They're Never Coming Back

by Flashgen


Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 8th

Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 8th
Time: 9:16 a.m.
Interviewer: Princess Celestia

There was new writing when I awoke in the morning. It was not Twilight’s.


They’ll never come back
Never fully
Never truly
Never in one piece

Lost
Fractured
Wanderers
Wonderers

Clinging to shadows
for safety
for comfort
for purpose

Princess
of lost souls
of worthless paradise
of the sun that will sear their flesh away

Did you really think you could trust her?
A failure?
A deceiver?
A broken mare?
Resolve
Time
light
hope

All will run out
All will fade
All will end
All will become ruin

We are coming

(There had been no alarms raised in camp, and Ponyville looked serene in the early dawn. My sleep, for its part, had been calm and peaceful.

I had to assume who it was that wrote the words, but how she had come across Twilight’s book—wrestled it away from her—was impossible to tell.)

Twilight, are you there?

(There was no immediate reply, and I sent Shining Armor to alert Vines and Clover to keep everypony out of town. Before he returned, new writing began to appear.

It was her.)

Princess
yes

I
do not know
how



I was
vigilant
I was
careful

I was
awake
and then

I
I failed

Twilight, it’s alright. Are you safe? Did They hurt you?

yes
safe

whole

racing
raving
worried

did They
attack

I’m not sure, Twilight. Everything appears normal this morning. The guards have not gone into Ponyville yet, and I’ve informed them to be kept away for now.

no
it must continue
I have to save them

I have to come home

I have to finish



please Princess

We want to be sure it’s safe, Twilight. Safety is our priority. It must be.

if I wait
stumble
bide

they will be lost
They will win

please
Princess

I must do this

Twilight, please. You must understand that putting yourself in danger will not help anyone. It may only doom the ones left to save. Relax, calm yourself, breathe.

Care is needed here, above all else. To protect us. To protect you. To protect everyone.


Shining Armor returned. There was no response from Twilight. He informed me that Vines and Clover had held their patrols back, but that they wished to speak with me.

I took the journal with me.