mylittlejamjar | Seventh Starfall: Beyond the Pale [Visual, postdated for after the Closing Ceremonies]

[It's about two hours after the appearance of the Pale Pony, and everything that came with it. You might think that things would calm down again, but no.

This time, Flare Star fires up a scroll ~~that she basically pulled straight away from Dust~~ and starts talking, about as seriously as many ponies have ever heard out of her - the exceptions being Queen Chrysalis (who got to hear the tone when she was attacking the pegasus) and Zecora (whom she helped during Nightmare Night).]

The cards've been played. I don't know what kind of feeling that was that I felt back there, but I know it is evil. No more playing around, no more wasting time trying to understand.

I'm not saying that we don't still need to research this nag, far from it. In fact, we need to centralize our research, so that everypony has the same access to it. It's only right in times of war to allow your soldiers to know of the enemy they fight.

She pulls us all in at random, focusing on those with powers, and then every month, she culls. A few more get drawn into her, possibly for keeps. By standing before us today, by proving that she exists, she has declared war. Not on Equestria, but on every last one of our worlds.

Buck compassion, and buck caring for a pony so far gone that she'll steal souls for her own gain.

She needs to die.

Who's with me?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

This goes beyond pride or beyond glory. She dies for the safety of all of our worlds. No dibs, just do it.

If I do it, I will finally prove to myself that I am not a monster. We need to figure out a way to disable those shields of hers as soon as possible.

Remember what I said. If you get in the way, stay out of the way. This isn't about you or any of us, it's about all of us.

[And just like that, Trixie's glare increases.]

Of course I know that! If I ave all of us, then I will be able to forgive myself! I will not be denied my redemption, so you stay out of my way.

...The Pale Pony is my only chance.

Don't expect any support on the crusade to rescue your wounded ego.

If you'd like to help the rest of us with this, then we'll welcome you with open hooves. Your magic would be a significant boost. But we'd be suicidal to all step back just to make sure you get the forgiveness you can't give yourself.

Once you've gotten over yourself, get back to me, Trixie.

...Do you ever wonder what it's like living for years and years until you die of old age hating yourself even the slightest bit? I don't, and I don't intend to find out. You might want to, but not me.

I don't need to wonder. Like I said, get over yourself. If your chapped flank can only be soothed by single-hoovedly taking this thing down, then you're a lost cause.

I-... You-...

[Trixie gets a pained look, but not to the point of crying.]

I don't know how to! That's the thing! I don't know how to ever forgive myself! I never needed to before!

Here's a hint: It's not by beating something bigger. There's nothing harder to beat than yourself.

I should know.

Then I don't know what the buck to do!

[Trixie? Using profanity? That's something you rarely see.]

You can start by taking that thrice-damned ego and stuffing it up your hat! You're so blinded by your need to get better that you aren't actually seeing what you need to fix!

[That's it. She's done. Sorry, Trixie, she's livid enough without you fanning the flames.]

Trixie Trismegustos Lulamoon, you have do not need to prove anything to - if it gives you peace, then by all means join us, but you're no monster. You never were.

[Trixie sneers.]

You didn't see me when I was wearing The Alicorn Amulet.

And is Twilight of Mayfield a monster for what she did while wearing Nightmare Moon's crown?

(Lucia's frown, to coin a phrase, intensifies.)

...No, she was possessed. I wasn't.

[Actually, in a way, she was.]

Night take the cursed thing, yes! You were! That is the Amulet's purpose!

I was corrupted! Twisted! Slowly! One moment, I find myself wanting to defeat Twilight Sparkle in a duel and then move on, the next, I'm taking over Ponyville and enslaving everyone, then the next, I'm plotting treason against The Princesses and using lethal force!

[Trixie flops down on the ground.]

I... I became that, if only for a short moment in my life...

Seventh Starfall: Beyond the Pale [Visual, postdated for after the Closing Ceremonies]

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Jacked. Private.

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