CHAPTER 13: DESPAIR
"Sir; why doesn't anypony ever go to that island?"
On a small band of ships sailing across the vast equestrian seas; situated off the southeastern coast of Horseshoe Bay further towards the land of dragons, a young pony observed the mysterious island dubbed only as Candyland by its numerous onlookers. He in particular couldn't get over the fact nopony ever seemed to attempt to travel to that island, although it looked far more appealing than anything commonly seen in their ventures. And even more puzzling was the fact nopony seemed to take him seriously when he asked that question, all they did was snicker beneath their breath and roll their eyes. It was absolutely insulting, causing the younger pony to glare as he stated. "Well I'm waiting."
Suddenly emerging from the lower half of the ship onto the topdeck was a worn looking pony, obviously having heard the question from his younger crew mate. He didn't look too interesting in particular; just a rough looking elderly pony baring a salted beard with creased wrinkles. He smirked at the younger fellow before joining him at the wooden railing with a smile and looking off into the distance towards the mysterious island. "Well as of late lad, there have been a lot of chilling rumors going about regarding that island."
This caused the younger pony to cock a brow curiously. "Yea I've heard some, but it doesn't look that dangerous."
The elderly pony sneered. "Appearances aren't everything lad. Some say there's a monster living on that island. The few that have trekked through that blasted place and returned to tell the tale; warn others that nothing there is worth the venture. And something there will change the pony you once were. It sounds like quite the tall tale I admit, but I think many of us would rather not risk our hides for a couple o'sweets. I prefer it this way; we stay safe, got an interesting topic to talk about, everything's right with the world. Unless you'd rather go out there and explore yourself, although I suggest you save the curiosity for more important matters lad, leave the brave adventurin to the brave adventurers and others willing to throw their lives away for the thrill of it."
This caused the younger pony to gulp as he'd turned to look at the Island. "M-Monster?...." Although it sounded like a load of hay; in some ways, it did make sense. In recent months ponies stationed in the land of griffons didn't fail to mention that further southwest from the beautiful plain lands, there'd been a strange island that'd emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Nopony knew where it came from or why it was there, so of course there were eager explorers who went to find out just what inhabited the island. And based on the numerous reports, what they found was a land filled with luscious sweets; a land of beauty pulled from the very dreams of fillies and colts. A land of milkshake lakes, blueberry bushes, candy cane forests; and fields of twizzlers, rolling plains of sugary sweets all ripe for the taking. But there was another side to these stories; stories of explorers who'd ventured too far into these uncharted lands, towards the dreaded Icecream Mountains.
They tended to have a very different perspective of how things ended in their tales. Ponies, Griffons, Zebras alike; always few in number, would return with tales of a nightmare, a deity hiding itself away in the center of the island, wanting only to remain undisturbed in its solitude, waiting for something. Tales of guardians; malformed creatures twisted from their original shapes lurking in the darkest corners, waiting for some unwavering prey to draw too close to their master's private sanctum. Normal harmless creatures turned into beasts, and the very adventurers who did manage to return, always seemed to be possessed by the very essence of despair. Nopony could ever describe the creature hidden away in the Icecream Mountains, but based on the emotionless shells that'd returned, nopony wanted to know.
This of course drew in eager bounty hunters, persistent to satisfy their thirst for the hunt, usually in the form of minotaurs. But they to; tended to return as shells of their former selves, or never return at all. As the younger pony thought back on such rumors, a shiver ran down his spine as he shook his head, turning away from that mysterious island but glancing back for a moment. "I'd rather not..." Then going about his business on the ship once again.
And even from the ships; he could see the distant mountains of that island. Skies of gray and pale yellow lightning, never ending, never ceasing with its foreboding presence. And what dark secret hid itself away there, nopony knew, and perhaps nopony ever would. Perhaps all was right with the world; as long as nopony ever ventured too far into Candyland.
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How come it felt so, unsatisfying?
What was the definition of a victory? How would one describe a victory? Is it winning the physical battle? Or the mental one? Which one mattered more? For Eve; it felt as if this hollow shell she now was, could only describe defeat. She was now seasoned, and understood her painful outlook on life all too well, and as she looked up towards the blackened sky, the rain never ceased, it never disappeared; it only continued to drench her constantly, and it was mocking.
This twisted metamorphosis had given birth to a new being, an accumulation of all the negativity of the world, she felt nothing, nothing but a deep sense of passive sadness, of melancholy. This was the world she'd come to; the world she now saw and experienced for herself, this was the never-ending world of everlasting despair. Her dreams didn't matter from the start, the possibilities had only ever held grim outcomes. None of it, ever mattered, but at least she understood now.
Even through all of this, she managed to form a soft smile behind those sad eyes.
It was only reasonable, seeing as around her things seemed to be going well....
For scattered around her, were the bodies of her enemies, some alive, some dead. [bNot that it mattered.
The baby draconequus just stood in the middle of the castle grounds as the world around her grew deafly silent. Cheerilee could only watch in horror from within her sealed dome as this creature she once had a heartfelt connection to, couldn't seem anymore foreign. Eve's mane had grown significantly longer, the sides were parted and erratic with rough sharp ends; wild. Her newfound wings only continued to flap periodically, even when she wasn't flying; as if stolen from the notable mare's themselves, the sight could only be mesmerizing as they folded in on the baby draconequus's back. She rarely used this strange ethereal form of an arm, almost as if stating she had no need to. And that frightening new horn, the emergence point was hidden beneath her bangs. Was it meant solely for intimidation? Cheerilee doubted it. This creature wasn't Eve, this thing, was something else entirely. And as Cheerilee only continued to look upon the scene, her body trembled, something like this couldn't have been possible.
This truly was it, this wasn't the happy familiar world she was so used to, this truly was despair.
Scattered across the ruins of the city, were the bodies of the notable participants. Twilight Sparkle laid face down, fresh wounds having covered her body as she didn't move, her blood soaked mane parted in different areas as she was near the castle stairway. Trixie's head was slumped down; her back resting against a flat piece of debris. Zecora was no different from Twilight, only in a different position, further towards the heart of the city. Discord laid atop Fluttershy, his longer slender body curled around the pale yellow pegasus. Queen Chrysalis hung over a broken railing, alongside Princess Luna; as the only one supposedly conscious amongst the group, was the supposedly petrified Princess Celestia.
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Kelax was attempting to catch his breath as he rose from a pile of debris. "W-What...what the buck went wrong Silver Shade?..." Speaking of Silver Shade; where was she, and where was LemaLime? If this is what they were contending with, then he could only assume the worst, causing the changeling's expression to sink. But not long after rising from the debris, he fell once more, unable to stand; and unable to assist. Who would've thought that the changelings would be forced to work alongside their fated enemies in such an occasion, it was laughable indeed.
Eve remained silent as her gaze slowly drifted towards the motionless princess of the sun, and Celestia only remained silent, wearing a look of utter failure as she couldn't seem to take everything in. The baby draconequus, if you could still call her that, took small short steps; walking towards Celestia devoid of any emotion. "Miss.Pony Princess...."
But as she did so, a persistent Twilight Sparkle staggered to all fours, her body trembling profoundly as she coughed. "Y-You...if you think I'll let you lay your dirty grubby claws on Princess Celestia!..." The violet mare looked towards her enemy wearing a fierce mask of determination and burning fury. "You can think again!" Twilight started trotting towards the baby draconequus, picking up her pace after a few seconds as her horn started to glow once again; followed by a faint rising roar as if for motivating herself to continue the assault.
Eve eyes saddened as shook her head. "Please be good Twilight Sparkle." And as the mare approached, the baby draconequus didn't lift a finger as her new horn started to glow in a similar fashion to Twilight's and rising from the ground would be a multitude of stone hooves, slamming against the mare's body, knocking her up and into the air.
Twilight's eyes widened as she gasped for air.
Soon after a smoldering jawbreaker would manifest itself over Twilight in an instant, smashing itself against her back causing her already beaten body to slam back onto the stone cold pavement. And with a slight twitch of her claws, Twilight's body jerked into an awkward submissive position, and the blood which decorated the battlefield wrapped itself around the mare's hooves, restraining her like wire. "I don't want to hurt you anymore than I have to....."
Twilight cried out in irritation. "Eve! If you think you'll get away with this- just you wait and see!...I'll...we'll-" And as she laid on her bare belly, tears swelled within her eyes as that mask of rage dissipated slowly. "You will be stopped! One way or another! You will be punished for your actions! Do you hear me!?" She then attempted to squirm free from the bonds that shackled her to the cold floor; but as her efforts were in vain she could only let off soft whimpers and cries.
Twilight didn't want to feel it; but it came anyway, that sense of doubt and despair, this couldn't have been happening. They always managed to come through somehow, somehow they always managed to find a way to succeed. They deserved to win! Evil shouldn't have been able to prevail over the good and true. Why was this happening? Tears streamed down the mare's cheeks as she roared in her attempts to get free. "EVE!!! DON'T YOU TOUCH HER! I'M WARNING YOU!"
Eve nodded to Twilight with a soft giggle. "Don't worry Twilight Sparkle." And she continued her approach towards Celestia. It was a solemn, easy walk; easy, a word she didn't consider often these days. It was strange, before this change; this realization, things seemed to have a bigger purpose, now everything just seemed so linear. Eve still wore that childish expression, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Convincing them was pointless, the ponies didn't understand; they never would, perhaps that was for the best. But there was one pony who knew of everything, but how much did she know exactly? The baby draconequus's could only wonder, as she looked at Princess Celestia.
From a distance the broken remnants of the guards watched in anger as their futile attempts to assist only caused them to feel disappointment in themselves, how could they have let this happened!?
The citizens of Canterlot; many were hiding away, frightened. And the few who did look upon the scene could only tremble and cry due to the seemingly inevitable end. The end to their precious society, to their beloved princesses. Fillies and colts nuzzled their heads into their mothers and fathers, as the parents caressed and held their children close, not wanting them to see the beginning of such a cruel dark time.
Eve didn't fail to notice them, to notice all of them; although she refused to look at them, for she already knew the messages written into those piercing eyes, a message she'd received far too many times.
As she walked; there another attempt to thwart her from reaching Celestia. This time in the form of a familiar draconequus. Discord rose, unsheathing his jawbreaker sword with a heavy sigh. "You know! When I thought about getting involved in this whole thing, I expected a lot less from you! Congrats! But I can't have you harming Celestia now..." His expression sunk, revealing a passive anger about him. "That'd make things quite unfortunate for the lot of us..."
And he reappeared in front of the baby draconequus swinging at her as Eve was shielded by an astral barrier.
She regarded Discord with the same look she'd given Twilight Sparkle.
Discord muttered as he raised his own paw and from within the barrier a storm of fire and lightning covered the baby draconequus's body, but as she was covered in molten flame, she remained unharmed. Discord gritted his teeth; her perception of how these things worked was mind boggling, and frustrating to say the least! Had they truly created this monstrosity themselves? But Discord didn't let up as he shook his head. "While were here, mind telling me about Eris?"
Eve's expression didn't change. "Miss.Eris didn't speak to me long mister, she is somewhere very far away, beyond your reach, beyond my reach. Nothing more, nothing less." As she looked down at herself being covered in the undying flames and crackling lightning, she couldn't help but smile a little; as if disappointed in herself. "Mister, you're lucky. I see now why you cannot understand." She paused. "The world is funny to you, it is interesting, it is not a bleak dark place; even after all you've seen, you cannot let go of that hope you hold onto." Eve's gaze drifted over to the unconscious Fluttershy as her eyes saddened somewhat. "You never could." She then lifted her ethereal paw to the fellow draconequus as she flicked it, and with that flick Discord's body jarred with an indescribable amount of pain, his body being overwhelmed with that very form of physical agony and despair that'd bested them so easily before. "Never change mister."
And as Discord fell; Eve only continued her approach towards Princess Celestia.
Then attempting to attack the baby draconequus from behind in a similar method as before, was Trixie and Zecora. The only difference was, Eve didn't react; she only continued to walk, allowing them to attack her as they pleased. And frighteningly, Zecora and Trixie didn't look surprised, simply going in for the attack once again, circling around the baby draconequus unleashing their arsenal upon her.
Zecora threw her potions, chanted her rituals, but no matter what she did the baby draconequus simply kept walking; emerging from the haze of smoke and spells unscathed. And as Trixie fired her spells off towards the baby draconequus, they smacked against her body as if no different from the very wind, ineffective and useless.
Exhausted; they didn't falter as they attempted to block Eve's path towards the goddess of the sun.
Zecora breathed heavily as she stood in place. "W-We cannot let you pass Eve..."
Trixie snarled at the draconequus as she shook her head. "Don't you know what'll happen if you do this!?"
Eve smiled as she chuckled. "Yes..."
This caused both of them snarl angrily before Eve raised her paw; swatting them away like flies. This caused the mare and Zebra to skid across the pavement due to the distortion of gravity itself, and each slam against another pile of debris. Too beaten to launch another futile assault against their overwhelming foe.
Was this the potential of chaos? Was this the true definition of despair?
This absurdity, this overwhelming sense of hopelessness?
The fact they were all being overpowered by a mere child!? The odds of the situation played in their favor, yet; they were still losing and nopony could really pertain why, it certainly was a nightmare. Especially for Twilight Sparkle.
The baby draconequus spoke in regards to her first friend and dearest mentor. "Please try not to worry, Trixie, Zecora."
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Queen Chrysalis groaned as she hung over the railing beside Princess Luna. "Have I ever told you that your sister is a complete and utter moron?"
Princess Luna leaned up, as she groaned as well. "Have I ever told you that you're a complete and utter moron?"
Queen Chrysalis scoffed. "Why yes, yes I think you have. Not that your petty words hold any significance of course."
And with that the two rose to the skies with a mighty flap of their wings, attempting to vanquish this deity of a child as they fired off a mixture of their own spells in a massive blast. Something quite unheard of since perhaps the beginning of time, who would've thought the day would come when Princess Luna and Chrysalis would resort to working with one another.
And what a sight it was.
As their spells hurtled forward, the midnight sky that was a familiar trait in Luna's magical essence bonded with Chrysalis's neon green essence, merging into what appeared to be a giant spiral.
And as Eve looked up towards it; her eyes widened a bit. "Hm?..."
She snapped her claws; as massive box appeared in the form of a dimensional rift, where upon Princess Luna and Chrysalis's spell entering; re-exited and fired straight back towards its senders.
Princess Chrysalis's gasped before rolling her eyes. "Oh! You've gotta be kidding m-" and as their own spells engulfed the two; they let off agonizing screams, their bodies being thrown into their own painful vortex as they writhed and were flung around like ragdolls throughout the entirety of the experience.
Upon the spell dying down, the Queen and Princess fell silent, as they once again plummeted limp down towards the pavement.
As Twilight watched the horror ensue upon everypony; tears streamed down her cheeks. Why couldn't they touch her anymore!? She was only a baby draconequus, nothing more! She shouldn't have been able to outclass them so easily. And she shouldn't have been able to make such a mockery of their spells. There was a key; a flaw, a weakness to every source of magic, and as Twilight laid there, forced to submit, she couldn't help but grit her teeth angrily at the fact they couldn't figure it out. That they couldn't overcome this situation without the elements of harmony! What was Eve doing? What was her source!? There was a weakness in her magic, they just had to think! And as Twilight ran the situation through her mind, she only grew most frustrated. "AGH!"
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And finally, Princess Celestia.
Princess Celestia looked at Eve with wide eyes, saying nothing.
And Eve looked at her with a childish smile.
Even while knelt down, Princess Celestia was taller than the baby draconequus. "Miss.Pony Princess...."
Twilight cried out. "S-STOP! PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOU! EVE YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THIS!"
Princess Celestia stated simply. "Do what you will, all I ask is that you please spare everypony else."
They just looked at one another for a lasting moment; before Eve broke the silence.
"You misunderstand princess." Eve's eyes widened as she shook her head, followed by a soft giggle. "I lost anyway..."
This caused Princess Celestia to cock a brow curiously. "What do you mean little one?..."
Eve eyes saddened as she spoke in regards to everypony that surrounded her; the civilians, the guards, the changelings, Twilight and the others. "I am a monster, and I can't be anything else." And as the baby draconequus stood there; tears swelled within her eyes as she flashed the princess a wide smile, cocking her head to the left. "There is nothing I can do anymore, there is no point anymore. I want to leave. So will you please; just let me leave?...."
Princess Celestia looked towards her student at this moment; who remained pinned to the ground, sniffling with worry. Tears in her eyes as she looked at the two converse, expecting the worst at this point. She then looked back at Eve as her brows furrowed in discomfort. "I,...don't know if that'll make any difference for you at this point little one..."
Eve closed her eyes shaking her head. "No, it wont. Some meetings are only destined for heartbreak princess. Twilight Sparkle, she-" Eve paused for a moment. "-She will bring an end to my story, it's what everypony wants. I will wait for her until then." She grew silent once more, lowering her head. "But I see now princess-"
And as she thought about it, her body trembled as the tears streamed down the baby draconequus's face as she shook her head biting her lower lip; she folded her ethereal arm across her small body, gripping the side of her real one, as if attempting to find comfort in her own embrace. "I...I see now why you did these things to me...t-the world, you wanted to protect. And-" Her voice quivered as she whimpered. "I'm sorry, I ruined everything...I...I was scared; I didn't want to..I-"
As Princess Celestia looked upon the draconequus she became overwhelmed with confusion. Why was she saying sorry!? She shook her head in a desperate attempt to recover from this sudden shock. "N-No...little one it's not like that. You can still learn if you-"
Eve then placed a paw on Princess Celestia's cheek; as the princess suddenly became lost in a mental allusion. Her face expressed nothing as the baby draconequus just looked up at her with sad eyes. And as she pulled her paw away and the princess slowly came to once again, and as she did; tears streamed down the alicorn's face.
Eve shook her head. "I don't want that be the ending to the story princess...."
And with that one action, Princess Celestia knew what this baby draconequus felt, having sunk into a bottomless pit of despair; her understanding of the pain of the world, was limitless. Her sense of hopelessness, her acceptance of this harsh reality, turned into raw power, exceeded that of all their own magic combined. Such was the potential of chaos magic.
This was the world as it was before, the world the princess didn't want to return to.
The world the princess had used a draconequus child to prevent from returning to ever again. And it caused her to sob; the fact she placed this burden on somepony's shoulders, and expected anypony could ever truly continue being anything other than a emotionless shell after knowing. And as the princess looked back to the baby draconequus, a sense of admiration swept through her. To think this little child, even at the end could see the meaning behind it all without her mind being lost in a void of shadow, amazed her.
Eve continued. "And...I don't want you to be sad. I just want to go now."
Princess Celestia's features at that moment distorted into a grieving expression, unable to hold in her sense of confliction, of what she'd done, of what was right, of anything anymore. And the princess herself felt she'd been broken down.
Twilight and the others looked on in puzzlement; why was the princess crying, they could only wonder? Why wasn't the baby draconequus finishing the job? Or attacking her like she'd done to all the others?
The baby draconequus smiled softly at Princess Celestia. "I will only ever be the monster in the storybooks for little ponies. And someday, the monster will be defeated, and everything will return to normal. It's how the story should end." The baby draconequus looked towards the ground; and she knew she could never escape the world of despair.
She'd played herself into her own emotional defeat.
From the very beginning; she'd lost anyway.
Not even now, when everything made sense, when she had the option to bring an end to everything, to this society, to this very system of the world; could she bring herself to do it. In the end, her world could never be, equestria was a gem; a very special place, crafted over countless millennia into perfection. One that couldn't be shaped by just any particular individual, one that required sacrifice and dedication, one that required a true leader, that leader was Celestia. Eve knew she wasn't smart enough, stable enough to create such a thing barely achieved the first time. And in gaining this knowledge; she'd costed herself everything, absolutely everything, there was nothing left.
She looked to Cheerilee. Nothing.....
She looked to Princess Celestia once again. "Take care Miss.Pony Princess..."
And the baby draconequus spread her wings as she made off for the dome Cheerilee was trapped in.
There was one more thing she needed to take care of.
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The baby draconequus smiled, looking up at the stars with wide fascinated eyes. "This is my favorite time!"
Cheerilee's eyes widened as she looked down at her. "Night time?" Or the evening per say.
The baby draconequus smiled. "Mhm! I always liked the small shining things, they always made me feel happy."
Cheerilee chuckled as she rubbed the top of her baby draconequus's head. "Those are stars sweetie, they are quite fascinating."
The baby draconequus simply continued to gaze up at the sky. "I love the stars, and the night time!" And as she did so, by random occurrence, a shooting star had actually appeared. Tearing across the sky in a fleeting moment, this caused the baby draconequus to stand and then just begin running in the direction of that shooting star. She bounced playfully, running around the open field. "Did you see that momma!?"
Cheerilee to was a bit mesmerized by the sudden sight. And before she could forget, she made a private wish to herself, before looking to her baby draconequus and nodding. "Mhm, I saw it sweetie."
The baby draconequus grinned at Cheerilee playfully as she just stood there, looking up at the stars happily.
As Cheerilee looked at her draconequus, it was when she'd seen that expression, that happiness and optism, that she thought of a name, perhaps something they both could agree with. Cheerilee simply smiled with adoring affectionate eyes as a sense of pride swelled up within her as she looked upon her baby draconequus. Eve....
The night was always comforting to the baby draconequus, it being the only thing she found comfort in on that first day she ventured from her cavern out into the open world. She was so full of life, and so curious and fascinated by things most would take for granted. Perhaps it would be perfect, perhaps Eve was just what they were looking for.
Eve couldn't help but reflect on that time as she tapped the dome; causing it to shatter.
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Cheerilee fell to her side, trembling as she looked at Eve, unable to react.
Eve wasn't surprised, she just looked down at Cheerilee with a blank expression. "Hi momma."
Cheerilee felt the anger coursing through her as she stood, snapping at the draconequus on impulse. "Is this what I taught you Eve!? Is this what you took out of our time together!? To attack fillies and colts?! To kill!? Is this what you learned!? That you had to resort to violence if things didn't go the way you wanted?!" Tears filled the schoolmare's eyes as her voice quivered. "Is that what you took from all this sweetie!?"
There was a brief moment of silence between the two. As Eve avoided eye contact with her adoptive mother.
Cheerilee looked down. "I made a wish that someday you'd be able to find the happy life you deserved. That you could live without feeling neglected, that I could take care of you, or alongside and with whoever you wanted. I wanted you to be happy! Is this what I made that wish for!? To see you become...become this!? To see you attack innocent civilians!? Is that what you took from my example? From the short time we were together!?"
Eve looked towards the lower left, there was no excuse for her actions. There was no excuse for her to have involved the civilians, to cause such destruction for everypony as a whole. She'd thrown her own mother into the world of blood and gore that she herself was forced into, and what sort of daughter did that? No daughter at all. "Momma I-"
SLAP!
Eve's eyes were wide as her head was turned away from the mare, her cheek a crimson red.
As Cheerilee's passive fury slowly died down and she'd realized what she'd done.
Her expression sunk as she shook her head. "I-I'm sorry I shouldn't have-"
Eve looked up at her with a smile. "It's alright...."
She then just continued walking past the schoolmare, saying nothing, but as she walked, while her face was turned away from her adoptive mother, she sobbed, rubbing her cheek. It was clear.
She was a murderer, and after what she'd done to them, she should've expected worse. "I understand."
And the baby draconequus spread her wings, that was all the closure she needed. She took a look at all the ponies of Canterlot, at they looked back at her regarding her with fear and angst. The guilt coursed through her as closed her eyes; lowering her head. How could she have done this? Risk this perfect world for her own self benefit? She remained silent. "Goodbye, Miss.Cheerilee." and then made her way off towards the skies, much like when she'd left ponyville; she just soared, leaving this shame behind. She secured her escape, just like she'd wanted.
There was nothing for her in this society anymore. There never would be.
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Cheerilee was grateful for the baby draconequus's safety, but she craved another moment to explain. "Eve! Wait please!" She raised her hoof to the skies, but somehow she knew, not even for her, would the baby draconequus return. And even Eve had understood what this had meant for them, this was far too much for the schoolmare. So much blood, violence, destruction; Cheerilee couldn't bring herself to accept that sort of life, not even for Eve. And she couldn't force herself to regard the baby draconequus in the same manner anymore.
This caused the schoolmare to weep; kneeling and crying into her forehooves. And although the times they had together were precious, she knew not even she could come to accept her for what she was now.
She was meant to be forgotten.
And as Eve left the area, Twilight's bonds disintegrated as the mare staggered to her hooves, rushing towards Princess Celestia hurriedly. "PRINCESS!" And she embraced her dearest mentor in a hug. She nuzzled into her affectionately. "T-Thank goodness you're alright! I'm so glad!"
Princess Celestia was silent, but she managed to return Twilight's hug sluggishly.
Of course everypony was relieved to see that Eve had chosen not to end things, but they couldn't help but wonder why?
Trixie stood to her hooves and sighed heavily. "I guess,...she wasn't so bad in the end."
And approaching her would be the changeling Kelax with a sigh. "Wonder where she went off to though."
Trixie shrugged as she looked to the lower left, twiddling her hoof. "Someplace of her own, hopefully."
Kelax couldn't help but feel disheartened at the fact the baby draconequus left. "I wish I could've asked Eve some things."
It was so funny, due to Eve's disaster, it seemed it wasn't even a big deal for changelings and ponies to stand beside one another. But as Kelax and Trixie looked to each other; both of their expressions sunk for a moment. "Where's LemaLime!?"
Discord didn't mask his disappointment, not only in himself, but also in the fact he didn't find out more about Eris before Eve had decided to leave, but he couldn't exactly complain seeing as they were all fine. And the sun would rise another day. But as he looked to Fluttershy, who was slowly waking up from her slumber, Discord felt that sense of relief course through him once more. Perhaps it was time to quit the scheming and plotting, and just be grateful for the life he'd managed to achieve.
Even Queen Chrysalis and Princess Luna seemed to be at ease for a moment, as they looked to one another, before crossing their forehooves followed by scoffs in unison. "HMPH!" And as they did as such; their subordinates each ran to their aid, at least those who were able, grateful their precious rulers were each still with them, alive and well.
And emerging atop the throne room porch, finally awake; but wounded, was a bat pony with a fluffy pony on her back.
"What the heck happened here?" LemaLime sniffled. "I think we missed something big."
Cheerilee remained in place, just looking up towards the skies; as Zecora approached her with a sigh.
Cheerilee shook her head. "Why did things have to be like this Zecora?...."
Zecora looked up towards the sky as well. "Perhaps she needs time to learn more about herself." But this didn't stop the zebra from glancing at the still distraught Princess Celestia. "As do we all."
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Gone, once again; what felt like such a fleeting moment. .
And as the ponies of Canterlot came to realize that the horror had subsided, that feeling of despair left them; they were safe once again, due to the mercy of another. They could now hope once more, and perhaps return to the way things were.
They were safe for the time being. The rain had finally stopped.