Thread 24: Stories 61-75

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Noooon-Canon addition

>Applejack
“Celestia”
________

>So, quick question.

“…”

>Is there any particular reason the castle was rockin' an' groanin’ somethin’ fierce a couple minutes ago?

“…”

>Ah’m askin’ legitimately here ‘cause the very floorboards were creakin’, Celly.

“…”

>It almost soundin' like two manticores bumpin' uglies or somethin'. Weird, right?

“…”

>Why ya lookin’ like that for? Like somepony done walked over yer’ grave?

“…my bed.”

>Yer’ what now?

“My bed… on my… my bed….”

>Celly, what’n the hay are y’all… oh. OH. Oooooh.

“…”

>Might wanna have the cleaners bring up the heavy duty clea-

“Already have.”

>Ah, good, good, yeah, that’s… right.

“…”

>…

“…”

>…Jealous, ain’t cha?

“I burn with the white hot jelly of a thousand suns. I mean that figuratively and literally. This heat? It hurts.”

>Well, here's somethin' to cool yer' haunches. Um... Ah got everyone some tickets to Partyland. That sounds fun, right? A real good time.

"..."

>Yeah, we can all go an' enjoy ourselves, assumin' their upkeep checks out an' everything. Pinkie and Cheese kinda built this under the radar so-

"I wanna get laid."

>Noted. So anyway, here's yer' ticket an', uh... guess Ah'll catch ya later! Bye!

"..."
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>Jugglejack
"???"
~~~~

>....I'm... I'm doing it! I'm doing it! IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING! OH MY SWEET MERCIFUL JOY IT'S HAPPENING AT LAST! I CAN JUGGLE! SWEET CHITIN OF MY MOTHER! I! CAN! JUUUUUUUGGGGGG-...FUCKING HOLES!

"ARE THOU SERIOUS!?"

>...OH! Hey Princess Luna! I almost had it this time!

"It is a dream! Thou art in a dream! How can thine attempts still meet with failure!?"

>It's really hard.

"IT IS NOT! It is a dream! You could make the balls fly if you wanted to!"

>Fly? That's silly, they don't fly!

"In a dream they do!"

>...See? They're not flying.

"YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM FLY!"

>Oh. Is there a button?

"...Conjure a flat surface, we wish to ram out heads into it."

>Do I look like a unicorn? Oh! Hey! You're a unicorn, er, alicorn, can you make a flat surface?

"NO! TIS YOUR DREAM!"

>Oh. Well, I can't do it. Sorry. But if you'll excuse me... dadadads-DAMN!

"ARRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHH!~"

*POOF!*

>...She's got problems.... Dadadadadadadadaaa-FUCKING HOLES!
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Def non cannon

In the waking world

*POP!*

"ARRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHH!~"

>Luna! Whats...

"DAMN THAT STINGS... What? What is that look upon your face sister?"

>You've blown the blood vessels in your eyes...

"...So?"

>I... It explains so much!

"What are you talking about!

>LUNA HOW DID YOU DO IT!?

"Sister stop! Your shaking me!"

"HOW DID YOU SPAWN THE APPLE FAMILY TELL ME!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!~"

>TEEEEEEEEELL MEEEEEEEE!
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In an undisclosed location of Time and Space:
-------------

>I am on my honeymoon with Princess Celestia, Royal princess of Equestria.
>I wonder how many people are cursing my name right about now.
>Hm? Is that a wedding present on the desk?
>Weird that it wasn't with the others, but maybe someone didnt get the memo.
>Might as well unwrap it, Celly should be back in a minute with the wine.
>"A.S. Extra strength condoms, special XXXXXX...*Pageflip**Pageflip*...XXX edition, tested and proven to withstand temperatures of up to 6000 degrees kelvin."
>And a bottle of water? I feel like i'm the butt of some joke here.
>Oh, a note.
>"Good luck. Love, F."
>...Yes, definitely a joke of some kind.

"Sorry about that dear, i forgot that we cleared this place out on my hen ni- Are those the ASESCSXXX^300 editions?

>Um, yes?

"Mother, all is forgiven."

>Wha-*Pounced*
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It was a sunny and windy day for the public funeral of Bronze Pommel, though not many complained or cared. The moment 32 showed up, the silence became deafening as several members of the guard and Pommel's family alike stared.

>2 cleared her throat as Spike's claws softly strummed the guitar, with Shining Armor nearby, his head bowed alongside Celestia, she began to sing: "There are loved ones in the glory, Whose dear forms you often miss; When you close your earthly story, Will you join them in their bliss?"

32 took a seat near the back, soon flanked by his fellow changelings, 42 because she didn't trust him, 77 to console his brother, and PJ for reasons unknown. He said not to any of them, even when 42 deliberately tested his patience to see if he would start trouble, even when 77 took his face into his shoulder to cry on, even when PJ offered a stiff drink.

>"Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, by and by? Is a better home awaiting In the sky, in the sky?" 2's words reach the audience, their throats clenched solemnly a few shed some tears.

"So you're the one who led my newphew in his final battle?" Pommel's uncle asked 32 as they stood before the empty casket.

32 hung his head. "Yes... I'm sorry-"

"Save your damn apologies." Now his grandfather spoke, an old veteran of the guard. "He gave his life to protect Canterlot, he gave his life of Equestria. Not many of our ranks have ever had to make the sacrifice, but we don't go pointing fingers when they do."

The family members nodded, and the grandfather took out a battered, old Royal Guard helm. "Would never put this piece of shit down as a colt. Would wear it all the time and pretend he was saving Celestia, be a real hero of Canterlot." The old stallion looked to 32 teary eyed now. "So, changeling... My grandson. Would you have called him a hero?"

32 didn't even need to think. "Yes."

>"In the joyous days of foalhood, oft they told of wondrous love, pointed to the queens of yore; now they dwell with them above." One the second chorus, Spike and Shining Armor joined her. "Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, by and by? Is a better home awaiting In the sky, in the sky?"

32 watched the older stallions set the helm into the casket, and as the casket closed, memories of their time together played through 32's mind. As he glanced at the family, a terrible dread began to seize him: for every bit he blamed Chrysalis, this death was all on his head. He could have done it himself, but he dragged Pommel along to do a task he easily could have done.

He thought of this, and then his strength began to fail him.

>"You can picture happy gath'rings ,'round the hearthside long ago, And you think of tearful partings, When they left you here below."
Now, the entire gathering had joined in 2's chorus, helping 2 through her song as it began to get difficult to sing. "Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, by and by? Is a better home awaiting in the sky, in the sky?"

Shining Armor stood up and strode toward the podium. "I did not know Bronze Pommel for very long before I became Prince of the Crystal Empire, out of one my mistakes since, I would say it was my greatest. I knew met him a few times as a trainee. He volunteered to join our ranks and I asked him why: "want to fight lots off Diamond Dogs, slay some dragons, maybe?" I asked, remembering my own petty childhood, and Pommel shook his head and said "I don't want to hurt anyone. But I don't want others to hurt people needlessly either." that was when I knew he was a true Guard to the core."

>By now, 2's voice was cracking and her breaths hitched with tears "One by one the hives were empty, and one by one they went away; now the families have been parted, will they be complete one day?"

>They all sang together, everyone, even 32 under in hushed tone, but for him, the chorus was not a song but the honest question to whatever greater power: "Will the circle be unbroken by and by, by and by? Is a better home awaiting in the sky, in the sky?"

After the funeral, many spoke to 32, some with disdain, some with their own condolence, but one who never spoke was Bronze Pommel's younger sister, but her hard look was enough.

At last, in the midst of the crowd the filly walked up to him and asked: "What is your name?"

"I am 32-" She interrupted him.

"I want a name, not a number."

"We don't have names... but if it appeases you, some have called me Zhirty Thul." after a pause, he asked her "Why do you wish to know."

Then, she met his eyes with hers, filled with hatred born from a lost love. "So what one day, I can find you, the killer of my BBBFF. And when that happens, I will be your end." As she turned, he noticed on her flank a cutiemark of a set of gears, leaving 32 stunned and breathless before, strangely, he began to smile.

An end to his misery. Not today, but at least he knew it would come.

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Non-canon
>PotatoJack Recording
~~~
>"Celestia, Chrysalis, Chrysalis, Celestia". Well, I'm glad that mess is over with, much as there's no love lost between myself and the Queen, I rather like 42 and 77. But not enough to wager my life on a fool's bet, when my queen was dying, she told her hive to do whatever it took to survive, and that's not always just squatting in woods and eating pine-cones while drinking our own piss. Survival is also knowing to pick a winning side and even dabble in politics. My brothers and sisters didn't take the hard lessons to heart as well as I did, they went out of their way to try to keep the old ways and be good little drones to the hive and I've seen what happens when you bet on the wrong horse. If it ever really does come down to it, I'm grabbing the first life boat to jump the good ship Chrysalis.
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>Chitania
"Myrmeleon"
~~~~

>...

"Wow, okay, those bruises on your face cannot be good for you, Chitty."

>...

"No, really, Titania pick another fight with you or something? You are really slipping."

>...

"Okay, you're kind of worrying me now, what happened to-"

*FACEHOOF!*

"Ah. I see."

>YOU. TRAPPED. YOURSELF.

"Well, that just says how clever a trap it is, is it not?"

>IT IS A GIANT CONE OF DIRT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

"Well, yeah? Ponies go up the hill, they fall in the center, caught! Cool, eh?"

>IT HURTS.

"Well, yeah, you keep smashing your hoof into your face."

>MEANT STUPIDITY.

"I think you're pretty smart, you're just making bad choices."

>MUST. RESIST. URGE TO ABANDON.

"Please don't, we're stuck, and I don't think there's going to be another lucky flood to get me out."

>NOT FIRST TIME?

"Not third time, actually."

>URGE RISING.

"Pllllleeeease?"

>...

"...I'll let you-"

>IF YOU SAY SOMETHING SEXUAL I AM LEAVING!

"Was actually going to say I'll let you have a couple of my soldiers."

>...

"...So, does that mean you aren't like your mot-"

>ONE MORE WORD.

"..."

>...Must... not... smash... must be gentle...

"Oh, thank goodness. it was getting hard to balance on this drones head. He died, like, two hours ago."

>...Resiiiiiisssst....
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>Rarity
"Fluttershy"
[Lotus]
{Aloe}
~~~~~~

>Ohhh, a day at the spa! Perfect, you know? Really darling, we must do this more often.

"Oh, well, yes. You know, I've just been.. busy..."

>Ah, yes. Your thing.

"How's Twilight doing?"

>Marvelous! Really, she's been doing oh so well. She's back on her hooves and getting back into the swing of things! Still, I do so miss her taste in fashion...

"Wasn't it atrocious, though?"

>Oh, indubitably! Which is why I miss it. Made me feel so intelligent.

"Uh... right..."

>Aloe, darling! We'll be having the standard, I do hope your rates have not...huh? What is this scribbled one here?

[IT IS NOTHING!]

>Oh, I thought you were offering a new service.

{No, she won't let me.}

[I TOLD YOU, MOMMA DIDN'T....]

>...

"..."

[...R-raise a poor businessmare! Yes! We were offering a... bundle... but the bundle was too low cost, which my sister was sure would bring in more customers, but she constantly forgets EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE IN THIS TOWN... so of course it wouldn't bring in any new customers! That would be silly! It is too cheap, not sustainable.]

>Oh, of course. As a businessmare myself I completely understand. Her words are wise, Aloe, you should listen to her.

"...I can make out an H-"

[B-BECAUSE IT WAS CALLED.. HAA.... HAAAMAZAING! Because it was so Hamazing. Can't even form full sentences, it was just that good.]

{Pfft, We wouldn't be able to-}

[I WILL GET THE HOSE!]

{Alright, JEEZ!}

>...

"..."

[...Sooo... the usual, you said? I'll get started right away!]

>...
"..."
>...
"...They were talking about-"
>Yes.

"... My brain just replaced whatever we were talking about with petting bunnies. Were they talking about petting bunnies?"

>...Kitties, I think.

"Oh, that's a shame they don't offer that anymore, but I get that cat hair in this place would hurt any customers with allergies."

>...Right...
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>Cheerlie
"Snips"
~~~
>Alright, class, brushes away, it's time to show how you did with your art project. Wonderful, Diamond Tiara, excellent, Silver Spoon, -... You get a d for trying Snails. Oh! Snips, yours is quick wonderful.

"Thank you, Miss Cheerlie."

>But it's missing something... mind if I?

"Sure!"

>A few strokes here and-

Picture related

>... Class... Class I'm afraid it's happening again.

"Miss Cheerlie... We are going to start running, and we will never ever stop."

>A wise choice.
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>Spike
"77"
'42'
[DT]
~~~
'Holy crap, that's a lot of knifes and swords.'

>Yeah...

"And you want us to?"

>Help yourselves to them, maybe hand some to the guard as sidearms, keep'em for yourself.

[Where do you keep the guns?]

>I haven't gotten to where i can make those yet-

[Not interested.]

"Hmmm.. .My bone knife could use a few more throwable companions."

'And while the crystal knives are cool and really sharp, they sort of have the same problem as obsidian.'

>Brittle as hell?

'Oh, yes.'

>I'll grab a cart for you guys.

"Hmmm... I do like this sword. It's a bit crude and simple, but that's what makes it beautiful."

>Huh? Oh, that's Kamate, actually one of my best weapon works yes.

"'Kamate'?"

'It's a reference to the Book of Nine Swords, it's the legacy weapon related to the Iron Heart style and has one of the best lore behind it besides Unfettered. The name is Goblin for 'It is Death'.'

After moment of silence, 42 blushes

>YES! Shiny said NO ONE would get that!

"Bah, call me when you make the Lich King's blade."

More silence.

>'... Get out.'
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>Suckerpunch
Luna
'41'
-Various Guards-
~Various Changelings~

The lights beat down on the dirty mat of the sparring ring, leaving everything else shrouded in darkness. The roar of the crowd accompanied the movements of both fighters, stallion and...whatever you call a female changeling. Hooves flew, grapples exchanged, submission holds failed to garner the sought after submission.

Suckerpunch panted, swaying as he got up from a failed hoof hook. He glared at 41, who was baring her teeth at him, they circled, getting desperate now...he lashed out quickly, rocking her with a one two punch to the muzzle!

"Yes, she's open now, you may finish her off with an uppercut!"

Suckerpunch tensed, the voice was right, victor was at hand if he would just...

He slipped back, 41 regained her composure and growled, receiving the same in kind from Suckerpunch. They reared back and...

CLONK!

"Art thou kidding us!?"

From where he lay from the headbutt's impact, Suckerpunch opened an eye to see the alicorn storming towards him. He scrambled up at a shaky attention, nearly hitting himself with a salute.

>Your majesty!

"At ease, Guard, what in Equestria was that?"

>Uh...your majesty?

"Victory was at hand, even in something so ephemeral as your dreams, yet you DECIDED to go for the draw. Explain thyself!"

>Well...I mean...this is...it's fun.

"We beg your pardon?"

Suckerpunch looks at the knocked out dream!41

>These fights...with her...and all the other silly stuff, they're all fun. And, well, I guess I feel like if one of is wins...that'll prove who's better and we won't do it anymore.

"...Guard, thou has to be one of the densest members of our military we have ever met."

>Huh?

"We have seen this dream, once before, in the exact same form, but with the players reversed. We have had this exact conversation with the changeling lying unconscious and dreaming not three inches away from you in the waking world."

>Wha-really?

"Yes, it would appear the two of your are in accord on this subject."

>Huh...wow...didn't see that coming-

"Then you are quite blind. Continue though."

>Well I mean, she's the rough and tumble changeling and I'm the chivalrous guard, we don't seem all that compatible.

"Again, flipped, with her saying your exact words in reverse. We would not have intervened, were it not for the odd completely identical dreams."

>Maybe I'll, I dunno, ask her out for some pizza?

"Thou will not need to look far, your colleagues and her's are surrounding you, devouring said food and awaiting your awakening."

>WHAT!? Those jackasses just left us there, not even a drag to the infirmary!?

"It would appear not."

>...your highness can I ask a favor?

"It depends, guard."

>Could you give a message to 41? Just tell her 'Ten Seconds, Go For The Guards'.

"This can be done."

---

In the waking world...

-Yuck, pineapple!? What is this, Stalliongrad, you communists!?-

~You just don't wanna say anything about the pepperoni, you herbivore racists!~

-You think they'll wake up soon?-

~Eh, who kno-~

>'NOW!'

-~OH SHI-!-~

Suckerpunch and 41 leap past each other, hooves flying, each attacking the opposite of their faction.

-My spine!-

>Damn, nice backbreaker!

'Took a while to get it right-'

~BI DOSE! YOU BROGE BI DOSE!~

'That's a helluva cross, by the way.'

>Aw, you're just saying that!

-My leg! I can't feel my leg!-

>Hey you wanna get some pizza after this?

~You punched my horn off!~

'Their pizza or new pizza?'

-Why can I see my spleen!?-

>New, I can get a discount at Palomino Bros.

~I'm seeing double and they're both punching me!~

'I'm in! Aand-'

~Hurk!~

'-done! Race ya there!'

>Hey wait, do you know where it is!?

Luna walked out of the shadows as the stallion chased the changeling, a smile on her face. Ah, young love.

~I think my nostril has prolapsed, how is that possible!~

Horrible, stupid, high body count young love.

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>Sombra
"Luna"

~~~~~

She sighed as she gazed at the piles upon piles of books kept in her study. A little bit of everything through out the last 1000 years.

"I'm never going to get through all of this..."

Even after all this time she still wasn't caught up, everything was just too new or strange. Why couldn't just one thing have remained the same.
So engrossed in her thoughts, she did not hear the sound of her study door opening.

>Hello, Luna.

The Princess of the Moon's eyes shot up towards the door to see an all too familiar face.

"...You."

There was a moment of intense silence which was only broken by the sound of a bell outside the castle.

>... Three pm... I'm surprised that you're up at this hour.

"..."

>...

The silence was horrible.

>Maybe I shou-

"Stop."

She stared hard into his eyes for a moment before speaking again.

"Why have you brought yourself before me... Mad King. "

Sombra frowned at the title. That wasn't who he was anymore.

>I need to ask a favor of you.

Luna frowned in turn and tilted her head slightly.

"...We are not amused Sombra. You dare stride..."

She paused for a moment taking in his appearance.

"Float into my chambers and ask ME... for a favor?"

>... I know, I have no right to ask-

"NO RIGHT, INDEED!"

She said raising her voice, her eyes glowing faintly.

>I know... Believe me, I know... But you are the only one I can ask.

"If you can make this request of me, than you can ask this of my sister, begone."

>I ask you because she has no right as well.

This made the Lunar Princess pause. There was only so few things that her sister had no say in. So very few...

"What is your request?"

>I wish to travel to your domain.

Of all the things to ask, this was not one she had suspected.

"You wish to step upon my realm? Are you mad?"

She smiled nastily after saying that, realizing the unintended slight. Following her train of thought Sombra's frown deepened.

>I am not that stallion anymore.

“Perhaps, but your actions are just as clear to me as they were a thousand years ago. They might be distant memories to my sister, but its only been a few years in my mind.”

>...

“Why do you wish to travel to my realm?”

>I need to get a Moon Opal.

“... and why would you need something like that?”

>I... I wish to regain my body.

“So that you can live your life of evil once more?”

>So that I may die someday... and find peace.

Pausing for a moment she gazed at him before firmly saying.

“... No.”

Sombra stared into her eyes a moment before nodding.

>... Very well.

Turning away he floated off.

Luna watched him leave before looking back at her books. She stared at them for a moment before screaming and sweeping her desk clear.

“... One thing... just one... is that too much to ask for?”

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>Fluttershy
"Rainbow Dash"

>laa, da-da-daaaa, la~ah, la~ah... la-da-da-da da-daaa...

Fluttershy sung softly, under her breath, as she pawed at the ground with a hoof, feeling in the dirt for something only she could find.

"Uh... Fluttershy? What're you--"

>Shh... sorry Dashie, but I really need just a moment... if that's okay...

She moved forward a few feet, the frustration in her brow soothing as she felt the dirt just below the grass and smiled. Soft, shady, high up on the hill and right at the forest line. Perfect.

>That's good... sorry again, Rainbow Dash. What brings you by my cabin?

"It's okay, Fluttershy, I just... I wanted to talk about... uh..."

>The funeral?

"Yeah!... wait, how'd you know?"

The pink-maned pony dug casually at the grass, pulling it gently aside to reveal the brown underneath as she talked. Occasionally she'd lean in to examine the dirt before continuing.

>It's been on my mind a lot too, and you looked like you needed to talk to someone. I didn't want to impose, but...

"I just... I didn't even know him, y'know? It's not like he was some super-special best friend or-- I mean, not that he wasn't special! I mean, I'm sure if I knew him better, I--"

Fluttershy took a moment from her digging to place a hoof over Dash's mouth, stilling her thrashing mind and smearing a little dirt on the blue pegasus' lips by accident. With that same gentle demeanor, she turned the back of her hoof and wiped them clean.

>I know.

Her horn glowed briefly, a blue-green magic that matched her eyes, as a spade floated from the crate near her cottage. Pressing it into the dirt, she let it go and proceeded to use it with her hooves to dig out a small hole.

>You're busy with the Wonderbolts, and flying is your passion. You don't have many ponies close to you, and who you do... they're like you, focused on the next day, the next trick, the next task.

Scoop, dump. The spade moved methodically in her hooves, a practiced motion.

>So you try not to think about days after tomorrow. It's scary, isn't it? I know it is to me.

Scoop, dump.

"Yeah... but I mean... you hold it together so well... how do you not...?"

>Not what? Cry? Lay down and stare at the walls?

Fluttershy's gaze unfocused a bit as she continued,

>Scream and thrash at the injustice of it? Beg Celestia to make it not so? Search for spells and incantations and potions that would fix it?

She blinked a few times and shook her head, her trip into memories or dark corners of her mind cut short.

"W-well... yeah."

>It's natural to, Dashie. But that's what I realized, you know? It's all a part of nature. I didn't know Bronze Pommel either, I think I might've seen him once when I was searching for one of my clones. he seemed like a nice pony.

She stuck one hoof into the hole she'd dug, the sides of it coming almost up to her shoulder.

>But it's all a part of life. We ponies work hard to make every moment a happy one, and to give everypony who deserves it as many moments as we can. We should. There are only so many moments though, Rainbow Dash. That's why we hold funerals, I like to think.

Looking over to a small pine box, she willed it over and placed it into the hole she'd dug. The poor dear inside had been so very sick, and she'd tried everything she could to make it comfortable when she found it, but... there was only so much she could do.

"Why...?"

>To make their last moment, the very last moment when we see them, the happiest it can be. To send them off to... wherever ponies go... with a smile.

And the dirt started to fall back over top of the box. The little animal had loved resting in the shade on this hill, when it was still alive. Only fitting to let it rest there again.

"..."

Rainbow Dash was silent. What was there to say? There was no argument, no debate...

Still, in its own strange way... it made sense. She gave her dear friend a hug, a tighter and longer hug than she'd given in many months.

>And... Rainbow Dash?

"Hmm?"

Fluttershy's hooves wrapped around her friend's in return, gently stroking her friend's mane as the facade of calm, collected Rainbow Dash showed a hairline crack, and a tear rolled down her muzzle.

>It's okay to be sad. It's okay to feel worried and scared and small. That's natural too. Whenever you need to talk, I'm here for you. We may not be able to make every day sunny, but I'll always share my umbrella.

The two stood there, not paying attention to the time, until one or the other broke the embrace. Then Rainbow Dash had more orders to bark at the Wonderbolt Academy, and Fluttershy had more clones she really should be hunting down. They went apart as they had met: no warning, no formality, the assumption they'd speak again soon implicit.

Fluttershy finished her task, scanning the skies as she patted down the last bit of earth. Satisfied that her task was complete, she let a few tears of her own water the sapling she'd placed at the head of the grave. Sadness, she told herself, was just a part of life. Like the rain. It would pass in time.

>...Into each heart, some tears must fall... but someday, the sun will shine...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Chitania
"???"
~~~~~~

Oh my!

What a glorious day for a war!

A gleeful cackle escaped her lips as yet another luminous, starlight being became naught but paste beneath her hooves. It joined beings of every size, from tiny sprites to the grandest of creatures seemingly formed from a mountain itself! No matter how big or small, they fell all the same.

At last...

AT LAST!

The throne on high! The grand and lustrous seat of power from which these creatures one ruled. Hers, at last! The godhood she so richly deserved! The power to command the very fabric of reality! To reshape it in her will. She was the tallest now, the grandest, the most-

"Are thou quite done posturing?"

Were she a better infiltrator, perhaps she could sufficiently hide the rage as her world melted away. Alas.

>...There is no part of you I do not hate right now.

"Oh, we are so apologetic, monster. Did thou wish to delude thineself a little more?"

>It will be a reality, one day.

"Oh, we are sure. Someday thou shalt smite all those above and terrorize the world."

>Maybe you deserve to be terrorized.

"And perhaps you deserve to have thine head in a basket for all to see. But we are not here to argue semantics."

>Then why are you here?

"To deliver unto you one final warning. Your end is near, Chitania. The time when we close in and meet face to face is coming once more, we have foreseen it."

Slowly, a grin crossed her face.

>Foreseen it? Well then, you have nothing to fear, do you not? For you clearly foresaw your victory as well, right?

The air went still.

>No? You didn't see that part? Perhaps something... altered your reception capabilities. Altered them all over the floor.

A massive plume of darkness exploded from in front of her.

"WE SHALL NOT BE THE ONE TO MEET OUR END!"

>Oh? You think you can run away fast enough?

Furiously, the dark shape began to recede.

"One day, Chitania the Titan... one day. We shall- GLK!"

The deathly air took on an uneasy silence.

>...

Though she realized it was madness to think, she would swear she heard the clattering of something against wood.

"What the devil!?"

She could not see the shadow-mare, but she could hear the grunts of frustration.

"CONFOUND IT!"

>Are you... alright?

"Thine trickery is no match for... BLAST! IT'S TANGLED INTO OUR HAIR! GRRR!"

>What are you doing?

"NONE OF THINE CONCERN YOU FOUL- CURSES! MINE CROWN!"

Slowly, using every bit of mind magic she could conjure, which bluntly wasn't much, she dispelled the illusion before her.

Finding Luna on the other side, limbs askew in every direction and her hair up in knots, struggling aimlessly as she floated.

"STARS ON MINE FLANK! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!"

>What... what are you...

"AWAKEN!"

If she hadn't been so utterly baffled, that might have registered.

>...Wha-

"WE COMMAND THEE! AWAKEN AT ONCE-"

~~~~~

Wearily, the great Changeling's eyes fluttered open. In her sleep deprived state, she could just barely notice the sound of something clacking against the wall of the cave she slept in. Blurry eyes eventually came to rest on the thing she had stuck onto the wall before she had laid her head.

>...oohhhhhh...

Barely processing her own actions, she flipped the dreamcatcher over, resulting in what she would forever swear was a squawk of surprise and the sounds of crashing glass.

>I had it backwards.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Celestia"
~~~~~

>Hey, Celestia? I... I had a question.

There has never been a terror like the one that just gripped the alabaster alicorn's heart. This balcony had brought her nothing but heartache, she knew. She regretted ever rebuilding it.

"...Oh?"

>Yeah. Look, you know I trust you, right? You know that no matter what, I know you want what's best for everyone and you do your best to make it happen, and you will plan it out to make sure you're not just rushing into it. I trust you, really, I do. But...

Her chest suddenly felt too tight to hold in that sigh that escaped her, and she could not help but turn her head upward into the night sky.

"Shining Armor, I'm... I'm not perfect."

He just waited, patient as always.

"You're right, I do want what's best for everyone. You're right, I do try to plan, just in case. But I... you're not the only one who trusts maybe a little more than they should."

>Celestia...

"No, I understand. My kingdom did not fall to as it is out of malice, we both know this. Nor did it become as it is out of my lack of desire to help. I just... I want to believe they can handle it, you know? I want to believe that I taught them right, that they learned and do not need me to hover over their shoulders. That they are not helpless little things that wait for me to come in when they mess up. I... I overestimated Spike, just a bit. He seemed like he had it all planned out. He seemed like he had taken my lessons to heart and had figured out a way to push Chrysalis on the right path, or at the very least let us deal with her before she went further down the wrong one. I trusted, Shining Armor. I trusted, but that is all. I'm sorry."

Slowly, he walked next to her, staring out over the city that, for the most part, had returned to it's former glory.

>...I understand. Believe me, I understand. I think we're both more than a little similar here.

Sadly, he lowered his head.

>I want to see the good in everyone, really. There's... there's so much love in this world. Everyone has some in them. Everyone. And I don't want to just give it. I want to help them discover it. I try, really. That's why...

A white wing folded over his shoulders.

"That's why it hurts so much when they have to do it on their own."

>That's why it hurts so much when they have to go through it, and I'm miles away.

"That's why it hurts so much to stand above them."

>Not walk beside them... and guide them.

"Did we do enough?"

>Did we show them right?

"Do they understand? If not..."

>...How can we show them?

They drew in close to each other, white sides pressing against white sides as two pairs of misty eyes stared upward at the moon.

"If we didn't do enough..."

>...How can we fix it?

The air was cold, and still.

"...We can't do it alone, I know that. I knew that one thousand years ago. Doing it alone will only end in failure, and heartache. I've seen it."

>I know... alone, we will lose our way... but...

"...But that doesn't make it any easier."

>...Tia?

"..."

>...Thanks. I wouldn't be here without you. No matter how much it hurts... I'm luckier than I could ever have dreamed.

No more could she hold in the tears.

"I had nothing to do with the stallion you became, Shiny. You did that all on your own."

>No, you're wrong...

Softly, his head came to lay against her neck.

>...This one's all your fault.

For the first time in the minutes that felt like years, she smiled again, and laid her cheek beside his horn.

"...I know..."

The night would roll on, unnoticed to the two old friends who sat atop that balcony. They had the world on their shoulders every day, they knew. Lives depended on the trust, on the love, they gave to those around them. Any failure would be a mark to their heart, they know. The weight was heavy, indeed.

But maybe... maybe it's not so powerful a weight, if it is not carried alone...
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