//------------------------------//
// Chariot 
// Story: Unavailing 
// by FaelaArts 
//------------------------------//

Twilight would always remember the day, two days after her house had been burned down, that she met that mare for the second time. Spike had quickly made himself busy around their friends house, doing all sorts of chores. Twilight continued searching for any open houses for which to purchase with what bits they had. It wasn’t going so well.

“Hey Twilight, I’ve got a letter for you.” Raising her head, Twilight took the letter from her friend and frowned at it. 

“Uh, thanks,” she replied, taking the letter and cautiously opening it up. The only ponies that knew she were here should have been the locals and the princess herself. Reading the letter, Twilight beamed. The princess wanted her to return to Canterlot and live at the castle until she found a new residence.

“Spike, take a note.” Turning her head to see Spike glaring out the window, she frowned.

“Spike?” Blinking, he jerked back and turned to face her, and then turned away to hid his embarrassment.

“Uhh, sorry Twilight I was thinking. Ready when you are.” Levitating over a quill and some parchment, Spike prepared to write the letter.

“Just tell the princess I would be honoured to take up her offer, if she would be kind enough to send somepony to pick us up.” Twilight nodded, satisfied she hadn’t forgot anything. Spike sealed the parchment up in a neat roll, and cast a spell which made it burst into bright green flames.

“Alright, we should receive a reply in-“ he cut himself off as his horn activated, and the flames returned the reply.

Spike read it out, “a chariot is on the way, it should arrive in.” Spike paused, glancing outside as a chariot landed gracefully.

“Now,” he finished, frowning. Twilight was pleasantly surprised to see it here already, but she was ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Saying goodbye to her friend, and giving her gratitude, she prepared to leave, hopping onto the chariot. The two Pegasi flared their wings, and took to the sky.

“So Spike, what do you want to do once we arrive and finish greeting the princess?” Twilight saw his gaze cloud over, and his mouth begin to water.

“Alll youuu cannn eeat...,” he purred. She chuckled, watching Canterlot city come into view. From this high up, she could see much of the land, and how little water was visible. Even the green seemed slightly off on the trees. Not that Twilight considered this anything but normal. All she saw was the same land she had grown up in.

Someone landed in the carriage, the Pegasi didn’t even flinch. Twilight turned to see who it was, and a chill went up her spine.

“It’s you, the other me!” Twilight watched as the mare closed her wings, standing opposite to her and Spike, and gazed coldly at them. Spike turned around rapidly, and growled in response.

“You will not harm a hair on Twilight’s head!” Spike pulled Twilight behind him, standing between her and the mare.

The mare said nothing, glancing them over. Twilight could sense she was being judged, and peeked out from behind Spike and frowned.

“Who are you? Why did you give me that package? Why do you look like me?!” Twilight’s questions went unanswered as the mare simply sat down and gazed toward the city. Spike growled, horn glowing with a spell to put up a quick shield in case of attack from the Alicorn.

“The land is dying,” said the mare, causing the two to flinch in confusion. Twilight didn’t understand, not only had her questions been ignored, but the mare was talking nonsense.

“Equestria looks fine to me,” she replied, receiving a nod from Spike in agreement. The mare didn’t even move.

“Once upon a time, there was a great mare who excelled at magic.” Twilight frowned, glancing to spike at the mare’s words. He frowned, but the spell he had charged vanished and he sat back down.

“Doesn’t look like she’s here to hurt us, this time,” he muttered to Twilight, eyes narrowed suspiciously. Twilight followed Spike’s lead, sitting down also and looking to the mare. Even with her eyes looking ahead, there was no hiding the coldness in them.

“This mare was so attuned to magic, that by the time she was close to death she was able to realise something no other pony had, princess or otherwise.” Listening closely, something clicked in Twilight’s head. This sounded familiar.

“Her best friends had already succumbed to old age, and she would soon follow, but not before she would begin hatching plans that would end in the destruction of the world, but at the same time saving it.” This story, it sounded so familiar, like she had heard it before. Twilight was feeling a little lightheaded.

“With the plans set up, and the immortal princesses charged with making sure the plans went through, she died.” The feeling of familiarity was growing stronger.

“The plan began, the world died, and a few ponies managed to live on the scraps leftover. Five reincarnated, led to the promised place, and died where they stood one by one.” Why was the sky moving, the world was spinning around Twilight. Spike had yet to notice, eyes firmly on the mare.

“Finally, the sixth came, and cast the spell that would revive the world, and the five, at the cost of her life. She died.” The mare paused for a moment, glancing away from the city and toward Twilight, who was sweating.

“No, she lived,” spoke Twilight suddenly, to the surprise of both herself and Spike. Her breathing caught, and she held her head as a wave of pain laced through her head.

“But, she should have died.” Spike was holding her steady now, Twilight’s breath coming in gasps. She couldn’t see anything anymore, it was all a blur.

“That is right. She lived where she should have died. Just as the world now lives where it should be long gone.” The sound of wings flaring filled Twilight’s ears. Was the mare leaving? Everything was spinning with colours, she couldn't make anthing out.

“But that is all the past, what you really must know is what happens in the future.” Spike’s voice called from far away, Twilight heard the voice of the mare grow fainter, and the blurry world gave way to darkness.