//------------------------------// // Don't Leave Me! by MagicMan7997 (Sad, Tragedy) // Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// by MagicMan7997 “Twilight! Mail from the Princess!” Spike called out from down in the library. It was an early spring day in Ponyville. A slight chill reminded everyone that winter had just wrapped up. Twilight dashed down the stairs faster than anypony thought possible. Tearing through the wax seal, she quickly scanned the text. Dear Twilight, I regret to inform you that my Lunar scouts have returned from the Badlands and are empty hoofed. There was no evidence of Chrysalis or any other being other than the native wildlife. If you desire, I can send another team back towards the San Palamino Desert. But, to be frank, I feel it might be a waste of time. I will never mince words with you Twilight, you mean too much to both my sister and myself. I fear that your beloved my be eternally lost. I do not say this to crush your feelings. Merely to help you begin the process of grieving. As always, if you need to, you are always welcome to come here. Celestia and I are here for you. Always. I await your reply. Regards, Luna Tears came unbidden from Twilight's eyes. Spike gently laid a claw on her hoof trying to show his own support for his mother/sister figure. He could remember the day that Chrysalis left. He could also remember how devastated it left Twilight, even if she didn't show it at the time. “I have to go love. If the rumors are true. If the princess' scouts have found evidence of other changelings, then I need to go to them. If they've been leaderless for this long, there is no telling what kind of shape they are in.” “I know. But at least let me come with you. There is no telling what you might encounter out there. I'm more than princess enough to handle anything you might run into.” “That's just it dear,” Chrysalis said as she gently nuzzled her lover. “You are a princess. You are needed for your royal duties. Luna and Celestia would never let me hear the end of it if you went along with me and were injured. And I damn sure couldn't live with myself if something like that happened. I'll only be gone a couple of weeks. If you like, I'll send you progress letters everyday. That way you can keep up with where I am.” Twilight sighed heavily. She knew there'd be no budge on this one with Chrysalis. And if she was honest with herself, she knew that it was the right thing to do. “Okay. It's important to you, which makes it important to me. And if it's important that you do this yourself, then I'll stand behind you. One hundred percent.” Twilight wrapped her hooves gently around Chrysalis and kissed her ever so softly. “Promise you'll write me.” “I promise.” That had been almost a year ago. Chrysalis last update had come over 9 months ago. Not even an hour after the first missed update, Twilight fired a letter off to Celestia, concerned about her marefriend and her whereabouts. Celestia replied post haste trying to ease Twilight's fears. When a week passed, Twilight teleported directly into the Solar Court, falling at her mentor's hooves sobbing uncontrollably. Celestia instantly dismissed her court and summoned Luna and Cadance as quickly as possible. The three alicorns worked through the first night trying to console and comfort their counterpart. Luna offered the use of her neigh perfect lunar pegasi scouts. If there was anyone missing in Equestria, the LunarSight Brigade could find them. But, after months of searching, even they couldn't find any trace of the former changeling monarch. As the months passed, Twilight's health began to deteriorate. She saw less and less of her friends, spending days on end never leaving the library. Spike had tried everything. Contacting the girls, Shining Armor, her parents, even going so far as having Discord drop by one day and turn the entire place into a literary petting zoo. None of it seemed to phase her. She began speaking to herself at odd times (more so than even normally did). She forgot to bathe, forgot to eat, never slept, the descent into madness was now running off the rails. Spike pleaded with the princesses to come and help her, but even they weren't able to reach the distraught alicorn. And then one day, out of nowhere, Twilight was better. Spike woke to her humming a happy tune that sounded strangely like the Winter Wrap Up song. He found her downstairs in the kitchen fixing breakfast. She never cooked, she couldn't cook! But, lo and behold, there she was making muffins. Spike was shocked, he couldn't believe it. He didn't know what had brought about this great mood, but he loved it! “Morning Spike!” Twilight said, just a little too cheerily. “Morning Twi! What's all this?” Spike asked as he tucked in to his spot at the table. There were two heaping plates of muffins sitting directly in front of him. Each was covered in shards of some of the finest gems in all of Equestria. It was all Spike could do not to let his greed overtake him and hoard the muffins. He savored the first few by slowly chewing each one. It was then that he noticed just exactly what type of gems were on his muffins. “Whoa! Twilight! These are Minotaurin Diamonds! These things are rare! Where'd you come up with so many?” “Oh, I just traded away some stuff to a local gem trader that I didn't use anymore. It's the least I can do for my number one assistant.” “How many old books did you get rid of?” “Oh, I traded off all my lab equipment.” Spike nearly choked. “TWILIGHT! What the buck did you do that for?” Spike winced as he realized his slip. But Twilight said nothing. It was surprising to say the least. She always was on him about coarse language. But today, it seemed as if she didn't even register it. “You shouldn't have done that! I appreciate the thought, but what about your potions work?” “Oh, I gave Zecora my potions notes. She'll be more than capable of doing it.” Spike couldn't understand, why was Twilight giving everything away. None of this made sense. As he finished his last muffin, he hopped off his chair and wrapped Twilight in a surprise hug. “Twilight, are you okay?” “I'm fine Spike, in fact, I've never been better. I think I've finally had a breakthrough. Oh, could you do me a favor? Could you run by and see Rarity and let her know that I want her to come by and pick up that antique couch that I picked up in Canterlot. Now that I've got it, I won't use it. I'd rather see it get some use.” Now something was really up. Playing along, Spike decided to go and see Rarity, but not to let her know about an antique couch. “Okay Twi. I, uh, will just head over there now. Be back in a bit!” Spike slowly let go of Twilight and walked cautiously towards the door. As he left, he could swear he heard her mutter to herself, “The rope will make it all better...” As soon as the dragon was out the door, Twilight flew to the rafters of the library and strung the rope she'd hidden from the highest one. With a satisfied sigh, she tested the tension on it. After assuring that it would cause a clean break and not suffocation, she moved the chair into position under it. A simple matter of a magic inhibitor ring later, and she was ready. She climbed onto the chair and carefully slid her neck into the noose. Using her hooves, she tightened the knot until she was sure it was ready. With a deep breath, Twilight said aloud to no one in particular, “I'm coming my love. I'm coming to be with you.” As Twilight kicked the chair away, the fall began. Her eyes screwed shut as she prepared for the bliss of Elysium. But, rather than the sudden rush to darkness, she heard a scream. Half a second later, she felt herself wrapped in a magical aura. Even without her own magic, she could tell who it belonged to. Rarity winced against the weight of her dear friend. Spike had managed to reach Carousel Boutique in record time. Once there, he found both Rarity and AppleJack sharing an early breakfast. The two had been inseparable since becoming a couple after Hearts and Hooves day. Now, he was glad they were available to help. “AJ, dear,” Rarity said through gritted teeth, “Be a darling and HELP ME! I can't hold her up much longer!” Twilight kicked and thrashed against the magical hold. The whole time screaming, “NO! LET ME GO! I HAVE TO DO THIS! I DROVE HER AWAY! I DESERVE THIS!” Quickly, AppleJack rushed to where the rope was tied off and quickly undid the knot. The rope, now slack, presented no further danger and allowed Rarity to gently lower their lavender friend to the floor. As soon as she was set down, AJ and Rarity piled on top of her wrapping her in a tight embrace. The sobbing came freely now as Twilight felt two warm ponies wrapped up around her. “It's okay sugarcube. Let it all out. We got ya Twi,” AJ said as she stroked the alicorn's mane. Rarity was gently nuzzling her friend while removing the rope from her neck. “Spike, please send a letter to Princess Celestia, she needs to know about this. AppleJack and I will take her to get checked out.” “You got it Rarity!” Spike quickly scribbled a letter giving a brief description of what had happened and where Twilight was going to be. The girls got Twilight to her hooves and out the door towards Ponyville General as Spike sent the missive. As it wisped away in a puff of green smoke, he said to himself, “Help us Princess. You're our only hope.”