It Wasn't Me!

by jkreader

Chapter 3 - Realizing the Truth

Again, green text links to background music.

I managed to recover a little bit more of my notes. It took me nearly all day, and it was almost dinner time. As I was looking through the notes, I looked up the stairs to the room we all slept in. Joshua hadn't come down for a long time. I figured he most likely fell asleep from all that crying. I decided to go upstairs to check on him.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I knocked on the door three times, but there wasn't a reply.

"Joshua?" I called out.

There was still no answer. I slowly pushed the door open and peeked in, and I was greeted with a horrifying sight.

Joshua was gone!

"Joshua?!" I called out. There was still no reply! I frantically began searching around the library for a while, but no such luck. "Where could he be?!"

Just then, I heard Spike burp and a scroll materialized from his flames. A few seconds later, he hurried over to me.

"Twilight!" he said, "It's from Cadance! It's about Joshua!"

"What?!" I exclaimed. I grabbed it with my magic and read what it said.

Dear Twilight,
If you're wondering where Joshua is, he's here in the Crystal Empire with me and Shining right now. He told us you punished him for messing up your work. Did you stop to consider his side of the story? What if somepony else did it? Take a bit of time to cool off before you come and get him, alright?
Love,
Cadance

Joshua ran away?! Oh, that boy was going to be in so much trouble now. I started putting together my saddle bags to go to the Crystal Empire first thing in the morning. He could now consider himself grounded for a month when he got back! Just then, I heard the door open and saw Nyx walk in.

"Hey Twilight," she said. She then saw my angry expression and a gained a confused one on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Your brother is what's wrong," I said turning my head back to my saddlebags, "He made a mess of my notes this morning and now he ran away to the Crystal Empire because I punished him. I'm going there first thing tomorrow to bring him back." I then heard Nyx gasp behind me.

"Oh no," she said quietly.

My ears perked up at that. I turned and looked at Nyx who was now looking downcast. I was confused at that.

"Nyx, what's wrong?" I asked her.

"This is all my fault," she said more to herself than to me.

"Beg pardon?" I said.

"Joshua ran away because of me," she said with tears welling.

"Nyx?" I ventured again wondering what she was talking about. She finally looked up at me with a guilty expression.

"Twilight," she said somberly, "Joshua didn't make that mess. I did."

I froze, blanched, and started trembling. I lifted a shaky hoof and pointed it at Nyx.

"Y-You made the mess?" I asked her. She nodded sadly. "But how? You weren't in the library this morning when I woke up."

"That's because I left early this morning," Nyx explained, "I was in a hurry. I had to help Rarity with something today, and I was in such a hurry that I accidentally bumped into your notes which caused them to spill onto the floor. I wanted to pick them back up, but I was in a rush. Plus, I was scared of how you would react."

"So then, Joshua was telling the truth?" I asked shakily.

"I'm sorry, Twilight," Nyx said, "I should've picked it up, but I didn't know what order you had your notes in."

I barely paid any attention to her. Joshua was telling the truth all along? Oh Celestia, what have I done?! I should've listened to him! I broke down on the ground right then and there, pounded my hoof on the ground, and started crying. I punished Joshua for no reason! How could I have done that to him?! I should've let him explain!

"What have I done?!" I sobbed loudly, "I'm a monster!"

"What?!" Nyx said suddenly, "No! I'm the one responsible for this! It's my fault!"

"But I lost my temper and lashed out at him!" I said.

"You wouldn't have done that if I had just taken responsibility for my actions!" Nyx countered.

"But it's still my fault that he ran away because I didn't listen to him!" I pointed out.

Nyx trotted up to me and wrapped her hooves around me. I brought my hooves around her and we hugged each other.

I'm so sorry, Joshua, I said in my thoughts, I'm so, so sorry.

Nyx and I stayed hugging each other like that for a while and took several deep breaths to calm ourselves down. Eventually, we looked at each other and let go.

"I think we can agree we're both at fault for this," I said. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I looked at Nyx who was still looking very guilty. "Nyx, pack your bags," I said to her, "You're going to come with me tomorrow."

"Okay," she said sadly. It didn't take us long to finish packing our bags, but we eventually finished in time for dinner. I still couldn't believe I did that to him. Why didn't I just listen to him in the first place? I was so angry with myself for not stopping to consider the facts. Nyx and I hardly ate dinner that night. We were too upset with ourselves. Spike offered whatever comfort he could, but it didn't do much to lift our spirits. We appreciated it nonetheless. Spike offered to stay home and watch the library while Nyx and I went to the Crystal Empire tomorrow.

After finishing dinner, or saving whatever we didn't eat, we went upstairs to bed.

I yawned a little bit as we all finished dinner. Aunt Cadance looked up at me when I did.

"Tired?" she asked me. I nodded with my eyes half closed. "Come on, sleepyhead. You've had a long day and you need some sleep." I felt her lift me up with her magic and onto her back. We then walked out of the dining room.

"Good night, buddy," Uncle Shining said to me.

"Sweep tight, Joshua," Guard said.

"Good night, Uncle Shining, Cousin Guard," I said to them.

Cadance brought me to a guest room where I got myself ready for bed. After I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed, Aunt Cadance kissed my forehead.

"Hey, Joshua," she whispered.

"Yes?" I whispered back.

"You do know that no matter what happens, Twilight will always love you, right?" she asked.

"I know," I said yawning a little, "But, I'm scared of having to talk to her tomorrow. What if she still doesn't believe me?"

"Remember, she was under a lot of stress because of the assignment Aunt Celestia gave her," she said, "She probably wasn't thinking straight."

I hope Mommy would listen to me tomorrow. I closed my eyes and fell asleep after I heard Aunt Cadance say "good night" to me.

Cutscene: Sad - Sonic Colors (DS)
Hotline to Destiny - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice For All
Shocking - Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Ventus - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Sadness and Sorrow - Naruto