New begginings
Pipsqueak sighed. He sat, alone, on top of a hill, contemplating his existence. He had been doing so for the past four hours, staring off into space, his eyes glazed over. The moon sat high in the sky above him, casting an eerie white glow onto everything in sight. The trees shined, the grass shined, even he shined, which was a first. The grass stretched out on either side of him, moving out of the horizon without break nor fault. Trees stood tall in front of him, an impenetrable wall glowing faintly in the lush moonlight. Behind him, he could hear the sounds of the camp, where he lived, worked and played. Of course, there was very little of the latter, seeing as he was older now, he had responsibility. He had to watch out for those he cared about, those he loved.
This did, of course, include Dinky Doo. As Pip’s train of thought shifted towards the bubbly mare, he couldn’t help but smile. She had brought him happiness in a time of great sorrow. She had brought him back to life when he had been knocking on death’s door. She had shown him the light, and in return, he had given her nothing. She told him that all she needed was to see him happy, but he knew there was more than that. A firefly drifted past his face, snapping his thoughts and bringing him back to reality. He watched it flutter, soaring gracefully in the darkness of the light sky, illuminating all. It dived, then flew forwards, as if it where in some form of danger. Pip’s eyes followed it, flitting over the detailed surface of it’s tiny wings.
His eyes re-focused and glanced towards the forest. It was cold, empty as usual. But something seemed... off to Pip. The forest looked strange.
The forest was glowing.
Dinky sighed, then rolled over, attempting to position herself better. The mattress was lumpy and cold, no longer holding any of the body heat that Dinky had poured into it over the night. She groaned and rolled over again, before sighing and sitting up. She glanced around, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to rid them of her drowsiness. When this proved unsuccessful, she rolled out of her bed and pulled herself upright, facing the exit. She walked forwards, ducking her head low as she left. Outside, the moon shone brightly, covering all with it’s iridescent glow. She smiled, she was always happy during the night. It was so peaceful, so calm. She felt as if she could just float up into the inky black pool that was the sky, and fly forever.
She looked out towards the forest, letting her eyes wash over it’s darkness and serenity. It seemed so quiet, so empty. It didn’t seem dangerous at all. Her eyes darted along the forest’s edge, not sure what they where looking for, but looking nonetheless. They finally came to rest on a hill that stood in front of the forest, bare except for a small brown blob. She sighed, knowing full well what that blob was.
“Oh Pip,” She whispered silently. “How can I ever tell you.” She gazed towards the spot on the hill, a far-away look in her eyes. Something flashed in the corner of her vision, and she snapped back to reality, glancing to see what the light was about.
The forest glowed, and Dinky began to run.
Applebloom sat in her corner, whimpering slightly to herself. She rocked back and forth on her haunches, her head between her knees. Her eyes were wide and unblinking, as if they were held forever in that expression of absolute terror. In her mind, the scene played out over and over again. The scene of that day. Of that minute, that second.
“Applebloom, ya have t’ get outta here,” Applejack shouted, her voice barely audible over the roaring flames.
“But what about you?” Applebloom screamed back, but her words where lost in the wind that whipped and stung against her legs.
“Just remember sugarcube, I love you. I will always Love you.” Applejack turned away from her sister, focusing intently on the raging inferno that swirled around her. Applebloom could only stand and watch her sister’s slowly retreating form as it disappeared into the fire.
“I love you too...”
The sound of hoofsteps broke the still silence that reigned around Applebloom’s trailer. Applebloom stood up, her legs shaking as she took a tentative step forwards.
The forest glowed, and as Dinky ran, Applebloom left her sanctuary.
Twist wandered through the trees, letting her hooves drag through the leaf covered undergrowth. The trees swayed, whistling slightly in the wind, as if whispering. The wind rushed around her, scattering the once dormant leaves, letting them swirl and swoosh through the air. Twist sighed, turning her head to the side and looking back the way she had came. The path was long and windy, leading quite a distance away, before disappearing into the overgrowth.
The trees made the forest impenetrable, forming a thick, dark wall of wood. A gap in the trees loomed before her, moonlight spilling into the opening. She made her way into the clearing, glancing from left to right, making sure she wasn’t being watched. Satisfied that no one could see her, she began to hum. Softly, at first, but slowly growing louder as her confidence rose. She lifted herself up and twirled, spinning her legs around her in grace and passion. The wind blew leaves towards her, and they twirled around her in a circle, as if by magic. She swung faster and further, losing herself in her rhythmic movements. Lights began to swirl with the leaves, a soft, yellow glow surrounding Twist.
The forest glowed, Dinky ran, and, as Applebloom left her sanctuary, Twist danced.
Sweetie swung her sword downwards, smashing it against the branch that leaned onto a tree. A loud snap echoed through the silence that surrounded her, and the branch crashed to the ground, split clean in half. Sweetie Belle lifted her head back up, panting. She let her grip on the sword loosen, letting the sword crash to the ground. She sat back onto her haunches, landing heavily in the dirt. The trees loomed in front of her, casting a dark shadow over where she sat.
It was just like that night. Just like that god-forsaken night.
The wind whipped around the sisters as they huddled close to each other. The trees surrounded them, covering their faces with large shadows. Something dark curled around the area, whispering and flitting through the gaps in the trees.
“R-Rarity?” Sweetie asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Sweetie, listen to me.” Rarity lifted her sister’s chin up so that she could gaze into her eyes. “Everything is going to be all right.” Rarity turned away from her sister, and stared out into the surrounding darkness. “Who are you? And what do you want?”
Maniacal laughter filled the air, cackling loudly. “Oh ho ho ho. I’m surprised you’ve forgotten me so soon.”
Rarity’s eyes grew wide, and she took a step backwards, braking her embrace with her sister. “Sweetie, you need to leave,” she said, not taking her eyes off the darkness.
“Bu-”
“Sweetie!” Rarity yelled, her voice wavering. “No-” Rarity never finished her sentence, instead she spluttered, falling onto her side. Something white flashed through the air, slicing downwards towards Rarity. Red gushed from-
No! Sweetie would not think about that. Her sister would want her to be strong, want her to continue. She lashed out with her hoof, smacking it against a tree. A loud crack rang out, and bark broke around where her hoof had made contact. A soft whimper escaped from her mouth, and she sank slowly towards the ground, crying softly. Tears rolled down her cheeks, cascading slowly towards the floor.
Why?
Sweetie asked herself this everyday. Everyday, she would question herself, her friends, anypony. Why did her sister leave? Why did they have to destroy everything? Why did she have to leave Ponyville? She knew the answers to these questions, but that didn’t make it any easier.
Ever since everyone had left, since princess Celestia left, she had been on her own. Of course, she had had her friends with her. But they didn’t share her pain, her loss. She had lost more than just her sister, she had lost her friend, her life. Sweetie had spent almost all of her time trying to please her sister, to show her her gratitude.
I didn’t even say goodbye, Sweetie thought to herself, sobbing loudly.
The forest glowed, Dinky ran, Applebloom left her sanctuary, Twist danced, and Sweetie wept.
Scootaloo flew in slow, lazy circles. She floated just above the campsite, low enough so that she could still make out it’s shape, but high enough as not to be noticed by it’s inhabitants. A cloud flew in tow behind her, being powered by some unknown force. It had started following her the day she had left, the day that she had stopped talking to her friends, the day that she regretted the most. They had exiled her, banished her from the only place that had felt like home.
Stupid stupid stupid stupid! She was so stupid. She had betrayed her friends, broken their trust, and lost all that was dear to her.
Scootaloo shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts from her mind.
‘You know, you could always apologize.’ Scootaloo glanced back over her shoulder, looking towards the cloud.
“Yeah, like they’re ever going to forgive me.” She sighed, “Cloudy, I hurt them. I sold them out. I betrayed them.”
‘Ah, but did you?’ the cloud whispered, it’s voice soft.
“What?” Scootaloo stopped flying and whirled around to face it. “Of course I did. I talked to Discord, I told him where the town was. It’s my fault.”
‘You seem to forget,’ the cloud whooshed in close, until it was inches from Scootaloo’s nose. ‘That he tricked you.’
“He didn’t trick me. I walked right into his trap.”
‘You didn’t know it was a trap,’ Cloudy reasoned.
“I was still stupid enough to fall into it.” Scootaloo turned away from her friend, looking back down towards the camp. Something black hurtled towards her. “Wha-?”
The thing crashed into her, sending her spiralling away from Cloudy. She flapped her wings. desperately trying to right herself in the air. She pulled herself up and whirled to face where the creature had struck her, only to find that spot empty.
Something smashed into her side, and a loud crack echoed around them. Scootaloo began to drop, no longer supporting herself in the air. She tried to flap her wings, but as soon as the muscles that controlled them tightened, a wave of pain smashed into her. Scootaloo closed her eyes, allowing the darkness of unconsciousness envelop her.
The forest glowed, Dinky ran, Applebloom left her sanctuary, Twist danced, Sweetie wept, and Scootaloo fell.
Pip ran through the forest, his hooves crashing into the small shrubs that covered the forest floor. Strapped to his back laid his sword, swaying slightly in the motion of Pip’s running. Trees whirled passed, just blurs of brown and green as Pip sprinted through them. A trail of lights hung overhead, as if by magic, leading the way forwards. Pip followed it, dodging around trees and leaping over small holes.
“Pip!” He stopped, sliding to a halt with his forehooves pressed into the ground.
“Dinky?” he called out, turning slowly towards the sound of the voice. Dinky stood behind him, her horn glowing softly, surrounded by a white aura. “W-what are you doing here?”
“Same thing as you,” Dinky took a step towards him, her voice level and controlled. “Following the lights.” She pointed her hoof upwards, gesturing towards the floating light.
“Oh, right.” Idiot Pip, he thought, mentally smashing his head against a wall. What else would she be doing? It’s not like she come here to see you. “Do you.. Do you have any idea what they are?” Pip asked nervously.
“Not a clue,” Dinky replied, flashing him a small smile. Pip felt his insides melt. Oh Celestia, that smile. He grinned, his eyes glazing over.
“Uh, Pip?” Dinky took another step towards him, her smile faltering. “You okay?”
“Huh? Wha?” Pip snapped out of his daydream. “Oh, yeah. Yeah I’m fine.” Pip smiled nervously, his eyes bright.
“Well, uh, maybe we should follow it then, huh?” Dinky smiled again.
“Right.” Pip began to walk, marching ahead of Dinky.
“Uh, Pip. The lights go this way.”
Scootaloo opened her eyes. Trees loomed around her, their shadows blocking out any moonlight that could have come streaming into the small clearing Scootaloo had made when she crashed. She propped herself up with her hoof, wincing in pain.
Something soft sat below her.
“Cloudy?!” she called in alarm, throwing herself off of the cloud.
‘Ugh, not the lightest load, are we?’ the cloud groaned, shifting slightly in the air.
“Heh, sorry,” Scootaloo, leaned down and nuzzled the cloud. “How’re ya feeling?”
‘Like hell,’ it muttered. But, I’ve had worse. Scootaloo laughed at this, the first time since she had left the camp.
She glanced around, trying to work out where they were. Trees surrounded them on every angle, towering over where the two stood. Leaves surrounded them, they had fallen when Scootaloo had crashed through the tree tops. A large branch lay broken in two, cut clean through the middle. A silhouette stood, staring down at her, up a small hill.
“Wh-who’re you?” it’s voice rang out, echoing loudly in the silence of the forest.
“My name,” Scootaloo began, raising her voice so the silhouette could hear her, “is Scootaloo.”
“No, no it’s not.” The silhouette took a step forward. “I used to know somepony called Scootaloo, and you are not her.” Another step. “She was brave, and kind, the best friend a filly could ever have.” Step. “But she changed. That kind, brave pony I once knew, was no more.” Step. “She sold us out. Told Discord where we were. Her heart grew cold, and with it, so did mine.” The shadow took one final step forward, finishing in the moonlight that streamed downwards from where Scootaloo had crashed.
“S-Sweetie?” Scootaloo’s voice broke. “Is that really you?”
Sweetie Belle stopped, hesitation clear on her face. “You know my name?”
Scootaloo stepped forward into the moonlight, standing just inches away from Sweetie Belle. “Yes, I know you’re name.”
Sweetie Belle gasped, the sword that she was carrying dropped from her magical grasp. “S-Scootaloo?” she asked, not daring to believe her eyes. Sweetie lifted a hoof forward, bringing towards Scootaloo.
Scootaloo lifted her own hoof up, stretching it forward until it made contact with Sweetie’s. Sweetie Belle gasped again, taking a step backwards. Tears began to form in her eyes, and her breathing began to shake. She sat back onto the grass, crying softly.
In an instant, Scootaloo was beside her, her hoof over her shoulders, patting her back softly. “Shhh, Shhh. I’m here now, I’ll always be here.”
“T-they told m-me you’d left,” Sweetie forced out. “I-I thought I’d lost you.”
“Don’t worry, I’m here now.” Scootaloo patted her softly on the back. “It’s okay now.” The two embraced each other, holding on tightly together, sobbing. They shared a moment of sadness together, for times spent alone.
After a while, Scootaloo lifted her head up, her eyes red and puffy. “Sweetie, look.” She patted against Sweetie’s back once more.
“Sweetie, look at the sky.” And Sweetie did.
Lights floated in the air, a soft, luminescent trail that led off into the forest. “It’s... it’s beautiful.”
Twist spun and whirled, lost in her own world of rhythm and music. Light swirled around her, but she could not see them, for her eyes where closed. Around her, the winds swirled and flung through the night sky, moving the tops of the trees.
The forest glowed.
Applebloom followed the lights. They hung through the camp like floating lanterns, suspended in the air as if by magic. Tents and ponies walked passed, but she paid them no attention. And they, in turn, paid the lights no attention. She reached the edge of the camp, but the lights continued out over the rolling hills and into the forest. The moon was edging lower in the sky, and, on the other side of the sky, the moon began to rise.
That is the way Equestria worked now. There was no day, no sun, no light. When Celestia had left, Nightmare Moon and Discord had removed the sun, showering the world in eternal darkness. Applebloom walked down the hills and towards the forest. In her mind, the world spun and she closed her eyes.
“Macintosh, Big Macintosh!” Applebloom called, her voice hoarse from shouting.
“What, what is it Applebloom?” Suddenly, Mac was by her side.
“It’s sis, Mac. She- she ran off. I don’t think she’s comin’ back.”
Macintosh lifted his head up and stared towards the burning farmstead. “Not if I can help it,” he growled, taking off in a run.
“No, Mac don’t go!” Applebloom shouted, but her words where ripped away by the wind. That was the last time she ever saw either of her siblings again.
Applebloom’s eyes opened. Around her, trees stood, tall and strong, yet wise and old. The lights still hung overhead, but now, they burned brighter. The further along she followed them, the stronger the light they omitted became. She looked ahead, trying to distinguish where to go next. The lights seemed to manifest in front of her, swirling and dancing in a clearing not far away. Something swirled within, something white and red.
The forest shone.
“Dinky... Dinky could you slow down,” Pip puffed, pausing to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“Not a chance Pip,” came the reply from ahead. “We’re almost there.”
“Wait, how can you tell?” Pip ran to try to catch his friend.
“The lights, they’re getting brighter.” Pip could see it now. The lights were, in fact, getting brighter. Glancing behind him, Pip noticed that the way they had come was now completely dark, the trail of lights they had followed now gone.
“Pip,” Dinky called, her voice sounding slightly uneven.
“What is it?”
“Pip.” Pip caught up with Dinky, and stood next to her, surveying the scene in front of them. “Look at it.”
Lights swirled and danced through the air, circling a small, spinning figure.
“Twist?” both ponies muttered in unison.
“C’mon Sweetie, we’re almost there.” Scootaloo paused, allowing both her and Sweetie Belle a much needed break. Sweetie sat down heavily, crunching into the thick undergrowth.
“My legs,”she moaned, sticking her lower legs out in front of her and sinking deeper into the ground. “They’re killing me.”
Scootaloo walked forward, passing the tired Sweetie Belle and heading towards the top of a low incline. She could hear Sweetie’s calls, questioning her about where she was going.
“I’ll be back soon, I just need to... to, stretch my legs.” She continued on, leaving Sweetie alone. The hill that Scootaloo climbed was not a high one, yet it felt as if it took a Melania to climb. The wet grass caused her hooves to slip and slide as she climbed, making her wish even more that she had wings.
‘Here, let me help you,’ Cloudy whispered, suddenly by her side. He shot underneath her, squeezing himself under her belly. Cloudy then pushed up, lifting Scootaloo into the air as if she weighed nothing. He then floated upwards, lifting both of them until they where above the hill’s top.
In front of the hill stood Dinky and Pip,standing side-by-side as they stared out at the scene that displayed in front of them. To her right, Scootaloo could see Applebloom, standing at the edge of the clearing with a look of awe on her face. A large light swirled in the centre of the clearing, littering the ground with light that could envy that of the late sun.
“Sweetie Belle, I think you may want to see this.”
The wind whirled around Twist as she danced, her eyes still shut firmly. She could feel it, the rhythm of the song she sung. It was as if she had heard the song all her life, and yet it was totally new to her. She twirled faster and quicker, keeping in time with the tempo of the song. She could feel light on the back of her eyelids, as if the sun shone on them, but she dared not open her eyes, in case she was proved wrong.
The wind spoke to her.
It said, My little ponies.
Authors page: Holy crap! This was one hard thing to start off with, seeing as the first chapter starts off at just under 3,500 words.
Now, I have a few things to say.
One: Art. If you, or someone you know, are pretty good at drawing, why not give it a go. I’ve always wanted someone to draw fanart for something, but to actually have it done? That’s like a dream come true. I can’t draw for the life of me, meaning that either someone else has to do it, or I hire my eleven year old sister to (She’s a beast at drawing).
About the fic. Yes, I know. It’s a little strangely written, and it’s lacking a lot of action. This is how I write, surprisingly enough, I always start out slow. Don’t worry, you can expect at least one battle in the next chapter.
I need cutie marks! If you have an idea for a cutie mark (All but Twist lack them at them moment), why not post a comment or send me a PM with your idea.
Comments. Comment comment comment comment! Anything you notice, anything that you want to say, even if totally unrelated, stick it in a comment. I read them all (‘course), so don’t feel as if you’re comments going to get passed over without a glance. On the subject of comments, or FiMFiction, why not check out my blog posts? I regularly put up posts on what I’ve been doing, the status of my fics and sneak peaks.
That’s right, sneak peaks. I post a few little things from stories that I’m writing that I know won’t ruin the storyline, but I want everyone to see. I may post things about an OC competition, in which you send me a list of things based on your OC, and I write a story on them.
Big thanks to my parents for not killing me whenever I took the PC over for hours on end. Now, off to Japan! Bye! *Waves
Love
-Taranasaurus
