//------------------------------// // V. The Truth // Story: War // by Vetnern //------------------------------// "Fluttershy..." Twilight trembled, "we all thought you were dead!" "I'm sorry Twilight," Fluttershy replied, "but we really don't have time. They're going to realize that I'm gone any moment now." Fluttershy was rummaging through her saddlebag when she felt warm hooves wrap around her body. "I'm so glad you're back" Twilight sniffled as tears ran down her face. Fluttershy quickly broke away from the hug and continued rifling through her saddlebag. "Oh where is it," she flustered as she pulled out an object from the bag, "I knew I put it here somewhere." "What's that?" Twilight asked quizzically while wiping a few tears from her eyes. She got up for a closer look at the device Fluttershy had acquired. "It's a kinetic synthesiser." Fluttershy muttered, "I've seen what's inside those cubes. I know what they are capable of... just hit this one when it's time." She pointed at a big red button on the device. "When it's time?" Twilight replied with a puzzled look on her face, "Time for what?" "You'll know when that time comes." Fluttershy replied as she zipped up her saddlebag. "Fluttershy, I cant do this." Twilight mumbled. "What do you mean by—" "I just can't do this! I-I can't do anything! My best friends are dying all around me and I feel like it's all my fault. There has to be somepony else who ca—" Fluttershy raised a hoof up to Twilight's mouth, cutting off the rest of her speech. "You know my mother used to tell me great things while I was growing up. She said 'If you can treat everypony else the way you treat those animals of yours, then you're gonna grow up to be a hero'." She said, a tear rolling down her cheek, "Now pull yourself together Twilight... Your future isn't written in stone." She added, causing Twilight to give her a concerned look. "What do you mean written in stone? You are coming with me, right?" Twilight demanded. "I know what I have to do Twilight, you just have to trust me..." Fluttershy soothed, "I need you to press that button and use your magic to teleport me to these co-ordinates when the time comes." "Of course i can trust you," Twilight sighed in despair, "but I just don't see the others warming up to you so easily. After all, one of those things was impersonating you." A shadow quickly loomed over them as they were surrounded by Sombra, Discord and Chrysalis. "Uhh Twilight," Fluttershy whimpered as she backed away from the trio of towering bad guys, "maybe we should run." She screamed as Discord suddenly lunged at her. "Oh, Fluttershy. Is that really you?!" He cried in delight as he hugged the life out of her. "I forgot to mention that we made a truce and gained a lot of allies to help us fight." Twilight giggled as she watched Discord bounce around in joy. Celestia quickly appeared behind them, her jaw dropping upon seeing Fluttershy. Her hooves trembled and she quickly hid the small bag of shrooms she had tried with Luna a few moments earlier. "What the fuck is going on? Is it really her, if so we need to question you on how you escaped and more importantly, how you survived." she demanded. "I guess I could do that, I mean... it's not like I have an Equestria to save or anything." Fluttershy said sarcastically. "Thank you, we'll get right on this." Celestia said, "Twilight my dear, report to the town center. Applejack is giving the tactics to the soldiers and changelings we recruited. Go and give her a helping hoof, would you?" "I'll go there now. Oh, and Fluttershy..." Twilight gave her a soft warm hug which she kindly returned, "... welcome home" Twilight departed toward the center of town,the shouts of the soldiers as AJ gave her orders reaching her ears. I guess you could say that she was born to lead. A smile crept upon Twilight's face when it occurred to her. Everypony needed a leader they could rely on, a leader they could trust. Celestia couldn't have gave this job to anypony else but Twilight. As she arrived on the scene AJ called her up to the platform she was standing on. "Ah reckon these folks could use some words o' encouragement, Twilight." she said, giving her a nod of approval. Twilight looked around at the mass of beings before her, all waiting eagerly on what she had to say. "I remember standing here telling you that I would be moving away from Ponyville and that I would not be returning. I'm sad to say that this is still true, for I have a great task ahead of me that will require all of your strength and dedication. I know I've done some pretty bad things in the past, even going so far as to badly hurt a lot of my friends, but I can't change that." Twilight sighed and looked at Applejack. "No matter what happens, we will see this through to the end. We will fight for what we love and cherish and for what we can't live without. That is what friendship means to me, and I'll be damned sure to seek revenge on anypony who hurts my friends, even if that pony was me..." Twilight stepped down from the platform and grabbed a sword in her magical aura, the large crowd applauding in encouragement. "FOR EQUESTRIA!" Twilight roared. "For Equestria!" The crowd shouted back in hype. "Ya did good Twilight." Applejack smiled, "Looks ta me like Celestia really did put her hopes into ya being a leader after all." "A leader..." muttered Twilight, slowly looking at the crowd of happy ponies all raring to fight. She could see many familiar faces among the crowd, including faces that she wished were not there. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Snips and Snails and the rest of the fillies and colts from the school were there. It broke Twilight's heart to see soliders fighting at such a young age — but now was not the time for remorse. "Miss Sparkle," screamed a Royal Guardspony, "come quick!" "What is it?" Twilight asked frantically, "What's wrong?" "It's the cubes ma'am! The cubes are opening!" the Guard replied before rushing back to the entrance of Ponyville. A thought suddenly dawned on Twilight. Why are all the cubes outside the cities and towns? Why not inside... As Twilight approached the group in front of the cube she could see the the gears and metal pieces slowly unlocking, like it was following a set timer. "Twilight," Celestia cried as she ran around in a panic, "Fluttershy has told me that we should evacuate the area, that we need to call off the war." "What's inside the cube?" Twilight said sternly, "Surely we can kill it?" "We can't kill it Twilight," replied the still panicking Celestia, "because it isn't even alive." "Celestia," Twilight drawled, "what is inside the cube?" "Darkness, Twilight." Celestia shuddered, "There's nothing but darkness in there. If you touch it, you will simply disappear." "Disappear?" Twilight repeated with a confused look on her face, "Disappear to where?" "From existence Twilight!" Celestia snapped as she grabbed the unicorn and pulled her away, "If that darkness touches even the slightest hair on your mane then you will disappear and the world will act like you were never even born!" "How long before the cube opens?" Sombra asked. "I don't know," Celestia replied, "but let's head back to Ponyville and prepare for the worst." "I'll stay here and keep an eye on the cube," Fluttershy chimed as everyone began to leave, "because I know what to do when it finally does open." "Alright," Twilight replied, "we'll be in Ponyville if you need us." Giving Fluttershy one last hug Twilight ran back to Ponyville, leaving the pegasus to her vigil.