//------------------------------// // A Brief Respite // Story: Fly Like You // by Jinzou //------------------------------// With a scream of rage, Twilight blasted him into a crater in the middle of Ponyville, and upon hearing a myriad of gasps, looked up and saw all the horrified faces. The same terrified expression he wore in his last moments. Ponies ran. She turned around to see Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, with the same terrified expression. "Stay away from us, monster!" Rainbow said shakily, scooping up Scootaloo and flying away. "No, wait!" Twilight called back, just in time to see Thunder Chaser reform himself and crawl out of the crater. "You're a monster Twilight. More of a monster than me. I've never killed, you have." He sneered. "It's not true!" Twilight blinked back tears. "I'll never leave. I'm going to haunt you forever!" Fully reformed, Thunder lunged at her. Twilight shut her eyes tightly and brought up her hooves to her face to shield herself from the attack, but it never came. "Twilight Sparkle." Another voice, the voice of a very familiar mare called to her. Snapping her eyes open, Twilight wasn’t in the middle of Ponyville anymore. She seemed to be in… Golden Oak library.  A pang of sorrow shot through Twilight as she remembered this place in all its glory. But it was nice to be back. It reminded her of the good old days when the biggest problems she had was not having enough tickets to the Gala to go with all her friends, or the time she, Rarity, and Applejack were stuck inside in the middle of a vicious thunderstorm. Twilight dropped back onto all fours, and upon immediately recognizing the mare, ran to her and pulled her into a hug. "Princess Luna! I'm so glad to see you!" "I must apologize Twilight, I know you've been having nightmares for some time now, but it was only tonight you dream called to me." Luna stated solemnly. "You're afraid of what will happen to you now that you have a body count." "I... I lost control and killed one of my own subjects, Luna. I've been a princess for barely a year and I've already messed everything up! You and Celestia haven't done that and you've ruled for millenium!" "And what makes you so sure we haven't?" Twilight stared up at Luna, wide eyed. "You mean... you've taken a life too? But... you're so powerful! And the Elements!" "The Elements have not always existed, Twilight." Luna replied. "Starswirl did plant the seed for the Tree of Harmony when  we were relatively young, but we still had to defend Equestria before the Elements came to be. "I... cannot say it gets easier. I still sometimes see the faces of the fallen when I close my eyes. Some were truly good ponies who had just been led down a shadowy path. Some were evil through and through. But you have to live with it anyway." Luna paused for a moment, then resumed. "Twilight, do you know what Celestia and I are proudest of when it comes to you?" Twilight slowly shook her head. "The fact that I... became an alicorn?" "No." Luna smiled. "Although that is up there. What we're most proud of is you turning morally… dark ponies good. Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, even myself. You may not realize it, but you may have potentially saved their lives. Sure, Celestia and I usually just turn our enemies to stone now, but if we had the ability to do what you already have when we were younger... We'd be a lot less haunted by our pasts."  Twilight stood there, jaw dropped and ears flattened against her skull. "I... I'm so sorry. I didn't know you two had that problem. In the entire time I've known Celestia..." "She never told you. Yes. To be perfectly honest Twilight, aside from Tia, you're the only other pony alive that knows. We've done a good job striking any record of our killings from the history books." Twilight flinched at that last sentence. "Lean on your friends and family. I know they all love you very much, your friend Rainbow Dash in a very different way though.” Luna winked as Twilight's cheeks grew red. "We were all waiting for you two. Congratulations, by the way. Now we just want to stand by and watch your relationship blossom, although I do have to say, judging by some of your dreams you're already thinking pretty far ahead. Your dreams are so... vanilla though. Rainbow Dash's are more interesting. And typically involve more leather and whips." "P-Princess! How did you-" Twilight gawked at Luna who started laughing raciously. "I jest with you, Twilight. I do not enter dreams but to stop nightmares. Although you did more or less just confirm you do have those sorts of dreams." Twilight's cheeks burned. "You're mean." Luna stopped laughing with a hearty sigh and a smile. "I'm so telling Tia about that." Ignoring the horrified expression on Twilight's face, she continued. "But my message remains the same. Lean on your friends. Each and every one of them would go out of their way to help you. Even your friend Applejack." Twilight blinked. "How did you know..." Luna averted her eyes. "Applejack has also been struggling with nightmares, Twilight Sparkle. Most of them being about... well... you." Twilight's ears drooped and her lower lip trembled. "Applejack's having nightmares about me? I mean... I knew what I did was maybe intimidating but... my own friends are scared of me?" Luna sank to her haunches and invited Twilight to sit next to her. "I'm confident that while awake she realizes you would never harm her. But maybe... maybe it's time you and her had a talk." Twilight sighed, sitting beside Luna and leaning on her, seeking her comfort and warmth. "I don't think it's that easy. The night I... killed him, Applejack and her brother were a bit too rough with Scootaloo. Big Mac terrified her, and Applejack triggered a PTSD episode for her. I don't think I can just... forgive that. Not any time soon. What... What do I do?" She stared up at the older alicorn. "Tell Discord they made Fluttershy cry and sic him on them." Luna suggested. Twilight frowned at her. "I'm being serious here, Luna." "Then sic Starlight Glimmer on them. She's a mixed bag, you never know what you'll get. And if she runs out of ideas, she can just take their cutie marks." Luna smirked. "Luna!"  "Oh very well Twilight. You and Tia are the same, never any fun. The wounds will take time to heal, but I suggest you speak with her. You both could stand to have a little understanding of the situation from each other. Then decide from there." Twilight gave Luna a small smile.  "I will, thank you." "Now," Luna got up and stretched. "I'm burning moonlight. Do think back on our words when you wake, and I do hope I was of service." "Wait, Luna! One more thing!" Twilight called out. "Yes, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna smiled. "That thing with me and Rainbow Dash only happened last night. How did you already know about it?" "Cadence." Luna tittered. “I may have extraordinary power over dreams,  but if somebody Cadance cares about cements a relationship, she’ll sense it." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Of course." Luna just smiled as she, along with the dream, faded away into nothingness. Twilight's eyes snapped open to find herself still in Rainbow Dash's house, still out in the makeshift nest right outside the bathroom door, with Rainbow Dash herself snuggling tightly with her. Twilight smiled. Luna was right, she did have ponies she could count on. She had Rainbow Dash, and that's all that mattered in the world right now. She shifted so she was facing Rainbow, kissed the top of her muzzle, and went back to sleep, safe in the hooves of the most important pony in her life.