//------------------------------// // Ch7: The Final Choice // Story: Skylight's Story: Monster // by NightArrow //------------------------------// Chapter 7: The Final Choice Skylight began to panic. She thought hearing Night Arrow out would give her good reason to forget about him forever, but things were more complicated than before! SHE was the selfish one, not him. For all the rude, sarcastic remarks he says, he truly cared about her, as not just a room mate, but as a sister! He gave up everything for her! “Ooh, make that 25 Seconds!” Discord said gleefully. Night Arrow stood up, glancing quickly from Discord to Skylight. “Until what? Who-- err, what is this guy?” “There’s not time to explain!” Skylight said. “Um... ooooh no no no!” She paced faster. “20 seconds!!” Skylight looked around, and grabbed a quill and paper from Twilight’s desk, and started writing wildly. Night Arrow ran over to her. “Sky! What are you doing?? Should I be worried about this countdown!?” “Shut up Arrow! Just, I need to focus!” “10... 9... 8... 7...” “Seriously, Skylight!! What’s going on!?” “6... 5...” Tears rolled down Skylight’s face as she finished writing. She turned around and looked at Night Arrow, and the stone-Twilight. “4... 3... 2...” Skylight closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry. . .” “1...!” Skylight leapt across the library floor with open arms, bracing for the tightest hug she’s ever given. A bright flash of light filled the room. The Mane six returned to normal. Confused, and dazed. “Uh, Twilight?” Applejack said. “Yeah...?” “What in tarnation is going on here?” “Yeah, how did we get here?” Pinkie Pie said, “Were we having a party??” Twilight stammered. “I-- I don’t know! The last thing I remember was... *gasp* Shining Armor! You’re here!” Shining Armor rubbed his head, wondering why there was a huge piece of glass in the middle of the library’s floor. “Uh, yeah Twi’ mom and dad are upstairs! Come on!” Twilight turned to her friends. “I’m sorry girls, I’ve been waiting for Shining Armor to return from his honeymoon for what feels like forever! We’ll have to look into this gap in our memory later, right now... it’s family time.” Rarity collected herself, and headed towards the door, “Understandable, I suppose... come on ladies let’s leave them alone.” Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie all follow her out of the library, still confused about what just happened. Twilight turned and hugged her brother. “I missed you, big bro! How was everything?” “It was amazing! But it’s good to see the whole family back together again!” Crescent Moon and Velvet headed down the stairs. “It’s good to see you both too!” Their father said. “And the family is never quite complete without this!” She pulled out an old family polaroid. The entire Sparkle family look longingly at it. “Oh, Skylight...” Twilight said, “our family will never be complete with you gone.” “We all miss her, Twi’...” Shining Armor added, “but that was a long time ago. Let’s live in the now, she’d want it that way.” “I know,” Twilight said, “but sometimes, I’d like to think she’s still out there though. It’s silly, I know... but--” Shining Armor hugged his little sister tightly. “I know what you mean, Twi’, I know what you mean...” A few miles away, in the middle of an abandoned racing stadium, a bright, neon-green mare is tightly embracing a dark-teal stallion. “Skylight, what are you doing?” She released him, as if coming to her senses. “Huh? I-- I don’t know! I guess I was just feeling huggy!” “Huggy?” Arrow echoed, “Stop making up words, Skylight. Haha, you’re such a weirdo, you know that?” “Ppffch, I’ve been called worst, baggy-eyes!” She teased. “Oh, you wanna start a fight?” Arrow laughed, getting into racing position. “Hahah, come on! How about a race around the forest?” Skylight jumped into starting position too, not realizing she had dropped a piece of paper. “You’re on!” “Hey, wait, what were you holding?” Arrow said. “Hmm? Oh, I dunno!” She said opening it on the ground. “It’s a letter!” “A letter? Was Derpy here earlier? Who’s it from?” Skylight read the letter silently. In very fancy calligraphy, ‘Dear Princess Celestia’ written across the top, but was crossed out somewhat erratically. Below that, in much sloppier writing, it read, “Dear Skylight Shadowbolt-Extraordinaire, I don’t have much time, but I want to tell you something very very important. I know it’s always bugged you that you can’t really remember your family, or your past very well. But please, don’t let it bother you too much. Your family is doing well, and misses you very much. It’s best to not go looking for answers, just trust me on this, it will only cause bigger problems. All you need to know is that Night Arrow is all the family you need. He may not be your real family, but he loves you like a sister, and he’s all the family you’ve ever, and will ever need. Take care of him, and he’ll keep taking care of you! Love, Skylight Sparkle.” “Well?” Arrow said, impatiently. “Who’s it from?” Skylight paused for a moment, trying to process the contents of the letter. “It’s from... well, it’s not important.” She smiled. Arrow gave her a skeptical look. “Is everything okay?” Skylight turned to him dramatically. “Actually, I’ve got some bad news, Arrow...” Arrow walked over, concerned. “What is it, Sky’?” Skylight paused for a moment, then sat down, holding her stomach as some kind of nausea washed over her. “It’s just so weird, but..” She gagged. “I’m... I’m still feeling all huggy, and you’re the only big dumb stallion I can take it out on!!” Skylight laughed and pounced on Arrow, tackling him to the ground, and embracing him tightly. “Hahaha, dammit Skylight, stop being such a weirdo.” Nearby, in the shadows of the trees, Discord looks on with a smile on his face. “Hmmph, last time I try to help a pony out. Well, another day, another town!” He snapped and was suddenly dressed as a classic tourist, opening a suitcase and pulling out his red inverted umbrella. “The forecast for Manehatten: Cloudy with a chance of Chaos!” He laughed, “and maybe some chocolate rain.” He said with a smiled. And in a flash, he was gone.