With a blinding light he evaporated. Before he could finish speaking he was gone. I never got a name for the strange man from another world but he'd willingly given himself for all of us. I didn't believe it at first but he truly was worthy to wield the elements and I see that now. As I looked around the room, the gloom that had shrouded every corner of it before had dissipated and for the first time since our world was plunged into chaos, everything seemed to beam with the colors of life.
Then something caught my eye. A frail scrap of paper lay on the ground where he had last stood. It was the letter. The one possession he clung to to remind him of his daughter. All the colors were gone from it and only the words that were written remained. Long forgotten feelings of joy and happiness filled my heart for the first time but also a deep sorrow for that man that gave us everything. I blinked away the tears forming in my eyes, it was bitter sweet.
“Twilight Sparkle,” called a comforting and majestic voice. My ears perked up as I turned around. To my amazement, Princess Celestia stood there proud and regal as ever. All of my friends there with her, a part of me still didn't believe I'd ever seen them again but just as real as the air in my lungs, there they all were. My heart fluttered and my legs trembled in exhilaration. The fervor was nearly uncontrollable.
“See I told you she was just being an egghead somewhere,” Rainbow said trying to mask her genuine concern with a nervous smile.
“Y'all 'right sugarcube?” Applejack asked with concern. “We've been searching fer ya fer four whole days!”
Four days! Its been four years!
“We were terrified when you went missing,” Fluttershy added in her sweet shy tone.
“She was missing?” Pinkie Pie asked quizzically before she returned to bouncing gleefully. “I thought we were playing hide and seek! You're good Twilight!” she snorted as she giggled.
“Darling you look simply awful, like you haven't slept or showered for day! You simply must let me treat you to the spa. Perhaps after you've gotten some rest?” Rarity inquired.
A smile of relief crept onto my face as my eyes began to water, “I'm sorry everypony, I never meant to worry you all so.” They would never know, they could never know. They were here and that's all that mattered. I let all the memories of our friendship fill and spill over my thoughts as my heart brimmed and swelled with my love for them all. I could ask nor want for anything more.
“Twilight,” the Princess' warm, soothing voice came again demanding my attention, “You know this section of the library is off limits to all ponies.” She smiled kindly.
“I know Princess,” I smiled shyly. “I learned something wonderful about friendship today...”