As a child I've grown up mostly around unicorns. My parents are unicorns, the children at my school were unicorns and the librarians at my local library were unicorns. But that didn't mean that I was oblivious to the other breeds of pony. In my youth I was particularly fascinated with the pegasi, in the periods when I didn't have my head in a book otherwise occupied. Unlike the earth ponies they had a sense of grace, wonder and mystery. It was always a joy to see them soaring through the sky or arranging the weather for the day. As an earth bound pony, it was the inevitable dream of mine to one day fly through the sky. To feel the sun on my back and the wind in my mane with not a care to tether me to the ground. Needless to say I quickly realised the silly nature of such a desire and directed my focus to my other studies.
However as I fell through the clouds, the wind whipping my mane and tail around, all I could think of was the ground rushing to reclaim me. The startled form of Rainbow Dash flaps on the spot next to where I'd appeared. By the time she snaps back to reality I've already fallen for a good five or ten seconds. I'm quickly picking up speed as gravity rushes to return me to my place on the ground, I am still screaming. I see the blue form above me drop into a steep dive heading straight for me, her wings pumping hard. In less than ten seconds flat she's positioned herself below me, trying to halt my rapid decent. We start to slow down but the weight of another full grown mare is proving to much for my rainbow manned friend to negate. I watch with a horrified expression etched onto my face as I finally land in the earth's rigid embrace. The sound of snapping bones fills my ears.
As I lie on the ground, broken limbs sending white hot waves of pain along my nerves. I find myself thinking back to the seconds before the impact, when I snapped out of panic mode and time stopped. All of a sudden everything became crystal clear, I noticed every detail. I counted the hairs on Rainbow's head and the leaves on the tree twenty metres away. I new how fast we were going and that if I didn't do something Rainbow would die, crushed underneath me as my body continued under speed. I readied a teleport spell, but I didn't have time to enlarge it to take the two of us. But that was okay, for some reason I felt that I would survive this. The second finally began to slip out of my grasp as my spell flickered brilliantly to life and out again as crashed into the ground directly below where Rainbow Dash had been not a second before. I feel a breeze flutter across my body before darkness replaces my vision.
==*==
Lights strobe in front of my eye lids, the dancing spots causing mild pain at the back of my eyes. I lift my leg to shield my face from the lights, it works so I open my eyes. A grey cloudless sky stretched into eternity above me, I am in the Grey Domain once more. I sit up, my leg still sheltering my vision. The odd texture of the grey grass briefly captures my attention as I cause it to rustle when I sit up. But only for a brief moment as I look towards the source of the bright light, which has now disappeared. Standing before was of course the pony of light, his form still an eclectic assembly of light and purple. My own sections of light cast a dim glow the same as the entity before me. The thought occurs to me that I am the reverse of the being before me, where it is made of light I am made of flesh and bone covered by a purple coat. That would then suggest that I am becoming a creature of light, a primal force, at least in part. An interesting notion, one that I raises questions for which I haven't an answer. My attention is quickly grabbed by the pony before me speaking. The sound is like a scent on the breeze, light and fleeting but at the same time powerful and permeating everything.
==*==
“The time is growing ever nearer Twilight. As you can see the transformation is well under way, though there is much I still need to do. Revel in my gifts and know no fear, for you are my chosen. The Eternal Sun will guide you through the final stages, but now you must awaken.” says the primal being, it's sudden shift from silent observation to verbal communication surprising me. As it speaks the last sentence I find myself opening my eyes.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The heart monitor continues it's vigilance, that single monotone sound filling my world even as I lie on the hospital bed. I find myself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling one again. The dim light fixture on the ceiling flickering at seemingly random intervals. The white painted ceiling fills my world, the world populated only by the regular beep of the my ever vigilant sentinel. Slowly other sounds begin to filter into my own private sphere of conciousness. Nurses walking up and down the hall. A baby starting to cry. A pony sleeping soundly. Another sobbing, deep racking sounds the betray a repeat event.
These last two are close by, in the room perhaps. That makes sense. That is logical. I tear myself from the new plane of existence I had created for myself and turn my head to the right. Kneeling on the floor, her head resting on the bed. Tears running from her eyes to land silently on the generic cream bed covers, is Rainbow Dash. Her mane is unkempt as usual, but the situation lends her look a tone of self-neglect, emphasising the overall emotions of pain, sadness and failure.
Sleeping on the small couch set against the wall, lies the pristine form of Rarity. Her mane showing signs of neglect, though this is more likely due to the lack of equipment required to maintain it than out of lack of interest. Returning my gaze to the distressed pegasus, I try to speak. However, my mouth is locked by a brace. This realisation makes me deduce that I had not broken my neck in the fall and also that I am currently on strong pain medication if I am not feeling anything. I feel my eye lids begin to get heavy, I won't be able stay awake for much longer. The cool breeze of my magic washes over my head and down my torso as I prepare the spell in my mind. In the back of my mind I notice something different about my magical discharge, something uncontrolled. Then I finish and release the spell from my horn, a low glow emanating from it's tip all the way down to the base. With the link established I start to speak in my mind.
“I forgive you Rain-” I think as my mind is slowly pulled back under by the darkness. The words speak themselves into Rainbow's mind even as I say them, my eyes already shut as I drift back to an artificial sleep.
==*==
Darkness. Never ending. All encompassing. Darkness. I feel myself floating aimlessly in this empty void. Where am I?
“You're in your mind” I hear myself whisper. Why am I here? “You're here because you want answers.”
As I float there I consider the situation. I am in a void created by my subconscious, ostensibly because I want answers. But if this is my mind, then can I create other things here also? An interesting proposition, it would make sense but in saying that I am in a world not governed by sense. I decide to test this concept and imagine a solid surface beneath my feet. No longer an I floating, I find myself standing on a hard floor of unknown material. I can't see anything, I need light. And there was. High above me is a bright sun, it's light ridding the void of it's black nothingness. I can now see forever in each direction, just a white surface under a white sky for as far as the eye can see. But like the void, the sight of a never ending horizon is extremely disconcerting, I need to create an enclosed space. Around me the tree that I call home materialises, as though it had never not been there. However there is one last thing I need, a companion. I wonder if I can create something that complex. Maybe I can't, but perhaps I can copy something that complex.
Walking outside, I marvel at the sheer grandeur of this empty world. Unlike the fake, virtual world that was created when I work up. A world based in one reality but separate from it. This is a completely realised, blank surface on which life can be created. I reach a spot several meters from the house and remain facing away from it. Kneeling down with one leg I place my horn against the ground before standing back up straight. As I do so, a plane of mirror glass rises ever showing my reflection.
Staring at the image I realise just how much I've begun to change. My legs are longer, slimmer, more like the princesses. So to is my body my akin the royal physique, though it is by no standard the same. It is clear to me that I am changing, growing, into the almost unique forms of the three princesses. I can only image the changes that are still taking place and those that are yet to begin. The only question remaining is the reason for these changes. The spirit of Gaia alluded to an ancient pact, one that Celestia would have knowledge of. I decide to shelve these thoughts for later as I shatter the glass with a touch of my horn. Behind the now broken pane, stands my reflection.
“You are Dawn Glow, for you are made in my image.” I speak to pony before me.
“I am Dawn Glow. I am made in your image.” It replies in a monotone voice, completely devoid of emotion and personality. You could almost be tricked into thinking that it was a real pony. It's eyes begin to explore it's surroundings, this doesn't take long considering the circumstances. Finally it looks at me again, it's blank stare taking in every inch of my body. It tilts it's head to one side, hair hanging limply in the still air before speaking again. “Mummy?”
To say that I am shocked would be to state the blatantly obvious. This is odd, but not an unreasonable result. Dawn is an image of myself, but an image is not a perfect copy. It lacks the memories and knowledge stored within me, it is a perfectly reasonable deduction that it would assume me to be it's mother. In addition, it is possible that it was partially aware during it's creation given my intent and the nature of the process used. If that is the case then it could have potentially perceived me and imprinted. But none of this matters, what can matter in a world of dreams.
“Yes Dawn. I am you mother, now let's go inside and find something to eat.”
“Okay.” It replies cheerily as it follows me into the imitation tree house.
I sit it down at the table and wander into the kitchen, taking food and plates out of the various cupboards as I go. I think a simple daffodil sandwich with some orange juice will be fine. I quickly prepare the two sandwiches and take them out to the table. Where I find it eating the table cloth, I sigh as I place my hoof on my face. For it's part, Dawn just turns to look at me, the cloth spread before her leading up to her mouth. Why am I surprised. Release the food from my magical grasp, placing it on the table before extracting the table cloth from my images mouth. The corner is damp with saliva, gross. At least we're in a dream world, I can just conjure up another. I apply some thought and the next instant the table is covered once more by a red and white checked cloth.
“You silly filly, you're not supposed to eat that.” I say as I magic the image's sandwich in front of her. I take my own as I sit down, taking a bite while ensuring that it sees me. I savour the flavours, it's strange. The daffodils don't taste like daffodils, they taste like chocolate coated strawberries. But then again I did feel like some strawberries. Perhaps my imagination is shaping reality even as I perceive it. I wonder if there are any other changes I haven't noticed?
I finish my meal and help Dawn finish it's own before cleaning everything up. It's education time. If this is a dream world, I shouldn't need to sleep and if I don't need to sleep in conjunction with a completely malleable world. I can do any experiment I've ever wanted, but first I need to bring my reflection up to speed. This is a dream after all, I have all the time in the world.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 15
Education is going well. Dawn has shown an appetite for knowledge like myself. I predict that within one year we'll be able to cover most of my previous education. After all who better to explain everything than your better half? I've also noticed Dawn developing more of a personality, it makes sense, she's already an adult in form so he mind's trying to catch up.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 30
I've come to like having Dawn around, she fell over a rock today while out walking. I've never comforted someone like that. I wonder if my mum felt like this?
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 350
We've finished advanced Biology and review the basics. Knowledge retention hasn't proved an issue as I thought it might. Dawn has been acting strange over the last couple of weeks, I thought that being my reflection she'd be like me. But aside from a hunger for knowledge, she is a completely different person. I still can't believe I created it.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 475
She seems to be going through the stages of emotional growth as normal. I estimate that within the next two years she'll be well into her mid teens emotionally. Dawn wrote a poem for me today, it's nice to see her learning things on her own. I pinned the poem on the message board, she seemed happy.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 890
I caught Dawn touching herself this morning. I'm not sure what this means. She's not a real mare, just my reflection. I can't help but feel uneasy around her when we're reading.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 1125
Dawn yelled at me today while we were testing the effects of extreme heat on various heavy metals. I'm getting concerned. She seems so frustrated, I hear her crying in bed sometimes. I just don't know what to do.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 1300
Dawn has run away. I don't know where, with all the various environments I've imaged she could be anywhere. It started when she kissed me this evening while we were lying next to each other reading some fiction novels I'd remembered and conjured up. I shoved her away, yelled at her. I told her we can't do that sort of thing, a daughter shouldn't kiss her mother. She ran away in tears. I can still feel the warmth of her mouth, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm a terrible mother.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 2000
I've given up searching my dream land for Dawn. She's somewhere out in the endless wilderness I've created over time, all alone. I still regret how I reacted to her kiss.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 2550
Today my daughter marshalled an army of dream beasts and declared her intent before charging across the dust plains of the east. Although extensive, Dawn's knowledge is nothing compared to mine. Her creations are ramshackle and primal, though nonetheless ferocious. But this is my world to control and dispose of the legion with ease. I ask her why she doesn't come home. She says she can't stand the sight of my face any more, before teleporting to a place unknown.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 3000
I grow weary of this world. I spend most the time perfecting my ecosystem, it's rather like being a god. But I am no god, to marred by imperfection. My greatest success is also my greatest failure. I know I could destroy everything in the world and find Dawn. But she deserves the right to live, it's been a long time since I've though of her as an object, just a figment of my imagination. I shan't resist should she return, I simply await the end of this living hell.
==*==
Daily Diary Entry 4000
This is my last entry. Dawn has granted me this last request before I hang. She is no longer my daughter in appearance, I don't know what she is any more. I pray to Celestia that she finds happiness where I've known none for so long. I love you Dawn.
==*==
I feel the harsh caress of the noose around my neck, the course wood of the hastily constructed gallows. Dawn Glow's minions gather before it, they've evolved significantly since I last saw them. Given time they could very well become a modern society like the ponies of Equestria. The Sun glares down, covering the gathering in a summer's warmth.
“Any last words Mother?” Spits Dawn Glow, her spite and hatred writhing visibly from her body.
“I love you and always will, my little ray of sunshine.” I whisper so only she can hear. I feel the noose tighten around my neck. Nearby a bird calls to it's mate, receiving a reply in turn. Beyond the legion of dreams I see the fields of poppies swaying in the wind. I would not wish godhood on anyone, not even my worst enemy. The floor drops away from my feet.
Snap.
The world crumbles around me as everything is consumed by the darkness from whence it came.
==*==
I open my eyes to see a familiar ceiling. A deep breath releases from my lungs before drawing a new one back in. I feel a tear run down my cheek, a feeling pained loss seated deep in my heart though I know not why. I repeat this a number of times before I voice interrupts the cycle.
“Twilight! You're awake!” says the surprised voice of Rainbow Dash, who promptly drops the cup of coffee she had apparently been holding when she entered the room, as she rushed over and hugged me. The embrace was tight, I let out an audible squeak of pain. My assailant quickly disengages and takes a step back, a pained expression on her face. “Oh Twilight I'm so sorry! I forgot!”
“That's okay Rainbow, I forgive you.” I reply as I wipe away the tears, before I realise that the brace that had prohibited my speaking the first time I woke up was gone. “How long have I been asleep for?”
“About six days now, the doctors are surprised that you are even alive. That fall should have killed you, should have killed us both.” stated Rainbow Dash, a pained expression still returning once more. Head looking down at the floor, she says quietly “I'm sorry, I should have been able to save the both of us. But I couldn't even save myself.”
“I already said I forgive you and I'll say it over and over again till you forgive yourself.” I reassured the young mare. At which point the ever beautiful form of Rarity walked in followed by my other three friends. I prepare myself for the chorus of surprise, sympathy and get well wishes along with the inevitable hugs. I provide the requisite replies, hugging in return, reassuring those that need it and just generally playing the part. We all have roles to play, nothing can change that, whether we to or not.
Eventually everyone decided to leave when a doctor came in to check up on me. I asked Rainbow Dash to stay behind, I still needed to talk to her about my living situation. And I suspected more reassurance concerning the indecent.
I talked to the doctor and he explained to me that the fall should have killed me. From the estimated height from which I'd fallen, then landing on open ground, I broke my back in several places. This in addition to several ribs, the back of my head and my pelvis. Not to mention the damage done to my internal organs and circulatory system. Quite frankly, he stated that I am a medical mystery, nay a medical impossibility. He went on to inform me about the rapid repair of my injuries and the physiological enhancements that I have been slowly receiving. Noting my earth pony like musculature and slightly enlarged form. I was patient as he explained all this, waiting till the end to tell him that I understand and that everything is under control. After which her left, leaving me alone in the room with Rainbow Dash. The tension was palpable. I decide to speak first.
“How are you feeling?” I ask quietly. The question hangs in the air, pregnant with anticipation.
“I don't know Twilight. I still feel like I let you down, like I failed you. I've hardly slept since the incident. Every time I close my eyes, I still see you smashing into the ground. Your limp body bouncing back into the air a short distance. I can still hear the sickening crunch, you have no idea how horrible it was to watch.” she replied, tears held up in the hollow expression etched on her face. A cool breeze floats in form the open window, Rainbow's mane lifts up around the edges. It is a hauntingly beautiful scene. One eclipsed by pain that beget it.
I gesture for her to come closer to the bed, arms out to give her a hug. We embrace once more, I stroke the back of her ever messy mane, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. I remind her of the good she's done, the memories we've collected and the friendship we hold. Eventually she leaves the embrace and returns to standing beside the bed. Now is the time for me to tell her.
“Rainbow, you feeling better now?”
“Yes, thank you for talking to me about it.”
“That's ok, but I asked you to stay back for another reason.”
“You did? What's the matter?”
“Recently I received a letter from Princess Celestia. She told me that I am finished my studies in friendship and will be returning to Canterlot to pursue another field of study. I only have about two weeks left before I leave. This may seem unfair, but the Princess has something extremely important in store, I understand that now.”
“You're leaving Ponyville?
“Yes”
“For how long?”
“I already said. I will be staying there until I am re-assigned or leave the Princess' tutelage.”
“I've got to go.” said Rainbow Dash and with that she flew out the window, leaving me alone in the room. I close my eyes and try to relax in the breeze. As I do so, I try to remember the strange dream I had while under the anaesthetic. But all I can see is a fuzzy image my reflection, for some reason I find myself saddened by the imagery.
Now I just need to tell Pinkie.
Pony feathers.