(Story extract)

Y-you missed this, it was by the door. He’s f-fine… I think… He handed me a crumpled note, myself adjusting my glasses and rubbing my eyes dry, sniffling again. It looked like it was written in a rush. As my eyes scanned the note, Twintails handed me something else, the tears starting to well up again as I got a good look at it. Oh, Cross Stitch… it was a small plushie of Cross, his purple mane falling over the shoulders of his jacket. The amount of care put into the toy I felt myself breaking down again, setting the note to the side and squeezing the plush figure tightly in my hooves, leaning against the heavy steel door. Twintails wrapped his wing around myself again, gently embracing myself, a cool wind blowing in from the door.

‘Minty, Im sorry. I shouldve left when you first asked, I shouldve went with you. I managed to tap into the emergency broadcasting system, but I wont know if you managed to pick it up or not. I tried to get out after you did, but the Overmare caught me. Im honestly lucky she even let me write this… I just hope you find this letter. I hope youre still ok, Minty. Im sorry. Just know I wish Id gone with you every day. I hope we meet again. Your special somepony, always and forever – Cross Stitch.’