//------------------------------// // Love's Afterimage (Twilight) // Story: Love's Light: Is it possible to love again? // by Phoenix Skyfire //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Love’s Afterimage Twilight I strained to keep my eyes closed, as the light shone in from my window. Why did Princess Celestia have to choose now to raise the sun? Finally opening my eyes, I looked at my window. Using my magic, I pulled the curtains back and flooded the room with darkness. After pulling myself out of bed, I walked into my washroom. Deciding not to bother with the lights, I used my magic to run a warm bath. After the bath was full, I lowered myself into it and began to relax. “Mi’lady? Are you awake ma’am?” I heard from my bedroom. “Yes, Rose. I’m relaxing in the bath at the moment. I’ll be out in a few minutes. Would you be so kind as to go to the kitchens and get me breakfast? I should be out by the time you return,” I replied to my hoofmaiden. “Of course, mi’lady. I’ll return shortly.” After hearing Rose close my door, I sank even further into my bath. After a few minutes of relaxing, I used my magic to pull over my shampoo. After I finished washing my fur, mane, and tail, I pulled myself out of the bathtub. Casting a quick heat spell, I dried myself within seconds. Walking into my bedroom, I laid down on my bed and spread my wings to preen. Shortly after I started preening my wings, my bedroom door opened to show a light red pegasus mare sporting a midnight blue mane, with a tray of food consisting of a small breakfast salad, orange juice, and pancakes. “I have your breakfast, mi’lady. Where would you like me to put it?” Rose asked. “Right here on the bed is fine. I don’t feel like getting up to eat at my desk,” I replied, continuing to preen my wings. I noticed the tray of food being set on the bed. After I finished preening my first wing, I extended it out to its full length and then folded it up to my side along with my other wing so I could eat. “Thank you for getting me breakfast, Rose,” I told my hoofmaiden, as I started to eat my small salad. “You’re welcome, mi’lady,” Rose said, giving me a warm smile. “Would you like me to preen your other wing?” My eyes shot open as I turned to look at Rose. “Oh.. Forgive me, ma’am, I didn't mean it in that way. I only offer so you would have more time to relax today.” “Forgive me, Rose. Your offer just surprised me. No one, other than myself, has even touched my wings, let alone preen them in six years. I would not feel comfortable with you doing that,” I explain to Rose, as I continue to eat my breakfast. “I understand, mi’lady. Is there anything else you would like?” “No, thank you, Rose. Go ahead and have some time to yourself.” “By your leave,” Rose said, turning around and walking out of my room. Hearing my door close, I looked up from my tray of food, looking over at my desk. I saw a picture frame set face down near the back. Sighing at the old memories Rose brought forth, I got out of bed and stretched out my legs. Lifting myself up after stretching, I noticed a bouquet of flowers on my nightstand. ‘Thank you, Rose for remembering,’ I thought to myself, as I lifted the bouquet up with my magic and brought it under my wing holding it close. Walking out of my room, I started heading towards the gardens. Minutes passed as I walked past guards who bowed to me, before I walked into the royal gardens. Reaching the end of the gardens, I saw two guards standing outside of an archway. Above the archway, I read the sign, ‘Meadow of Remembrance’. Walking up closer to the meadow, I addressed the guards. “I wish to pay homage to those that are here,” I said to the two guards. “Of course, mi’lady. Go right on in,” the guard to my right responded. The guard to my left smiled as he spoke, “We’ll ensure you are not disturbed, while you are in there.” “Thank you,” I said, walking under the archway and into the meadow. I began walking down the pathway into the Meadow of Remembrance, my head hung low. I reached the end of the pathway as it opened up into the resting place of five very special ponies. Raising my head up I looked at the five graves within this tranquil place. Walking up to the first grave, I saw the inscription, ‘Rainbow “Danger” Dash, Loyalty, First and Only Pony to perform a Sonic Rainboom’. Reading the inscription, once again caused me to remember the day I got my cutie mark. Without Rainbow, I would have never passed the exam and became Princess Celestia student. Using my magic, I lifted a lone violet from the bouquet at my side and place it on her grave. “Rainbow, you were always there for all of us. A true friend that always supported us. Loyal to the end.” Turning from the grave, I went to the next one and read the inscription. ‘Pinkamena Diane Pie (Pinkie Pie), Laughter, Loved Parties to her Last Day’. Seeing the inscription caused me to remember my first night in Ponyville. Drinking hot sauce when Pinkie threw me a party. My horn lit up, and I placed a lone carnation from the bouquet on the grave. “Pinkie, I wish you could see me now. You would probably go insane trying to make me smile, even just once.” Leaving Pinkie’s grave behind, I move to the next one. I looked at the inscription, ‘Rarity, Generosity, a Gem of Perfection’. Memories returned to me as I read the inscription. I was in Rarity’s boutique, standing on a platform as she made the finishing touches on my wedding dress. I placed a single white rose on the grave with my magic, turning away. “Rarity, you were always the one I could count on to help during my marriage.” At the next grave, I saw the inscription, ‘Applejack, Honesty, Humble Strong and Caring’. A memory comes to the surface. I was standing at the altar out in the royal gardens. Applejack was a few steps to my right, violin in hoof. Applejack raised the violin to her chin and started playing the most beautiful wedding march I ever heard as my wife started walking down the aisle to me. I looked down at the bouquet in my wing, and pulled a lone apple bloom from it, placing it on the grave with my magic. “Applejack, even though you hid your talent for so long, you decided to show it to everypony just to make the wedding even more special.” Moving on to the next grave, I sat down, knowing I’ll be here longer than the rest. I looked at the simple grave, reading the inscription. ‘Fluttershy, Kindness, Loving Bride, Cared for all creatures none more so than her wife.’ “Fluttershy, I miss you so much. It’s hard not to when you were the best thing in my life. Even the day we first met I hold dear to me. You may have been more interested in Spike then me, but that was the day I met the pony who would one day become my wife.” Glancing over at the base of my left wing, I took in the sight of a gold band. “I still wear my wedding ring, even to this day Shy. Sometimes it’s the only thing that helps me through the day. I feel as though when you left, you took a piece of me with you. My heart aches every day and night. Tell me Shy, why? Without you, why am I still here? The princesses don’t need my help to run Equestria. That’s why they let me stay in Ponyville with you,” I spoke in sadness, with my head low. Picking my head back up I looked at the grave, lifting the bouquet in my magic. “I got these for you. Sunflowers. You always said they were one of your favorites,” using my magic, I gently placed the bouquet of sunflowers on my wife’s grave. “I hope you like them,” I stood up and turned around starting to leave, but not before turning my head back towards the grave. “Know this Shy, I’ll always love you. No matter how long you're gone, you’ll always be in my heart.” Turning back around, I looked into the sky. Spreading my wings out, I took to the air, heading for my bedroom balcony.