I gently walk down the rocky streets of Ponyville. The streets once full of life are barren and empty a mere memory of how things were. The streets are the same as when they were abandoned, everything preserved in the grey twilight. Looking round as I was I did not notice a small loose rock and it sends me tumbling to the ground with a thud. I let out a small groan without thinking. A small rumble fills the area and I flatten my trembling, frail body to the ground, eyes shut as tight as possible. "Please not like this." The deaths I imagined I'd die were not at all like the ones I ward against everyday in vain attempt to fight. In a way I wish I could die. But alas, as quickly as it started the rumble stops and I let out a silent sigh and crack open my eyes. This is not my death bed. I swiftly pick myself and trot on, looking around warily for anypony anything that may inhabit the desolate streets.
As I trot to my destination, my mind wanders to happier times. I grew up on these very streets. I remember playing on this street with my friend. I had no real problems. I remember I loved the sun. In the morning I would watch it rise and I would feel ever so sad when it set. But, I would remind myself, the sun would always rise again in the morning. I look up and the grey, dark sky. Oh how wrong I was. Still every morning I wake up where the dawn should exist opening my eyes to a smoggy mist. I suppose in childish belief I want to wake up in my mother's hooves as she sings softly a lullaby. For it to all be a dream. For the sun to rise and set but, no matter how much I want, I still wake in the same nightmare I hate so much.
I hooves make almost no noise as they hit the stony ground. Yet no matter how little sound, in the silence, it makes the loudest noise. I look around. I know this part of the town better than any other. I am nearing my house. I brace myself for what will happen next as I see the fog thicken around me. It fills my lungs until I can hardly breath. I breathe the short breaths like I have taught myself even though I want to gasp to get what little air there is into my lungs. I try and calm myself as the horrible burning sensation fills my nose and I just want to lay on the ground and scream. I fight the instinct and, after what feels like forever, the smog clears and I fall to the ground panting. I look up slowly and through my blurry vision I can just make out the shape of my house. I drag myself up and trudge over to my house. Even though my eyes are stinging and I am still gasping for air a tinge of delight fills touches my heart. I'm nearly home.
I remember when I was younger I had boundless energy. My bony legs and sunken eyes are proof that this is not the case anymore. Eventually, even though my pace could be matched by a snail, I finally reach the rustic metal gate. Silently I marvel at how the gate is still standing strong. It has no hitches or rust though, I look up at the empty sky, that is hardly surprising. A small nostalgic smile brightens my face as the gate opens with a familiar squeak. I linger in my smile before I realise where I am. I look around fearfully but I, unlike so many others, am lucky.
I almost bounce into my garden. But one look at it and my heart sinks. In the place of majestic plants there is now nothing. A vast amount of nothing. What I am too used to seeing. The only remains to prove anything ever existed are a few sparse, grey shrivelled leaves that turn to dust when you so much as look at them. I look around but the garden seems as barren as the rest of Ponyville.
I am about to give up and enter my house when a flash of blue enters my gaze. I turn quickly in a fighting stance. I walk slowly towards the blue thing quietly lighting my horn and reaching for the rifle lay across my back. However when I am within viewing distance I nearly collapse on the ground laughing. Standing there harmlessly is my old trampoline. Slowly I circle the trampoline ears perked. I remember this thing. It was a birthday present from my mum. I suppose I never really paid any attention towards it but now I wonder if I knew how good my life was. Slowly I reach out and put my hoof on the trampoline. My hoof is coated in a thick layer of grey dust. Gently I reach out with my other hoof. I smirk. I bet I look like an idiot at the moment but I am too joyful to care. I quietly hop onto the trampoline and it lets out a soft groan. After a moment of decision I begin to bounce. The simple act of bouncing sets of multiple memories in my head and a vivid one takes hold.
"Oh wow muffin. That was so high." The grey pegasus put a hoof to her chest and smiled. The filly, seeing her mothers grin, scrunched her face in concentration and began to bounce higher and higher. "Look Mummy." The pegasus furrowed her brow.
"Muffin, not so high baby." The filly not hearing her mother kept bouncing higher until she lost her balance. The filly screamed as she flew through the air. The pegasus shot after her daughter. The wind made a cone around her as she pushed her wings to their limits. She reached for her daughter. The filly landed, with a small cry, in her mum's arms. The filly looked at her mother with massive round eyes. They stared at each other in shocked silence before the filly burst into tears. She wrapped her forelegs around her mother. The grey pegasus held her filly close, her heart pounding. The filly cried into her mother's coat gradually calming, her mother gently stroking her back.
"I'm sorry M-mummy. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The grey pegasus looked at her with a soft smile on her face. The pegasus gently nuzzled her daughter.
"It's okay baby. Just don't do it again." She said. The filly looked up with wide, innocent eyes.
"I won't." She whispered then snuggled into her mothers fluffy chest. However she quickly looked up, a frown on her small face. "Will you always be there to catch me Mummy?" Her mothers smile faltered.
"I w-well yes o-of course I will." The grey pegasus's gave a fake weak smile. The filly raised an eyebrow.
"Promise?" The pegasus smiled sadly. She nuzzled her daughter.
"Promise."
I look down sadly as I remember my Mother. If only she had kept her promise. I- I can't stay on here any longer. The past needs to be left behind. It doesn't exist anymore. With a small bounce I depart the trampoline. I shake to relive my head of its thoughts but, against my best efforts, a few small tears slip down my face. I look towards my house and start walking, trying not to look at the trampoline but it feels like it is pulling me back. The memories speak to me. "Come back." They whisper."We can stay in the past. We don't need to face the future. Stay with us." I really want to turn but I know if I do I will stay and won't leave. I force my head forwards and kept walking even though my body was screaming at me to turn and to stay. To forget all my problems. Tears stream down my face as continue forward and I grunt with the effort. They grow louder and I let out a piercing scream.
Finally I reach the house. I pull myself inside and slam the door. The memories fade into nothing. I breathe in and out. It is silent once again. As I wipe my wet face I realise that the ground isn't shaking under my feet. A bitter taste fills my mouth. The past really does ruin everything.
I look around the house. My eyes quickly refill with tears. The house is exactly how we left it. It even still has the scent of home I knew so well. The walls are still a comforting blue. All of our trinkets are there. A few photo's are still on the mantle piece. If I close my eyes I can imagine it never happened. I am coming home from school. My Mum is still at work. I groan at the thought of the homework in my bag. "Baby, wake up we need to go!" I am jolted out of my wonderful daydream by realities cold prying hoof. I hold my tears back. No more tears. I slowly walk through the house, taking it all in like I am an inspector. My hoof hits something on the floor. I look down in surprise and have to gulp back more tears. On the floor is a little doll. It smiles up at me.
She holds the doll in her shaky magic. "This is Bubbles!"
I take a step back as another flashback racks through my body. I bite my lip. Mabey coming here wasn't the best idea. I shake my head and push away my doubt. I'm here now. I have a wish to fulfil. I take a shaky breath and step over the doll. I reach the bottom I keep my stare fixed on the stairs, counting each step to keep my mind from thinking about anything ... unwanted.
I quickly reach the top of the stairs and know instantly where I need to go. I head towards the room. Even though the carpet is rough under my feet, I am acutely aware of the odd feeling of comfort that it brings. The hallway stretches out in front of me and my hooves feel heavy as I lift them. Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop. The sound bounces around in the silence and I fold my ears back trying to tune it out. The hallway is too long ... too short... I really don't want to stop. I will get there too quickly. I keep walking nonetheless. I can see my destination. I want to bolt but, with a stony expression on my face, I walk the last few steps.
The door is brown. A deceivingly warm colour of oak. I press my head against the door and stabilise myself. I can still run now. It is not to late. All of my instincts screaming at me, I slowly pull the heavy door open. When I see inside I let out a small cry. The room is a soft colour of pink. It is full of soft toys, all smiling innocently. In one corner of the room is a small bookcase with a few books on it. In the other corner is a wardrobe. I knew exactly what was in that wardrobe. My Mum was so excited. I feel myself gulping and my eyes wetting. In the middle of the room is a small cot.
I feel something on my head. Instinctively I know what it is. My magic. It is ready. No more stalling. I brighten my magic and focus on the spell. I grunt as my magic sparks into action. I feel sweat travel down my face and I feel a pressure build up around my horn. I start to panic and my magic falters. I push forward. I must keep going. My head feels like it is about to explode. I scream. An explosion. Blackness.
I wake up with the ground rumbling under my feet and my head complaining. I look around. Has it worked? On the floor I see a small bundle. For a moment I feel triumph before waves of grief cover me. I drag myself over to the bundle and gently lift it. In my hooves is a grey, blue maned pegasus filly. She lies silent in my forelegs Her silence speaks so much. I hug her close.
The pool of blood surrounded my feet. I rush over to her. "Mum!" Lying in a pool of her own blood, she weakly at me and hands me a small bundle. In my hooves is a tiny silent filly. She has grey fur and a blue mane. I gulp when I realise she is not breathing. I turn my attention back to my mother. She gasps in her breaths and, through obvious pain, says "She is beautiful isn't she." I stare back at my mother terrified. I don't know what to do. Still clutching the filly in by hooves, I watch as my mother's life ebbs away in front of me. She beckons me closer with a shaking hoof. It is all I can do to come closer. My mother looks at me with gentle strong eyes.
"I love you Dinky." I crouch down, careful not to crush the filly still in my hooves.
"I love you to Mum." My voice catches. My Mum looks at me. she tries to grip one of my forelegs and, careful not to drop the filly, I hand it to her.
"Promise me something..." I look at her and try not to let my shaking voice show.
"Anything." Her grip tightens.
"Please bring Dreamy home for me." She smiles at me and then closes her eyes and her grip loosens and then disappears.
"I won't need to Mum because y-you'll be there with me. Right?" I look at her when she doesn't answer. I shake her.
"Mum." I keep shaking her.
"Mum, Mum, MUM!" I shake her harder and harder until finally I stop and collapse onto the ground sobbing. I let go of the filly and just lie on the ground, blood soaking into my coat, nuzzling until my Mum as the warmth fled out of her.
I pick up Dreamy and shakely stand up. I gently put her down in the cot. I tuck her in and then quietly walk out of the room. I slowly shut the door behind me.
"Goodnight little sister."