Pony POV Dark World Drabbles Twilight: Atonement

Pony POV Series
Loose Canon
Dark World Drabbles
Twilight: Atonement

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "Party At Canterlot Castle"!!!

I'm free…But that doesn't mean the past never happened.

My name is Twilight. For the last thousand years I was Twilight Tragedy and served the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony Discord as his loyal minion. I was also Sparkle, who hated Discord with all her heart but was nothing more than a toy for him to play with. But now, thanks to one little filly brave enough to laugh in the face of tragedy, I'm no longer  Tragedy, Discord's slave, or Sparkle, Discord's toy, I am Twilight, I am me.

---

I put a flower that grew from my parents on the grave in front of me and bow my head. "Trixie…I wish I'd made friends with you in life…may your soul rest peacefully now that your journey is done…and may all of us be forgiven for allowing you to be taken away."

I leave the flower laying there and move on.

---

But washing out the grey doesn't mean I've washed away a thousand years worth of crimes. It doesn't mean all the pain I've caused never happened. It doesn't mean I don't need to atone for what I did.

---

"Thank you all for coming," I say to gathered  the dust maids, making sure no one else is there to see. "…Please forgive me for what I've done to you…You're free."

And they're all gone, back to their world, back to their families and friends. Huh?

"Hey, what about you?"

"Oh, we like it here."

"Oh…Well, that's your choice, I'll leave you to it. You're free to do as you please."

---

There's a difference between punishment and atonement. Punishment is inflicted on someone to make them pay for what they've done. Atonement, true atonement, is making amends for your own wrongdoing. Washing away sins with pure, good deeds.

---

As I walk through the castle, looking at every vase and letting my horn briefly scan it. I don't have time for a more detailed search, I have much to do.

---

I'm making up for my sins, but I'm not letting them crush me.

---

Discord thought it was clever to make a hundred copies of the vase. That it'd keep ponies from finding her and freeing her from her fate, and that sooner or later anyone that could find her would not even know she existed at all.

Being his slave for a millennium did have one advantage; a good assassin is able to find a target when they're hiding. And to do that, you need spells to see someone hiding in nearly anything. And the only way to do that is to look for their aura. And Discord doesn't have the power to copy someone's soul, or was too lazy to do it one hundred times to hide one of his playthings.

Finally, I find the right vase, on a mantle in a room overlooking the gallery were the Princesses and Sparkler are kept. I don't have time to undo those spells now, but someday…

I replace the vase with an identical one for safety, then find as private room as possible and put a soundproof barrier up. I use telekinesis to crush the pot into powder, then light it aflame. I keep an eye out. Discord's eyes are not everywhere. Tragedy tried to tell him that, but he was too busy playing with Sparkle to listen.

Finally, the ashes in the flames erupt upwards, and in an explosion of flames take the form of a phoenix.

As the ashes of the pot settle to the floor. She perches on a table, shaking fearfully. I can't blame her. One thousand years of being trapped between life and death.

"Philomena…I'm sorry for all you've been put through…I'm sorry for everything…I'm trying to set it right…Will you forgive me?"

The firebird looks at me in confusion. I do nothing to hide my emotions. I'm tired of hiding them.

She finally nods slowly, but gives me a glare. I can tell it'll take awhile to truly earn her trust back…I accept that.

"Thank you…" I reply, then follow her gaze towards the gallery. "I know, I want to free them too. But now is not the time," I respond. "Philomena, listen, I know you don't trust me, I don't blame you, but right now, the important thing for you to do, the best thing you can do for Celestia, is to get out of here, to get to safety," I tell her. "She doesn't want you to suffer anymore, I promise when Discord is beaten, I will find you again, but for now, you need to hide. Go find some Changelings, they've been protecting Ponies for over a thousand years now, they'll keep you safe."

Philomena gave a sad look, looking hesitant.

"Philomena…you and I both know Celestia loves you, and you love her. But if she were able to talk to you right now, what would she tell you? Would she say to stay were Discord might torture you again, or get somewhere safe until he can't any longer?"

Philomena looked thoughtful, looking the direction of her master's statue. She then sighed and nodded slowly.

"That's right…please be safe," I tell her.

She flies over and gives me a nuzzle and a little squawk.

"I'll be safe too, as safe as I can be," I said, giving her a genuine smile.

---

I watch Philomena fly off, hiding anywhere she can on the way. It'll be a long, hard road for her…I can only wish her the best.

I set out to make new friends…I think I just made one...Time to make some more.