//------------------------------//
// Old Friend 
// Story: Forgotten Romance 
// by Aetaes Wolf 
//------------------------------//

Mystic walks in the statue garden, Celestia guiding her. The young filly looks around, unaware the sister's palace had this. Celestia gives a small smile. "How is your shoulder?"

Mystic's shoulder was free of its sling, though she had to be careful while walking on it. She smiles to Celestia. "It's nice to be able to walk with all my hooves again!"

Celestia gives a gentle laugh. "I bet it is." She looks to Mystic. "You've been studying hard, I think it's time you took a little break."

Mystic tilts her head. "What will I do?"

Celestia smiles. "Whatever you want, you can relax for the time being." Celestia blinks, looking back to the palace. Mystic twitches her ear, following her gaze. A guard stood at the entrance to the palace, looking straight at Celestia. Celestia gives a nod, the guard walks off. Mystic turns her gaze to the white alicorn. Celestia looks at Mystic. "There is something I must take care of, I'll be back shortly." She spreads out her wings, taking to the air and gliding into the palace. Mystic sighs, sitting down. She looks at the statues. 
Many statues filled the garden, some of them creeping her out a bit. Celestia and Luna have become busy lately....

"You're a hard pony to find!" Mystic jolts a bit as the voices calls from behind her. She turns around, a draconequus leans against one of the stone statues, his yellow and red eyes fixed on her. He looked like the Discord statue, but smaller, his black mane longer. 

Mystic blinks. "You....You were in the forest, a few months ago....Wh-when...."

"When the dragon attacked, yes."

Mystic stares at the draconequus for a moment. "You were...Following me?"

The draconequus walks over to Mystic. "Well, I went through all that trouble to get you out of the dragon's path, you run back into it!  I needed to see how much damage you did to yourself."

Mystic narrows her eyes. "I came out alive, that's what's important."

The draconequus shrugs. "I suppose so." He uses his wings to hover in the air, circling around Mystic. Mystic perks a brow as she watching him, after a few moments, he disappears. Mystic blinks, unsure of where he went. "What's your name, anyway?" Mystic twitches her ear, looking forward. She jumps a bit, causing her to fall backward. The draconequus was hanging upside down in the air, his nose had not been that far from her own. He laughs a bit, turning right side up and landing gently on the ground. Mystic gives an annoyed huff, standing back up and brushing the dust off her. "Mystic."

The draconequus smiles. "I'm Shadow. Pleasure to meet you!"

Mystic looks at him with an annoyed glare for a few moments before giving a smile. "Nice to meet you!"

They both turn their gaze to the castle as hoofsteps are heard approaching. Shadow tenses a bit. "I have to go." He turns to Mystic. "I'll come visit. Bye!"

Before Mystic could say anything, he disappears over the wall. Celestia walks up to Mystic. "Sorry, Mystic. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Mystic looks up to Celestia, shaking her head. "No! That wasn't long at all!"

The princess smiles. "Good." She wraps one of her wings around Mystic. "Come, we should practice some magic."

Mystic smiles, following Celestia into the castle.








Mystic opens her eyes, her vision blurred. She looks around, though she cannot make out what's around her. Voices echo nearby, though she cannot make out the words. Her body feels too heavy to move. The voices cease, the room becoming quiet. Mystic is barely able to make out the blurred figure of a pony walking towards her, before unconsciousness once again engulfs her.