In a world not unlike our own, there were two humans. They lived peaceably in a comfortable home just outside of a small town. Each had much to give to the other, and each had much to learn from the other as well. Their days were bright and happy.
Elsewhere, a cosmic vagabond ran away from fate in his little blue box, but eventually the drums of his doom would reach him, and they would overtake him, just as the horse of Death’s four hoofbeats pound for us all.
In a distant, wonderfully blessed land there lived six individuals who shared deep bonds of friendship. But as always, there would be trials that would strengthen those friends' bonds in the days to come.
Not too far off was one left all by herself. She had many sad days ahead of her in remembering the days gone by with the loss of one of her most dear friends, but she would find solace even in the ever changing world around her.
In a secluded corner of the world, a disgraced stallion of learning pondered. His stubbornness had nearly brought about an end to all, and the guilt was almost too much to bear. He spent his days seeking purpose, as painful memories from long ago and recent history crowded in.
In a large city there lived an entertainer with a heart of gold. Though her dream had been ravaged by the hooves of another, she struggled to rebuild it, and in the coming months she would provide happiness to many ponies with the gifts she offered.
An equally humbled heart was to be found in the Princess of the Sun, who now concerted more and more of her thought and efforts with her wise sister, the Princess of the Night. Their mutual bond of trust was never greater than now.
A certain wall-eyed Pegasus deserves mention, as it seems that recent events required the position of Chief Royal Science Officer be filled by worthier hooves. She spends her days laboring for the good of others, but now she does it without recrimination or prejudice.
For one being there was now rest. A consciousness that had agonized over the safe-being of all was now at peace, and she reveled in the paradise her children helped to create. She was given a vessel in which to reside, so that her children might readily seek her council at any time.
And far, far below the shining capitol city, deep in the bowels of the former dungeons, there was a chamber; a chamber that could only be accessed by those of calm mind, for those with unharmonious thoughts could very well unwittingly unleash the maelstrom that waited therein. Within that chamber was a seemingly innocuous stone statue, but those who were observant could see a recent change in the shape of that statue, and they might shudder, for what had been expression of terror on the stone chimera’s face was now an upturned smile. Yes, everything had gone better than planned. The danger now being averted, the game could continue, and his turn would come again soon.
THE END