//------------------------------// // 8 – Failure // Story: Applied Starlight // by Unknownlight //------------------------------// — tear-stricken cheeks — “Twilight, Applejack is your friend. She’ll forgive you.” — pillow-muffled wails — “N-no she won’t! And she shouldn’t!” — desperate dragon — “You couldn’t have known what would happen! Everything from the Everfree Forest is crazy like that!” — sorrowful shame — “That… that’s exactly right… everything from the Everfree is crazy. I should’ve known better. I should’ve done more research! I should’ve asked Zecora! I shouldn’t have been doing any magic at all so soon after getting screwed up by that stupid book!!” — to atone — “You can’t hide here forever, Twi. Applejack’s coming over in a few minutes. You’re going to have to talk to her.” panic “Applejack’s coming HERE?! No, no… I can’t face her right now, please, don’t let her. Don’t let her!” pity “Sorry, Twi.” withdrawal I can’t talk to her. I can’t talk to her! a helping hand a book unlocked How did it—? a curious glance Wait… long distance teleportation? That’s the big secret? no it is a special spell you want to be far away from here it is whatever it needs to be But… I can’t abandon my friend. It’s my failure, I have to… I have to… we can help you escape is right there But… Applejack… a knock on the door a familiar voice a familiar face panic fear versus friendship Sorry… a half-attempted spell a half-completed spell a teleport without the body magic and reality inverted discovery of an existence one outside the boundaries you can see yourself life is not meant to be here falling away from reality falling toward magic falling falling. Falling. A soul being torn apart in the ravages of unreal energy, adding to the life force of the uni— NO!! What? THIS IS NOT HOW IT HAPPENS! I rather disagree. THAT IS MY SOUL! THAT IS MY LIFE! YOU CANNOT HAVE IT! A soul being overwhelmed by the almighty unity of life, energy, and— …A soul being absorbed in— … Um, a soul piecing itself together into a solid core and holding fast against a raging storm? I refuse to lose. This is not how I die. This is not a failure I accept. A soul passing the border of one existence, and escaping to her own. Birth without conception. … Elsewhere, there was reality and its many siblings. Elsewhere, there was energy and its everlasting chaos. Elsewhere, there was life and all its worth and beauty. But here? There was nothing.