-What better time than now?

-It's never a good time to confront my greatest failure- Mused the unicorn, exhaling the pent-up air in her lungs. Nothing could honestly prepare her enough to face her again. Her hand trembled on top of the door handle, while her heart beat with an accelerated rhythm.

She took all the courage left inside her and stepped into the room.

-Miss Glimmer!- Exclaimed someone in the middle of the room. He was a rather tall unicorn. His skin was brown. His voice was a little high-pitched for his size, but it mattered little. His short hair hid his horn well. He wore a white gown and some medical instruments were hanging from his clothes. In one of his hands she caught a glimpse of a folder. He had an expression of astonishment, perhaps at seeing her there after so long. He was standing in front of a polished oak double bed. The unicorn swallowed dryly and walked into the room.

-Doctor Favor...

-What brings you here, Miss Glimmer?- The unicorn turned her gaze to the bed, discovering some electronic equipment and analog devices surrounding the furniture. On the bed, covered by a mattress, rested a specimen of her own species- I see- The doctor's flat words didn't faze her in the slightest, having all her attention fixed on the person occupying the bed- She has been stable for the last few months... It's just a matter of waiting for her to wake up...

-If she does- Starlight replied in a soft tone of voice, approaching the furniture. The doctor swallowed dryly.

-Indeed... If it helps to know, the medications you brought have been very helpful, Miss Glimmer. She's responding well to all the treatments.

-...

-Do you wish me to give you some privacy?

-Go get some rest, doctor. I'll take care of her for the day- Said the unicorn, sitting on the mattress and in the process of arranging a couple of unruly strands of silver hairs that fell across the forehead of the blue-skinned unicorn on the bed.

-Very well, Miss Glimmer. Have a good night.

The doctor's footsteps echoed through the room as he made his way to the door, being followed somewhat warily by the unicorn's blue eyes.

When the door closed completely, Starlight let out a listless sigh. The only thing at that moment that defied the empire of silence was the clock hanging on the wall, demarcating with a dry and monotonous sound each second exponentially longer than the previous one. She turned her gaze again to the unicorn resting on the mattress. So fragile in appearance, she looked like a porcelain doll. The mane that she once flaunted and boasted with pride was now unkempt, emaciated. The closed eyelids prevented Starlight from seeing those violet orbs full of vitality, vanity and arrogance... or those orbs that in their last open moments, so long ago, flashed in intensity, bravery and defiance in the face of destiny.

-Hello... It's been a while since I came here... I can't stand seeing you like this, in this bed...

Starlight recalled that fateful day, where everything went to hell for her.

-Argh!

-Are you all right, Starlight?!

-We should have never gone to that place, but my arrogance didn't let me see the danger that lay ahead of us- Muttered the enervated purple-haired unicorn, traces of desolation showing in her faint tone of voice.

-I'm perfect! Of course I'm not fine! I twisted my bloody ankle!

-Damn it! Can you walk?

-Didn't you hear what I just said!?

-I should made you flee away, I should have told you to leave me there… But I couldn't, I didn't want to be alone after what happened with Twilight and the others…

-Fine! I'll carry you.

-Are you crazy? We can't both escape together! Get out of here! Leave me!

-Shut up and hold on to me!

-I wasn't strong enough for you! I wasn't strong enough for you or Applejack!

-They're going to get us! Leave me here!

-Damn it!

-I was terrified. I should have stopped you, but I didn't want to be alone in this world. I didn't want to die alone… I should have been the one to use the dammed spell… but I was terrified of the consequences.

-Back off, you filthy beasts! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE WILL NOT LET YOU PASS!

-I should be the one here in this bed, not you! Why is it always me that gets off the hook while you all go away?!- Starlight grabbed the mattress tightly, her cheeks red from the frustration, anger and sadness while her eyes couldn't stop the flow of tears. Her body was shuddering heavily, her heart, broken, shattered, hurt like hell.

-BEHOLD MY MIGHTY MAGIC SHIELD, YOU SAVAGES!

-TRIXIE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

-Tell me, Trixie! Tell me why I'm still here!- She closed in on the serene face of her friend.

-STOP! YOU'RE DYING!

-Tell me why! Am I here just to suffer!? Just to go on living in hardship, knowing that so many good people have sacrificed themselves for me to live my pathetic life!?

-It is time for the Great and Powerful Trixie to protect you once again, Starlight...

The vision of her agonizing friend smiling to her while a river of blood flowed through her cheeks and chin from her eyes and mouth made her suppress a tearing scream with her hands. Her throat hurt, but she didn't care. Her legs gave up and she kneeled, resting her head in the mattress.

-...

-... I miss you, Trixie. You always tried to cheer everybody up with your dumb magic tricks and your persona… I long just to hear you say once again your name… Please, please wake up… please... I can't go on any longer... Not if they're going to see me the same way I see myself in the mirror every morning...

The unicorn looked for a few seconds at the other person's face, expecting to see those mocking and arrogant violet orbs looking back at her. Instead, her eyelids blocked that vision, rigid in their position. She sighed reluctantly, recognizing that what she hoped for seemed more and more like an ephemeral possibility rather than a forceful reality. He took the silver-haired unicorn's hand gently.

-There are times when I would like to end it all- Starlight smiled bitterly- I look at the revolver for hours, contemplating really ending it all, just to see if I wake up from this nightmare… I wish to go back to Twilight's Castle... I miss being with them. I miss hearing a friendship lesson of Twilight, I miss helping Applejack with her farm, I miss hearing about a new stunt or joke that Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash did. I miss being a model for Rarity dresses, I miss hearing Fluttershy's soft melody whenever she didn't realized that I was there… But most of all, I miss waking up and trying to figure up what mess would either you or Spike would come up with... I miss your eccentricity and self-centeredness, Trixie... I miss you...

She felt a light squeeze on her hand. Her heart began to pound, as a big smile lit up her shadowed face.

-Trixie!?- She asked enthusiastically. However, her spirits withered as quickly as a sunflower in winter when she saw that her hands were still in the same position and that her friend's hand showed no movement at all. Had her imagination been playing a bad joke on her? Was she already delusional? Disappointment flooded every cell of her body and shattered whatever remained of her heart.

Without realizing it, tears began to run once again down her cheeks. She tried to stop them, to repress them, but they continued their way without any control.

She was tired.

She was listless.

She was dejected.

She was overwhelmed.

She was frustrated.

She was hopeless.

She slid into bed, lying down on the mattress and placing her head on top of her friend's shoulder, feeling her friend's light breathing against her hair and hearing her slow heartbeat.

-I love you, Trixie… But I'm afraid... I want to scream, but I can't… I'm afraid that all what I did is lost…

In a short time she closed her eyes, with that stream of tears running down her cheeks, hoping to wake up in a better world.

Hello! I bring to you a new episode, a short one, but pretty packed. Has Starlight finally given up in this nightmare Equestria? Well, next episode you'll see.

¡Hasta la vista!