Sweetie Belle looked up at the serpentine creature. It was new. She had thought that the week held nothing new for her. Everything she could think to do during the week, she had already done, again and again.
This time, however, was different. The week did not normally start with Celestia and Luna calling for a private audience with the Knights of Harmony. although it had happened occasionally. She didn't think they had ever held the audience in Twilight's castle before, and certainly not with herself present. She could understand all that, though. She could not understand the creature.
The creature before her was new. Not simply new, but new new, unlike anything she had seen before. If she thought hard enough, she could kinda-sorta see a similarity to a dragon, or maybe a phoenix. No, that wasn't right. It was nothing like either of them. They were like it.
It was still early when they had been summoned, about 2 in the morning. Celestia would not raise the sun for another 5 hours, yet the room was lit with a soft yellow glow. Sweetie's eyes were fixed upon the beast, its red-orange scales flickering with light. The room was silent, for none could dare to break the solemnity. They could only think.
The creature spoke. "Sweetie Belle." The voice sent shivers down her spine. "You have called for help." The voice was shrill, yet strangely beautiful. "I offer help." The voice came clearly, not muffled at all by the countless blue-white feathers wrapped around the creature's head. "Understand that this gift is not to be received lightly, for it is of a terrible power."
Twilight looked up at the beast. "I will have no dark magic laid upon Sweetie. The curse she suffers is evil enough."
"This power," the serpent said, hovering with blue-white wings, "Is far more dreadful than any evil could hope to wield."
"Of what power is it?" Celestia said softly.
"The power that commands the heavens to be ash. The power that commands the dust to be flesh." Images flashed in Sweetie's mind. Memories of her friends, dying, decaying, dissolving. She felt a lump in her throat.
"I need to speak with my friends. Apple Bloom. Scootaloo." The lump grew. "Diamond Tiara. Silver Spoon." She choked on the words. "Snips. Snails." She began to weep.
The creature landed on talons blocked by wings. Wordlessly, Twilight called for Spike, and handed him her Royal Seal. He nodded, and left.
Time passed, but it may as well have stood still, for none dared move, or speak, or think. Sweetie did not stir as her friends entered the room, and did not respond when they spoke to her.
She managed to form a smile, however, when Diamond Tiara hugged her.
Another eternity passed, and Diamond stepped back. "If you scare me like that again, I swear I will kick your flank into next Tuesday."
"That would be nice," Sweetie Belle said, as if in a dream. There was a stillness once more.
At long last, the serpent rose into the air. Sweetie took this as a cue, and looked to the beast.
"I accept your offer."
The creature said nothing, but glided down to Sweetie Belle. It landed in front of her, and veiled her with its wings.
It revealed its face, and time shattered.
Sweetie Belle came to awareness. She felt nothing. And then she felt everything.
She was born. She was dying. She was planting. She was harvesting. She was killing, and healing. She was destroying, and creating. She cried, she laughed, she mourned, she danced. She was throwing and collecting rocks, she was hugging and yet not hugging. Gain. Loss. Retain. Toss. She tore and she sewed, she spoke and was silent. She made love, and made hate, and made war, and made peace. And then, pain.
In spite of the surreal experience, her instincts took over, drawing all attention to the source of the pain. She found herself sprawled on the ground, and looked up to see Diamond Tiara standing over her.
"I SAID, Why are you still hanging out with those blank-flanks, loser?"
"What day is it?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"It's Tuesday, loser. Duh."
Sweetie Belle laughed.