Hello Again

by Flaring Dawn


Chapter 1: The Meaning of Goodbye

I knock on the massive doors in front of me. I stepped back a bit and brushed the dirt off my hooves. I knew how much Twilight hated messes though honestly I found it rather adorable when she would obsess over the small things. When the door opened I frowned. Twilight was standing at the doorway' tears forming in her eyes. I was concerned.

"Twilight? Are you all right?" I place a hoof on her shoulder to comfort her. She looked up at me and sighed. "I-I am fine Storm- I just- Spikes gone..." My face clouded over.

"Gone as in...dead?" She shook her head and sighed.... " He just... left... Said he wanted to pursue some dream of his... I am happy for him but I miss him so much..." I smiled softly and hugged her chuckling a bit.

"Oh sis... He will be back... You know that..." She hugged me back, tears falling from her eyes. "I- know but it still sucks..." Twilight chuckled and hugged me a bit tighter and then released me. "Thanks Storm... Your a good guy... anyway what can I do for you?" I Sighed and walked into the castle. My emotions still running rampant. The thoughts that plague my sleep were still plaguing me as I spoke to Twilight.
"Well... I have been having these nightmares... Every night I Dream that I am being chased by something... As it gets closer to getting me I see two figures cloaked in light. Before I can reach them I wake up. Do you have any idea what is wrong with me?" Twilight gives me a very puzzled look and looks at the ground.
"No... I don't but I'll help you as much as I can okay?" She smiled and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back and sighed. "You're the best Twi..." She giggled a bit and released the hug. Twilight was always trying to help me through tough times. When Fluttershy died she was there for me and of course when I was shunned by all of Ponyville she gave me a chance to make many friends. Truthfully I was grateful, but in the back of my mind I felt as if I were alone in a world full of love. Not saying that I like Twilight in that way; But in the back of my head I was thinking maybe I shouldn't fall in love because those who I love seem to vanish with time as I stay here waiting to see them again. I digress though... Twilight Found a few books about dreams and premonitions and set them on the table in front of us.
"These should help us a bit I think. It says here that sometimes your dreams can mean something is going to happen... But that's just an old ponies tale in my opinion. What do you think Storm?" I sighed a bit and looked at her. "I don't know... Twilight can I ask you a question? One that has been plaguing me for a while now?" Twilight nodded. I Brace myself and ask the question.
"What is the true meaning of goodbye?" The question shocks Twilight a bit. She gave me a puzzled look and Spoke up. "Well... What do you think it means Storm?" I thought for a second about it. Now that I think about it I believed I knew just what it meant. I looked at Twilight and spoke.
"Well... I think it means... When someone close to you goes far away it's like goodbye, but at the same time maybe it could mean their journey might be at an end one may just beginning. I don't know why I even said that... All I know about goodbye is that it hurts Twilight... I miss them all.. Nimble Breeze... Summerset... Fluttershy... I miss them so freaking much. It feels like my heart was ripped from my chest and stomped on... Is this what goodbye is? Could loneliness be another form of goodbye? I don't know anymore..." I sat there for a moment and was embraced by Twilight. I smiled a bit and hugged her back.
"Storm... No matter how alone you feel remember that you have friends here that love you." she lightly shoved me and smiled. I smiled back. For some reason though another question was bugging me. A question that kind of hurt Twilight to hear.
"Will I ever be able to say goodbye?" Twilight flinched a bit and sighed. I looked at her and frowned. "I-I am sorry... I didn't mean to make you worry..." Twilight looked at me and frowned. "The answer is yes Storm. Everyone has to say it sometime... Only time will tell when yours comes... I just hope it isn't too soon..." She hugged me a bit tearing up. I sighed and held her there as a brother would hold his little sister. I looked at her and smiled.
"Come on Twilight... Now why would I leave you guy's all alone? I am still kind of young don't you think?" I give my best suave smile. Twilight looked up and giggled a bit and ruffled my mane. "Yeah Storm... But the gray in your mane says otherwise." I ruffled her mane and smiled again. She smacked my hoof.
"Whatever you say Twilight. I still love you sis. Thanks for listening to me. I am going to go back to their grave for a little bit." Twilight nodded and handed me a rose. I smiled and hugged her again. I left the castle and sighed. The visit helped me a bit but I still had more questions then answers about the damn dreams I have been having. I shake my head and head for the cemetery. On the way there I ran into my friend Pinkie Pie. I smiled and walked towards her though something unsettled me a bit. Her mane was straight down and she was quite skinny. I ran over to her and frowned.
"Pinkie what in the heck is wrong?" She looked at me and smiled weakly. She barely had the strength to stand anymore but she was walking. I held her so she could stand up better only to be hugged by her. Pinkie began to cry. I held her there and let her cry into my chest. I looked at her and before I could speak she said something that broke my heart.
"I miss Fluttershy.... I want her to come back Storm..." I began to tear up a bit and stroked her mane as I spoke. "I know Pinkie... I do too... Want to come with me to the cemetery? I am going to visit Shy, Summer and Nimmy if you want to come with me that's fine...You know I hate seeing you so sad..." She wiped her eyes and nodded. I then gave her a worried look.
"Have you been eating Pinkie?" She flinched a bit and sighed. "Y-Yes I have but... I can't keep it down... I miss her that much Storm... Please don't hate me..." I looked at her with comforting eyes and hugged her again. She began to cry again and she embraced the hug. I nuzzled her mane and allowed her tears to fall upon my chest. Pinkie was like a sister to me as Twilight was. I hated to see them so upset. I released the hug and looked at her.
"Now why would I ever hate you Pinkie? You and the others have always been there for me... I am just worried about you is all... I really hate seeing you so upset... I am not mad at you and I do not hate you..." She smiled a bit and sighed. "S-Sorry to worry you Storm... Can we go see them now?" I nodded and made sure Pinkie could walk. When I knew she was okay to walk we headed for the cemetery. The moon cast shadows on the town. When we got to the cemetery Pinkie smiled and walked in. I followed her and found the graves. Pinkie smiled and spoke up.
"H-Hey Fluttershy... It's Pinkie Pie... I miss you a lot... Things have been quite bleak for me... Storm's here as well and he loves you all!! I wish I could see you again Shy. I miss our tea parties and I miss all of your stories and helping you with your animals..." She began to tear up. I held her and continued. "Shy I just want you to know that I love you... Summerset... I love you as well... And Nimmy... Daddy hasn't been the same... Pinkie misses you guys so much... But I'll let her talk for now..." Pinkie smiled and continued to talk.
"It was Rarity's birthday yesterday... I threw the party of course... It wasn't the same without us all there to enjoy it though. Rarity didn't smile... Neither did I. I tried to I really did but the pain came like a wave and we all cried..." Pinkie was right... During that party no one sang happy birthday, no one laughed , and no one blew out the candles. We all just sat there. Even the children were silent. After everyone left the party Rarity embraced me and cried. The only words she spoke were Its not fair Storm!! Why her!!!? All I could do is hold her and tell her everything's okay. Except it wasn't okay. Pinkie Pie continued.
" I love you guys so much..." She placed a few flowers on the grave and smiled as a tear fell from her eye. She hugged the grave and then me. "Thank you Storm... I got to get home now... I love you Bro... bye" I hugged her back and smiled softly. "Love you too sis... Take it easy okay and eat something before I kick your butt." She giggled and nodded at me. "I will...Bye Storm." With that Pinkie left and I was the only one at the graves. I looked at the three graves and smiled a bit. I sat down and sighed.
"You see guys... Pinkie still remembers you... As do I. Something has been bugging me though. These dreams I have of the dark shadow chasing me down the alley and the two figures in the light... I think that the figures are you guys. What are you trying to tell me? Is my time coming or is it just my imagination? I don't know; But I do know this. I love you all. I hope we will meet again one day soon. Bye for now girls..." I then kiss all of the graves and place a single red rose on all of them. I walk back to my house and sigh. So many questions inside of me needed to be answered. I got to my house and sat on my chair. I look on the nightstand and smile. There was a picture of me and all my girls. Fluttershy was in the picture. Another picture of Summer and our kids was right next to it. I smiled and fell asleep on the chair. A single tear fell from my eye as I drifted to sleep.
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My eyes open and I am in a dark alley. I look around and my ear drop a bit as I walk down the long path. "Hello? Is anypony there!!!?" I hear nothing as I walk a bit further into the alley. All of a sudden I hear a laugh from behind me. I swallow hard and turn to see a dark figure. It growls in my face and swings at me. I run like the wind down the alley only to trip and fall. The alley begins to change into a field of flowers as I continue to run. I look behind me only to see the figure is gone. I Turn and see three white figures standing before me. I am quite puzzled and back away for a bit. Then one of them spoke.
"Hello again Storm... How has your life been?" I recognize the voice and am brought to tears. "Fl-Fluttershy?"The light faded and i saw her and two other ponies. I gasped Nimble Breeze smiled at me and Summerset also smiled. I fell on my haunches and shook my head. "This is a dream..." Nimble Breeze giggled and walked up to me.
"Well of course it is daddy!!" I smile and get up. "But why are you here..." Fluttershy smiled and placed her hoof on the ground. The flowers and field changed into a view of Ponyville. I saw me and the other ponies at Shy's memorial. I was a bit puzzled.
"Why are you showing me this?" Fluttershy smiled and whispered something in my ear. "Goodbye is not forever..." I looked at her and spoke. "I-I know that... Why bring that up?" She smiled and Summerset spoke.
"You'll see when the time comes Storm right now we have to go..." They all started to fade away and i chased after them. "WAIT!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN!!!??" The light began to blind me and then it all went dark.
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I shot up from my sleep in a cold sweat. I was delerious to the point of vomiting. I shook my head and pondered on what she meant.
"What in the buck? Why did she bring that up? what does she mean by this? Damn it!" I punched the floor and gritted my teeth. I looked towards canterlot and frowned. "I have to talk to Celestia... I need her to gather the remaining elements... we need to have a talk about this now...." With that I left my cottage and flew off to Canterlot. Maybe the answer to the puzzle was there. I only hope that she would be able to help me with this. As i land on the ground I feel a little dizzy.
"What the heck... Guess it was how fast I was going..." I shook the feeling from my head and knocked on the castle door. They opened and two guards led me to the main chamber where celestia was in. I bowed to her and spoke.
"I need your help Princess..." Celestia smiled and lifted my head. "What is it Storm? What is bothering you?" She said with a kind smile. Over the next few minutes I told her about the dreams I have been having. I then told her about the dream I had the night before. She listened very intently and smiled. I looked at her with a slight frown.
"Do you know what it means Princess?" She nodded. "My theory is that she wants you to feel like she is watching you Storm. I feel the goodbye is not forever thing is her telling you to be happy and that you will see each other again." I smiled and hugged her. She hugged me back and chuckled as i cried a bit into her fur. "Thank you Princess... Sorry I am staining your fur..." She chuckled a bit and patted my back.
"It's quite alright Storm. Now is there anything else i can do for you?" I nodded and released the hug. "If it is not to much trouble I would like to talk more about this with the other elements please?" Celestia nodded and sent a message to Twilight. I waited patiently alongside Celestia and Luna. When they arrived they were all puzzled. Rainbow Dash looked like she just woke up.
"Storm what is the matter?" Dash said with a yawn. Rarity also chimed in. "I am with Rainbow on this darling... it's not like YOU to summon us." Applejack nodded in agreement. "Exactly so what's eating you sugar cube?" Pinkie hugged me tightly and looked into my eyes. "You can tell us anything Bro!!" I smiled and hugged her back. Twilight nodded and I told everyone about my dreams. They all looked around and spoke to one another. Rarity looked at me and smiled a bit.
"That is quite a dream but what do you think it means Storm?" I looked at her and sighed. "That's just it I don't know... I was hoping for some clarity but I am stuck with more questions." Rainbow Dash frowned and looked at Twilight.
"Come on Twi your the egghead here!!" Twilight glared at Dash and looked at Storm. "Stormdrift have you been feeling different at all these past few days?" Such a sudden question puzzled me. I was honest with her though. "Well I have been getting dizzy here and there but nothing I can't handle." Applejack gave a worried look. She hid her face with her hat. "That don't sound too normal Storm." She looked at me and frowned. Everyone in the room frowned when I said that. I just gave a weird look and smiled.
"Guys I am fine... there is nothing wrong with me in the slightest I promise I am fine." Pinkie frowned and looked at me. What she said killed me a bit inside.
"Please be okay... I don't want to lose you too..." I sighed and I hugged her tightly. "I am not going anywhere I promise. I promise you all I am not going anywhere." They all hugged me and smiled. I hugged them back and looked at the Princess. "Thank you..." She smiled and we all left the castle. Something inside though told me that they had a point but I shook the feeling from my head. I said goodbye to everyone and headed back to the cottage. Back at the castle Celestia looked out into the night with a tear in her eye.
"So it is finally time... " Luna appeared near her and smiled. "What is wrong sister? Is something the matter?" Celestia smiled at Luna and sighed. She looked back out at the night sky and spoke.
"Nothing my sister, just got some things on my mind. You did a lovely job tonight Luna the stars are quite beautiful..." Luna smiled and hugged her sister and went into her chamber. Celestia looked up into the sky and smiled.
"Did you have to make it that obvious Fluttershy?" She walked down into her sleeping chambers and shut off the light. Back at my house I fell asleep on the couch. A single blue butterfly flew in through the window and landed on the Element of Kindness. A soft voice woke me from my sleep.
"Who's there?..." I ask with a tired voice. No one answered. Then I heard it again, only a little louder. ....Not forever... Goodbye...is not forever.... I shook my head and backed up into my chair with a little bit of fear in me. The voice grew louder and louder until it was right in my ear. Then it said something else that chilled me to the bone.

See you soon my love... Then it went all quiet. I sat there in my chair too afraid to close my eyes. I wrote a letter to the princess and covered my head and cried. When the letter from the princess came to me I read it.

Dear Stormdrift,
We need to talk about this one on one tomorrow come here alone and we will discuss things. I just hope you are ready to face this. Good luck!
Princess Celestia
P.S. Make sure your children are there for you... I looked toward the castle and sighed. "That's never a good sign.... What does my kids have to do with this anyway?" I shook my head and went to bed hoping that the dreams didn't plague me as they did before.