No one ever said how bright it would be.
Everything I'd read and everything I'd seen never prepared me for it. The world turned white and it seemed that the light itself would sear me into nothing but ashes. I knew better than to look directly at that second sun on the horizon, but some weren't so lucky.
I held Fluttershy close, whispering sweet lies into her ear about how it was going to be alright, and how we were going to get out of here soon, and life would go on like it was. She hadn't been able to see for three days now, and barely let anything past her lips but quiet sobs. I ignored the strands of pink, red, and yellow hair that fell out so easily around us, and kept telling her those sweet little lies, trying to believe them myself.
I told her we would leave just as soon as she could see again. Maybe we would make our way to the portal and live the rest of our lives in a better world, a world that wasn't so dead anymore.
I wiped my hand of the strands of hair, and ignored the nausea growing inside me. I closed my own eyes, going back to stroking her hair, and wondering what might've happened to the rest of our friends. It didn't really matter, the more I thought about it. They were going to end up like us anyway.
I breathed in a gulp of icy air, wishing the skies would clear and everything would go back to normal already. The clouds swirled outside a nearby window into wicked shapes, taunting the growing unease an urge to panic inside me. I closed my eyes tightly as I could feel my mouth and nose start to tingle at the sight.
With a quick wipe against the leather sleeve of my jacket showed me all I needed to know. That telltale red glisten shined brightly against the soft leather in the otherwise dark room. Fluttershy's whimpers, which had become progressively weaker by the hour, were almost completely quiet now. I breathed out a sigh in a mixture of sadness and relief. It would be over soon.
I held Fluttershy closer, a soft smile coming over my face. I was thankful for the short time I had with them. I laid her down and took my place beside her, resigning to let the fatigue have its way finally. I thought of all of the wonderful moments we'd had together, and thanked whatever powers may be for allowing me the last few months of my life. Fluttershy calmed down as I stroked her hair and kept telling those sweet lies. Finally she let out a gentle "thank you" as I watched her leave.
No one really told me how bright it would be.