Prologue - Alone
Walking nowhere.. All there was around me was darkness.. No friends, no family, no one at all.. With each step I took, ripples of light appeared from the ground, almost as if it were water.. With every few steps I'd look at the watery ground, but saw nothing. 'Even my reflection abandoned me..' I though somberly, but soon, I saw something hanging in the heavens above me. It was so bright and very warm. I saw that it was like me.. All alone in the night sky. Before I knew what to say, I whispered something to it. "Is this how it feels? To be alone, that is. So many years you spent, cold and alone, nowhere to go, and no one to be with.. And even before then, you felt unneeded, unloved?" I spoke softly. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the moon expectantly. I soon heard a soft voice reply.
"It is.." The voice began. I dared not to even turn to face her, for I knew who she was. "We felt alone for so long.. Even now, we hath returned to our home, but still feel alone." The next sounds I heard were the sounds of a few teardrops falling to the watery surface. "But thou aren't alone, child. Thou has friends and loved ones who placed their friendhsip in thee." The voice spoke, her voice changing to one of sympathy.
Now it was my turn to cry, but only a few teardrops slipped through my eyelids as I clenched them shut. "Friends? No.. They're gone and will never return.. I can never have a friend, for they will leave me like they did.." I strained to say past my clenched teeth as I did my best to fight back tears.
"Thou art mistaken. Thine friends may have left this world, but their memories shall live on through thee. Thou holds their dreams, their love, and their friendship. Do not forget them, or thou truly will be alone.." The voice said as I felt a caring hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned to face the mare, but she was gone.
I looked back up to the sky once again, but the moon had left. Rising over the horizon, I saw another light, but it was much brighter. This light chased away the darkness and brought pure warmth to my heart. It was the sun, rising night into the sky. With a soft breeze from no direction in particular, the ground beneath me felt different. No longer a cold watery surface, but the warm feeling of sand. 'The desert?' I thought to myself and surveyed my surroundings. It was a plain desert. Nothing but sand dunes and scorching heat. Once again, I continued walking. I walked and walked, leaving footprints in the sand where I stepped. It seemed to go on forever, until I saw them. Six figures rippled in the distance past the blazing heat. I couldn't believe my eyes. Without looking away from them, I began to walk faster...
And faster...
And faster...
Until I broke into a sprint. It was them.. My friends! I hurried as fast as I could, before coming to a halt. It was them.
Fluttershy..
Applejack..
Rainbow Dash..
Pinkie Pie..
Rarity..
And Twilight..
Overjoyed as tears began to race down my cheeks, I warily took another step closer.
That's when my world fell apart...
With a swift gust of wind, Fluttershy was blown away and scattered like sand.
'Kindness..' I thought as became a little worried, and yet I took another step.
With another gust of wind, Applejack scattered in the wind.
'Honesty..' I thought as tears of sadness began to pour down my cheeks.
It was a bit shaky now, but I took another step forward.
Another gust of wind blew by and it was Rainbow Dash's turn to disappear before my eyes.
'L-loyalty..' I thought as my eyesight began to blur from my tears.
My body trembled, but I didn't stop.
I took another step closer.
More wind blew past me and Pinkie Pie vanished.
'L-laughter..' I thought as I could feel my heart sink.
It was painful.
Seeing them go again.
I couldn't take it, but I took another step.
A fifth gust of wind came and Rarity was the next to leave me.
'Generosity..' I thought and fell to my knees.
My last friend just stood there.
She looked at me with her lips curled into a smile.
I lost control and pulled her into a tight embrace.
I couldn't lose her.. Not again.
'The Magic of my life..' My thoughts were interrupted by my voice. "Twilight.." I whispered in her ear as I held her tighter. She nuzzled her cheek against mine before opening her mouth to speak.
"Spike.." She started. The next three words are what made me completely lose myself. 'We Love You...' Those words echoed in my mind and heart.
"Twilight, please don't leave me. I need you.." I begged in response, but to no avail.
She was already gone..
It was then that I felt it..
It was like my heart stopped..
I didn't move..
I dared not to speak..
The sand around me turned into a thick, black quagmire..
All I could do is watch as the darkness pulled me deeper and deeper..
All the magic and light vanished from my world..
"Young Master?"
I heard a voice call out to me, followed by the sound of knocking.
"Young Master?"
The voice called a little louder.
I soon found myself waking up in bed. My eyes were red and puffy, my breathing was heavy, and there were a few tears running down my cheeks. I quickly wiped away any tears with my forearm just as I heard my bedroom door open. Standing at the doorway was a mare that resembled Octavia Philharmonic. She had a light brown coat and a darker brown mane. Her mane however, was styled more like Bonbon's. She had light brown eyes and wore a French maid uniform.
"Good morning, Young Master." She said softly with a bright smile. "I thought I heard you talking to someone. Is everything alright?" She asked, her smile unwavering.
Looking back on the contents of my dream, I had only one thing to say. "It was just a bad dream." I replied.