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// 1: Is Anybody There? 
// Story: All Alone 
// by lunas_servant 
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Quiet.

Everything was so quiet and dark.

I opened my eyes and had no idea where I was or what year it was. I looked around and I seemed to be in a basement or underground cavern of some sort. My mind was fuzzy, I couldn't remember anything, I couldn't even remember who I was.

Welcome back Cloud Twist. The year is 2010 and it is 7:00 a.m. After your long hibernation you will need food. There is freeze dried food in the pantry to the right of my console and a sink to the left. There is a bathroom through the door in the left wall where you may wash up.

The electronic voice startled me. I looked around and saw a screen light up next to a console. The voice had called me Cloud Twist, that sounded right. The year however surprised me. I vaguely recalled the year being 1010. Suddenly it all came back. My name is Cloud Twist and I was put into hibernation by Starswirl the Bearded. A hibernation that would only end when hers ended. Then it hit me! I was awake! That meant she was back! Princess Luna had returned.

☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁  ☁

30 minutes later, washed and well fed, I looked around my chamber. I found stairs to the back of the room and they led me up to a house. The house was clean and well-kept. I knew Starswirl was never this clean and after a thousand years he was probably dead. That meant somebody else had to have been watching over the house, and freeze dried food only lasts about 20 years so somebody had to have been watching over me as well, waiting for me to wake up.

Suddenly a voice came from behind me. "So, you're awake now? I was starting to wonder if Starswirl had messed up the spell and you would never wake up."

My wings snapped open and I jumped 10 feet in the air. Turning to the voice I found a young earth pony mare looking at me with a bright smile on her face. "My name is Heart Charmer, I am descended from Starswirl the Bearded. Do you remember who you are and why you are here?"

"You startled me Heart Charmer. I do remember now. My name is Cloud Twist. I am twenty-three years old. I am in Fillydelphia and according to the device in the basement it has been a 1,000 years since I asked Starswirl to place me into hibernation. By the fact that I am awake I assume all went well and that Princess Luna has returned from her banishment?"

"Well you certainly have a one-track mind don't you Cloud Twist, you only just woke up and already you're asking about Princess Luna? Yes, Nightmare Moon escaped from the moon almost 3 weeks ago on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. She was defeated by the personal student of Princess Celestia and now all is forgiven and Princess Luna is settling back into the palace, resuming her rightful place as the Princess of the Night." Heart Charmer smiled. "Would you like some breakfast? I just put on some coffee and was going to make some eggs."

"Thank you, I would like something to eat. A thousand years of hibernation leaves an empty pit in the stomach." I followed Heart Charmer into the kitchen where she set an extra place for me and filled my plate. "So tell me Ms. Charmer, what information has been passed down about me?"

"Just that you were to be protected, the machinery to be kept working and when you woke up you would likely return to the Princess' side as fast as possible. I was the one who figured out why you wanted to be put into hibernation, you love her don't you? Do you want to tell me about it?"

"What makes you think I am anything more than a loyal servant? Princess Luna is the true ruler of Equestria, and she was never given any credit for it." I looked at the ground to hide the pain in my eyes. "I am her loyal servant, I am the only one who was willing to await her return, I alone shall be rewarded for my faithful service." I looked back up and saw a knowing smile on her face. What was with this mare? "I have to go, I must to return to the palace."

"Do you even know where the royal court is residing now? They are no longer in the palace of the Royal Pony Sisters. They moved to Canterlot after Princess Luna's banishment and reside there now with her return. I will take you there."