//------------------------------// // A Kindness // Story: Last Request // by Cynical //------------------------------// What is special about what we do is just how it does what it does. We alter memories into what we deem fit to fulfil our contracts and this is what the client experiences; memories that change themselves based on one simple interaction. ~Excerpt from the guide to Memory Wishers, by Twilight Sparkle “Ow, ow, ow,” Regret took his hoof away from the pendant, hissing in pain. Honoured withdrew her own hoof and quirked her head at Regret, still clutching his hoof to his chest. “Ok… what the hell was that?” she asked once she was sure that he wasn’t faking. “You tell me,” he replied, sucking in air through his teeth. “One moment It’s nice and cool, the next it’s trying to burn my hoof off… I mean… seriously?” Honoured knelt down to where the pendant had fallen, picking it up in her magic and examining it closely. “I say we vaporise it,” Regret muttered, lowering his hoof to the ground with a quiet hiss. “How mature…” Honoured replied, standing up straight with the pendant held in front of her. “Well, I have no idea what happened to you, but it’s still our link to the next memory…” She was well-aware of the dark glances he kept shooting the pendant, but ignored him for the time being; the pendant itself was much more interesting… It almost seemed alive if the way it twitched and span was anything to go by. “Just what are you?” she asked the pendant. It didn’t answer. “You just said,” Regret answered instead, “It’s out link to the next memory; now come on… this is one job that I really don’t want to be here for anymore.” Honoured kept staring at the pendant for a few more moments before relenting. “Fine,” she muttered, laying the pendant on the ground again while she took a few steps back. “Uh… Honoured?” Regret started, perplexed, “Why are you going that far back?” His colleague didn’t break eye-contact with the pendant, “Because, since it apparently tried to scorch your hoof off when you simply touched it… I really don’t want to know what’ll happen when I pump it full of time.” “That’s… quite a good point,” Regret admitted, backing away too. Honoured waited until he was next to her before she loosed the spell on the pendant. The world exploded. After a few moments where she confirmed that she had not, in fact, been blown to smithereens, Honoured opened her eyes. The world was built up around them, as perfect as ever and there was no sign of the pendant. “Well that worked,” Regret quipped, looking around themselves. “So, where did we end up?” “No idea,” Honoured replied, looking around at the scene. They were in a large building; easily larger than the throne room they’d just been in at Canterlot castle and there were ponies everywhere, each of them talking quietly to one-another. “Did we land in the middle of a party or something?” Regret murmured, watching a few ponies talking quietly in the corner. “Seems a bit of a sombre affair if we did…” Honoured said, “Now… where did that pendant go?” Regret shrugged, peering around for any sign of it within the crowd. “Twilight Sparkle?” Both Honoured and Regret jumped, spinning around to see princess Celestia stood behind them. Her voice carried effortlessly over the quiet crowd and a single pony detached herself from the masses. She walked with the air of experience, yet her age was unfathomable as her pigment was still intact; lavender coat and navy-blue mane with not a grey in sight. “Just how far did we jump?” Regret murmured to Honoured as Twilight approached them, her face schooled. “Absolutely no idea…” Honoured admitted. “Princess?” Twilight questioned, looking between Honoured and Regret. “I’d like a word,” Celestia murmured, “in private if you wouldn’t mind.” Twilight inclined her head and the two doctors shared a glance before they followed after the retreating princess and her student. The princess led them into a smaller hall, this one completely devoid of tables, chairs and anything else. She waited until Twilight was in the room before she shut the door behind them. “Twilight…” she started heavily, taking something from within her regalia and holding it in front of her student, “What is this?” Regret growled as Twilight took the pendant from Celestia’s grasp, the familiar diamond facing up as Twilight replied, “My gift to her.” “Twilight…” Celestia warned and Honoured shivered as she felt the room freeze slightly “Alright then, fine,” Twilight snapped, “I infused a part of my soul into the air and shaped it into a memory for her. Happy?” Celestia shook her head sadly, the room warming up again. “You expected me to be so? You’re splitting your soul, Twilight… that’s not healthy for you, especially considering the payload you’re tasking it with.” “I know what I’m doing,” Twilight whispered softly, her hoof tracing the pattern on the front of the pendant. “This is better than the alternative; if I seal these memories away then I can deal with them when I can control myself… you know the possible alternative. Magic is an unstable entity at the best of times… what would happen if I lost myself?” Twilight shook her head, hovering the pendant back to Celestia. “Give it to my solicitor for safekeeping, please,” she pleaded, not looking up at it. Regret glanced at Celestia – still stood stock-still – and wondered if she’d refuse. She was regarding the unicorn in front of her curiously; silently. Eventually, she sighed and took the pendant. “And what if you can never control yourself?” she asked quietly. “Then it will succeed me. No-one but myself and those I allow will ever be able to use them.” Twilight sighed and turned towards the door. “You’ll never be able to re-join your soul together…” Celestia said sadly, hiding the pendant in her chestplate again. “You’ll never be truly whole again… Is this really worth the price you’re paying, Twilight?” Twilight paused, the door open in front of her. “No…” she spoke quietly and Honoured thought she could see a tear track its way down her cheek. “But I’m willing to pay it anyway,” she finished before slipping through the door and out of sight. Celestia looked after her student for a little longer before she turned away, pulling the pendant out from its hiding place again and studying it closely. “Well that explains why it felt odd…” Honoured murmured, “I thought there was something living in that; turns out there was.” Regret looked back at her incredulously, “You seriously think she sealed a piece of her soul away into a metal that she just conjured out of thin air?” Honoured shrugged again. “It makes sense,” she expanded, “I know it exists… but until now, I thought it was just a myth, you know… like the Sonic Rainboom.” “My great-grandad saw a rainboom once…” Regret mused aloud, “He said it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.” “Did he?” Honoured replied disinterestedly, “Not that it matters… we’re stuck here until we find the next link… and I don’t know about you, but I don’t see anything that’s jumping out at me as a potential candidate.” Regret rolled his eyes at his colleague, smirking slightly. “Oh ye of the pessimistic disposition,” he said, well aware of how Honoured’s teeth were grinding against one another, “allow me to show you how it is done. Come on,” he said, going through the door and back into the hallway. He glanced around himself to make sure he was alone before he became more solid. Honoured slipped through the door and stared at Regret. “You’re really not going to…” she started. “You wanted a link,” Regret replied, smiling, “you know what they say about desperate times, right?” Honoured sighed, pressing a hoof to her forehead. “Fine…” she said eventually, “do what you have to-“ she opened her eyes to see that he was already halfway across the corridor. “do…” she finished lamely, shaking her head with resignation before she followed. By the time she’d reached the courtyard at her own leisurely pace, Regret was mingling with a few ponies on the side, mournful expression in place and conversing quietly with the few ponies there were. “Never took you for an actor, Regret,” she murmured to herself, yet she swore she could see the corner of his mouth curl upwards. Hiding his smirk behind a cough, he turned back to the family in front of him. “Well… for what it’s worth, Mr and Mrs Belle, you have my condolences… no parents should have to witness their own child’s funeral.” The two ponies in front of him smiled in appreciation yet said nothing. Regret reached a hoof to pat the mare on the back before turning and walking deeper into the throng of ponies gathered at the funeral. A flash of familiar colour caught his eye and he swerved towards the glimpse of Twilight Sparkle. “’Scuse me,” he muttered to a few ponies, pushing gently through the horde until he reached her. She was with four other mares, each of which he recognised from the picture he’d seen not an hour ago. “Twilight Sparkle?” he asked, and she turned towards him, surprised. “Can I help you?” she asked, studying his face. “I just wanted to offer my condolences,” he said sincerely, bowing his head slightly. “I know you were good friends with one another.” “That’s all of us, right there, sugar,” someone said. He looked up at the rest of the group he’d joined. He looked at the one who’d spoken; an orange earth pony with a straw-coloured mane, cut short in mourning. “Of course,” he muttered, smiling sadly at each of them. “I’m sorry… I’m a friend of the family… I haven’t seen her in a long time… I’m slightly out of the loop in that regard.” A nervous laugh broke from his throat without effort. “I got the news yesterday and…” he bowed his head, not bothering to finish the sentence. He felt a pair of hooves wrap around his neck and looked up in surprise to see a butter-yellow pegasus holding him in a hug. After a hesitant moment of indecision, he thanked her before biting back another nervous laugh. “I’m sorry…” he muttered. “It’s just been a long week.” “No,” Twilight interjected, “It’s fine…” the ghost of a smile flickered on her face. “I’m sure Rarity would forgive you… she was like that…” Regret nodded sadly, “Of course she was… I’m sorry,” he repeated, gently breaking free of the hug he’d been caught in, “I’ll let you get back to your own mourning… I just wanted to pass on my respects…” “No… It’s fine, we don’t mind.” Regret glanced over at the pony who’d protested. “Pinkie Pie?” he asked, surprised. The pony nodded. She was as he remembered, pink, pink and pink. “Have we met?” she asked kindly. “A while ago…” Regret answered, “Final Regret, if that rings any bells.” Pinkie sat back thoughtfully as Twilight looked at him in surprise. “Final Regret?” she confirmed and he nodded. “Rarity talked about you before…” she quirked her head at him curiously. “Maybe in another life…” she murmured quietly before shaking her head. “It’s nice to meet you anyway. She said you were a good pony.” “She remembered me, then?” he asked. “Yep, said you were a nice colt,” the orange mare said, “The name’s Applejack by the way, It’s good to meet you… Even considering the circumstances.” Regret nodded, “Likewise.” Applejack nudged the pegasus to her right; the one that had given Regret a hug. “This is Fluttershy an’ this is Rainbow Dash,” she continued, nodding her head to the left and the only pony who’d been silent throughout. The pegasus called Rainbow Dash was looking at him oddly… almost through him somehow. Trying to ignore the ice in his gut, he nodded to both of them, smiling slightly. “Nice to meet you all… I’m sure Rarity couldn’t have asked for better friends.” There was something about the pegasus’ gaze that he couldn’t shake from his mind. He excused himself after another moment, trying to be rid of it and making his way towards the food table. He sighed. There had to be something else that would do as a memory link… something which didn’t involve going back there and standing around. If he hadn’t known better… he’d have thought- “When was the last time you saw Rarity?” Regret froze and turned to his right. The pony called Rainbow Dash was perched on the table, looking at him curiously. “A while ago…” he replied guardedly, “Why?” Instead of answering his question, Rainbow quirked her head at Regret, hopping off the table. “See…” she started, “I know a Final Regret; cute kid.” “Oh?” Regret confirmed, trying not to let his voice betray him. “Emphasis being on the kid part, and do you want to know something really amazing?” she asked and Regret swore he could hear a threat behind the polite conversation. “Go on…” he murmured, returning her gaze evenly. “He looks the spitting image of you; a younger you in any case.” To his credit, his expression hardly flickered, even if he stayed silent which was all the condemnation he needed to provide. Rainbow paused, “But something that’s probably more amazing… you’re not real.” Regret’s jaw dropped and he looked at the pegasus beside him with pure amazement. “But… how?” Rainbow offered him a smile; thin and brittle. “You don’t fit in,” she explained, “You’re not meant to be here; that’s not what happened.” “But… but…” Regret struggled for words, “How can you know what is meant to happen when it’s still happening?” he asked, trying to make sense of the matter. She shrugged. “Call it intuition,” she replied cryptically. “Let’s have a chat,” she continued, gesturing for him to follow her. He glanced around himself, looking for Honoured, before sighing. He got up from the table and followed after her. She eventually led him towards a quiet corner of the room where they both pulled up a chair together. There was another moment of silence until Rainbow coughed pointedly. “So…” she started, “I assume you’re here for a reason?” Regret nodded. “What year is this?” he murmured quietly. After another curious look from Rainbow Dash, he elaborated, “I need to know what year it is so I can explain it best.” “It’s ten-thirty-nine,” she explained doubtfully, “February the seventh.” Regret paused, getting his thoughts in order before continuing, “I assume you know that Twilight is running a last-wish-type business?” he started. “Yeah…” “Well this is her memories; for me anyway.” “Twilight’s dying?” Rainbow asked, alarmed as she glanced over towards the crowd. “Not yet,” he contradicted, “And not for a long time either, from this memory anyway.” “And… you’re here, why?” she asked, still sending a glance or two across the crowd. “Because we need a link,” he replied, rubbing a hoof against his head, “Something to send us back further in her past so we can fulfil her wish.” “Which was?” “’What if I’d said yes?’ But I have no idea what it means…” “That doesn’t sound like Twilight,” Rainbow muttered, “Didn’t she give you anything else to go on, or even a complete checklist of what she’d like done?” Regret shrugged again before pausing, “Actually… the only hint she gave us was to look around when she was twenty-five – which we have absolutely no idea whether we’re near or not.” At the silence, Regret looked up to see Rainbow looking at him with a mixture of incredulity and was that… anger, or fear? “You’re certain she said twenty-five?” she asked once Regret was looking straight at her. “You know about this?” he asked, sitting up straight and meeting her gaze dead-on. “Twilight… you idiot,” Rainbow muttered to herself, almost too quiet for Regret to hear before she raised her voice. “You’re a bit away; about thirty-two years to be exact.” Rainbow paused. “You said you needed a link?” she said cautiously and took a small black book from inside a saddle-bag. “I think that’ll help, now I really have to go,” she said, standing up and stepping away from Regret. Regret opened his mouth to stop her when she bolted towards the doors, shooting through them and not looking back. The funeral reception seemed to pause for a moment before starting again; this time with more worried glances towards the front doors. “Well that went according to plan,” Honoured said as she approached Regret, – now fading back into the background – slipping through the worried crowds. “Mmm…” Regret murmured quietly, looking at the book in front of him. “Damn…” Honoured whispered reverently, “Now that’s power. I mean, wow… that must have left one hell of a scar…” She wandered around the table and made to flip it open in front of her. “Don’t,” Regret warned in a hoarse voice. Honoured looked up at him, surprised, her hoof resting loosely on the front cover. “I can feel it in my wings…” he continued quietly, “reading that… I don’t know what would happen.” “You can feel it too?” Honoured asked; surprised yet still not removing her hoof from the book. Regret nodded silently. “Just… trust me. That’s one link we really should just use as a link and nothing else.” He reached out a hoof and placed it firmly on the front cover of the book. Honoured looked at her own hoof resting by his and sighed, “I’ll take your word for it… Let’s hope there aren’t many more jumps to do…” She focussed and let the book take her to the next memory, riding through the scar and onto the other side.