1
Princess Twilight Sparkle stood silently over the old hospital bed. Her wings drooped to either side. Her mind was blank, unable to comprehend what was going on. In the bed sat another pony, but one long past her youth. Her chromatic mane had faded to nothing but varying tones of grey, but the red still remained; Tarnished but visible.
Gently, as if her touch would shatter what was left of the mare in the bed, twilight stroked her friends’ mane. It was coarse from being unwashed for so long.
“H-huh… Oh, hey Twi.”
Rainbow Dash’s voice was weak and rough. She had opened her eyes to look at her life-long friend; those rose-colored orbs boring into Twilight. The princess struggled to hold back her tears.
“Hey Rainbow. How are you feeling?"
Her voice quivered. Dash moved her head to a more comfortable position, adjusting her oxygen line in the process.
“Oh, you know. Can’t complain too much. I get to do what I’ve always done, just lay here and sleep. It’s not too bad really.” She ended with a fit of weak coughs, Twilights hooves holding her up gently to ease the pain. “Ugh, I’m sorry. I really don’t want to be a burden to you.”
“Dash, you were never a burden. You are my mot loyal and dependable friend.”
“Huh, Guess that’s why I’m the last one to stick around.”
Twilight choked, her attempt to stay the tears failed.
“Oh geez, Twi I’m sorry. Hey, come on there there.” Now it was Dash’s turn to comfort her friend, dragging her into a tight embrace. “I know it’s been hard on you, but friends never really leave. Memories never die. Heck, you are living proof of our friendship.” She gestured to the Alicorns wings. “I’d say that’s the best parting gift a friend could ever give.” Twilight finally managed to look up.
“Thank you. You’ve always been there for me. For everyone. I just don’t know if I can keep bearing the pain of losing them. All I can think about when I remember them is the fun and laughter we will never have again. I… I can’t.” Again she let her emotions control her. Rainbow Dash was distraught, and on the verge of tears herself. She knew her time was short. One hundred years was a very long time for a pony.
“Twilight listen to me; you are a princess now, the Guardian of magic and friendship. It’s your job to make sure all of pony kind lives in peace and harmony. And Spike still needs you.”
“B-but Dash. You and the girls were the ones who made me a princess to begin with. I don’t want to live forever if it means being alone.”
Dash felt her chest seize, but it wasn’t the emotions this time.
“Twi, I…I don’t think I have much longer.”
Twilight jumped up in a panic. “What! No! No I won’t let you leave too!” She clenched her eyes and channeled the vast stores of magic to her horn, and cast Dash in a pink glow. “I’m not gonna let you die.” The Pegasus could feel the magic holding her in place, not letting her pass. But it felt wrong.
“Twilight. No. You have to let me go and live your life. You have a whole destiny to explore. Don’t give it up for me or for any of us.” With that said she reached a hoof out and grabbed Twilight in another hug, breaking the magicians concentration. Dash could feel herself slipping away.
“Remember. You are my friend. I will never leave you…”
She gave a heavy sigh… and was gone.
“Rainbow?” Twilight looked at her friends face. A smile spread across Dash’s lips, confident and faithful to the end.
“No. Nononononoooo…” She broke down again, this time a deeper misery than she ever felt before. Then she felt something else. Anger. She was the goddess of magic. Why couldn’t she save her friends? She lashed out with her magic and tore a hole in the wall. With a scream she launched herself forward and into the sky. She alighted on a cloud overlooking Canterlot. The anger in her heart turned into rage. “I am the Princess of friendship, yet have no friends!” She shouted to the heavens. “What am I now!?” Her horn sparked with magic, flickering from the bright happy purple, to the darker sinister magic the princess of the sun had taught her. With an almighty blast that shattered all the windows in the city below the princess vanished, blindly jumping to some unknown land.
Princess Celestia sat peacefully in her chambers, having set the sun not long ago. It was her favorite time of the day when she could relax, drink her tea, and enjoy a good book. The mood was interrupted however by a sudden chill. An earthreal wind suddenly swept in and extinguished the candles. The princess of the day set her book down and ignited her horn.
“Who’s there? Show yourself!”
A shadow detached itself from the wall and slithered forth to greet the rooms’ host. Meanwhile a distant voice echoed through the room.
“My my Celestia how things have changed. I see you made some changes to Equestrias political system. How fares our newest princess?”
The shadow coalesced into a tall pillar, like a Robed figure, never revealing anything.
“Princess Twilight is just fine. And what concern is it of yours anyway?”
“Oh, I was just concerned is all. You did the same with her as you did with Cadance centuries ago. Cadance took it well, but how will Twilight handle the loss of her very element?”
Celestia dropped into a less defensive stance. An inquisitive air gripped her.
“What do you mean?”
“Twilight represenets friendship and harmony. When her friends are all gone, what will happen to her own harmony?”
Celestia’s eyes went wide. Twilight was strong willed and courageous. Surely her most beloved student could handle that much heartache; Right?
“I dear say you jumped into this one a bit too fast. Anyway, you’ll be getting your answer in about three… two… one”
An ear piercing scream, followed by an earth shattering explosion ripped through the city, showering Celestia with shards of glass from her own window. Fear gripped her heart. Fear and remorse.
“By the ancestors, what have I done?”
Tears filled her eyes as the figure looked down upon her.
“Poor Celestia, always you will be doomed to failure. Weather it be love, siblinghood, or caring for those close to you, you will AWLAYS fail.”
And with that the figure vanished…