Whatever sunlight that might have lit the ground below had long since been covered by the numerous and dull-grey clouds than now covered the daytime sky. A light rain had begun to fall upon the ground, and the wind was cold, yet gentle. Atop a small green hill, in the middle of a vast field, was a single headstone, adorned with the cutie mark of one who had passed. The earth beside it was freshly dug, and presumably, also freshly-filled. But the most striking thing about this place was who it was that stood beside it. An alicorn mare, taller than anypony else, who was possessed of a shining lavender coat and flowing purple mane. With a golden crown upon her head, she was the very embodiment of regal grace and nobility. And yet, when she looked upon the stone before her, the look on her face was not one that most would see on a monarch. It was a look of sadness, of melancholy, and of utter heartbreak. A single tear was flowing down from her cheek as she raised a hoof, gently placing it upon the stone.

"I wish...this would just stop."

So engrossed with the stone was she, the alicorn failed to notice the sound of flapping wings beside her. However, when hooves made contact with the soft grass below, and steps towards her could be heard, only now did the lavender Princess look up, her eyes ablaze with anger.

"Why? Why have you come here?"

There was a silence after that moment, and for a time, one wondered if there would be any reply. But, inevitably, there was, as a calm and motherly voice began to speak up.

"Twilight...I came to see how you were doing."

The younger Princess narrowed her eyes at that, finally turning to look upon the newcomer. Sure enough, there she was. Princess Celestia, monarch of the sun, and her once-mentor. But it was clear to all with eyes that there was no love here between them. No warmth. When Twilight looked upon her, it was as if she was looking upon an enemy. Celestia, by contrast, gazed at her former student with sadness and regret.

"Twilight...I know how you..."

But the sun Princess was silenced by a raised hoof from Twilight, who spoke to her with venom in her voice.

"No! I don't want to hear it! Every time this happens, it's always the same! You say I'll recover, that it'll get better. But it never does!"

Twilight spun around, looking at the cold and lonely headstone beside her, with her expression becoming a pained one.

"When I became what I am all those years ago...I believed what you told me. I believed I would take on this burden like you could. When my frie..."

Her eyes shut tight, another tear escaping them to flow down her cheek.

"...when bearers of the Elements passed, one-by-one...I wanted to believe what you said. And I knew there was truth to it. I would make more friends, and they would love me as I loved them. For a time...that was true."

Still keeping her eyes away from the elder alicorn, Twilight's face became more fierce as her words rang throughout her being.

"But...it just kept on happening. Friend after friend. Comrade after comrade. Generation after generation. It...kept...happening."

Finally, she turned, looking upon Celestia with fury.

"And always...I remained. The one pony that stays on the train while others come and go. The only constant in my life...was you...the one who put me here."

Celestia turned away, unable to bear the look her former student was giving her.

"Twilight...I never intended for you to endure such heartache. I never...I never wanted this to be all you took from your ascension."

The younger Princess frowned at that.

"No...you didn't intend his for me. But you intended everything else, didn't you? The great puppet-master, pulling the strings of her little unicorn student...making her just like yourself! It never even occurred to you that I would hate having centuries forced on me like this!"

Celestia looked to her, tears forming in her eyes.

"Twilight...please!"

But the other alicorn looked away, her eyes shutting tightly one more.

"No...I'm done with you."

Celestia raised a hoof, wanting more than anything to call out to her. But her words would not come. Instead, she watched as her once-beloved student, who at one point regarded her with such admiration, turned away and ran from her as if she were a monster. Alone, Celestia finally let loose, collapsing to all four knees and weeping, the rain around her mingling with her tears as it fell to her face. And as for Twilight, she just kept on galloping, crying herself, yet always retaining that look of anger. She didn't know where she was going, and she didn't care. She just needed to get away from Celestia, away from everything. Hours passed as she ran, and in time, she finally exhausted herself, falling by a small woodland. Like Celestia, she too broke down, weeping uncontrollably as her thoughts and words and memories filled her mind, never letting her rest.

"I...I can't! I can't keep going through this! I don't want eternity! Why?! Why didn't I keep them closer? Why didn't I love them as much as I could have done? What can I..."

Opening her eyes at last, Twilight's expression became a steely one as she looked ahead to nowhere in particular.

"I...I...I just wish...I could do it again."

Twilight awoke with a start, letting out a gasp as she sat up straight in her bed. Her breathing was heavy, and her chest rose and fell rapidly as she did her best to calm down. Cold sweat was running down her face as she took in her surroundings. Her bedroom, back at the Golden Oak Library. Immediately, she looked down, seeing the basket beside her bed. Sure enough, Spike was sound asleep within it, and thankfully, he had not been woken by her gasping. With her breathing slowly steadying itself, Twilight raised a hoof to her face, placing it below her eye. As she expected, there was signs of crying in her sleep, and she let out a sigh from this. That nightmare again. Every night. Why? Why can't it just let me be? Lowering her hoof, she looked around, seeing the door to her bedroom. Moving with utter silence, the young unicorn threw back the covers and got out, doing everything in her power to avoid waking her assistant. Eventually, she made her way out of her room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Even through the darkness, Twilight was able to find her way to the bathroom of this place, closing the door afterwards to assure she got some privacy. Moving over to the nearby sink, she turned the tap on and filled the basin with water, after which she took her hooves together and splashed water over her face, hoping to wash away both the sweat and the tears. With water now dripping down her nose and chin, Twilight looked up, right at a mirror. I look terrible. Like I haven't had a good night's sleep in ages. Then again...I probably haven't. Exhaling, Twilight raised a hoof and began nursing her temples. However, as she did this, the memories of her future self continued to pour into her mind, and in time, despite her best efforts, she began to cry again. Why? Why do I feel this way? I...I know why my future self feels it. I see her memories as if they'd already happened. But...I don't want to feel that way! I don't want to feel such anger. Such bitterness. Such resentment. And I don't...

Looking, she saw her reflection, and the tears streaming down her face.

"...I don't want to feel that way about Celestia."

She shut her eyes tightly, not wanting to look at herself. She's my mentor. My teacher. She gave me everything! Without her, I'd have never come to Ponyville, made friends or had all the wonderful experiences I had! And yet...in the future...I feel nothing by anger towards her. Clenching her hooves tightly, Twilight let out a single sob. No! I don't want to hate her! I refuse to hate her! She's...she's like a second mother to me! I love her like my own family! And the way I acted towards her...she probably wants nothing to do with me now. Slowly, Twilight finally opened her eyes. Seeing the grief-stricken face in the mirror.

"What...what have I done?"

Gradually, she narrowed her eyes at her reflection. What you've done? What you've done is act without thinking. Did you honestly think accepting the memories of the future would make everything better? She warned you, Twilight. Your future self warned you that you would gain the good and the bad, but you didn't listen. You just took it as a chance to learn, never once considering the consequences of it. You were a fool! A child! And now, look at yourself, unable to decide whose thoughts you wish to follow! You know exactly why that future Twilight feels the way she does, and why she made this offer. Turning, Twilight looked away from the mirror. It doesn't matter! That was another Twilight! I have her memories...but I refuse to let them dictate what I do or who I love! I...I should have thought this offer through better, I realise that now. My life in the future is a good one, and maybe the future me simply forgot that. She spent so long dwelling on the bad...that she forgot the good. And most of all...

"...I forgot how much Celestia cares for me."

Guilt filled Twilight's heart as she considered that. I...I have to make it right between us. I don't want this rift between us. She's my teacher. My friend since foalhood. I don't want to lose her from my life. I want her to be there for me. I know bad things happen in the future, just like they happen for everypony else, and I was wrong to let that change the way I respect her, and feel close to her. My future self blamed her for all the bad…but that was wrong! It wasn’t Celestia’s fault! She never meant for any of that loss! I was a fool for ever putting that blame on her! And the way I’ve been talking about her…I never…I just keep making mistake after mistake! Realisation crossed Twilight's face as she considered that. Celestia is due to visit Ponyville soon. I'll go to her then. I'll make everything right. I just hope...

She turned, looking right into the eyes of her reflection, a brief glimmer of worry in her eyes.

"...that she'll forgive me."