//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: What Lies Dormant // by goodbyecruelworld //------------------------------// Epilogue Everypony remembered what happened that fateful day. The Event. The day Twilight Sparkle sacrificed herself to keep her friends and all of Ponyville safe. The day that good triumphed over evil in the most bittersweet of ways. Without their Queen, the changelings were in complete shambles. Not very intelligent creatures on their own and without a leader, they were easy to keep track of and ensure the safety of Equestria. The lessons of that day were not lost on anypony's mind. Everypony witnessed the power of love overcoming the negative feelings that brewed within each and every pony from time to time. There was no shortage of sadness in the days or even weeks following Twilight Sparkle's death. Time heals all wounds. That's how the saying goes anyway. For Twilight's friends, it seemed as if they would outlive the time it took to recover from this heartache. Each pony took it differently. Pinkie Pie tried all she could to spread positivity and cheer in the wake of Twilight Sparkle's death. Surprising ponies when they seemed at their most down. Bringing out sweets and songs to any pony with a sad face on. To her credit, she did everything she could. But, even Pinkie Pie stayed silent and somber for the procession through Ponyville two weeks after the Event. Rarity found herself now the odd pony out in the group. Twilight had been her unicorn friend. Of course she had meant more than that to her, more than words could describe. She felt especially shy about using magic around the rest of her friends. She feared the magic would instantly remind them of Twilight, and it would. She couldn't bare to see Fluttershy cry anymore. Fluttershy took it harder than anypony. She had experienced loss before with her animal friends, but nothing could have prepared her for losing one of her closest friends. She began to spend more and more time in her hut following the procession held for Twilight. Even Rainbow Dash could rarely get her to come out and when she did, she was even more quiet than usual. Nopony troubled her about it though. They all understood and felt the same way in their own degree. Rainbow Dash seemed a bit dialed back. Her loud and abrasive ways were almost non-existent after the eight seasons passing. Some ponies believed that Twilight's death brought out a more positive Rainbow Dash. Truly though, Rainbow Dash remembered the last time her and Twilight had spoken and it tore her to pieces night after night. She would give anything to take back their last encounter and replace her last conversation with Twilight. Something more peaceful would have been nice, perhaps about books. Rainbow found a great comfort in books after Twilight's passing, she never felt closer to Twilight than when she was reading another perilous tale of Daring Do. To outside eyes, it would appear as though Applejack's life changed the least of the five. She continued to work her flank off at Sweet Apple Acres and provide for her family. She was always there for her friends when they needed help with something or just to talk when memories would pop up. She was everypony's steady shoulder to cry on. A foolish pony would say that Twilight's death meant the least to Applejack. But that pony would be horribly mistaken. For reasons only few knew, Applejack would always be seen walking out towards the Everfree Forest. No pony really felt like following her, she always seemed in a dreary mood during the walks and felt that accompanying her was unnecessary. Spike's life on the other hand, was flipped completely upside down. At the procession, Princess Celestia made a point of talking to Spike to ask exactly what he wanted to do now. It was a sour topic, but one that needed to be discussed. He stressed his desire to stay in Ponyville, to look after the library that Twilight cared so deeply for. Over the years he was just as knowledgeable about his shelves as her star pupil, and would enjoy the company of his friends more than the crowds in Canterlot. The Princess thought this was a great idea as well. Spike still enjoyed seeing every pony around town and the few that swung in to the library to check out a book or just chatter. Try as though he might, he was never able to shake the feeling of emptiness that followed Twilight's death. She had been more to him than a friend, she was the closest thing he ever had to a parent. His heart had been shattered that day. The fountain in the center of Ponyville was no longer. Instead, a large stone statue of Twilight Sparkle stood there. Twilight wore a confident and eager smile on her face as she would every time she was met with a challenge. She faced east, towards the sun. Daring the new day to bring another adventure forward for herself and her friends. On the statue base, a golden plaque was put into place, Twilight Sparkle Scholar Librarian Hero Friend Outside of Ponyville, on the hills just outside the Everfree Forest, lay Twilight's grave. Though her body was never recovered, the Princess and her friends decided to give her a more private resting place. That's the way Twilight would have wanted it. There she would be able to bask in Celestia's sun and enjoy the quieter side of Ponyville. The Princess decided that the friends deserved their own special place to pay their respects to Twilight whenever she was in their thoughts. And so they came to that spot from time to time. Most of the time just to think, believing that just being in the presence of Twilight would help their thoughts along. Sometimes just to lay down next to the grave and remember the times they shared together. Once in a while, a pony stumbled upon the grave for the first time. Today was that day, just like any of the others. The pony's face was not covered in shock or sadness, but merely curiosity. Today's visitor's hoofsteps could be heard through the grass growing closer to the grave. Walking with a crutch wasn't the most silent of all approaches. The figure leaned closer to read the words that were etched into the grave. The crutch was let go in a silent shock and fell gently onto the grass. "My... grave?"