Author's note: Before you start the reading, open this and listen it. This is the theme of this chapter.
Void.
I was in the void.
Empty.
Blank.
Just like my mind.
I had no idea why I was in it. Then I realized.
I am the void.
A distant, weak light appeared somewhere before my eyes. I looked at it.
It was familiar, friendly, but faint and dying.
I had to know what is this light.
I tried to get closer, but I was very slow. I looked at myself.
Light. I was a light just as the one I wanted to reach.
My color was green, just like my eyes.
I didn't know how could I see myself, but it wasn't important.
I was an aura like sphere of green light. I had no obsticles to get through, so I accelerated, and grew closer to the other light.
Yellow.
I got to it fast. It was familiar.
As I began to get closer to check it, it's bright yellow color began to darken.
Then I heard a voice from seemingly nowhere and everywhere.
"Zephyr." It was a mare's voice.
"Y-yes?" I had no idea what to say. "What... Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter anymore, but you have to listen me."
"Why? Who are you? And where am I?" My brain (if it exist for a light sphere) searched through the possibilites, and found only one acceptable answer. "Is this... Death?"
"No. Not yet. But if you don't do what I say, it will be." The voice was frightened and anxious.
"A-alright I guess..."
"Good. There are a few things you have to know before I tell you what to do."
"Okay, tell me."
"So... When a pony dies, her soul will go to a place where she can watch her life... And then choose if she want to start a new one, or leave this world forever."
I started thinking, I never really believed in things like reincarnation, but I didn't wanted to disturb the voice. She continued.
"And if she wants to, she can choose to save one and only one soul she knows... And loves."
"Uhm... And how is this connected with me?"
"In this way."
I saw a flash, and suddenly I found myself at a moonlit field, near the Everfree. I looked at myself: it was the original me again, in full combat armor, but without a scratch.
I looked around. I know this place... This is where...
She died.
I heard the voice again, but it changed and become familiar.
"Yes, this is the place. This is where you are lying on the ground right now."
I turned to the direction of the voice.
It was her. Gemmy.
Her face was sad, I never saw anypony making as sorrowful expression as she at that moment.
"Gemmy? H-how?"
She lowered her head and looked at the ground.
"Zephyr. I was talking about myself. You saw me die."
The realization kicked me in the face: she spoke about that dead pony as 'her'!
"Gemmy...." My eyes watered up.
"No..." She raised her right forehoof. "Tears doesn't help here."
"But..."
She shook her head.
"Zephyr. I'm already dead, and I've made my decision about you."
"What... Decision?"
She walked before me and looked in my eyes.
"I'm going to save you. You were always special in my life, made me laugh, healed my sorrow... And I gave you no chance to show me your true feelings. As my last thing in this world, I choose to save you."
"Wait, why? You have to go? No please no, don't leave me!"
She kissed me. For the last time.
"Zephy...."
"Gemmy?..."
"Wake up!"
"Hhhhhhaaahhh!!!" I awoke with a loud, painful gasp.
I was still in the field, lying on the same spot where the bandit leader pushed me.
With all of my remaining energy I stood up, staggering.
I looked at Gemmy. It was true. She is dead.
But I know her gift will not last too long if I stay here, mourning her.
I began my almost unbearably painful journey to the closest city I know here: Ponyville.
After almost an hour of pain and blood loss, I almost gave up.
The arrow in my chest wasn't a problem, it's force was deflected by my chestplate and it just 'scratched' me. But my wound in my left side was bleeding. Not too much, but enough to be lethal if not tended to in time.
I collapsed.
"This is it. The end of the road Zeph."
I wandered about my family... My friends... And Gemmy finally.
"No. I must go! For her!"
I stood up again, and ignored the pain. I must get into the city, ANY cost!
When I reached the outskirts of the city, it was already dawn.
The horizon was bright red and orange as the sun slowly rised. Maybe this is the last time I see this.
The city was still empty, nopony was around this early.
Except one figure.
It was a gray mailmare with blonde mane and... Wall eyes? She had to do her job early so nopony disturbed her because her eyes, I thought.
"H... Help..." My voice cracked. I was almost out of power.
She noticed the faint cry and looked at me.
Because she was airborne, she saw the path of blood I made.
She flew down to me in a flash and landed next to me.
"Oh my goddesses! Hold on sir, I will help you!" She stated and tried to put me on her back.
"Watch... Watch my left side..."
She checked it and nodded, determination on her face.
"My.. My name is Zephyr Verve... Sergeant of the Royal Guards... 27th division..."
"Ditzy Doo, local mailmare at your service!"
We took off from the ground and began to fly to the hospital.
After a while we were in the hospital where a nurse, Nurse Red Heart as I got know her name later, patched me up, before I was moved to Canterlot where the bigger hospitals were.
The ambulance chariot was about to go when I signed to a nurse to wait.
Ditzy came to me, relieved.
"Thank you Ditzy. I owe you my life." I said, quietly, still in pain.
"Nooo, you don't owe me nothing, I did what I had to!" She smiled at me.
"But... I would be dead now if you didn't save me!"
She shook her head and smiled at me again.
"Seeya sometime later Zephyr. Visit me when you recovered."
"O-okay. Seeya Ditzy."
The nurse closed the door of the chariot and we headed off to Canterlot.