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// 2014 project - The Tombstones and Barbed Wires - Prologue 
// Story: RoMS' Extravaganza 
// by RoMS 
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Prologue. The Letter


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Dear Princess Celestia,
I’ve spent many years living, learning and growing under your aegis, discovering the world alongside my dearest friends. I’ve always been happy and I have found that I have never told you something that has been very close to my heart.
Thank you. Thank you for everything you have offered me since I completely destroyed your school. It was a long while ago but somehow it feels like yesterday. For the past four years everything has been going for the better: freeing Luna from Nightmare Moon’s influence, vanquishing King Sombra, fighting back Queen Chrysalis, even reforming Discord. If you had told me that I would overcome those hardships before I even left Canterlot, I wouldn’t have believed you. Those four years were the greatest I ever had, and for this: Thank you.

The fact that I became a princess is not even on top of my ‘best things to ever happen’ list, in between the existence of Starswirl the Bearded and illuminated hoofscripts, of course. I believe the greatest gift you have given me was the opportunity to befriend everypony I have met so far: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, the CMC, everypony. I am so glad. Thank you again. I love you...

But… I’m also scared. Scared to lose them, you, everypony. What if something does have to happen, something very bad. As I grew up and bestowed upon myself and my friends more and more challenges, I started being scared. Scared that at some point, somepony, somebody… something will come and end up being too strong, too wicked for us all. I am undoubtedly scared of that kind of outcome. I would lose everything. I must be strong but being strong doesn’t mean not being afraid.

Princess Celestia, I’m sorry. He won. He took everything. Magic, Harmony, Life, everything. Every damn thing! Sorry, sorry. I’m so sorry. I was not strong enough to refuse his offer. I wasn’t enough. I lost everything. My friends, my home, my family. I feel like I am the one to blame. I feel like I stole everything from everypony. I am a coward. I abandoned them, and I can only be sorry about it. I am alone and he’s already looking over at the lands across the ocean. I see no future. No happiness. Nothing.

I tried to hide but it wasn’t enough. He found me.

I had a vision. I’ve seen far away towards scorched lands, black skies and desperate hopes. I’ve seen a light. But the darkness is overwhelming. There was a city. I’ve seen death, illness, despair, and yet, there was light. One light. I’ve seen something. Hope. Unfortunately, this flickering hope is not for me or to be expected from me. I am, by far, your greatest failure. Somepony else will have to take over the quest for Harmony far in those dark foreign territories. There maybe, there will be people to fight for what is right. There, I hope, will be somebody entitled to mend my crimes.

I don’t know where you are, and I hope you’re still alive. I am sorry.

I would have loved that my last letter was about rainbows and sunshine but… it will never happen. I hope Spike’s last flame will find you, wherever you are. I love you more than ever. If you see Princess Luna and Cadance, tell them I’m sorry.

Forgive me, please. I’m so sorry. Please.


Your forever faithful student,


Twilight