> Tomorrow > by Kodeake > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Tomorrow > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tomorrow The air of Canterlot castle's private gardens was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass as Princess Twilight Sparkle took slow, measured steps along a dirt path. Her hooves dragged and her shoulders sagged but she pushed on, her wings fighting against her sides anxiously. She'd walked this path countless times, every morning, regardless of rain or snow. As the final corner was rounded she found her reason for doing so; set in the middle of a bed of flowers and walled off on three sides by tall, lush green hedges was a modest statue of a proudly standing pegasus with a scraggly mane. Twilight's heart beat against the inside of her chest as she approached the familiar statue, her eyes glued to the base even as she arrived at the edge of the flower bed. With a heavy sigh she fell back onto her haunches, slowly raising her eyes to gaze up at the statue. The sun rose behind it, hovering behind the pony's head and giving it an otherworldly glow, almost like a halo. “Back again, Egghead?” The sudden voice, paired with a hoof resting itself on her shoulder, made Twilight jump as she turned around and glared at the prismatic-maned mare. “Rainbow!” She snapped, holding a hoof to her chest. “How many times have I told you not to do that!?” Rainbow smirked, replacing her hoof with a wing as she sat back on her haunches next to Twilight. “Oh come on; it's funny. Besides, I thought being your marefriend meant I could scare you however or whenever I wanted.” “Why did they ever build you a statue?” Twilight asked, ignoring Rainbow's comment and instead turning back to the marble sculpture. “I swear sometimes I think you don't deserve it.” Rolling her eyes, Rainbow nuzzled Twilight’s cheek affectionately. “Oh lighten up, Twi; you know I'm only kidding. You're awfully up-tight these days; all this stress isn't good for you.” Twilight snorted. “You try being a Princess of Equestria without building up a little stress, miss Wonderbolt.” “Now now, my job is plenty stressful and you know it.” Rainbow stuck her tongue out at the alicorn. “Seriously though; you told me the same thing when I started over-working myself.” “That was different!” Twilight protested defensively. Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Different how? A Wonderbolt and a Princess might be some pretty different jobs but stress it stress, and it's not a good thing.” “Fine, I'll try to take it easy, happy?” Rainbow shrugged. “Whatever. I have a few things to do today, care to join me?” Twilight asked, standing from the grass and magically brushing off her flank. “I'm free,” Rainbow said, standing as well. “Although you gotta promise me you won't let your guards tackle me when I kiss you.” Twilight grimaced at the memory. “Don't worry; all the guards are well aware of you now. I've made sure of it.” “Well then,” Rainbow paused, bowing low to the ground. “After you, my Princess.” “Please don't; you know I hate it when ponies do that.” Rainbow leaned forward and gave the alicorn a quick peck on the cheek before falling into step alongside her. “But it's fun to tease you!” Twilight trolled her eyes but didn't respond, instead choosing to walk silently alongside her mare, the dirt path making their steps near-silent. “It's kinda nice out here,” Rainbow noted, the silence apparently becoming to much for her. “I think... I think I'd like to be buried out here, when I die.” Purple hooves faltered as Twilight choked on her own breath at the words. “Rainbow!” “What? I'm serious.” “You can't just-” Twilight bit her lip, glancing around as though she were afraid somepony would overhear them. “Don't talk like that... I can't stand the thought, Dashie.” Rainbow sighed, laying a wing over Twilight's back. The feathers failed to stop the chill racing down the alicorn's spine. “You're gonna have to deal with it sooner or later, Twi. You're immortal, now.” “I know but... not now, okay? Just.... just not today.” The pair shared a look for a few moments, before eventually Rainbow relented. “Fine, but we'll talk about it one of these days.” Twilight frowned, but said nothing more as she continued to walk through the gardens with Rainbow close beside her, the wing never once leaving its place on her back. Eventually the garden path lead around through a gap in the perimeter hedge, the two coming out beside the front gates of the castle. The guards there snapped into a salute at Twilight's approach. “At ease,” she grumbled, not even sparing them a glance as she passed by into the halls of the castle. “It's kinda getting old.” Rainbow snickered. “It's their job, Twi.” “I know, Dashie. I just wish they'd actually listen to me when I tell them to stop. Instead they just keep saluting every time they see me. And it's always 'your highness' this and 'princess' that.” Twilight frowned, glancing to the side and noting the eyes of said guards following her down the hall. “And it feels like they're always watching me...” “They probably are,” Rainbow noted. “I mean it is their job to protect you.” Twilight's eyes narrowed as she noted the two guards stationed next to the throne room doors whispering to each other, one of them nodding his head towards her. “Yeah, but this is different. They look at me differently than Celestia or Luna.” “Oh don't mind them; they're just not used to having you around yet. You'll settle in soon enough, I'm sure,” Rainbow assured breezily. “Anyway, how about some breakfast? I'm starved.” “Always thinking with your stomach, aren't you Rainbow?” “You know it!” The dining room of Canterlot castle was extravagant to say the least. Not quite as much as the ballroom and banquet hall, but still larger than any on pony needed. The kitchen staff, however, offset the rather empty feeling of the room with their own warm, homely personalities. “I'll have my usual salad,” Twilight said with a smile, the head cook nodding his head with a smile of his own. “And she'll have-hey!” The chef was already gone, disappeared into the kitchen to prepare her meal without a second glance. Without even asking what Rainbow wanted. “Well somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed...” Rainbow rested a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “Don't worry about it, Twi. I'll go get something myself. I'm sure he just didn't notice me.” “How could he not notice you? You kinda stick out around here.” “Whatever. Save my seat.” Rainbow disappeared into the kitchen behind the chef, leaving Twilight alone in the large, silent room. Her ears swivelled around as the door on the far side of the room swung open and the clopping of hooves on polished marble entered. “Good morning, Twilight.” Twilight smiled, twisting her head around. “Pri-... I mean, Celestia.” She giggled, covering her mouth with a hoof. The pearly white alicorn smiled, before glancing around the room. “Dining alone this morning?” She asked, sounding almost hopeful. “No, Dash just went to get something from the kitchen,” Twilight answered with a shake of her head. “Why don't you join us?” Celestia fidgeted uncomfortably. “You said Rainbow Dash was here?” Twilight nodded, smiling and watching as Celestia glanced back over her shoulder. She sighed. “I'd love to, Twilight, but I'm afraid I already ate, and day-court starts soon.” “You've been awfully busy lately,” Twilight noted, a small waver of concern in her voice. “Is there anything I can do to help? It feels like I've hardly done any work at all recently.” Celestia was already half way back to the doors when she stopped. Without turning around, she said, “I'm fine. Appreciate the break for now and... give Rainbow Dash my regards.” With that she hurried out of the room, the doors shutting quickly behind her. “That was... weird...” “What was?” Twilight jumped out of her seat, the chair clattering to the floor loudly as she whirled around to face a cyan pegasus with a smug smirk adorning her lips. “R-Rainbow!” “Heh, didn't mean to scare ya, but I'll take it.” She sat down at the table, a small plate of hay fries in front of her as Twilight righted her chair and tried to slow her hammering heart. The kitchen doors opened and the head chef hurried out, a white apron secured around his neck as he levitated a large, covered silver dish. Placing it gently in front of Twilight, he gave a warm smile before disappearing back into the kitchen. The lavender alicorn was more focused on watching Rainbow devour her fries. “Where did you even find those? I didn't think the castle kitchen stocked that kind of thing.” Rainbow shrugged, answering around a mouthful of food. “You guys have everything back there.” “Huh.” Was all Twilight offered before taking the cover off her dish and looking at the expertly prepared salad in front of her. She sighed. “What's up?” Rainbow asked, looking up from her plate and swallowing. “Not hungry?” Twilight shook her head, picking up a fork and nudging the leafy greens halfheartedly. “Just trying to remember when the last time I had something not... well, Canterlot.” “You grew up here, Twi; I though you liked this stuff.” “I used to, but then I moved to Ponyville and had Pinkie's cupcakes and Applejack's pies and... well, I guess I just miss it. I miss them,” Twilight explained, ultimately deciding she wasn't as hungry as she thought and pushing the dish away. A small part of her felt guilty for wasting the cook's time and the food, but most of her mind was focused on home. Rainbow smiled amiably. “They don't come out as much as I do, huh?” “It feels like it's been months, Rainbow. I can't even remember when I last saw the rest of them.” Her ears perked as something dawned on her. “You go back to Ponyville all the time, right? Between shows?” “If I'm not at a show or here with you, I'm back in Ponyville.” Twilight grinned. “How is everypony?” “Well...” Rainbow's face scrunched for a moment, mulling the question over. “They all miss you, and always say they want to come up here more often to visit. They've gotten pretty busy recently. A lot of stuff's changing.” “Tell me,” Twilight urged, resting her elbows on the table and her head in her hooves as she leaned forward eagerly “You're kidding!?” Twilight asked disbelievingly, a grin splitting her face. Rainbow shook her head, smiling ear to ear as well. “Nope! You should have seen Rarity's face, Twi; I swear i thought she was gonna burst into flames. Took her a week before she'd eve look at me and Pinkie again. I still don't think she's forgiven us.” Twilight guffawed, rocking back in her chair and nearly toppling over. “Ahem. Excuse me, your highness?” “Hmm?” Twilight turned, noting the presence of a guard behind her, shifting from hoof to hoof awkwardly. “Yes?” The guard glanced around the room, shaking his head as though to clear it of a thought. “Your presence is requested in Day Court. Please; allow me to escort you.” Twilight sighed, turning back to Rainbow. “Sorry; duty calls. Will you still be here tonight?” “I wouldn't dream of leaving,” Dash assured with a smile. “I have some things to do today anyway. I'll meet you in your room later tonight?” “Sounds good.” Twilight stood nodding curtly at the guard as they trotted towards the door. The armoured stallion looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow, scanning the room once again. Rainbow waved sheepishly when his eyes fell on her. He shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention forward again just in time to open the door for Twilight. Twilight groaned as the door to her bedroom swung open in a haze of purple magic. Her eyes drooped, and she wanted nothing more than to fall into her overly-comfortable bed and sleep away the stresses of the day. However, when she stumbled into her room in a fog, a cyan ball of fur resting on one of the many cushions around the room caught her eyes and she smiled. Rainbow snored lightly, her chest lifting and falling in time with her breaths and a ray of silver moonlight fell on her through the window like a lunar angel. “Come on, Dashie,” Twilight whispered, calling on her magic for the final time that night as she lifted the snoozing pony and placed her gently in the bed, shuffling the sheets so she lay beneath them. The pegasus stirred, tired magenta eyes blinking open slowly as she yawned widely. Stretching languidly, Rainbow shifted and sat up. “Hey Twi. Long day?” Twilight sighed. “Yeah. A lot of ponies had a lot of questions for me, and after that I had to do a few things for Celestia. It was weird though; it was like she didn't want me doing anything at all, always trying to hurry me through, especially when ponies asked me questions. Half the time she wouldn't even let me answer.” “I'm sure it's nothing, Twi; she's just letting you get used to things before taking on too much responsibility. We all know how you are; you'd dive straight in and work yourself half to death.” The alicorn, pursed her lips, climbing in to bed beside the rainbow maned pegasus. “I don't know; it feels like I used to have a lot more stuff to do. Now if Celestia gives me any work at all it's usually down in the archives. I can't remember when I last made a true public appearance.” Rainbow rolled her eyes, rolling over to face her marefriend. “You're worrying over nothing again, Twi.” “Am I, though? Something fishy is going on, and I can't help but think it has something to do with you hanging around so much recently. It started around the time you took your vacation from the Wonderbolts.” Twilight chewed her lip thoughtfully, but stopped when she felt a gentle hoof fall onto her side. “Relax, okay? I'm sure it's nothing. If you're really this worried, just talk to Celestia tomorrow.” “I tried that!” Twilight groaned, laying on her back and staring up to the ceiling. “It's like she's avoiding me...” Sighing quietly, Rainbow slid over beneath the covers and wrapped her hooves around Twilight's barrel. “She's probably just busy. Get some sleep; you'll feel better in the morning.” Twilight took a deep breath, smiling as Rainbow's scent filled her head with a warm fuzz. “You might be right.” She yawned, turning and giving the pegasus a quick peck on the cheek. “Good night, Dashie.” “'Night Twi.” Closing her eyes and blowing out a small breath, Twilight's breathing slowly evened out until the steady rise and fall of her chest was the only movement she made beneath the shining silver moon. The next morning Twilight awoke with a quiet start as she unconsciously shifted into a bright sunbeam. She flinched, cringing as she opened her eyes and was momentarily blinded. Pulling herself upright Twilight yawned and stretched, noting the distinct lack of a pegasus lying next to her. Not an entirely uncommon event; she woke up almost every morning without her marefriend next to her. She knew it was only a matter of minutes before they'd meet each other out in the palace gardens in front of the familiar marble statue. With a flare of magic Twilight set about fixing her dishevelled state, summoning a brush from her vanity and a toothbrush from her bathroom. Out the window the sun rose out from its nighttime hiding place and greeted the world with a golden brilliance. Before long Twilight found herself in a presentable state and trotted out of her room, closing the door behind her and smiling politely at the guards lining the hall. “Good morning , your highness,” one said, bowing. “I hope you're feeling better today.” Twilight tilted her head at the odd choice of words. “Better?” she echoed curiously. The guard flinched, and the stallion next to him smacked his helmet, whispering something harshly into his ear before smiling a little too wide. “It's nothing, Princess. Please, ignore him.” Eyes narrowing, Twilight scrutinized both guards, though they both returned to their well-trained neutral expressions. She sighed, shaking it form her head and proceeding down the hall. “Odd, but it's time I go meet Dashie.” A noticeable skip entered her step at the thought and she hurried out of the castle, rounding the corner into the gardens. As she walked to noted the statues of the rest of her friends, celebrating all the achievements they'd made. Each was given their own private space f the gardens, and as Twilight walked down the path and past her immortalized friends tears started streaming silently down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her hoof, frowning at the wetness on her fur. Why was she crying? Around the final corner she found Rainbow's statue, the tears coming harder and harder now as she laid down in front of it. Small sobs escaped her throat as she read the plaque. Here lies Rainbow Dash, Wonderbolt. The loyalist of friends and most faithful of lovers “What's the matter, Twi?” Twilight jumped at the voice coupled with a hoof resting itself on her shoulder. She turned, wiping away her tears and smiling at the pegasus behind her. “Nothing, Rainbow. I guess I just miss the rest of the girls.” Meanwhile, on a balcony above the famous gardens of Canterlot castle, two alicorns stood, looking down at a lone lavender pony in the gardens, watching as she talked to the air behind her. “It has been three months since the last Element's passing, sister.” Luna muttered, a pensive frown stretching across her muzzle. “You need to talk to her.” Celestia watched, a tear sliding down her cheek. “She'll be fine... she just needs more time...” “She is not fine!” Luna shouted with a stomp of her hoof. “You have forbade me from being the one to talk to her, and until now I have respected your request, but this has gone for far too long. I see the way you avoid her, how you hide her from the public eye in the archives. The guards have started whispering, Celestia. You must do something. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Celestia nodded slowly. “I will...” “Good-” “Tomorrow. If she's not better tomorrow I'll talk to her.” > Epilogue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Happiness is short and fleeting, but sorrow is eternal. We must all cling to what little joys we can find, lest we drown in the sea of our own grief, our own tears. Never forget those you have lost, but do not let loss consume you, lest you be too absorbed in your own sadness to see the occasional bliss that makes life worth living. Twilight laid silently in the cool grass, staring up at her immortalized lover. The marble sculpture captured Rainbow Dash's essence perfectly. From the proud, cocky smile across her face to the wind-swept mane and wide-spread wings. She cared little for the dark trails running down her cheeks as she read over the golden plaque again and again. A gentle, feathered wing slid over her back. “Hey, Dashie,” she greeted without turning away. “It's a nice day out; we should go flying.” Her tears dried, slowly, leaving only her matted cheeks as evidence they were ever there at all. “Twilight...” The alicorn jolted at the voice that most certainly did not belong to Rainbow Dash. She snapped her head around, eyes widening. “P-Princess!” Celestia sighed quietly, shifting herself further into the grass. “Just Celestia, Twilight. Please.” Twilight smiled, relaxing into the comforting wing of her former mentor. “Right, sorry; old habbits die hard, I guess.” She could see the pain flash in the older alicorns eye as she said; “Some harder than other, it seems.” “Celestia? Are you alright?” Twilight asked, tentatively. She craned her neck, struggling to get a better read on Celestia's face. The princess, however, seemed unable or unwilling to meet her gaze, and Rainbow Dash's words came back to her; If you're really this worried, just talk to Celestia tomorrow. Taking a breath, Twilight steeled her resolve. “You've been acting... odd around me, these past couple months. What's wrong?” Celestia visibly shuddered. “It's... it's nothing, Twilight; don't worry about it.” “I've known you long enough to spot where you're lying,” Twilight said pointedly, narrowing her eyes slightly. “What's wrong?” She repeated, more forcefully this time. For a time there was a hesitant silence floating in the air, the most notable noise being the pair's own breathing. Eventually, Celestia sighed, the weight of centuries carried on her breath. “Do you know where we are, Twilight?” Twilight quirked her head to the side. “The castle's Statue Gardens?” Celestia nodded before asking again; “And specifically, where are we?” “Oh..” Twilight trailed off, looking to the statue in front of them but deliberately avoiding the plaque. “We're... we're at Rainbow's statue.” “More than just her statue,” Celestia corrected solemnly. “Twilight... this is her grave.” A quiet breeze blew through the gardens, hindered only slightly by the tall, bordering hedges. Twilight felt the tears coming again, felt them beading in the corner of her eyes. “I-.... I know...” Her voice was shaky and uneven, like a foal's first steps. “And yet, day after day, you walk through the halls talking as though she were standing right beside her.” Celestia finally turned to look the smaller mare in the eye. “The guards think you're delusional. That you couldn't handle the passing of your lover so soon after your friends.” She was crying openly now, struggling not to simply break down and start sobbing. “M-maybe they're right...” “I don't think so,” Celestia continued, looking over the ornate statue. “I think you know full well what happened, but you don't want to accept it. So you pretend, you shroud yourself in your memories and pretend it never happened.” “So what!?” Twilight shouted, suddenly, staring resolutely at the dirt. “So what if I do!? They... they were my friends! My... my wife... and they're all gone! Why can't I pretend!?” “Twilight-” Twilight growled as she stood, forcing Celestia's wing from her back. “Don't you know what it's like? To see everypony you care about, everypony you love die right before your eyes, helpless to stop it? Rainbow's the only thing stopping me from going mad with grief, and you'd have me, what, just forget about her!?” “Of course not,” Celestia protested in a quiet voice, the kind that commanded attention. “But you can't live like this.” “Why can't I!? I loved- love, her. Why can't I just pretend, why can't I just be happy!?” “It's not healthy, Twilight; you have to know that. Death is something everypony must deal with, at some point,” Celestia said, as soothingly as she could manage. “You have to deal with it and, one day, move on from it. Death cannot define you.” Twilight's hooves shook beneath her. “Nopony has to deal with death like I do – like we do. Immortality is nothing but a curse. Rainbow Dash keeps me sane, keeps the pain away. I just-” she broke off into strangled sobbing, her tears raining down on the grass that had often welcomed her sorrow. “I just want the pain to go away.” “Twilight please-” “No!” Twilight snapped, glaring through her crying eyes. “I'm not giving up; I'm not letting her go.” A deep frown creased Celestia's lips, the corners of her mouth weighed down with an empathy few others could offer. “I'm sorry, Twilight. I'm so very sorry, but you have to let her go.” “No, I don't. I never will.” Celestia felt a single tear rolling down her cheek, her options growing more and more limited by the second. Until only one remained “I'm... I'm sorry it has to be this way, Twilight.” She lit her horn. “But I can't stand to see you like this, and neither can Equestria.” Twilight's head snapped up. “Wh-what are you-” Then she felt it. That familiar, aged and practised magic. In her mind. “No! No you can't! Please no!” Twilight's own horn sputtered to life, but in her emotionally distraught state she could produce little more than a few harmless sparks. Celestia's cheeks grew wet as she closed her eyes to focus. “I'm so sorry, this is for your own good.” Twilight shook her head, as through trying to shake off the magic in her mind. “You can't take her from me! No! Please no you can't!” With a strangled sob, Celestia's horn flashed once, and then went dark. Twilight's hooves flew to the sides of her head and she screamed into the grass before slumping to the ground in silence. Doing her best to regain composure, Celestia only barely managed to stop her tears as Twilight woke up with a groan. “Ugh... my head... Celestia? What happened?” “You fell asleep,” the alicorn answered calmly. “It is rather peaceful out here.” Twilight blinked, mildly confused, before turning to the statue in front of her. She could feel the sadness welling up in her chest, but she didn't cry. Her eyes trailed down to the plaque, and she tilted her head curiously. Here lies Rainbow Dash, Wonderbolt. The Loyalist of friends and most faithful of lovers “That's odd, I don't remember Rainbow ever marrying...” Celestia bit her tongue. Hard. “It's just something nice to put on the tombstone.” Twilight chuckled weakly. “Like they would run out of things to say about her. She certainly never did.” Laughing quietly, Celestia nodded. “True. Now, it's about time we return to the castle, don't you think? I've allowed my work to pile up recently, and could use some help.” “I'd love to be of assistance,” Twilight answered with a smile. More genuinely happy than Celestia had seen in months. > Tomorrow Epilogue 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tomorrow Epilogue 2 Humming quietly to herself, Twilight lay on a plush pillow before a fire. In front of her was a book, picked randomly from the shelves of Golden Oaks. Its content didn’t matter much to her; the simple act of reading was a reward in and of itself. Out the window the moon shone gently, surrounded by stars as wind gently blew through the branches of her tree home. There was silence save for the crackling fire and the occasional turning of the page, until suddenly there was a loud bang. Twilight jumped, turning in time to see the front door slam closed. “Hey, Twi.” There was nopony there. Her entry way, her tree, remained empty save for herself. The feathers of her wings bristled. “I uhh… I wanted to talk to you about somethin’.” For a moment Twilight could have sworn she heard a voice, and again she looked up from her book to find an empty house. She sighed, shaking her head. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the pillow below her shifted and she felt another pony press up against her side. “I know you’re taking this whole ‘alicorn princess’ thing pretty hard.” There was nopony there. But she could still feel another’s warm coat against her own. Twilight’s heart hammered in her chest, her legs rooted to the spot even as she tried to pull herself away. A name lingered on her lips. “Don’t even try to hide it, Twi; you’ve been totally freaking out. Talk to me.” Twilight squinted at the air next to her, and she could have sworn she saw it shimmer vaguely with a blue hue. “Oh Twilight I… I didn’t even think about-... I’m so sorry, Twi.” Again the alicorn had to suppress a shriek of surprise when she felt hooves wrap around her, squeezing her tight. It felt… familiar. When did she start crying? “I can’t even imagine what that’s like… what that’s going to be like.” The air shimmered again, and she could see the outline of a pony. Her tears flowed in rivers down her cheeks, but there was something running deeper than her sorrow. “Listen to me, Twi; I promise I’ll always be with you. No matter where you are or how long you live, I’ll be with you forever. So long as you promise me something, too.” Rage. Twilight Sparkle felt anger, hatred toward somepony, but she didn’t know who. Or why. The ghostly form next to her took on more shape, more colours. Like a rainbow after a rainy day. “You gotta promise you won’t forget about me.” “Rainbow,” Twilight sobbed, grabbing the spectral pony next to her and crying hard into its shoulder. She cried and she cried and she didn’t know why. Again there was anger, boiling deep in the pit of her stomach. “I love you, Twilight,” There was a flash of light and Twilight slumped forward, the ethereal form of Rainbow Dash disappearing just before she could fully form. Her body was wracked with sobs as she looked around, finding herself in an endless void of starry sky. From the darkness above a midnight blew alicorn floated gently down, a sorrowful smile on her lips. “Hello, Twilight,” Luna greated gently, sitting before the younger alicorn. “L-luna,” Twilight sniffled, smiling slowly. “That was a dream?” Luna nodded. “I felt strong emotions from your dreams that I have not seen from you in many months, so I came to make sure you were alright. I assume Celestia spoke to you?” “A bit,” Twilight nodded, “She had me help with some work she’d let pile up. Felt good to get out of the old archives for a while.” Frowning, the Princess of the Night shook her head. “I meant about Rainbow Dash and her… passing,” she ventured cautiously, a ball of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. Something was wrong. “The passing of a loved one is always hard.” Sighing quietly, the younger alicorn nodded. “It’s been… hard. She was one of my closest friends.” “Friends?” Luna echoed wearily, noticing the tears streaming down Twilight face even as she herself seemed to remain unaware. That ball in her stomach rapidly began to change to a small flame. “What was your dream about? If you don’t mind me asking?” Twilight shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I was just.. Reading in the library?” Her voice grew confused, struggling to remember what had happened. Why she’d been crying. Why she’d been so angry. But her memories were fleeting, and all she could think of was reading in the library. “I… don’t remember anything else.” Luna bit her tongue. “I see. Well, I have duties to attend to. I’ll leave you to a peaceful night’s rest. Farewell, Twilight.” “CELESTIA!” Luna’s voice boomed through the throne room, its volume alone enough to send most of the guards scrambling to get out of her way. With a furious blast of magic the doors were nearly blown off their hinges. Her eyes burned like the flame of tartarus as she marched right up to her sister sat on the throne. “WHAT DID YOU DO!?” Celestia sighed. “Hello, sister. Would you care for some tea? You seem on edge.” Luna practically growled as the last few guards slipped out of the room and the doors were slammed shut in her midnight blue aura. “Don’t play dumb. What. Did. You. Do.” “I took her pain away,” the elder alicorn answered simply. “She needed to move on. I merely helped her do so.” “She needed a therapist, not a lobotomy!” Rolling her eyes, Celestia stood from her throne and pushed her sister back. “Don’t be so dramatic. All I did was alter her memories so she remembers Rainbow Dash as a friend.” Luna was seething. “You took away her happiest memories-” “Her most painful memories, now that she’s gone,” Celestia corrected, her calm facade beginning to falter as tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. “And I didn’t want to, But I couldn’t bare to see her like that anymore. She was in so much pain, Luna. I did everything in my tower to make it so she didn’t hurt any more. You’d have done the same.” “I would not!!” Luna defended, aghast at the very prospect. “What you did is…” she floundered, truly a loss for words. Taking a breath, Luna continued in an even tone. “You stole her wife away from her. You may as well have killed Rainbow Dash yourself. All because you couldn't take it. All because you felt bad.” “I merely-” “Where is it?” Luna demanded, tired of her sister’s excuses. Celestia frowned. “Where is what?” “You know perfectly well what,” Luna hissed. “You can’t just take those memories away from her; they have to go somewhere. Where. Are. They. The vault? The archives? You chambers? Tell me now or I swear to the nine gods I will personally lock you in Tartarus until I find it myself.” “You can’t give them back!” Celestia argued loudly, stomping her hoof. “She’d be driven mad by the conflicting memories and the grief if she’s lucky. If she isn’t she could very well fall into a coma and die from the shock.” Luna didn’t budge, her glare steely and unbreakable. “Where?” “No,” she repeated. “Celestia,” Luna’s voice was shockingly calm. “If you truly cared about your student at all, you’d give her her memories back before she works out what’s going on for herself. You can’t honestly believe nopony will ever mention her own wife to her?” “The guards know better.” “She will hate you for as long as you both live when she finds out.” “She won’t find out,” Celestia stressed. Luna laughed bitterly. “I’ll tell her myself. Where did you put them?” The pearl white alicorn gasped, taking a step back. “You can’t.” “Try me,” Luna threatened again, advancing just as much as Celestia retreated. The elder soon found herself pressed against her own throne. “Where? She might just forgive you in a couple millenia if you give them back to her.” Twilight groaned as her eyes fluttered open to stair at the ornate ceiling of her similarly ornate bed chambers. She laid there for a moment, just staring out into space through her roof. Her dreams had been… odd, to say the least. “You’re awake.” Shrieking, Twilight sat bolt upright in bed, using her blankets to cover herself. At the food of her bed stood Luna, ethereal mane blowing in a non existent wind. She didn’t look happy. “L-Luna? Is… this another dream?” Luna sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. “I wish it was. We need to talk, Twilight.” “And this is an emergency?” Twilight guessed, already getting out of bed and coming to stand next to the older princess. “Where’s Celestia?” The alicorn visibly bristled at the mention of her sister. “She’s… busy. Listen; I need you to think for me. In your dreams, you experienced something strange, yes? Something that didn’t quite make sense to you, but you felt like it should have, right?” “Y-yes, but how-” Twilight was cut off as Luna brought forth a small crystal shard, glowing a faint lavender. “I’m sorry, Twilight. This is going to be very hard on you, but this is what has to happen. What she did to you is unforgivable, and it falls to me to make it right. Please, forgive me for putting you through this again.” Before Twilight could ask any more questions Luna’s magic on the crystal strengthened, her grip tightening until, with a crackling sound that filled the room, the object shattered to dust. A shockwave rocked the room, knocking the wind from Twilight’s lungs as she was knocked back onto her haunches, her vision swimming. Visions filled her mind, of things she’d never seen. Rainbow Dash consumed every thought. Her very being seemed loss in an endless wave of visions. No, not visions; memories. Suddenly she remembered everything. Every date she’d ever gone on with the brash pegasus mare. The first time she realized her love. The first time she said it. Their wedding… Her death. Weeks of being consumed by her grief. Weeks of pretending. And then Celestia. Celestia. That anger she’d felt in her dream; she knew why. She remembered why. It consumed her, burning like the fires of Tartarus within her. Twilight screamed, wailing like a banshee. Rage, sorrow, something in between, she didn’t know. Couldn’t tell. Didn’t care. It was too much, she could already feel the pulsing pain of a headache forming. Celestia “CELESTIA!” Twilight’s booming cry was heard all throughout the castle, her magic flaring to life without direction or shape. Her eyes shone with bright white light, energy cackling along her horn, every hair standing on end. Through her haze she could see that cocky, smiling face, and the tears came harder. “Don’t forget about me, ‘kay?” Then she felt herself collapse, out of strength both physically and mentally. “I’m sorry, Twilight. Be strong. I’ll be here when you wake up,” Luna whispered, gently placing the smaller mare back into her bed. She was surprised to see the amre’s eyes still open, staring blankly at the world. “Twilight?” She asked cautiously. Twilight didn’t respond, tears continuing to flow unabated down her cheeks. Her lips moved but her words were nothing but breathy whispered. “Twilight!” Luna repeated herself, louder, shaking her shoulders. “Twilight listen to me. You’re in shock; your mind is trying to reconcile the memories with what Celestia had left behind. You need to focus or the wrong ones will be overwritten.” “R-rainbow…” Luna nodded rapidly. “Yes, exactly; focus on Rainbow Dash, focus on your love for her. Nothing will ever be able to take that away from you. Just focus on Rainbow Dash.” Twilight started sobbing, shaking off Luna’s hooves as she curled in on herself. “I’m s-so sorry. I forgot about y-you,” Her voice was barely above a whimper, shaky and weak. “No, Twilight, no,” Luna insisted, trying to force the mare out of the fetal position she’d adopted. “You never forgot about her. It’s not your fault what Celestia did to you.” “I forgot… I’m so sorry Dashie. I forgot…” Her muttering grew faster and more desperate as Twilight started rocking herself back and forth. “I forgot… I forgot... I forgot…” “Please Twilight,” Luna’s voice was growing equally desperate, race to find a solution. The mental shock of having all that information dumped on her, on top of the emotions that came with it and the lingering effects of Celestia’s meddling were proving too much for the young alicorn’s mind to handle. “Focus on my voice and come back to me. You never forgot anything, your memories were stolen from you.” “I forgot… I forgot… I forgot…” “Please… come back to me…” Luna shed her own tears as she desperately held Twilight in her hooves. She’d known there was a risk, but there was no other way. “I forgot… I…” Twilight trailed off, slowly, growing quiet save for her ragged breathing The elder princess was almost fearful to make a noise, hesitating for a few, long moments, before eventually whispering; “Can you hear me, Twilight?” She didn’t get a response. Twilight’s world was filled with light, bright and white and warm. She felt nothing, saw nothing, sensed nothing at all. There was nothing, not even her own body. Just her, alone in a void of white. It was strangely comfortable, she decided after a time. “...” There was a sound. It was quiet, distant and muffled as though over a great distance and through an impassable barrier, but it was there. She knew it was there. Desperately Twilight searched for the source, struggling to hear it again. “Please… come back to me…” She heard it again, just as hazy but she could just make out the words. It was hard to tell what direction what direction it was coming from but it almost seemed to be behind her. Trying to turn, to reach out for the voice, Twilight felt her stomach flip and a wave of nausea wash over her. Suddenly everything hurt, and as vertigo overtook her she white faded and she fell. There was darkness for a time, though how long she couldn’t tell. Nothingness, not even the voice she’d heard before or the warm light, simply… nothing. Then she opened her eyes. Above her was a plain white ceiling with a bright, plane white light gazing down at her. She could hear faint voices from somewhere in front of her, and she became aware she was laying in a bed, a bilow beneath her head. “Hospital?” Her voice was rough and cracking and her throat was a desert, but she knew she’d made a sound: She’d heard it. “Yeah, kinda,” a voice responded, rough and scratchy from crying but familiar. Twilight squinted at the ceiling, trying to place the voice. It felt like every bell in her head was ringing, telling her over and over that she knew whos voice that was, but she couldn’t quite remember. “Who-” she gasped, trying to look over at the pony who spoke and finding herself unable. For a moment she panicked, mind racing. Why couldn’t she move? Why- “Hey, whoa, slow down; it’s okay. You’re not gonna be able to move for a bit, and your memory is going to take a little while to come back. It’ll be in bits and pieces, but you’ll remember…” there was a noticeably long pause, “Everything.” “Who are you?” She asked, finding the mare’s voice calming, all but forcing her to let go of her panic. She trusted this pony. There was a small chuckle. “You’ll remember soon enough, I’m sure.” Well, that wasn’t very helpful. Twilight sighed, closing her eyes and shutting out the obnoxiously bright lights. “Where am I?” She ventured slowly, gently prodding for more information. “A hospital,” she answered quickly. “There was an… accident. You just woke up.” Accident… Twilight racked her brain, trying to remember something - anything at all. There was a little bit there, vague recollections of faces, names, events, but nothing concrete. A part of her started wondering how much she even remembered about herself besides her name. “I can tell you’re about to spiral again,” the pony warned - were they even a pony, or just a voice? Twilight had no way of knowing. Something told her a voice had to be attached to a pony, but a disembodied voice would hardly be the strangest thing she’d come across. Yes… she’d encountered many strange things. Prophecies and gods and queens and kings. Legends come true, tails and warnings of destruction prevented by her. No; not her. Her and her friends. “My friends, I-” “Easy, Twi; don’t force anything. They’ll come back, I promise.” They promised? Why did she believe this pony so easily. She’d heard those words before. “Listen to me, Twi; I promise I’ll always be with you.” Twilight didn’t know where those words came from or who spoke them, but she remembered them. “Try moving again,” they prompted. Twilight hesitated, fearful for a moment of still being unable, but the encouragements in their voice convinced her to at least try. Focusing on her left foreleg, she poured every ounce of will into it, begging, pleading with it to just work. To her shock, she felt it twitch, then slowly lift up off the sheets for just a moment before falling back down. She couldn’t stop the groan of disappointment, even as the pony next to her cheered happily. “There ya go! See? You’re getting there. I bet you’re starting to remember things too, huh?” Was she? Her name was Twilight Sparkle, personal student to Princess Celestia - something deep within her twisted at the name of her mentor - and she’d been sent to Ponyville. Why? To make.. Friends? Her friends, the elements of harmony. Slowly things came back to her, slow enough that she almost didn’t notice until she tried to remember things, but every time she thought about something there seemed to be a new memory there to greet her. “You’re pushing too hard again,” Rainbow Dash said. Twilight gasped. “Rainbow?” The pegasus - Rainbow Dash was a pegasus - cheered again, and she could practically hear the smile in the mare’s voice. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” “Rainbow, the girls; where are the rest of the girls?” “Hey, no cheating!” Rainbow chided playfully. Memories were coming back faster, now, but still too slow. Twilight started remembering her life in Ponyville, her adventures with her friends. Then- “You’re my… marefriend?” She asked, almost curiously. She could remember some of their dates, now. She remembered enjoying them, enjoying her. “I… I love you.” That time it was less of a question. “Heh, love ya too, Twi. But just wait; it gets better.” Better? How did… she sighed, those memories still eluding her. Instead Twilight focused on what was coming back, and became very aware of her wings, pinned to her back. They were sore. “I’m an alicorn... “ Twilight trailed off after hearing Rainbow giggle at her, doing her best to pout and finding the action surprisingly. On a hunch she flexed her win and was pleased to find it shift gently according to her command. Still more memories poured into her head, faster and faster until she was just keeping pace with them. “No, not marefriend,” Twilight corrected herself with a grin, reliving her wedding. “My wife.” “There we go!” Rainbow shouted joyfully. “She’s just about back, mares and gentlecolts.” Finally, Twilight was able to turn her head and smile at the mare sitting in the chair next to her bed. That bright, smiling face was just the same as she remembered. “Hey beautiful.” “Hey yourself,” Rainbow responded with a snicker, though her face soon grew grim as she watched the light shining in the alicorn’s eyes as memories returned and filled out. “Listen Twi… things are gonna start to get pretty rough from here on out. You’re gonna start to remember things you probably won’t want to. I’m not going to lie to you; you’re gonna have to relive some of the worst experiences in your life now. “But I promise I’ll be right here with you. No matter what you see, no matter what your emember, just know I’ll still be here, always.” Twilight’s nervous expression didn’t go unnoticed, and Rainbow smiled despite the sadness behind her eyes. She reached out and grabbed the alicorn’s hoof in her own, squeezing tightly. “You feel this?” Rainbow asked, giving a firm squeeze. When Twilight nodded, she continue; “If you get scared or sad, you just squeeze my hoof and remember that I’m here, okay?” “Rainbow, what-” Twilight’s fearful question was cut off when she was hit by a train; Fluttershy’s funeral. “I’m so sorry you have to go through this again, Twilight.” Twilight didn’t hear her, too focused on the memories rushing through her mind. Fluttershy was only the first. She remembered watching as her friends grew old a grey as time withered them away, leaving her untouched. Pinkie Pie… Rarity… Applejack. One by one she remembered her friends dying around her, remembered their final moments, their funerals. All her grief, her sorrow hit her all at once and the tears poured freely down her cheeks and desperately Twilight hung onto Rainbow’s hoof, her only anchor in a sea of emotion. And then Rainbow Dash died right in front of her eyes, and suddenly that anchor lost all meaning. But still she gripped it, tighter than ever before as she sobbed uncontrollably. Still it wasn’t over. Twilight remembered the days following Rainbow’s funeral, she remembered being lost, adrift at sea with neither wind nor sail. Then the hallucinations happened. Maybe it was a manifestation of her unwillingness to accept her loss, maybe she really had just snapped. Twilight didn’t know, but she remembered pretending Rainbow was still with her everywhere she went. Remembered Celestia hiding her from the public eye and the whispers of the guard. Trying to take her hoof away from Rainbow’s - no… that wasn’t the real Rainbow Dash. The real Rainbow had been dead for months. She found that for a hallucination it had a very strong grip, squeezing tightly and holding her Twilight still. Pinned down as she was assaulted by her own memories. Then, she remembered. Celestia. Celestia. Celestia. “CELESTIA!” Twilight’s rage filled scream echoed through the hospital, the flames in her gut stoking higher and higher as the sorrow began to fade and the memories came to an end with Luna returning what had been taken from her. What had been stolen. “It’s okay now, Twi,” Rainbow whispered gently, and Twilight looked over to see tears in the mare’s eyes. “I know what she did to you, but it’s okay now. It’s over.” Twilight was panting, rage igniting the blood in her veins as she managed to sit upright in the bed, still clutching Rainbow’s hoof. “Where is she,” Twilight seethed, looking around the room, half expecting to find her there, watching. Waiting to do it all again. “Breathe, Twilight; you need to breathe. Come on, just like you taught me. In… and out…” Rainbow repeated herself a few times, guiding Twilight through her own breathing exercises. Only when she was sure Twilight had returned to a somewhat calmer state did she try to speak again. “She’s not here, Twilight. Celestia’s nowhere near here.” The alicorn didn’t even blink. “That coward can’t even face what she did to me,” she spat angrily, glaring at blank white wall ahead of her. And on her left… and right… what kind of hospital was this? There was nothing in the room but her bed and the chair Rainbow was sat in. There were no machines or charts or… or windows! Where was the door? “Rainbow… Rainbow where’s the-” “It’s okay, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash cut her off before she could start hyperventilating, squeezing her hoof and reminding the Twilight of who she was with. How real that hallucination of hers felt. Things started adding up very quickly. “Rainbow am… am I… did I-” Rainbow nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry, Twilight, but yes; you died.” “H-how…?” The pegasus took a breath. “When Luna found out what Celestia did to you she immediately went to fix it. She knew how dangerous it could be, but what Celestia did was unforgivable. She must have thought you’d be okay with the risks, because she gave you your memories back. But… it was too much; your mind went into shock, mostly because of how much Celestia had to change your memories to remove me. The damage she did was… extensive, apparently, and trying to reconcile that with the memories she’d taken would have been nearly impossible. “You fell into a coma, and eventually passed away,” she finished on a soft note, leaning down and nuzzling Twilight’s hoof gently as the alicorn slowly laid back in bed, letting the information wash over her. Eventually, Twilight said; “I’m surprised you knew all that.” Rainbow chuckled weakly. “I memorized it so I could be the one to tell you. I don’t know the how or the why of most of it, though.” “How long was I in a coma?” There was a pause, and Twilight could feel the tension as Rainbow hesitated. “Eight months,” she answered eventually. “EIGHT M-” Twilight shout was cut off by Rainbow leaning forward and planting a kiss on her cheek. “And I was with you the entire time, waiting for today,” she assured gently. “I promised.” Promise… Twilights tears came back in full force. “Dashie… I’m… I’m sorry, I forgot, I-” “Hey now; none of that. You never forgot about me, not really,” Rainbow assured gently, stroking the lavender hoof she still held. “It’s not your fault what Celestia did to you, but even that didn’t stop you from trying to remember me; you still dreamed of me, right? You still remembered who I was, even if you couldn’t remember all of it. You kept your promise, Twi, just like I kept mine.” Twilight still cried, but the tears weren’t as bitter. “I… I almost lost you, Rainbow.” “But you didn’t.” Twilight all but lept out of her bed and tackled the pegasus, wrapping herself around Rainbow and sobbing into her shoulder. “I never thought I’d see you again.” “I know, Twi… I know…” Rainbow gently stroked the alicorn’s back as she cried. For a long time they sat together like that, until finally Twilight’s tears slowed and halted themselves, her sniffles the only sound left in the room. “Feeling better?” Rainbow asked, smiling as Twilight nodded but didn’t let go. “Good. As soon as you’re ready there are a lot of ponies who want to see you again.” “In a while,” Twilight murmured, her eyes drooping. “Just… hold me for a little while longer.” “We have all the time we need.”