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// Three Survivors In Silence 
// Story: Change The Future 
// by Sympio 
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Twilight awoke drowsily with the distant sound of birdsong echoing from afar. Dim sunlight filtered through the tightenings of the endless trees above, softly moving with the light whisper of a morning breeze. Her half-awoken gaze scanned the forest floor, soon to be covered with autumn leaves, and small blood stains here and there. Her hooves were soaked in morning dew as she promenaded across dead grass beneath aching hooves. She winced at the pain, and stumbled backwards.

She never hit the ground, though. She felt something soft and gentle wrap around her purple body, preventing her from falling. She took a look at her hooves, a shock of adrenaline going through her body. Her hooves were covered in old blood, that had dried up long, long ago. There were burnmarks all over her hooves, and some tiny holes (that looked like they were caused by bullets), that had been bleeding recently. She then looked upwards, only to be greeted by a warm and kind smile. 

Twilight immediately recognized this pony. It was princess Celestia. Her face was covered in bloodstains, and her coat wasn't the white color it used to be. It was a little more brown, from all the dirt. In her hair were all kinds of things, like twigs, leaves and dirt. It was shorter than usual, but Twilight didn't really pay any mind to it. 

She gazed deep into Celestia's eyes, noticing a hint of sadness in them. Celestia's gaze now left Twilight, as she now shared a look with some other pony. Twilight followed her gaze, and saw the princess of the night, crying tears for six ponies that laid down in front of her, lifeless. The colors were drained of their bodies.

Twilight recognized them as her friends. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and... Cadence. Memories washed over her as she saw them laying there. It had happened. The final war with Chrysalis. They had been able to kill her, with a spell that would sacrifice all of the bearers' their lives. Only Twilight was right there, alive and well, alive.

Twilight limped over to their bodies. There was silence, not a single noise could be heard. Only the soft breeze of morning wind dared to break the silence, after a short while. Which each step the friendship princess took, it felt like her legs would give up on her, but she kept on walking. 

She looked down at her friends, and slowly collapsed onto her knees, ignoring the shock of pain that surged through her body. Only then she noticed that her whole body was covered in bruises, wounds and cuts. Yet still, she ignored the pain, and lowered her head. She let it rest on Fluttershy's flank, as she silently cried for her loss.

The princesses didn't do anything, besides watching the young mare. They didn't say anything either, only glanced a couple of times at one another. Twilight's silent cries became louder and louder, all of her sadness errupting out of her mouth all at once. 

She was wondering why she wasn't dead with them. She looked up with teary eyes at the only other two survivors of this war. They sighed and both avoided Twilight's gaze. Luna punched Celestia softly in her leg. Celestia's gaze met Twilight's. She then slowly walked towards the purple pony, and put a hoove on her shoulder.

''Twilight... I made you immortal when I gave you those wings...'' Celestia said, her voice trying not to crack, since she was about to burst into tears herself. Twilight bit her lower lip, trying to hold back some more tears. The rustling sound of leaves was the only thing that could be heard.

Twilight was at a loss of words, not knowing how to react. The three of them were the only survivors of this horrible event, and she lost all of her friends in one night. She looked for the right words to say, not wanting to snap at the princess. Instead of having her questions answered, only more appeared.

''T-Then... How come Cadance is...'' She said, and gulped, not able to finish the sentence. The only thing she did, was look at her with a blurry vision. She frowned, and her lower lip quivered. 

''I gave you immortality, Twilight. Being an alicorn doesn't mean that you're automatically immortal...'' She said with a whisper. Luna closed her eyes and looked away from the six corpses. She then turned her head and opened her eyes slowly, scanning the battlefield.

Hundreds, thousands of corpses laid there. Their coats were all a bloody mess, some bones sticking out of their bodies. Swords and spears laid all around, and the leftovers of their manes were all scorched from fire that Chrysalis had caused. She took a deep breath, and focussed her gaze back to Twilight and Celestia, who just looked at one another in silence.

''N-No.. It's not fair... I don't.. I don't want to live without them... I-I thought I'd die with them... Or else I'd never do that spell with them...'' Twilight said between sobs. Her voice was trembling. She was desperately holding back her tears, softly glaring at Celestia.

''I have this spell, Twilight... That can fix this all...'' Celestia said after a while. Twilight's gaze lowered, as she now started to get angry. Celestia's spell was the one they did to defeat Chrysalis, and that did kill her friends. 

''Thou want thy friends back, don't thee? Then listen...'' Luna said to Twilight, slowly walking towards the purple pony. 

Twilight sighed, and slowly turned back to Celestia, ready to listen what kind of spell she had to fix this. To fix this all. Luna looked sternly at her older sister, waiting for Celestia to begin telling. 

Only Celestia wasn't sure where to begin. It was a dangerous spell, that could change history, create paradoxes and all that. It was also the first spell she learned, so she faintly remembered it. It was something she thought she'd never use, seen that it's really dangerous. But then, she sighed. It was time for her to tell Twilight the ancient spell, so she could save everyone.