//------------------------------// // Backtracking // Story: Entropy // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// The shoes slipped easily onto my hooves. I barely even felt their weight now, and that troubled me. As the chain of office slid into place, Sunshine came over and nuzzled me. “Come back, you hear me?” she whispered into my neck. Nuzzling her back, I nipped her ear. Pulling back, I smiled at her reassuringly. “I’ll come back carrying my shield, Twilight,” I whispered back. As I left the room, I found Starlight taking pace alongside me. “You'll watch after her, right?” I asked. The Unicorn nodded. “Moondancer and I both, as often as we can.” I sighed. “I don’t like this,” I said. “Every lead we’ve turned up has ended in ash or death. I wish Celestia or Luna were around for advice.” “I know the feeling,” Starlight agreed. “But they’re likely starting their ritual now. And you saw them before they left, can you honestly say you want them here in that state?” “No,” I conceded as we entered the throne room. Twilight and Moondancer were already on the dias, conversing softly. I shook my mane out a little, feeling my tiara keeping the hairs from moving too far. “Good morning,” I said. “I’m sorry for keeping you up this long.” “It’s fine,” Twilight said. “I took a nap halfway through, most of the dreams were peaceful enough and I set a contingency spell to wake me if I were needed.” “So, what are we doing?” Moondancer asked. “So far, we’ve been reactionary,” I said. “And they love taunting us. Did you find anything on the mantic trace, Twilight?” The lavender alicorn shook her head. “Nothing solid,” she said. It’s got some strange overtones to it, like it’s borrowing magic instead of using their own. But the decay is far too fast.” “That's what I thought,” I sighed. “It felt sick, ill. Not even the wild magic of the Everfree felt like that.” “So what do we do?” Moondancer asked. “You stay here with Starlight to take care of petitions,” I said, looking at Twilight. She nodded. “We’re going to make a quick patrol of the city, looking for this mantric signature.” She nodded and we turned to leave. I noticed that she wasn’t wearing her regalia beyond the chain of office, the medallion gently bumping against her chest. “Twilight,” I asked softly. “Does it ever bother you?” “I’m sorry?” I sighed. “Does the yoke of duty ever bother you?” I floated my tiara into my sight, looking at the simple lines of the silver headpiece. “Have you ever wished that you could go back to the days before the wings, before the duties? I know you and Fluttershy have been trying to settle into some sort of regularity in your lives.” She turned bright red. “H-how did you know about us?” she asked. “We’ve barely told the rest of the girls.” I smiled at her. “I’m not dense, Twilight,” I told her. “She shows up more than the other girls, almost every night we’ve been in those chairs. She leaves not long after you lower the moon, and you always seem to have a little silly grin on your face when she’s been here or she gets mentioned. I'd be surprised if most of the girls haven’t figured it out already…well, all but Dash.” She opened her mouth but closed it again without saying anything. She sighed. “Sometimes,” she said softly. “But I think that just by being chosen as the Element of Magic stripped that chance from me.” She glanced at me. “Having doubts?” “More like fears,” I admitted. “Sunshine is pregnant and that’s enough of a strain on her. Now we’re facing something that delights in causing pain to innocents all around. I’m scared something’s going to happen to her, or to the baby. She still has dreams about her time in Acerak’s clutches and she only recovered from being told she couldn’t conceive because of the research you and Starlight did. If she lost me or the child, she’d be devastated.” “So why did you ask about if I had regrets?” “Because, it seems like ever since I was given these wings,” I whispered. “I’ve been drawn into one conflict after another. I just want to settle down and raise a family. It seems like Harmony itself is trying to keep me from doing that.” Twilight turned a sympathetic look on me. “If you want to spend some time with…” I shook my head. “I’d rather settle this and then go spend time with her,” I bit out. “I’ve had it up to here with whatever these Children of the Void are.” We came to the balcony outside, the sun settling into its midday positioning. Twilight took to the air, and I followed, hovering for a moment to gaze towards the window where my quarters were, seeing an azure face looking back, a hoof pressed to the glass. I raised a hoof as I turned and followed the other princess. But as I did, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread settle in my stomach. It was almost like I would never see her again.