//------------------------------// // Recollection // Story: Sometimes Things Don’t Last // by TouchofDestruction //------------------------------// “Hm?” The stallion guard paused in his trot, turning to see that, once again, the violet unicorn had stopped. “Something wrong, Ms. Sparkle?” “Huh?” the pony’s attention was drawn back to the one escorting her to the Council Hall. “Oh, no, it’s…it’s nothing,” she said. “Sorry about that.” The guard didn’t appear convinced. “You’ve stopped on our journey around five times thus far,” he told her. “There is something wrong with you,” he then drew closer, not to where he invaded her space, but to where he could at least examine her outer form with better accuracy. “Are you injured in any way? If so, I can alert the Council that you have been escorted to the medical center to receive treatment-” “No!” the unicorn suddenly shouted, the guard taken aback by her sudden outburst. “Oh, I mean, no thank you,” she said. “I…actually have some things I would like to say.” The stallion gazed at her for a few moments, not entirely trusting her word, although he didn’t entirely understand why. It wasn’t as if this mare, the prized student of Princess Celestia herself, had any reason to lie to him. All the same, there was a sense of something not quite right. Then, he stopped. “Wait a moment,” he said, turning back to face the unicorn.  “Yes?” Twilight asked, puzzled as to why they hadn’t even begun to continue their journey.  The stallion averted his eyes for a moment, then looked the mare in the eye, as if trying to see if there was any hint of something alien, something unfamiliar. Still, he saw nothing. “No,” he said. “You couldn’t be,” he sighed. “They were all banished by Captain Armor and Princess Cadance.” “Banished?”  And you can forget about being my Best Mare! In fact, if I were you, I wouldn’t show up to the wedding at all. Twilight bit her lip. Again, those events replayed in her mind. And they still stung just as much. And with that sting came the heat of anger afterward, once again reminded of why she was even here. She was reminded why Canterlot lay in ruins all around her, why there were still stallions, mares, and foals looking for each other as some families were still separated from the attack, and why a day that was supposed to be beautiful turned out so wrong. A day that she thought she had lost everything and everyone. Especially her BBBFF. ...no. Don’t you mean, ‘Former BBBFF?  …well, yes. I…I’m mad at him. But… But what? He said it himself, the wedding wasn’t important to you. That your concerns and efforts were not important.  …yes, he did say that.  And what did your friends say after? Nothing. Even if she’s just as guilty as they are, at least Celestia acknowledged you. Even if her words rivaled the hurt you were dealt by your so-called BBBFF. … … … … …! Hey, look alive, this dolt’s talking to you! “Huh?” The scene of demolished buildings and splintered glass littering the streets manifested before the unicorn once again, the stallion in golden armor staring her in the eye. With the suddenness of realizing the closeness between the two, Twilight stepped back, her violet eyes blinking and becoming aware that her escort was looking at her rather suspiciously.  “Oh, I…I’m sorry,” the unicorn sputtered. “Did…I just…” “Are you certain that you are all right?” the guard questioned.  “I think so. But…” Twilight bit her lip, unsure of how to answer. Did I just… blackout? Perhaps Sentry’s report has some merit. The guard whispered. Yet, to his surprise, he received an answer.  “Sentry?”  The guard looked at Twilight Sparkle with bewilderment. “Excuse me?” “You said something about a report from Sentry,” the unicorn said. “Who’s that?” The stallion’s brown eyes widened. “I…I didn’t…” he paused. “Well…perhaps I spoke louder than I had wished to,” he said. I didn’t say anything. I thought it. She knew what I was thinking. Regardless, he didn’t let her know that. Frankly, even if she appeared harmless, the stallion was becoming somewhat nervous in the mare’s presence. “Sentry…he is a…new recruit in the guard.” Twilight nodded. “And what is he?” “So far, he’s a cadet in the flying unit,” the guard informed her. “He can fly fast, but…he’s a little…” “A little what?” the unicorn asked. “N-Nothing,” the guard answered. “Anyway, when some of us saw you run out of the wedding hall, we realized that perhaps you and the other bearers would need medical attention, seeing as you had just fought and were apprehended by the Changeling invaders,” he relayed to her. “Of course, upon trying to enter, we realized that you had locked the door, and, after some thinking of what we saw, you didn’t appear too badly injured, so we let you be.” He paused. “What?” Twilight questioned. This guy was beginning to weird her out. However, the sudden lapse of memory she had just a moment ago weirded her out even more. Not only that, but she could’ve sworn that she wasn’t alone, and she didn’t refer to the guard. No, it was…someone else. Some…thing else?  “...anyway,” the stallion continued. “Sentry stayed behind as he thought you appeared distraught, so he passed back and forth by your room to see if you were still all right. And…” he paused again. Should I be telling her this? Or, better yet, does she already know that I…?! “And he…what?”  The guard remained quiet for a short time. “And…well, he…claimed to hear you talking.” The unicorn was puzzled. “Talking?” “Yes,” he answered. “Granted, he told us that you could have been very well talking in your sleep, as he reported that you stopped crying after an hour and went quiet for a lengthy period afterward.”  Yes, Twilight thought. True, while fighting off the Changelings was taxing, it was the fallout of what occurred afterward that seemed to really deprive her of any semblance of strength. On the contrary, she felt as if she had nothing left in her to deliver or even provide, everything a mess of rage, confusion, pain, and, above all, fear. Fear of what if she was wrong. Fear of her BBBFF kicking her out of his life. Fear of her friends never finding her or Cadance.  Fear of Celestia’s disappointment. Fears that, for a moment, she believed had all come true.  Upon being revealed to have been correct about everything, the unicorn thought she would experience jubilation upon finding her friends and mentor again. They were probably looking for her this morning, Twilight thought. They had to, she had been gone all night. Surely they noticed that. Surely they noticed that she hadn’t answered her door or that Spike had, seeing as she and the dragon shared the same room. Surely they knew, or at least thought, that her absence was a hint that something was wrong. But, upon reaching the wedding hall, her eyes saw all five ponies garbed in elegant, tailor-made dresses, Celestia at the altar about to proclaim her brother and the disguised Chrysalis as his bride, and Spike with the ring, eager to play his role as bearer when the time was right…all that hope was gone. Yes, she still fought alongside them and was fearful the Princess had been injured, yet when she heard Applejack’s remorse, remorse for not listening to her concerns, and Celestia’s attempt to patch things up with her…it was then that everything went red and found herself unable to stay quiet any longer.  She bellowed until her lungs burned and her throat grew dry and horse, her eyes red and swollen with tears, her body trembling from the intensity of her emotions finally demanding to be set free.  And then…she said things. Things that…thinking back, perhaps shouldn’t have been said.  She saw how broken everypony was from her declaration of removing them from her life, her mentor practically on her knees and her brother desperate to make amends. It was clear to the unicorn that the collective guilt and shame of almost all present was the same as bearing the weight of a mountain upon their shoulders.  Despite what they might’ve thought, it did stir something in Twilight. Once silence had fallen over the chamber yet again, when she was robbed of the ability to look away from the agonizing shame chiseled into everypony’s features, she found herself unable to speak.  They were genuine, every individual in that room was shattered by everything that had occurred the day prior and now. She could see it, it was practically eating them from the inside out, a sickening sensation in the gut that worked its way to the soul and rendered you nothing more than a shell of what you once were. She had experienced the same when Shining Armor banned her from the wedding. I wouldn’t show up to the wedding at all.  Her friends left her. “C’mon, y’all. Let’s go check on the Princess. Rarity disappointed, Fluttershy more so displeased than completely angry (although it still stung just the same), Pinkie ignoring her existence, Rainbow Dash flying past with a scowl, and Applejack making her view of the unicorn’s actions with an angered frown. And then, her final hope, Celestia herself, rejected her. You have a lot to think about. Then, the echoing sound of the doors slamming rang in her ears. Silence and crippling shame overtook her. Her body collapsed on the small stairway, rivulets of tears staining the red carpet. He was my Big Brother Best Friend, forever, And now, we’ll never do anything together. And then, the fake Cadance came in and sent her down to the underground caverns, the words the shapeshifter told her still sending shivers down her spine. No one will think to look for you either.  Unfortunately, the scene around her proved that the Changeling Queen’s words were true. No one looked for her, at all. No one thought for a moment she was in potential danger, no one thought that perhaps, a mare they claimed to be a friend, sister, and student, something had happened.  The unicorn was again reminded of why she was standing in this hall right now, why the city outside was nearly completely destroyed, why everyone was here going ahead without a second thought about where she could’ve been.  They didn’t care.  They didn’t care. …so why should it matter if they care now? Twilight Sparkle then made a break for it, shutting the doors behind her with her magic, preventing anyone from following her as she went to her room, locked the door, and threw herself onto the bed. Rage and disgust had been replaced with despair and anguish, the events of yesterday and today replaying themselves over and over in her head, conflicting messages and memories assaulting her consciousness.  She was trying to protect them, and they abandoned her. Her brother kicked her out of his wedding, only to tearfully plead for her to be involved yet again.  Her mentor dismissed her entirely, yet she begged the unicorn to not cut ties.  They were all genuinely remorseful, guilt-ridden, hearts weighed down with tremendous regret. Wasn’t this what was supposed to happen? Wasn’t an apology supposed to heal everything she had felt?  She went over this question again and again in her mind, uncertain of the answer. And, even more frustrating, whenever she thought she was close to finding it, her mind was thrown right back into the loop again, the wedding ban and seeing it go ahead without her, she was once again reminded of how they didn’t care. They didn’t care…and they were ashamed that they didn’t.  But… “But nothing.” Twilight’s ears perked up. Did someone just…speak?  “He said it himself, it’s obviously not important to you, so why should he think he has the right to want you back?” The unicorn’s violet eyes shifted. So far, it looked like she was the only pony here.  “And Freckles said that she was the one that told the others not to look for you. She was just fine with you being gone. They all were.” “Um…hello?”  “And the Princess, did she really believe that you being back in the wedding was a worthy compensation? She couldn’t even admit that she was so easily defeated and put her subjects, no, all of Equestria in danger because of her negligence.” Twilight rose from her bed, looking around and underneath, opening the closet and searching through the belongings she had hung inside.  “They’re not sorry you were gone, they’re just sorry that they were proven wrong and made to feel guilty.” Twilight froze.  “But, then again, why shouldn’t they feel guilty?”  She wasn’t hearing things, nor was she half asleep. She was wide awake and hearing a voice that wasn’t there. “Oh, that’s cute. You still think I exist in your imagination.”  The unicorn yelped, stumbling back until she hit the wall behind her, losing her balance and falling to the floor. Her eyes searched the room furiously, trying to find the source of the hidden individual speaking to her.  “I’ll show myself if it’ll get you to calm down,” it suddenly said again. “But first, close the curtains.” “What? Why?” Twilight questioned.  “I don’t like the light.”  Silence fell over the room, the unicorn finally having a moment to process what she was hearing and seeing. Or, rather, NOT seeing.  Who…or whatever was speaking to her had a cadence and pitch that seemed a tad…off. Granted, she could understand what they were saying, and they hadn’t made any aggressive gestures toward her, but still…there was a sensation that prodded at her spine, small chills crawling up each vertebrae, one by one. It didn’t appear threatening, actually genuinely interested in speaking with her. But still, the fact the speaker wasn’t willing to show itself unless certain conditions were met made her question whether or not she should comply with its request. Twilight turned to the curtains, the sunlight still shining beautifully despite the unfathomable damage Canterlot had received.  Today…this wedding…it was supposed to be beautiful… “Yeah, about that,” the voice suddenly spoke again. “That’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about.”  The unicorn’s eyes widened. “Wait…you know about that?” “Even better, I saw the whole thing. Both last night AND this morning,” the voice answered. “If you ask me, you got the short end of the stick on both occasions,” the mare said nothing, appearing somewhat startled by the figure’s apparent knowledge of what had taken place. “It’s like you said, nobody cared,” then it paused. Now, go for the kill. “But I do.”  It was then that Twilight felt a sense of warmth. Warmth that she associated with those she loved. At least, until today.  “C’mon. It’s obvious you need help. And you can’t turn to those you usually would because they’re the ones that shattered your trust in the first place.” The unicorn had no rebuttal. In fact, it almost sounded like they could read her mind. “You’re confused and aren’t sure what to think. I get that.” Should she respond? Who did this…thing know all that they did? Better yet, why did its words sound so…comforting? Validating? Acknowledging that what she was feeling, what she was experiencing, mattered.  She mattered.  For once, ever since she had come here, someone was willing to hear what she had to say. Even more, they wanted to hear her speak.  They valued her.  “You want to talk, right?” Twilight gazed down at the polished floor, the sun’s image reflecting on the surface. It’s revealing, life giving rays shimmering, drawing the unicorn’s eyes. As if the flaming star in the heavens was trying to convince her to allow its light to remain in her room. For her to remain in it. As if it were silently urging, bargaining, pleading for her not to shut it out. To not cast the room in darkness.  Still, her horn lit up, her magic grabbing ahold of the curtains, yet she didn’t pull them together. It was too soon. She needed to know if this stranger could answer her question. And, even more, answer it truly. “…if I do,” she muttered. “Will you listen to what I have to say?”  “Of course.” “Everything?” “Whatever you want to say, say it loud and say it proud.” Her eyes closed pondering her choices. This figure…this stranger…they weren’t connected to her brother, friends, or teacher. They were a neutral party, a mere observer as they claimed. And yet, they were the only one that had offered her a shoulder to support herself on.  If she would only accept it’s request.  “Remember what put you here in the first place. Who put you in this state, who broke your spirit,” the voice paused again. Twilight wasn’t entirely sure, but it sounded as if the hidden figure was growling with disdain and disgust. “The sun’s light is a liar and only serves to burn you when you’re no longer of any use to it,” another pause. “Your teacher is a liar.” A liar. Well, perhaps not an intentional liar, but the Princess no longer held her admiration or respect. Let alone affection.  “They’re all liars. But I won’t lie to you. Not about this.” The curtains still weren’t shut, but we’re being slowly pulled over the window. Then, just before they were drawn together, the unicorn halted. “…you WILL show yourself once I close these, right?” “Righty-O. You have my word.” “…” “…” “…” “…ok.” With one final pull, the vibrant fabric of deep red was drawn, the sun unable to penetrate through the darkened veil that fell over the mare’s room. It wasn’t so much that everything became indistinguishable, but still, it was in the daylight hours, yet when she pulled the curtains, the room looked almost as if night had just suddenly come without warning.  “Thanks.” She was beginning to wonder if she had made a big mistake.  “Go ahead. Turn around. Look at me.” Despite putting herself in this situation, Twilight found herself starting to tremble. Had she just invited someone…something that she wasn’t supposed to?  “Don’t worry. I won’t bite,” the voice assured her. “Well, not you. I only do it to those who deserve it,” it halted. “Like your so-called loved ones.”  Twilight lowered her head, memories of the lowest point of her life replaying in her mind.  I wouldn’t show up to the wedding at all. C’mon, y’all, let’s go check on the Princess. You have a lot to think about. “Don’t worry. If it’s any consolation, you’re the last creature I’d hurt.” Twilight felt her eyes grow moist. “…why?” “Let’s get to know each other better, and I’ll tell you. But first, you’ve got to turn around,” another pause. “Turn around and face me.”  Twilight didn’t move. “Please,” the voice said, “Let me see your eyes.” You have a lot to think about. ….you know what, Princess? I have. With a quick twist, the mare spun around and opened her eyes, only to still see nothing. “Um, hello?” “Down here, on the bed.” “The bed?” “Yeah, I’m not exactly the tallest guy around, so you might not notice me at first.” The unicorn’s eyes traveled downward, going along the details of the messed up sheets and to a small, sunken area on the mattress. Then she noticed the shadow. Despite the already present darkness, the being before her cast a shadow.  Then, the unfamiliar creature turned its downward leaning head upward, Twilight’s eyes fully taking in what was before her.  “Ah, good.” The stranger said, its shape now visible for the mare to see. “Now, we can have a proper conversation.”