Won't Drown

by The Red Parade

King of Leaves

“Then it is settled? We are all in agreement?”

There were a chorus of nods around the table. It seemed that even Starswirl was anxious, judging from the way he kept rubbing his beard. He gave a haggard sigh and lowered his head. “My friends, I am truly sorry. Were there any other option, I would gladly put it forward. But this monster, this being that we once called our friend… it threatens the world like nothing we have ever encountered. There is no greater sacrifice I could ask of you than to lay down your lives for that of your home.”

The silence hung heavy across the room. A myriad of expressions dotted the faces of Meadowbrook’s friends, ranging from fear to concern to resignation. Each of them knew of the chance that one day they wouldn’t return from a fight. But none of them had expected that day to ever come.

“Our world will thank you for its sacrifice,” Starswirl continued, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “Gather your things. And make amends should you need to. Tonight, we will make our final stand.”

The Pillars slowly filed out of the room, moving like ripples in the ocean. Meadowbrook moved mechanically, her mind refusing to accept what her ears had heard. She found herself in her room, holding her mask in her hands.

“Meadow, my love.”

Somnambula’s delicate voice radiated from the doorway.

Meadowbrook looked up and offered a small smile. “Well, I guess… I guess we’re out of time,” she replied sadly.

Somnambula lowered her head in shame. “I apologize for what I said,” she whispered. “You are my light, my world. I am ashamed that I hurt you the way I have.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about that.” Meadowbrook set her mask on the table and trotted over to lay a hoof on Somnambula’s cheek. “I am sorry I wasn’t brave enough to face my fears. You were right, your love should have been enough.”

“Then I suppose we are both fools,” Somnambula chuckled. “Fools for thinking that we had more time than we did.”

“The universe is a cruel goddess,” Meadowbrook replied. She leaned in and Somnambula returned the motion.

In that second, all the water drained away. Nothing else mattered other than the mare in her hooves, and Meadowbrook felt that she could finally breathe again.

It wasn’t long before they broke, trembling in each other’s arms. When they pulled away they were crying, as the weight of the world came surging back in. “We’ve wasted so much time,” Somnambula sobbed, “and now it is gone.”

“Don’t cry for the time that’s gone,” Meadowbrook replied with a smile. “We have some time left. Let’s enjoy what we have left.”

“You always were the wiser one,” Somnambula replied with a smile. “The queen of my kingdom.”

“But without you, I’m nothing more than the queen of cowards,” Meadowbrook answered, leading Somnambula over to her desk. “Let’s enjoy this one last night together.”

Somnambule nodded, gazing into her lover’s eyes. “I will love you forever, Meadowbrook,” she whispered with a teary-eyed smile.

“As will I,” Meadowbrook replied, beaming. “As will I.”

---

“We did not bring you here to fight you,” Starswirl declared, his horn beginning to glow. “We brought you here to banish you.”

The Pony of Shadows’ eyes grew large as magical energy began to crackle through the air.

Meadowbrook breathed heavily from behind her mask. Her heart and blood roared together in her ears, as sparks of color danced across her field of view. She scowled, biting her lip, and tried to focus on Starswirl’s words.

But her gaze drifted to Somnambula, as beautiful and radiant as ever.

And she began to calm.

Her scowl melted into a smile, and she closed her eyes in resignation.

“NO!”

The Pony of Shadows roared, and a pure white light enveloped Ponehenge. Meadowbrook exhaled and felt a strange, warm feeling overtake her.

“I will love you forever, Meadowbrook.”

“As will I.”

And with that thought, Mage Meadowbrook drowned.

Comments

[Emotion Nexus]

Might wanna fix that description Red, seems a bit broken.

[Nailah]

Dawwwh. This was both powerfully emotionally driven, and a look back at the Pillars, a side of them we didn't get to see in the show.
I really like that you choose to have Meadowbrook and Sommubula be the focus of the pece, as they are very interesting in their own regards.
I knew who the thief was right away, but that wasn't important.
It's the overall weight of the emotions that were felt, and how they both have to deal with how to work through it together, and showing that Meadowbrook was the one that needed support was a nice touch. As healers are often depicted as being strong, even they can be fragile.

[applezombi]

A great story leaves the reader begging for more, even while it opens wide the imagination for what could be.

Clearly, I choose to see this ending from the standpoint of Hope. Obviously we know how the fight against Stigian turned out, and Starswirl's eventual 'softening', so it's easy to speculate a happy ending for the couple. On the other hand, leaving that ending in the dark is the right touch of bittersweet vagueness.

I loved it. Thank you so much, it was fun and sweet. The visuals were beautiful and touching, and the dialogue was intense and nuanced. Most of all the use of symbolism throughout, the rain and the drowning, was a masterful touch.

[The Red Parade]

10579856
<3 I'm so glad to hear you liked it! This was an interesting and challenging piece to write, but if you're happy with it then I'm happy. Happy holidays!

[The Red Parade]

10579789
Thanks for all the great feedback Nailah!

[Wheezyandbreezy]

Yees. Yees. So much gay pony. This exactly what I crave in fanfiction. Thank you The Reed Parade. Excellent story telling, melodrama, the works. Could've used more lesbian horse kissu kissy, and a few small typos, but otherwise an excellent piece of gay ponies. A like button thoroughly smashed, and a follower gained

[Silver Mint]

My only regret is that I didn't read this sooner. Despite a few typos here and there the story was excellent, it's one of those stories where even if you know the ending you're hooked because it's all about the journey.

Really, just wow.