> Surviving the Darkness > by neonbella > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Beginning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- You have all heard of the time when the Everfree took over. But nopony has told you the stories of the ones who where not so lucky to escape the horror unscathed. This is a story of fear, romance, pain, and devistation. A story of Surviving the Darkness. The colors in the sky where brilliant as the sun slowly descended over the horizon. Different shades of color ranged from blood orange to a dark blueish purple. Celestia was just starting to lower the sun, and few ponies still roamed the streets. Most of the others where already snug in their warm homes. The chilly winter air nipped at my light lavender coat as I trotted along the cobblestone streets. My eye's scanned the storefronts, which where starting to close up due to the time. Fillies where skating on a small frozen pond, giggling and grinning as they slid swiftly across the smooth cold surface. I smiled slightly upon seeing my best friend, Pilot. "Crystal!" The excited colt nearly galloped in my direction, grinning happily. He slowed down to a steady walk, so I was able to take a good look at his features. The light from the descending sun shone a pale orange on his silver fur. His dark blue and light yellow mane fell slightly over one eye, and the rest of his hair was made to look like what seemed to be fire as it blended into yellow at the very tips. His eyes shone Dark emerald as he reached me. "Come walking with me! We have a lot to catch up on!" His chipper attitude made me giggle. "Pilot I literally saw you this morning..." He laughed and waved his hoof for me to follow him. I rolled my eyes and trotted to his speed. "So...what brings you to the town square this hour?" He asked. I could see my breath as I began to reply. "Well...you know how Hearth Warming's Eve is in like...a week." "ah." He breathed and nodded his head. "I already got you a present." He gave me an odd look and I smiled in return. "Yeah well I'm supposed to be looking for yours right now...so...SCOOT!" I nudged him away and we both began to laugh together. "I'm sure the gift can wait Cryssie...for now, let me walk you home. The sun is almost down, and I don't want you out here alone after dark." I looked over at the pond where the fillies where skating. Their mothers began to gather them up and bring them home. "Well...alright then. sounds fine to me."I gave a playful bow and tucked one hoof under my stomach, as the other one pointed in the general direction of my home."Lead the way escort." Pilot scoffed and walked in front of me."Pfft. escort my rump." He glanced back and winked at me. I love it when he does that. "Hey! you want to watch the moon rise?" I asked as I caught up with him. He looked at me with a slightly puzzled look on his face. "Why do you say that?" I stared into his dark eyes. "Say what?" I said curiously. "Well, most ponies like to say "lets watch the sunset" but no. Not you. You like to say "watch the moon rise'." He looked down and smiled, then back at me. I laughed lightly. "Well...I just think the moon is beautiful... To me, it is like a savior from pure darkness. Without the moon, the night would be completely black, but with it, the night is full of beautiful white light that illuminates things just enough to make them look basic and simple. Sometimes...I just feel like I need to be able to concentrate on the simple things in life more then the little tiny details that sunlight provides." He stopped walking, and glanced at me. I could not read his eyes, but they had a kind of spark in them. A smile crept onto his lips. "This is why you are so wonderful..." I blushed under my fur, knowing not how to respond to his compliment. after a few moments, he broke the silence. "Come on. lets go to the lake to watch the moon rise." I snorted. "But the lake is over the bridge...We will never get there on time!" His eyes shifted to a determined look."We will if we run." We began to gallop in the opposite direction of my home. Other ponies stared at us as we full on bolted through the freezing dusk air, laughing our plots off. We reached the Ponyville bridge, and followed the river down to a shallow creek. It had frozen over completely, and Pilot stepped on it gingerly. He slid across the ice laughing, and beckoned me to join him. I shook my head in response, but he of course had to give me puppy eyes. "Come on Cryss! We will reach the lake even faster on ice!" "I'm not so sure that is-" He cut me off as he grabbed my hoof and pulled me onto the ice. I struggled to keep my balance, and finally regained control of my body movements. Right then I looked down at my reflection. The Ice shown my features as perfectly as a mirror. My light almost whiteish blond mane blew slightly in the wind along with my lavender fur. My horn sparkled a bright blue as to illuminate our way. "See? Easy! Now lets hurry before the sun is completely down." With those words he skated forward on his hooves and I followed close behind him. Soon I was at his pace next to him, and I examined his face. He looked like he was experiencing nirvana. His eyes where shut and he seemed to be relishing every moment in which we where spending together. Pilot slowly began to extend his wings, I could tell he wanted to be up in the air, feeling the cool breeze brush against his dazzling silver fur. "Well...go then!" My words seemed to have broken his trance and he snapped his wings back into place. "Go where?" He asked. I looked up into the sky. "Look, I can tell when a Pegasus wants to fly." He gave me a funny look, and giggled a bit."Why would I want to fly and leave such a wonderful unicorn like you here on the ground?" I blushed a bit under my fur. Am I falling in love?