“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.