//------------------------------// // Twilight's Crisis // Story: Cliffhangers // by neutralmilk //------------------------------// Twilight looked over the side of the cliff. PonyVille stood not far off from where she stood, precariously perched. The sun Celestia had so painstakingly raised in the sky was high above Twilights head as she peered on down. She didn’t need to be down in the city she loved so dear to know what her friends and everypony were up to. Fluttershy, she knew, would be playing with Angel or helping some other defenseless creature with some bizarre problem. Twilight smirked as she recalled seeing Fluttershy cracking the bear’s neck that one time. Applejack was surely with Big Macintosh and Granny Smith working on the orchard. Whether she was bucking down apples or preparing for the upcoming Zap Apple harvest, Twilight was sure her family was with her. WOOSH! A sudden blast of air came from behind her that pushed her forward toward the edge of the cliff. Twilight quickly regained her balance and stared into the sky. She saw Rainbow Dash flying straight as an arrow with a cone forming around her. Clearly, she was working on mastering the Sonic Rainboom again. Cheers came from the town below as a collection of ponies raced to follow Rainbows trajectory. Rarity was clearly working on a new dress for somepony. The who and the what didn’t really matter at this time. Pinkie Pie, well Pinkie Pie, was probably off doing whatever it was she did. Twilight thought back to the day she followed Pinkie around, remembering watching her roll on the grass of the school yard. Twilight shook her head with a grin. That pony’s crazy. She thought to herself. She then thought about what she would normally be doing on such a fine summer day. Her smile had faded now as the image of books crossed her mind. Of course, Twilight would be reading or studying up on some new concept that she had been deprived of, such as slumber parties. She silently wished to be more adventurous and less of a bookworm but she couldn’t help it. Now Twilight was angry. It was because of her reading that Nightmare Moon had been defeated! It was because of her strong will that Discord was vanquished yet again! But for all that work and for saving Equestria twice, she had received no recognition. At first, Twilight didn’t mind. But the thought was plaguing her recently. Why don’t I deserve praise? Twilight found herself asking. She thought back to her friends in the town and how they were all famous for their own reasons. Applejack had her delicious cider! Fluttershy could handle any animal! Pinkie, well, was Pinkie! Rarity made the most beautiful dresses in Equestria and Rainbow Dash was just as good as the Wonderbolts (if not better). What did Twilight have?! BOOKS! She remembered being called an “egghead” by Rainbow Dash in the hospital. She wished to be more adventurous. Wished. The anger in her started to subside as she slowly walked forward to the edge of the cliff and stared down. That’s a pretty big drop… Twilight again glanced at her town and the dots that represented her friends. They were good friends. No, they were great friends. In fact the best she’d ever had. But if only she could be more like them… Egghead! The word echoed in her head once again. She wished to be like those ponies in PonyVille with their special talents. She wished she had become popular and praised in the town rather than ridiculed. She wished it didn’t come to this. Twilight looked down one last time. A single tear dropped down her face. Then she jumped.