I still, years later, vaguely remember the shock I felt when I watched that scene for the first time. And the actual, real grief that followed. So weird. But it felt like… losing a piece of ‘home’.

A burned down tree shouldn’t make me so emotional.
Then again, I got emotional when a ship “died” before!

It was only for a moment, just a few short seconds, but as I stood there in the midst of all that smoke and ash, it felt like an eternity.
 
Have you ever had to watch your home burn to the ground? All of those memories, some tokens in physical form like photographs of family and friends… all set ablaze?
 
My eyes welled-up. It wasn’t from the ashes.
 
I stood up from the dirt and let Owlowiscious go, then pivoted on my rear hooves to face my enemy.
 
Tirek smirked at me, a jagged smile full of venom.
 
I glared back at him.
 
It’s almost kind of humorous. All of this time spent studying the magic of friendship, letters upon letters sent to Princess Celestia documenting everything that I had experienced, yet the one thing that I had never learned about was what it meant to truly and completely hate someone.
 
Now I had.
 
“Tirek.”
 
He tilted his head, still grinning as though he had every right in the world to revel in my misery.
 
“Princess Twilight.”
 
I dug a hoof into the dirt as my vision blurred and the color red dominated everything within sight. The sounds of roaring flames and cracking timber filled my ears.
 
So, Tirek wants to conquer Equestria, does he? That’d be an impressive accomplishment, especially without the use of his arms, his legs, or his spine. Maybe his tongue too… not to mention his eyes.
 
I cleared my throat, the heat and soot in the air barely registering to me as the fire inside my chest burned hotter and hotter.
 
As I spoke, the words came out calm and quiet. Almost cheerful.
 
“I’m going to take that grin, Tirek, and I’m going to rip it right off of your face, mouth and all. You see, when you steal, the least you can do is expect someone to steal from you in return. An eye for an eye, so to speak. The magic of our nation’s citizens, the trust of the God of Chaos, my friends, and my home… all of it taken. I think it’s time your theft was re-payed. But I’m not going to steal just anything from you. No. I’m going to steal your life. I’m going to kill you, Tirek. Celestia help me, I’m going to kill you and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.”
 
A brief pause punctuated my promise. I could see the gears spinning in his head, trying to process what I’d just told him.
 
“Hardly heroic words for a Princess to be spouting, don’t you think?”
 
I took my crown and threw it into the dirt, smashing it effortlessly with one hoof. Tirek’s cute little grin vanished as I made eye contact with him. They were no doubt emerald green by then.
 
“I never said that I would call myself a hero after this.”

@Lathius  
So maybe after 2 or 3 more seasons she will leave behind her new crystal friendship castle and move into something more better, more grand, like maybe Canterlot?

@Vree  
Technically she did leave her home behind on the first episode.

@Joseph Raszagal  
 
th-that was beautiful…

Be thankful Twilight, this happens to most heroes on their first episode.

@Background Pony #BCF8  
Also cannot unsee!

I am really curious if that explosion totally killed off that tree, or if it can grow back in season 5.

 
NEVER FORGET

I has a sad nao…

Why couldn’t he just leaf the tree alone ;(

I skipped out on any promo spoilers for the finale, so I had no idea they were going to destroy Golden Oaks Library. My reaction was essentially this: “Holy SHIT!!”

This calls for the 21 Fart Gun Salute.

When this happened I laughed so fuckin’ hard.

@Background Pony #BCF8  
Hey, it does look like a face… A horrible, Lovecraftian face.
 
Thanks, now I can’t unsee it.

It looks like a face.

Oh, the equinity…!!

…

This makes me very sad, A part of me hopes it will just get ignored and everything will be back to normal next season, But then again that would detract from the power of this scene…… DAMMIT! I JUST WANTED TO SEE CUTE PONIES! I NEVER ASKED FOR THESE FEELS!