Prologue
Someplace, in and yet not part of Equestria, there was a glorious meadow. It's state was that of eternal spring, with a continuous, warm breeze that blew through the pale grass. And even though there was a definite sense of comfort and beauty to this meadow, it would at times shift and become lucid, like an illusion or a mirage. The only thing standing out in this wide open meadow was a tall, thick willow tree, whose foliage barely touched the ground when swayed by the breeze. Beneath the large willow tree, two friends, fillies, were playing together. One of the fillies, a yellow pegasus with teal eyes, a pale pink mane, and three butterflies for her cutie mark, tapped the other filly lightly on the shoulder.
"Tag. You're it!" she laughed. The other filly, a pony with a pitch black coat and a wavy pastel-green mane, narrowed her eyes and smiled mischievously.
"Alright, but you asked for it!" The two chased round and round the willow tree. The pony jumped onto the pegasus and the two of them rolled onto the grass, laughing out loud. Lying on their backs as they faced the wide open, pale blue sky.
"This is so much fun!" said the pony. The pegasus nodded, her gaze became distant as she thought of somepony who'd suddenly came to mind.
"I wish Rainbow Dash was here, she'd enjoy this too."
"Rainbow Dash?" inquired the pony.
"She's a new friend I met at flight camp. She helped stand up against some bullies that were picking on me." explained the pegasus. The memory of those mean colts laughing at her and telling her how she was a failure at flying. When Rainbow Dash had swooped in and told them to leave her alone, even challenging them to a race to defend her honor! Something nopony had done for her before.
"Oh really? What's she like?" the pony asked casually. The pegasus looked up into the sky and began to describe her new friend.
"She's very bold, athletic, and she treated me so nicely after she defended me from those colts. Not to mention she's the only pony back home that wanted to be my friend." The pony was silent and said sadly, "I suppose that means you have a new best friend, and you don't need me anymore." The pegasus sat up and looked at her friend, and she began to reassure her.
"No! You will always be my friend Eve. You were my first friend, and you always will be." Eve met the pegasus' eyes.
"Really?" asked Eve. "You promise?" The pegasus smiled.
"I promise. Friends forever." she said.
"Forever and eternity." said Eve. Both smiled shyly to each other. They were usually timid around other ponies, but here, they could say and express whatever they felt. They were friends, and in some ways like sisters. As if the two were made for each other. Eve turned, as if hearing something.
"I need to get going." said Eve sadly.
"Do you have to?"
"It'll be daylight soon, and the others might start to notice that I'm gone." The pegasus frowned, she didn't want her friend to leave so soon, but she couldn't force her. There were ponies other than her who cared for Eve too, and she couldn't be selfish in wanting all of Eve's attention.
"You'll come back again...right?" she asked. Eve gave her a bright smile as she looked at the pegasus from over her shoulder.
"I can think of nothing better." answered Eve. "Goodbye, Fluttershy." And off Eve galloped, disappearing like a mirage into the horizon. Fluttershy laid back against the willow tree, feeling herself get very sleepy. She smiled as well as she rested her eyes.
"Goodbye Eve." she whispered, and drifted off to sleep.