//------------------------------//
// Ending 
// Story: Folio 
// by DustyFolio 
//------------------------------//

It was dark, and Dusty could swear he saw the twinkling stars far off in the distance growing ever closer. The pain had ebbed to a dull roar, but that roar was the only sound he could hear at first. And then, out on the very edge of hearing, he sensed it: a soft, sad song echoing out between the stars, in the depth of the void. His heart ached as the song slowly filled his ears with its message of sadness and comfort. He knew what it was. The words he had been speaking; the song of the end of all things, and it spoke to him, to something deep inside his being, and he understood. He understood it all, and it was both beautiful and terrible to behold. It told him of the quiet of the dark, the eternal peace of nothingness. He knew that it was these words that filled his head when he was a young colt. He knew that outside of his mind, outside of this vast cosmos that sang to him this lullaby of destruction, six ponies were bathing him in the rainbow light of harmony. And for once in his life, he knew exactly what must be done.

Princess Celestia landed in the clearing with several pegasi guards. Her eyes widened when she saw that the elements of Harmony were being used on Dustin. With the full force of her voice she yelled “Stop!” 

Twilight and the rest dropped to the ground in bewilderment, leaving dusty lying on the forest floor. The six ponies backed off and gathered together in a protective group. The look on Celestia’s face was a mix of fear and rage.

“How dare you defy me like this Twilight Sparkle? You have no idea what you may have done!” Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but instead, a raspy male voice replied.

“No, princess, no she did not, but she did it for the right reasons,” Dusty mustered, standing shakily to his feet. His head throbbed and he was surprised to hear himself speaking, but he continued. “This has to end Celestia; you cannot keep me locked up out of your own fear."

Celestia turned and gazed at Dustin His haunted gaze was still too difficult to meet, but she stood her ground firmly. “No! Surrender yourself Dustin, I command you! You are too dangerous to roam free.” Celestia’s horn glowed, and she planted her hooves. Her guards began to surround him and Dusty shook his head.

“You're right Celestia. But I will not go back with you. I’m sorry for all the hurt I have caused, but locking me away is not the answer.” Dusty dug his hooves into the earth and snorted. He could not let Celestia stop him. The guards immediately moved towards him, and with a soft word he sent them hurtling backwards onto the ground. He turned to face Celestia again, the fear and rage lighting her eyes up, as her magic flared towards him. He spoke those mysterious words again, cancelling it out and leaving her staring in disbelief. He spoke again and drove her to the ground, knocking the wind from her. 

“I am so sorry everypony.” Dusty said softly. The other ponies backed away from him as Celestia struggled to get to her feet. 

“Please stay still princess” Dusty commanded gently. The princess glared at him from the ground as he passed by her, walking purposefully toward one pony. Pinkie Pie watched as the sad and haunted gaze of Dusty locked with hers. She stood her ground as he approached her, in spite of the pleading and nudging of her friends. When he reached her he leaned in close and whispered into her ear. He turned and walked away, leaving Pinkie Pie with tears running down her face. He tried hard to hold back his own sobs.

Dusty trotted a little ways away from the ponies while they all looked on, and sat on his hunches, staring up at the sunlight filtering through the early autumn leaves. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He could already feel the hot tears running down his cheeks as he opened his mouth and sang. The words were sad and sweet; they spoke of peace and endless stars. And his voice was gentle and somber. The tune gripped the hearts of the ponies, even if they could not understand the words. He sang of rebirth, of the winter, and of spring, of the endless turning of the world, and the twinkling of the stars. Celestia’s eyes grew wide as she realized what was happening and she cried and begged for him to stop. But it was too late. It began slowly, as his voice quavered and ached. He held back sobs and the hot river of tears rolled down his cheeks. He began to fade. He could hear Pinkie Pie crying and the princess begging. He only tried to smile back at them. He continued to sing and sing. Eventually the ponies found themselves alone in the forest. The soft song still echoed through the trees like a breeze, but the singer was gone.