Sparkle No More

by furrypony


Why Did It Happen?

The door swung open in a loud thud. Spike and Rainbow darted in, closely followed by the others. With bated breath, Rainbow pressed her ear on Twilight’s chest, listening for any sign of life, while the rest waited in dread. After what seemed to be an eternity, she slowly shook her head, “…she’s gone…”
Applejack removed her cowgirl hat as a symbol for respect, while Rainbow Dash wept on her shoulder. Spike sat down, hugging his knees wordlessly. Rarity lay down on her abdomen next to him, holding him tightly for comfort. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy sat next to each other, both trembling and wailing in deep anguish.
"Twilight…" Applejack sobbed.
"I can't believe she's gone…" Rarity sniffed.
"How could this happen?" Rainbow Dash's voice broke.
Suddenly, a bright light emerged and shone all over the room. The light subsided to reveal an ivory alicorn with flowing spectral mane and tail. Applejack spoke up, “Princess, Twilight, she…” Princess Celestia shook her head, “I know. Spike sent me the news just now.” She slowly walked over the disorderly books and scrolls, to where the lavender unicorn lay immobile.
“Oh Twilight…”with a trembling voice, Princess Celestia whispered as she tenderly stroked her mane, “It was all my fault. I had no idea how much stress you were going through…” Her teardrops fell onto the lifeless unicorn's cheek.
Rainbow Dash turned to her, “I… I don’t understand… Princess, why did she do that? Why?!”
The white alicorn sat down, head hanging low, wings draped on the ground. “It was my fault. I pushed her too hard.” Tears rolled down her face, dripping into the pool of blood. “I gave her a test that she could not possibly pass, not realizing how strongly she would react to this.”
Applejack was agape. “You gave her an impossible test? YOU drove her to suicide?” The others gasped at Applejack’s incrimination, but Celestia didn’t show the least signs of anger.
“Yes…in a way… After the ‘want it need it’ incident, I’ve always been concerned about Twilight’s stress resilience. Over the time, she seemed to be improving in this aspect, so I planned this stressful event out for her to cope with. I thought she would sail through this tempest with friendship and learn to handle such stress, but I terribly misjudged her situation… It’s all my fault…”
“Um…girls? I found something…” Fluttershy took notice of a parchment on the writing stand. She suddenly gave a small squeak, “It’s her note…” Celestia brought the note in front of her with her telekinesis. As she read on, her body began to tremble in emotional pain.
“No…you were wrong, my dear Twilight.” Tear marks spread on the parchment. “You did better than the best professors in Canterlot College could, certainly more than enough to pass your test. I was indeed unhappy that you hurt your friends’ feelings, but that was all because how much my words must have broken you…” She took in her magic aura the photo of her and Twilight smiling together, pressing it against her heart, “I will never forget you… Oh…my poor, poor Twilight…” Her suppressed sobbing joined that of the rest.



Dear Princess Celestia,
Now I know what went wrong. I’m the one who is to blame. I have dug my own grave.
I was too ambitious, not realizing the limits of my intellect. Like Icarus, I tried to reach for the stars, only losing everything I worked hard for.
I am, after all the friendship lessons, still a flawed, unsociable, selfish pony. Now I have lost my friends.
There is only one way left for me. Soon everypony will be better off with me gone.
Princess, I know you must be very disappointed at me, and I know I deserve this. Please, forget me; find a new protégé, somepony who is more worthy of your patronage.
The library can be handed back to the town hall. The Elements of Harmony are in a chest on my bookshelf. My savings—about 300 bits and some gems—can be found in the chest beside my bed. Give them to Spike.
I need somepony to watch over Spike. Rarity or Fluttershy will probably accept him.
Please forgive me for what I’m about to do.
Your faithful stu ex-student,
Twilight Sparkle