//------------------------------// // VI - Finding the Words // Story: Passed On // by Scampy //------------------------------// Twilight sat cross-legged in the grass beside the portal’s statue, taking deep, shaky breaths. Her eyes were closed, and Sunset’s journal was laying open in her lap. Innumerable sounds whispered through the world around her—tires on asphalt, rustling leaves, gentle gusts of wind—yet all she could hear was the murmuring thump of her heart in her ears. With every beat, she closed her eyes a little tighter. Despite Twilight’s initial intentions, she had been unable to inform Celestia of Sunset’s passing. A letter was such an impersonal medium, and it would be wildly insensitive and inappropriate, given the circumstances. Instead, all she had managed to write was that there was an extremely urgent matter regarding Sunset Shimmer, and that Celestia needed to come through the portal so Twilight could explain in person. This was followed by several apologies for such an unusual request. Groaning, Twilight raised her head to look at the portal. She had sent the letter maybe half an hour ago, but had heard nothing since. In that time, all she had done was sit by the portal and ruminate with dread on what she was going to say when Celestia arrived. This was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. Twilight realized she’d been thinking that a lot lately. Part of her regretted having not told the princess more in the letter, yet another insisted that this was the right decision. Truthfully, Twilight was unsure of the nature of Sunset and Celestia’s relationship. After Twilight’s initial report regarding her first journey to this world, the princess had never again asked about Sunset, or even mentioned her. The idea of Celestia abandoning and forgetting a personal student stung Twilight to her core. Was whatever happened between them truly as bitter as Sunset implied? As Twilight thought of what little Sunset had told her about Celestia, she recognized a common sentiment in everything Sunset had said. For whatever reason, she had been terrified of Celestia. While Twilight certainly dealt with anxiety regarding the princess, she had never once felt the kind of raw fear that Sunset had expressed. The more Twilight thought about it, the more it bothered her. The Celestia she knew was kind and gentle as could be, yet Sunset seemed convinced that the princess despised her. There were so many details Twilight didn’t know. Even still, she found herself plagued by doubts about what would happen when she told Celestia that Sunset was gone. Maybe Celestia would stare in disbelief. Maybe she would cry. Maybe she would drag Twilight back through the portal and destroy the mirror. Maybe she wouldn’t even care. No, Twilight told herself. That wasn’t right. Celestia was the most compassionate pony Twilight had ever met, and she would surely be as devastated as Twilight was, if not more so. Just then, the wall of marble beneath the statue began to glow. Twilight shot up in an instant, wiping grass and dust off herself, and took a single steady breath. She could do this. She had to do this. As the portal’s glow dimmed, Twilight reflexively knelt down. She looked up to see a regal figure who could only be Princess Celestia. Despite her royalty, Celestia appeared remarkably plain. She wore a long white dress that stretched down to the ground. A white gown, Twilight realized, almost exactly like the one Sunset had been wearing when she had died in her arms. Burying the thought, Twilight rose, still keeping her head down. “Thank you for coming, Princess Celestia.” “I have not been to this place in many, many years,” Celestia said. “I do not believe I am a princess here, though.” “I-I suppose not,” Twilight said. Her heart was pounding in her ears again. “Regardless, I really appreciate your expediency.” “It is good to see you, Twilight.” Celestia placed a finger beneath Twilight’s chin and gently lifted her gaze. “I only wish it were under better circumstances,” The princess’s eyes seemed to harden. “What has Sunset Shimmer done this time?” Twilight’s breath caught in her throat. “I-it’s, uhm...” “It is alright, Twilight,” Celestia said. “Whatever damage she has done, we can undo. But first you must tell me what has happened.” “It’s not like that,” Twilight said. “Sunset didn’t go back to her old ways. That’s not why I asked you to come here.” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? For what purpose, then?” Twilight could feel the pressure of tears building in her eyes. She couldn't say it. Why couldn't she say it? “Something... S-something happened to Sunset...” Twilight began, and as she spoke, her composure began to crumble. “She... S-she...” Twilight was overcome with tears, and she dropped to her knees. She couldn’t do this. She had to do this, but she couldn’t. An arm pulled her close, and Twilight realized that Celestia was embracing her. “Breathe, Twilight,” Celestia told her. The princess sat on the grass beside her. “Please continue.” Twilight nodded, yet despite her attempts to slow her breathing, her cries never ceased. This was all wrong. She couldn’t do this. “Please, Twilight,” Celestia said, her voice tinged with trepidation. “I need you to tell me what’s wrong.” Through the blur of tears, Twilight could see the princess was looking at her. She had never seen Celestia look so concerned as she did right now. “She’s gone...” The words escaped Twilight’s lips before she knew she was even speaking. Before her, Celestia’s face was overcome with an emotion Twilight couldn’t quite describe. “What do you mean?” Celestia asked. “Sunset wrote to me a few months ago, and... And I didn’t pay enough attention, and she lost her f-friends and s-she was all alone here and she was hurting herself a-and..." Twilight took a breath. "She couldn't take it anymore, and...” Despite her intentions, despite the princess’s pleading, despite everything, Twilight couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Instead, she watched in silence as the realization dawned on Celestia. The princess's face shifted from concern to terror. "You mean she tried to...?" Celestia trailed off, as if she too was incapable of speaking those words. Twilight could only nod. “Where is she?” Celestia’s voice wavered. “Where is Sunset now?” “At the hospital,” Twilight said. "They took her there after she fell, b-but..." With her whole body trembling, Twilight forced herself to speak with every ounce of resolve she had left. “She... She died last night...” In that moment, it was as if the entire world had stopped breathing. Celestia stared at her, unblinking. Twilight sat motionless beside her, her whimpers lost in the wind. After a beat, Celestia pulled Twilight close, and Twilight could feel that she was trembling a bit. “Thank you for telling me this, Twilight,” Celestia said. “May I ask one more thing of you?” “What is it?” Twilight asked. “Please...” Celestia pulled away and looked at Twilight with tear-stained eyes. “Take me to her.”