure... and it just came out. Now, she would take it back in an instant, if she could. But fate just isn't that kind, unfortunately. "Pinkie..." "I just can't talk to you right now." The pink filly starts to slowly trot away from her, followed by her other friends, and Twilight's heart shatters into a million pieces. With only Spike still standing beside her, she turns and slowly trots away. Her friends, the ponies who had stood by her ever since she had first arrived in Ponyville, she had lashed out at them in anger, and had broken their hearts, as much as she had broken her own. Oh, she tried so hard to justify her actions to herself; she had watched her home be invaded and her mentor turned to stone. Her friends had trusted a shifty feline con man, who betrayed their trust, and tried to sell them out at the first opportunity. They befriended a group of Pirates, only to have the pirates sell them out to the Storm King's minions. Everypony outside of Equestria had proven themselves untrustworthy, so she was doing what she had to do to save her home, family, and friends. She tried to steal Queen Novo's pearl. In that one instant, she betrayed everything. She betrayed her friends and her family, she betrayed all of the lessons and wisdom her mentor Princess Celestia had given her, she betrayed all of the countless friendship lessons she had learned ever since she had earned her element of magic and defeated Nightmare Moon. In trying to save Equestria, she had betrayed friendship, harmony, and everything good her homeland had stood for. But worst of all, Twilight Sparkle had betrayed herself. She was supposed to be the Princess of Friendship; the pony who was the ambassador of friendship to all of the other species of the world, to show them how the magic of friendship had helped ponykind so very much. And instead of trying to reach out to the sea ponies and touch their hearts with friendship, she had plotted against them, sending her friends to distract them, while she tried to steal their greatest treasure. Then, when her friends had actually managed to win over the queen, she had ruined everything, and lashed out at the very ponies who had stood behind her through everything. And right now, Princess Twilight Sparkle felt like the scrum of the earth. As she climbed up the rocky outcropping, Twilight felt the full force of the guilt hit her like a tidal wave. Her friends, who had always been there for her, who had taught her more about friendship then anyone else... she hadn't trusted them. Through all the pain and frustration, she didn't have faith in her friends to actually carry out the task she had given them, and winning the sea ponies over so she didn't have to steal the pearl. Twilight Sparkle, who had experienced nothing but mistrust and betrayal on this journey, had lost faith in her friends to succeed, and in doing so, the princess of friendship had lost her faith in friendship to save the day. By trying to steal the pearl, and yelling at her friends, the princess of friendship had become no better than the Storm King, or Tirek, or Sombra, or any of the hundred other unredeemable foes who committed horrible deeds to achieve their own ends. And that knowledge haunted the young alicorn far more than scolding from her mentor could have. And now, having betrayed the sea ponies, there was no way to save Equestria. Her homeland, her family, and everpony she cared about would now be forever enslaved by the Storm King's empire. She had failed, in her anger and pride and desperation, she had failed to everypony who had been counting on her, and all she could do was keep running from the storm king's forcesKeep running until they finally caught up with her, and stole her alicorn magic like they desired to. It was only a matter of time, before the Storm King was victorious, and Twilight's failure was complete. And as the princess wallowed in her own misery, her Assistant Spike came up behind her, hoping to cheer the mournful alicorn up. "Twilight... it's okay." He mutters, trying to reach her. "You'll figure it out." "No, I can't!" The alicorn weeps, not bothering to look back at him. "I ruined everything! There's no chance to save Equestria now!" The tears flowed from her eyes like twin rivers. "It's all my fault!" Finally giving in entirely to her own despair, the young alicorn princess's feels nothing but a wave of regret, guilt and sorrow that threatens to tear her little pony body apart. The cool and cruel world seems to close in, like an iron cage dropping down on top of her from above.... and that was truly the worst feeling of all. "Oh no, that's so sad! Was the princess of Friendship able to make up with her friends, and save the day again?" "Of course she was, Princess Pink. We wouldn't be standing here is she hadn't managed to triumph, and defeat the enimies who threatened Equestria... but that is enough for one day, little princess. You best get along to your lessons now, and I will tell you more some other time. "