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// "I wasn't prepared for this..." - JKinsley - Nov. 15, 2014 
// Story: The Sun and Stars: Lightning Round 
// by JKinsley 
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And finally, we have JKinsley and her late entry. Shame on her.



Celestia stood alone in her study, gazing out of a window to the purple-and-orange glow of her setting sun. Long streaks of wet, matted fur ran underneath her red, puffy eyes, long since dry of tears. 

A water-stained bit of parchment sat on the desk next to her. She couldn’t count the number of times she had already read it, but she dare not read it again. Each time brought a new wave of crushing and unrelenting despair and heartache. Thousands of years of love, life, and loss, and she could still be reduced to tears by a few simple words. 

She knew it would hurt. She knew she would collapse into a heap and sob until every fiber of her being wailed with her, not in sympathy, but the physical pain of her emotional anguish. She looked down and to her right.

Dear Princess Celestia,





It was dark. Or maybe light. Twilight didn’t know. Nor did she care. Her bedroom curtains blocked any light, and she magically locked her door days ago. Spike had been by a few times, always knocking, always asking if she needed anything. Food. Water. A shoulder to cry on. 

Twilight didn’t want any of that. She... she just wanted her. But every time she thought of her, it brought back the most painful memories. “Come on, Twi! I went to the library with you last week! I didn’t ask for anything in return! Why can’t you just come cheer me on at practice? And don’t tell me it’s another ‘princessly duties’ thing. I’ve had enough of that. You know, I think those letters aren’t even royal business at all! I think Princess Prissy Pants up there just wants you all to herself! She’s trying to steal you from me, and I’m not going to let that happen. You’re mine, Twi, and I love you too much to let you go without a fight...”

Twilight shook her head violently and buried her face in her pillow as she screamed. No matter how hard she tried, everything, everything came back to her. She screamed until her throat couldn’t take it, and then just rasped. After what felt like hours, she wore herself out enough to pass out into a fitful, restless “sleep.”

“Come on, Twi!...”





Dear Princess Celestia,

This is Spike. I’m really worried about Twilight. You see, she’s been locked up in her room for days now, and I don’t think she’s left. 

You see, it all started four days ago when Rainbow Dash came over and they had this big fight. Twilight made me go upstairs to my room, but I couldn’t. What if she needed me? So I stayed, but hid and listened. Maybe she’ll get mad at me for not listening, but I don’t care about that right now! She’s... I don’t know. Hurt, badly. Rainbow Dash said some mean things, and used some words I don’t know. They sounded bad. 

But it was Twilight who broke up with Rainbow Dash. She told Rainbow that she didn’t want to see her ever again and she needed to leave. When she didn’t... I can’t get the smell of singed feathers out of my head and Rainbow left a smokey trail when she was flung out. I’ve never seen Twilight so mad. 

Or so sad. When she’s not crying, she’s screaming. When she’s not screaming, she’s asleep. I don’t think she knows that I’m always waiting for her to come out. I never leave the door except to bring up food or water in case she wants any. 

Please, Princess, help me help her. 

Yours, 
Spike





Heartbreak is a strange thing for an immortal. Celestia liked to think of herself a connoisseur of sorts, having met a great many wonderful ponies in her life. But her greatest heartbreak, at least until now, was banishing her sister to the moon for a thousand years. The irony of trapping her in her own creation paled in comparison to Celestia’s longing to have the fun-loving prankster back.

Celestia finally admitted to herself that Twilight Sparkle was no longer just her student or friend or fellow princess. Twilight, through no fault of her own, broke Celestia’s heart into more pieces than any pony in recorded history. And Celestia ought to know, since she recorded it all.