//------------------------------// // 365 Days // Story: Revelations: The Dark Void // by GhostofSandwich //------------------------------// Spike was humming slowly to himself as he placed book after book on the shelf. Stepping back, he admired his handiwork. The books were in absolute alphabetical order and they were even color coded to a degree. It had taken him all day, but in the end it looked amazing. Turning away from the bookshelf, he walked up the stairs to the second floor. All of Twilight's stuff was still there, not touched at all by the time that had passed. He had taken to sleeping in Twilight's bed, since he had grown a bit larger. His old bed was still large enough, but he felt that he was close to Twilight when he slept in her bed. "Hello? Spike?" He looked down the stairs as Rarity called in. She had been the one to check in on him everyday, even offering to stay the night so many times. She had truly been a good friend to him ever since Twilight entered her coma. "Up here." He began to make the bed as Rarity ascended the stairs. A small smile formed as she saw the dragon making the bed. For the past year, he had insisted that he stay alone in the library to keep it in tip top shape, a duty he fulfilled to the letter. "How're you doing?" He finished making the bed, placed his hands on his hips and began to survey the room. Seeing it with brilliant expectations, he smiled and answered the white unicorn. "Fine, just been cleaning. Wasn't easy after Pinkie came by yesterday with her cannon." "Glad to hear. Need any help with anything?" He put a claw to his chin as he thought. A moment later he shook his head and smiled. "Nope, got everything under control. Actually, now that I think about it... Would you mind coming with me to the market?" "Sure. What all do you need?" "Just some milk, a couple apples, some ice cream, and a couple cupcakes. Oh, and some eggs." "Pinkie probably has all of that." In the long year since Twilight had entered her coma, Pinkie had become the actual owner of Sugarcube Corner. Mr. and Ms. Cake had to sell it since they needed more time to spend with their children. As luck would have it, Pinkie had more than enough money from the entire time she had worked there to buy the shop. Spike frowned as he looked under Twilight's bed, the large book with the painting of the black nothingness on the front. He had told nopony yet, but he had recently read the book and the note accompanying it... He knew that Celestia was the reason his dearest friend was in her coma, but he couldn't bring himself to tell his friends. Maybe it was finally time... "Rarity... I know what happened to Twilight." "What ever do you mean?" Rarity looked at the dragon, who was trying his hardest to avert his gaze from Rarity. "I've known for three months." "Why didn't you tell anyone?" Her voice had involuntarily grown to that one anger. She didn't mean to be mad at the young dragon, but how was she to react? Twilight was one of her best friends. "Nopony would like the answer..." A tear glimmered in the sunlight as it fell to the floor, splashing soon afterwards on the floor. Rarity, seeing this, laid on the floor in front of the dragon and pushed his chin lightly up to look him in the eyes. Still, he looked in every which direction to avoid her eyes. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." "I don't want to tell anypony... But I have to tell everypony." Without any warning her latched onto Rarity and buried his face into her mane. Normally, this would alert her extremely, but this was an exception. "Only if you feel you have to..." She wrapped a loving hoof around the dragon as he soaked her mane with his tears. "It was Celestia... Well, not exactly. It was both Celestia and Twilight." "What...?" Rarity tried to comprehend what he was saying. With a sniffle, Spike back away from her, reached under the bed, and retracted his hand, a note in hand. He handed it to Rarity, allowing her to be the fourth living being to know of the secret. "I didn't know how anypony would react..." Her eyes moved from left to right as she read over the letter. Upon finishing it, she levitated it over to the nightstand and sat it down. "Why... Why would Celestia do this? I thought she cared for Twilight..." "She does. You read it... She told Twilight she didn't have to do it she didn't want to. Knowing Twilight, she did it on her own accord." Rarity knew this was true. Honestly, she felt more sorry for Celestia than anything. The past year she had visited Twilight every day, even staying in her room some days. "I know... I just want answers... Do you mind if I take that book she mentioned with me?" Spike hesitated. "You know I don't mind lending it to you... But, you won't do anything... Stupid, will you?" "Spike! Whatever do you mean?" "I mean, you won't... Go after her, will you?" Honestly, the thought had crossed her mind. But she just wasn't that willing... "No, of course not. I would never put you or the girls through losing another friend..." He nodded and pulled the book from under the bed and placed it into a saddlebag. "Thank you, Spike." He halfheartedly nodded and helped her put the saddlebag on. "Okay, let's go get some food." He allowed his voice to take a happier tone. "Read that tonight and we'll tell everypony tomorrow... We'll drop it off at your house as we leave." Rarity closed her eyes and nodded before the two departed down the stairs. ----- "She's in the same room as usual, Mr. Shining Armor." The white royal guard stallion nodded to the pony in scrubs as he was pointed to Twilight's room. About a month after her coma, Celestia had ensured Twilight be put in the highest care, as such she was allowed a large room on the top floor right next to the doctors and nurse's lounge. After a short walk up the stairs, he found himself outside of Twilight's room. A quick peek through the glass wall revealed his dear sister to be laying in the bed much like he expected. He stepped in and examined his sister, who he had not had a chance to come see for weeks. He mane was extremely unkempt, even thought the doctors were under orders to keep it trimmed. The dye was long gone, her hair completely natural. Same for her tail. For the most part, the tubes that were running to her were gone, since she had not been in any medical danger for 11 months. Actually, according to tests, she had not had any actual brain activity for 11 months. It was almost as if she had been in a coma within her brain as well. "Hey, Twiley. Been so long since I heard your voice... seen you smile..." She placed a loving hoof onto his sister as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Her only response was a light breathing. "I wish I could stay longer, but... Honestly, with Celestia coming here everyday, it's been up to me and Luna to keep Canterlot under wraps. You know... Everypony is real worried, but they can't bring themselves to come see you. "Don't blame them... This has been hard on everypony, especially mom and dad. Dad mostly, but I can tell mom's about to crack. Anyways, I thought you'd like some company other than just Celestia for a bit." He grabbed her left hoof and held it, simply setting by at bedside like that for ten minutes before he finally placed it back on her bed. "Wish I could stay longer, but I'm probably already late as it is." He looked back as the door cracked open, Celestia coming in. "Oh, Shining Armor. I didn't expect to see you here." "I was just leaving, your Highness." Celestia nodded as the stallion made his way past Celestia and into the hallway. Closing the door behind her and the blinds of the glass wall, she stood by her student. No matter how strong she was; how many times she saw it, seeing her favorite student like that... It always made her eyes start to water. "Don't worry, Twilight. I'm here for you..." She looked to the floor as three tears dropped in succession from her eyes. "I'm here for you and I won't ever leave." As she looked over Twilight, she saw Mystia in that same exact position. That was the real reason she had yelled out a year ago... Because she couldn't live with herself knowing that she did it to another one of her students. "Princess... Don't worry about me. I'll go into that realm and be right back out lickity split!" Another four tears fell from her eyes as the last words Mystia had said to her filled her mind. "Twilight, please wake up... I never wanted to lose you. I made that mistake a millennium ago with Mystia and her brother... You may be powerful in your magic, but... No, you have to be strong enough to make it through all of this. You've got something Mystia never had... Friends. She had nothing to lose if she didn't make it... You do. Hopefully that is enough to motivate you to make it. "If you can hear me, please..." The sun princess's voice was now cracking, her cheeks both soaked in tears. "Just be safe. I don't know how much longer you'll be in there... But you'll make it." Celestia began to make her way to the door, looking back on her student. "You'll make it." Celestia wiped her eyes before exiting out into the hallway. A couple moments later, a miracle happened. "Won't... Fail..." Twilight's lips slowly moved as her words were carried from one plane of existence to the next.