//------------------------------//
// The Waltz 
// Story: The Final Waltz 
// by River Melody 
//------------------------------//

He needed to find her.

He ran through the moonlit woods, fighting the plant life for his freedom to gallop. He called her name over and over, desperate to hear her voice. He knew she was hiding from what happened, hiding from him. She was trying so badly to cope with what just happened. He knew she was probably crying somewhere.

He needed to be there with her, to tell her everything will be alright. As he galloped, the young Stallion heard a muffled sob.
"There she is" He though, galloping toward where the noise came from. 
He came across a large lake surrounded by willow trees. The water was a bright clear blue, and the moonlight twinkled on the surface, resembling the stars that could now be seen above the lake. On the edge, surrounded by pretty blue and white flowers, was the mare. Her Navy blue dress was torn, and she was staring out towards the lake. Her mane and tail were a mess, but what caught the Stallions attention were the tears running down her face and the cries that came from her lips. He stopped at the trees boundary lines, not sure if to leave her alone for a bit or reveal himself.
He knew what she was thinking.
How would her parents react? What would her friends say? 
Everyone who knew her, how would they react?
He was thinking about those things too, but pushed them aside (or at the very least, tried to) and focused on the matter on hoof. Slowly, he started to walk towards her, fighting every urge in him to stop
"Don't start crying now" he thought "Otherwise you'll never stop, think of what dad would say."
Oh dear Celestia, his dad

He could hear his father's voice at his mother's funeral. His father had tears running down his face, but he remained calm as he said his parting words. The father looked at his son, and noticed the tears running down his face, his sniffles as he howled for his mom to return to him. His father put a hoof around him
"Dad, how are you still able to comfort others when you feel sad too?" the young colt sniffled, tears streaming down his face. His father flinched at the question, then replied
"My boy, sometime when you feel the worst pain imaginable, all you can do is keep going forward. It's these moments where you tell yourself don't stop, otherwise you'll never move again. If you shut down now, if you let yourself stop even for a moment, you know you'll never move again. These are the moments where you know you have a job to do. It's always okay to cry, but you can't let the sadness consume you, otherwise it will never let you go. Remember that."

That's what the young Stallion was thinking now
"Keep moving" he heard his father say "otherwise you'll never be able to move again."
Slowly, he approached her. The young Mare didn't notice him when he was finally next to her, for she was too busy crying.
"How can I help her" The young stallion thought, "how can anyone comfort anypony through something like this?"
He thought of all the things he could do, all the things she enjoyed. She liked art, but there was nothing around here to make something that she'd enjoy. She loved music, but if he started singing he'd just start crying, and that's not what he wanted. Then he thought of something.
“Oh course” he thought humorously “I know how to cheer her up.” 
They’d be leaving soon, he knew that much, but he didn’t know how soon. He had to comfort her now.

He placed his hoof on her shoulder, and she looked up.

“Oh Luna, he’s a mess” was her first thought “but then again, so am I.” 
Despite her sorrow, she smiled at him.
“Hello love, sorry for running off on you. I was just... shocked, for lack of a better term. I’m glad you’re okay.” She whispered, scared that if her voice was any louder she’d start bawling again.
The stallion Smiled, and replied “No worries, I can understand the shock. Mind if I sit with you?”
“Did you really think you needed to ask, sit down, you ditz.” The mare laughed.
The stallion, now grinning, made a mock bow replied “My apologies, My dear mare. I thought I would need to ask the permission of 	someone who is as regal as you to even be in your high and mighty presence.”
The mare started to laugh even harder, and splashed the Stallion with water “Shut up,  you doodle head.”
He grinned, but his smile softened as he decided to confront the elephant in the room (or rather, forest)
“So, name calling aside, are you okay?” He asked tentatively 
The young mares smile faded, and she looked out to the lake as she sighed.
“Oh course I’m not, we both aren’t. It’s horrible to say, considering our circumstance, but I’m really glad you’re here with me.”
He smiled softly, tears in his eyes
“It’s not horrible, it would be awful to face this alone. I’ll always be here for you.”

That did it, she started crying again, the memories of everyone she loved showing up as a slide show
Her mother, who worked hard everyday to feed her and her siblings but still encouraged her to follow her dreams of becoming a dancer.
Her sisters, who encouraged her to stay with the ones she loved through thick and thin
Her best friend, who even though she was bullied because she stood up for a young filly being bullied, never left that filly’s side.
and...
Her coltfriend, who never gave up on her. The stallion who she had known since they were mere foals. Her dance partner at lessons, her partner in crime during their childhood of stealing treats from the school cafeteria. The Stallion who was right next to her, fighting his tears even though he had every right to cry. Oh how much those memories stung.
Oh dear Luna how many cherished memories can turn against you in one night?
After a while, the stallion rubbed the tears from her eyes. 
“Hey” He coaxed, wiping away her tears “We’ll be okay, we just have to keep moving.”
She looked at him, staring right into his eyes and replied "Oh course we will, we always have been. It's just gonna take some... getting used to."
The stallion smiled, and then looked at the moon’s reflection on the lake’s surface
“So, how long do you think we’ll be here before we have to go?” He asked her
The mare pondered this for a second, before replying “Personally, I have no idea. It could take hours before we leave. Why do you ask?”
The stallion rose, and (as dramatically as possible) he announced “Because, my dear, I have a proposal to make.”
The mare faked a shocked look “Why, darling, now’s not the time to get married.” she teased lightly
The stallions face dropped, turning a bright shade red “W-wha- no, that’s not what I was saying.” He stuttered “I was- uh, well...”
The mare laughed at the sight, saying in between breath for air “Oh you should’ve seen your face” she wheezed “priceless, absolutely priceless.”
The stallions face turned an even brighter shade of red 
“S-shut up” he muttered “do you want to hear what I had in mind or not?”
The mare (once she stopped laughing) looked at him, saw his serious demeanor, and dropped her smile
“Of course I do, say what you have in mind.” She said quietly
The stallion looked away, blushing like crazy “Well, I was thinking, this is a beautiful lake, is it not?” He said 
The mare tilted her head “yes, it is beautiful, what’s your point” she asked.
“Well” the stallion said, looking out to the lake “I was thinking, why don’t we dance one last time? It’s the perfect place for a waltz.”
The mare stood there, and slowly began to smile. Tears formed in her eyes as she said “Yes, let us waltz one last time, let this be our final memory in this place.”

The couple got closer, each of them wrapping their hooves around each other. Then, slowly, they began to waltz. They danced in perfect harmony, as if it had been done countless times before (which, in reality, they had). As they danced, it was almost as if the stars and moon were singing their song for them, and if you were there maybe you would’ve heard it too. The stars and moon sang in their perfect harmony, and the couple danced along. The couple danced for hours, never getting weary in the slightest, each hypnotized by the other.

Then the mist came.

At first, it was very faint, swirling around the dancers like a faint breeze. However, as more time passed, the mist became thicker and thicker. The mist was abnormal, as it was a light blue rather than white and had strange bright blue lights surrounding it. The lights seemed to dance with one another, and as the mist thickened the lights became brighter. It twirled around the young couple, until it was so thick you couldn’t even see them. Then, all at once, the mist disappeared, and the couple was nowhere to be seen.

They had finally left.