Aurora took a deep breath. This was really happening. She stood just outside of her village, reliving her memories. The fields that had made up her entire foalhood stretched out before her...
She lay down a moment, taking time to enjoy the warmth of the sun on her coat, as it just began to peek out from behind the clouds. She was leaving her home for the first time. This was a big step for her. She sighed and lowered her head, stopping to collect herself. After a sharp breath she stood back up and made her way through the fields to the softly flowing river, the sound keeping her on track. She walked the side of the river, slowly and carefully. The soothing flow of the small stream calmed her nerves and kept her focused on her journey.
After an hour of walking, she began to feel extremely lonely. She hadn't seen anypony for over a mile. In her loneliness, her thoughts wandered to her parents. They had always been kind and loving. She couldn't remember anything other than positive feelings and encouragement. Her father ran a small shop, where he sold small intricate sculptures, made with his own magic. Her mother stayed home, always making sure she was taken care of and not hurt. She had no idea how her life would continue without them, but she was determined to try her hardest.
Aurora's mind snapped quickly back to reality. Where is the river?, her mind raced. She couldn't hear it anymore. Her thoughts raced together as she began to panic, and she called out for help, the empty air around her returning nothing. She stopped and took a deep breath. Exhaling slowly, she focused on the flow of magic through the life around her. Her horn glowed a soft lavender as she expanded her mind, firing out small pulses of magic through the grass around her. The bolts of energy ran through the plants and reflected off of a wide surface, returning to her as she sighed thankfully and followed the traces back to the riverside.
Her progress stopped completely as she stood still, a large forest now blocking her path. Normally, this would be no issue, and she would simply walk between the trees, the magic that flows through them glowing brightly to light her path. However, this forest was... wrong... She couldn't find another word to describe it. She sent out a pulse to light her path, but the trees seemed to suck in the magic and it vanished. The entire forest before her was a black void, an expanse of nothing as it pulled in magic from around it and simply... destroyed it.
Aurora swallowed the knot in her throat and shook her head. This must be the Everfree Forest... It's so dark... She thought about the tales she'd heard of this forest. They were old foal's tales that she never truly believed had any merit until now. How could a place so completely twisted exist in the beauty of Equestria? Darkness and evil permeated the atmosphere. The most evil and horrid of creatures lived in there. As she pondered, a icy chill ran down from her spine to her hooves and she shivered softly. I should go around...
As if to prove her right, a fierce growling came from deep withing the woods. She could hear something getting closer, most certainly not a pony by the sound. She screamed and started running around the outskirts of the dark vortex. The steps following her just inside the forest grew louder. I'm not fast enough! Her thoughts screamed at her. I'm going to die!
She started sobbing dreadfully as she fled for her life, tears flowing behind her and falling on the grass below.
I can't let him down...
The thought came from nowhere.
I CAN'T let him down!
She planted her hooves, turning and skidding to a halt as she screamed. "I can't let him down!" She lowered her head and gathered her magic, streamers of light filling the air around her. They swirled and dodged through the air, a truly beautiful display, though she couldn't see its majestic appearance through her blindness. The dark creature, a vacuum in the magic she felt pounced from the void, and the streamers fell like spears, striking it down and impaling it on pure magic, then faded away, leaving the lonely mare standing shakily alone. The shadow fell lifeless on the ground, falling to pieces without the twisted magic that previously held it together.
"I.. I can't... Not again..." She cried softly, tears streaking down her cheeks. She then fell roughly to the ground, which suddenly felt so welcoming to her, and lost consciousness.
She had no idea how long she had been out, but she ached all over. She raised her head slowly and looked around her. The room had many creatures in it, none of which emanated foul intent, so she rested her head down again, feeling safe. Wait... When did I get into a room...
"Um.. H-hi. I um... heard you screaming... A-and I came as fast as I could... I brought you to my house... I h-hope that's okay..."
The voice came from behind her. Gathering her strength, Aurora turned around and saw a pegasus pony hiding behind her flowing, intricately curled mane. "It's... It's alright... Who are you...?"
The pegasus eeped softly and hid more behind her mane. "Oh, um... I'm F-fluttershy. This is my house."
Aurora thought for a moment about her father's words. This is the pony he told me about!. "I'm Aurora. I was supposed to meet you, wasn't I?"
Fluttershy slowly relaxed a bit and nodded. "I wasn't expecting to find you passed out though... What happened? I-if you don't mind me asking, that is..."
Aurora rested her head softly against the table. "Something jumped out of the woods at me, and i reacted with my magic. I... think I may have overexerted myself... I'm exhausted." She took in a ragged breath. Her throat felt extremely dry. "May I have some water?"
The winged pony nodded and left to get some water for her. "Of course. I'll be right back..."
Her eyes began to feel heavy again, and she soon began to sleep once more, this time much more restfully, without the threat of death stalking mere steps behind her.
Fluttershy soon returned to the room, holding a tray with a steaming cup of tea and larger cup filled with water. Upon seeing Aurora fast asleep, she began to softly stroke her mane, "oh... uhm... I guess she must have been really tired out. She didn't even wait for her water." She laid on her couch, carefully sipping her tea as she waited for the unicorn to wake again, eventually falling asleep herself as well.