//------------------------------// // 2. // Story: No Thanks for the Memories // by auctor //------------------------------// Twilight wept as she lay along the chapel’s steps. She’d alienated her family, her friends, and the mentor she loved like a second mother. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so miserable. Twilight didn’t notice Cadance approaching until the princess tenderly stroked her mane. Blinking the tears from her eyes, she met Cadance’s gaze. The princess looked down with a soft and forgiving smile. Hope swelled in Twilight’s breast as she saw that Cadance knew she held no ill intent. “I’m sorry,” Twilight pleaded. It might be a long and difficult effort, but she’d find a way to atone for her errors and regain the favor of those who meant everything to her. The princess’s expression turned wicked. “You will be,” she uttered, and Twilight’s blood turned cold. Green magic flared from Cadance’s horn, surrounding Twilight, trapping her, before turning the floor around her into goo that pulled the young unicorn into darkness. Spike ran into Twilight’s bedroom, “Another bad memory?” Twilight wiped her face with her wingtips; she’d been crying in her sleep. Then she answered Spike, “Yeah. It’s so fresh that it’s bringing up old memories. It’ll go away on its own.” Spike looked skeptical, “You sure about that?” Twilight furled her wings, “Not really. But we’ll find out.” “I should have sent troops. That’s what troops are for. That’s what rulers do. I got sappy and thought it’d be a nice adventure for the six of us. Like old times. Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Twilight unconsciously hovered higher and higher as she ranted. “I was ready to handle magical attacks and scanning for magical creatures. Magic, magic, magic, like magic is all there is. I’d seen her teeth! Did I think they were just for show? Not expecting her to use them was stupid, incredibly stupid. I knew she was vicious.” Fluttershy grabbed Twilight’s shoulders to keep her from hitting her head on the tree‐root chandelier. “Stop it, Twilight. We all knew how vicious Chrysalis could be and we’d all seen her teeth. I know how creatures can lash out without warning, especially when they’re desperate. You’re not stupid for not seeing what we all missed.” Fluttershy guided Twilight back to the floor. “But that’s not what’s important. Chrysalis did it. Not you. It’s her fault. She’s the one who did it, she’s the one responsible. Nobody else.” “But if I had—” “If Discord was there, or even just watching us, he would have turned every nexus of the teleportation ward into mashed potatoes with peas. Does that make it his fault?” “Of course not.” “He thinks it does. What makes him wrong and not you?” “Because I was the one who led you into danger, not him.” “We all had equal knowledge of the danger, and all decided to go. Unless ... you had some knowledge you kept secret from us?” “Absolutely not!” “Want to give it another go?” “It doesn’t matter that we were all aware of it, I still shouldn’t pull my friends into danger.” “It took all of us together to defeat Nightmare Moon.” Twilight bit her lip and eventually replied, “It shouldn’t have happened.” “Things that shouldn’t happen occur all the time.” “Because bad people do bad things.” “Among other reasons.” Twilight plopped onto her chair, put her forefeet on the table, and buried her head between them. “I’m sorry for being like this.” Fluttershy rubbed the back of Twilight’s head. “It’s OK. We’re friends. Helping each other with these things is what we do.”