//------------------------------// // Opening Doors // Story: Last Request // by Cynical //------------------------------// One of the most important steps in the process is in making sure that you have performed adequate research and you know the client inside and out. It is with this knowledge that you can influence their decisions in order to fulfil their last request. ~Excerpt from Memory Wishers by Twilight Sparkle “I really, really wish that someone had found a better way of moving between time periods,” Regret groaned emphatically as the garden seemed to dissolve around them, leaving them in the white-space yet again. “The fact that there is a way to do something like this isn't enough for you?” Honoured quipped back. “But it's so boring,” he whined, his wings twitching against his side restlessly as the last blade of grass from the dying garden faded away. Honoured sighed impatiently, “Well if it's that important for you to find out, why don't you ask Sparkle; I'm sure she'd oblige at some point in her timeline.” “Oh yeah,” Regret said, oblivious to the rolling eyes that were occurring just in front of him, “I can do that, can't I?” “Amazing, right?” Honoured replied, “Anyway, back to business... we need a memory; somewhere to jump off. I know she said that twenty-five was about the right time... but that could be a long way off if she's as old as she looks.” “And how old would that be?” Regret returned sourly, his voice as deadpan as hers was. Honoured bit back her own retort before replying, “About... a hundred and thirty would be my guess if her pigment was any clue. She simply can't be as young as the report said; eighty-three my backside.” Regret paused for a moment before he answered again, “Bet you she's younger.” Honoured snorted disbelievingly, “Alright then, Sherhock, what's your guess. Closest one to the actual age gets a free round in after the job.” There was thoughtful silence for another moment. “Seventy-eight,” he stated confidentiality. “Your money, Regret, hell... I'll pull in two rounds for you if you're within five years.” “Deal, anyway... that memory we were supposed to be looking for?” “Right, I have absolutely-” she paused, her ear twitching oddly to a sound that Regret was deaf to. “Got it... Let's see where we end up, shall we?” Regret nodded, letting his colleague do what she was good at as she built the memory up from scratch. It wasn't something that was a unique ability for a unicorn, it was just a lot quicker and easier for somepony that could control their magic independently of themselves. Once again, the world seemed to fade in from white, black lines that stretched into the horizon and others that built themselves up, building the land around the memory. Marble pillars shaded themselves in and velvet tapestries burned into colour, the house of which they currently occupied being recreated in mere moments. “Any idea how far back?” Regret asked as the magical bubble burst around them, letting him out to stretch his legs. “Can't really tell...” Honoured replied thoughtfully, “We're still in the same house so it could be anything from a month to a decade. Only real way to tell would be to look at a calender somewhere and I have no idea whether there's one of those lying about.” The two of them were interrupted as a knock echoed through the hall. They both turned towards the door it had come from, breaking off their discussion as Twilight Sparkle – still very much the nearly-grayscale pony from before – walked through the nearest arch, humming a quiet tune to herself as she made her way towards the door. Regret gasped as he felt Honoured jab him in the ribs. He glanced at her questioningly and saw that she was gesturing for him to get a better angle with her. He edged further into the hallway until he was a few paces behind Twilight as she opened the door to see Celestia on the doorstep. “Celestia.” If the mare had been happy before she opened the door, any trace of that had gone in the few moments that the knocker had been revealed. Her voice was dead; flat and merely stating the fact of her name. “How can I help you?” The princess on the doorstep winced at Twilight's voice before she sighed. “Twilight... we need to talk.” “Do we?” Twilight asked dismissively before she stepped back – almost stepping into Regret – and held the door open for the princess, “After you then.” “Thank you,” Celestia said, stepping inside the house and glancing at her host who shut the door behind her. “The library is to the left,” she said pointedly and Celestia nodded as Honoured quickly shimmied sideways so that she wasn't blocking the door. Celestia and Twilight entered the library silently, Honoured and Regret sharing a glance before stepping through after them. The glance they'd had at the house in the present hadn't even shown them a fraction of how extensive the library truly was. It seemed to stretch back and back, further than it should have in the house that contained it. As if reading their minds, Celestia said, “I see you've had some modifications done.” “One thing and another, yes,” Twilight replied evasively, “A spell here, an enchantment there.” “Forgive me for clarifying, Twilight, but this seems more like a few hundred spells,” Celestia murmured and Honoured swore she could hear the awe in her voice. “What's a few hundred to someone with time to burn?” Twilight asked bitterly before continuing, “But I sincerely doubt that you came here to admire my spellcraft, I'm pretty sure you can do that at any time you want by simply looking out of a window. Why are you here, Celestia?” Celestia paused, mulling something over before replying, “You changed your will...” she stated, looking Twilight in the eye. “I'm allowed to do that,” she replied calmly, “It is, after all, my will.” Celestia leant forwards suddenly, her eyes pleading, “Yes, but Twilight... To that? Please... you know how I feel about that; it's not good for a pony.” “And the life I lived instead was?” came the bitter reply yet again, “Listen, Celestia... I'm sorry about how we drifted apart; I truly am... but I still stand by what I said. A pony should die happy, no matter what they've done.” “But they aren't real memories, Twilight. You might as well feed them a lie to their faces.” Twilight bristled in her chair and opened her mouth to retort when Celestia cut across her, “Anyway, I'm not here to talk ethics with you; as much as the thought thrills me... Your wish...” “'What if I'd said yes?'” Twilight confirmed. “Yes... and the terms associated with it?” Celestia continued, pressing her point, “You were very specific... You want yourself to agree to that?” Twilight's face seemed to flicker for a moment, 'Was that a grimace?' Honoured thought to herself as Twilight spoke. “Yes...” Celestia's face turned even more pained, “Twilight... I know you, I knew you back then, I was there when you told me. I may not like what you are doing with the Memory Wishers, but I know that the spell has its limits. What somepony – these ponies – would have to do to make you say 'yes' would be-” “Necessary,” Twilight finished with some finality. “I'm sure the two of them will do what is necessary to fulfil the wish.” Both Honoured and Regret felt a shiver echo down their spines. “They're talking about us,” Regret whispered to Honoured. “I don't get it...” Honoured replied, utterly dumbfounded. She held out a hoof to forestall any further conversation as the princess and Twilight continued. “-and wrong,” Celestia pleaded, “Twilight... please, don't make them do this, it would ruin you.” “I'll survive,” Twilight said sharply, “Now, unless you have anything else that you'd like to patronise me over, then now is the time to say it.” Honoured and Regret held their breaths for a moment as Celestia stayed silent. “No...” she said finally, “But I do have a gift for you. Consider it a very late graduation present if you will.” Twilight stayed silent as Celestia's horn glowed and summoned a small package in between the two of them. Honoured drew in a sharp breath as she felt the package almost tug her towards it. Regret glanced at her and she grimaced; it was clear that the package was going to be their way into the next memory. Glancing at Celestia suspiciously, Twilight took the package in her own hooves and started unwrapping it, peeling at the layers of paper until they fell away to reveal a frame, a printed picture of six mares staring out at her from within. She stayed silent and Regret thought he could see a tear in her eye. “They're all dead,” she murmured, I didn't want... why?” she asked, her eyes watering as she laid the picture on the table. “We all need to be reminded of those we leave behind every now and again...” the princess answered, “it'll help... eventually,” she admitted, taking the packing in her magic and sighing. “Well, I've imposed on your time for long enough. I'm sure we'll see each other again, Twilight.” Twilight stayed silent, her gaze still locked on the ponies in the frame; the tears dripping slowly down her face as Celestia inclined her head and made her own way out of the room. Regret heard the front door close a moment later, and with it, Twilight broke down. She leant forwards over the frame, cuddling it to her chest as she let the tears run freely, sobbing quietly to herself. Regret took a step forwards to comfort her when Honoured stuck her hoof out in front of him. He was about to knock her hoof away completely when he saw her expression. It was hardened, but he could see the cracks; the tears of empathy as she watched the old mage weep over the picture she held in her hooves. It was enough to stop him dead and make him simply watch as the mare got to her hooves, the frame still pressed against her chest by a single hoof. She crossed the hallway and entered the living room, making her way to the mantle over the fireplace where she hung the photo – by hoof – in pride of place. Somewhere in between the sobbing, she managed to find words. “Cathartic tears...” she mumbled, “Really, Celestia? Did you think me that far gone?” she let out a strangled chuckle and fell into a chair facing the picture. “Why did you all have to go?” she whispered to herself, yet it carried over the silent mansion. She broke down again, letting the tears drip from her muzzle as she curled into a ball on the chair; her sobs still carrying across the house. Regret turned to Honoured, yet she raised a hoof, shaking her head sadly. “We should go,” she said, “We need to move further in. We've seen enough here...” Regret opened his mouth to argue, when he sighed and nodded. As much as his heart went out to the sobbing mare, there was nothing he could do that wouldn't be simply feeding his own self-importance. This was an event of the past; they were simply along for the ride. “After you, then,” he said finally, trying to avert his gaze from Twilight Sparkle and to deafen his ears to her sobs. “Audio off,” Honoured muttered and the world went deathly silent. She shook her head and moved towards the mantle with Regret, trying not to look at the heaving pony behind her. “So that's the elements of harmony...” Regret said, his heart still gnawing at his conscience. “I guess so...” Honoured replied morosely, “Come on... we'd better go. I don't think I can stay here for much longer.” Regret nodded his agreement and, as one, they pressed their hooves against the frame and allowed their minds to follow its path into the white-space, leaving the soundless pony behind them.