I dedicate this story to one of my best friends Grace. She helped inspire this story, and I know our friendship will never fade.
She didn't want all of this fame, she didn't want all of this adoration. It was too much to handle. She couldn't control the amount of pain and suffering she was feeling. So she let it all go. Twilight Sparkle was no more.
Twilight got everything she had ever wanted and even more. She had amazing friends, amazing family, and she was a Princess.
The first few months of the wonderful princess life was overwhelmingly wonderful. She didn't even need to lift a hoof, there were ponies everywhere willing to help her. After a year of that life it started going downhill. She was tired of all the attention. She barely saw her friends, she had great reponsibilities as a Princess. She didn't sign up for this. She didn't choose this! It chose her.
It has been five years since her coronation. Her friends have all now grown apart. Rainbow Dash is the closest one to her. She had her dream come true. She is the captain of the Wonderbolts, and couldn't be happier. They see each other from time to time when Dash isn't out touring all of Equestria or Twilight is tending to winey ponies problems. Whenever they do catch up however, it was never the same. They have nothing in common anymore, she was a princess, Dash was still just a pegasus. Dash has always been loyal, she would never leave Twilight, even when it got hard sometimes.
Twilight hasen't seen Rarity in months. She too lives in Canterlot, she owns a very successful boutique and has designed many dresses for the Gala.... The Gala. That's the only real time that they get together. Rarity is married to a nice colt, and they have a daughter. Her name is Golden Saphire, Twilight only met her a few times but she is a very sweet filly.
Applejack still lives in Ponyville and still runs Sweet Apple Acres. They see each other sometimes, not nearly as much as Twilight would like.
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy also live in Ponyville. Applejack and them are still very close. Twilight only makes trips to Ponyville three, maybe four times a year. When she does, Applejack Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy all get together and try to catch up. They talk about various things, but it is very difficult. Twilight can no longer connect with her friends as she used to. They are just too far apart.
She is alone.
**************
Twilight was sitting in one of the many rooms of the Canterlot castle. She didn't bother to realize which one, she didn't care. Princess Celestia walked in the room and stared at Twilight. She saw the sadness and despair in her former student's face. Celestia had realized quite some time ago just how depressed Twilight has gotten. She had hoped it would pass, but it never did.
"Twilight..." The Princess began, but Twilight did not look up. She still sat there looking at the floor.
"Please Twilight, speak to me." Still nothing. Celestia stayed staring at her, but after five minutes she gave up. She turned and headed out the door.
"Celestia....", Twilight whispered still looking down. The sun princess turned around and a tear formed in her eye. Twilight hasn't spoken in months. Twilight Sparkle finally looked up and began to cry. Princess Celestia ran over to her and hugged her. She hugged her so tight, she could feel Twilight sobbing against her.
"I'm... so... sorry" The purple alicorn looked up into the wise old eyes of Princess Celestia.
"Oh how I've missed you Twilight."
"I'm just so sad, I didn't know what to do."
"It's alright, don't worry. Your safe."
Twilight heard her words and began to relax. They stayed there hugging for another three minutes until Twilight began to calm down. The Sun Princess guided Twilight to her room and laid there with Twilight until she fell asleep. Once she was asleep, Celestia went to find Luna.
**************
"Luna, I think Twilight is coming back." Celestia looked at her sister. She began to cry again, without Twilight she would have never seen her beloved sister again. She remembered how much she had shared with Twilight, now to finally almost have her back. It was just too joyful. Luna ran to her sister and embraced her in a hug.
"I knew she would come around eventually." Luna said.
"It was just so hard to look at her like that, and now she's getting better..."
"It fills me with joy to see you happy again sister."
"Now we can all start recovering."
**************
The last thing Twilight remembered was laying in her bed, while Celestia stroking her mane until she fell asleep. Now she is a place that she hasn't seen for years. The last time she was here, she was still a unicorn. At this moment Twilight was is that mysterious space-like place where Celestia had told her she was ready to become an alicorn. She realized now, she was not ready. She probably never would have been ready.
"W-what am I doing here? This was the place that ruined my life."
"Do not ask me, you were the one that sent yourself here." A strange voice called out.
"W-who are you?" Twilight looked around trying to find the mysterious voice.
"That does not matter. Why have you come here?"
"I don't know."
"Yes you do Twilight Sparkle. Even I know why you are here."
"Then why ask?"
Twilight heard a silent chuckle. "Because I wanted you to admit what you have done."
She knew what she did. She was so depressed that she cast the spell that would take her immortality away... and killed herself. She used very dark magic, what would Celestia think? "I know what I did." She admitted
"All I want to know is why?"
"I was so depressed. I couldn't take it anymore. All of my friends have grown apart, I'm lonely."
"Oh Twilight... Your friends love you and now they will be devastated when they realize you're gone."
"Where am I?"
"You are in magical limbo. The place where all alicorns go when they die."
"Wait, alicorn can't die."
"Not naturally, no. But you did, didn't you? There are ways."
Twilight frowned. He was right. She didn't know what to feel at this point.
"What should I do now?"
"Well, my dear Twilight, that is up to you. You can go left, right or straight." Twilight suddenly realized there were paths pointing in those directions.
"Where do they lead?"
"Well, right goes to happiness, left to despair, and straight... Well that one is a mystery."
"What kind of mystery?"
"That is your decision to make."
Twilight sat for what felt like hours. She looked at every one of the directions trying to decide which one would be the best way to go. What would meet her if she decided to take the chance? Should she go right and be happy forever, what she has longed for these many years? Should she go left into dispair, and pick right back up where she left off. Or should she go straight? Should she take the chance and risk it all?
"If I go somewhere will I be able to come back?" Twilight asked the voice
"Alas, no. I'm sorry Miss. Sparkle but what you choose is your only and final decision..... May I ask you something?"
"Yes you may."
"I have been watching you for some months now, and I saw you cast that spell. However, a couple hours later Celestia went to you and you looked like you were about to start and recover. Why bring up her hopes when you knew they would be crushed?"
That thought saddened Twilight. She knew that Celestia began to feel better, and now Twilight had stolen that away from her. It made her feel terrible.
"I-I....I don't know. I knew what I was going to do but then I heard the longing in her voice I thought maybe I could comfort her a little before I left."
The voice was quiet for some time. Twilight was worried that he left and that she was once again alone.
"Are you still here?" She asked
"Yes. Yes I'm here. I was just thinking about what you told me."
Twilight was relieved when she heard his voice. "And...? Are you mad?"
"My dear Twilight I could never be mad at you."
"But you barely know me, you should judge me."
The voice chuckled again. "Twilight I do know you.. better than you know."
"Who are you?" She asked for a second time.
"All in due time, Twilight. First you must choose your path: left, right, or straight."
She had made her decision, she had known for some time now. The destination of each path was not visible. Light shown from each, one could not know where each led, if not for a guide.
She would not go left; she wanted to get better, not worse. She would not go right, into happiness, if it meant the loss of her friends, forever. The only way she could be happy again was to return to her friends, but that would mean ripping her friends from existence. Straight, then, was the only way. She did not know what lay in store for her, but she would take the chance.
"Will you come with me?"
"Of course Twilight, I will always be with you."
Twilight got up and began to walk forward into the bright light of the straight path, not looking back.