First Nights Alone

This is it. This is where it'll all starts.

My life is going to change forever. 5 days more and I'll feel the pain once again. That day, three years ago, is coming back to haunt me. I know for a fact I should be here; my family needs me. The kingdom needs me. But my mind was already made up. It was time to leave and it was either going to be now or never. I know you... You'll always stay by my side. You promised me that much.

I sat on the floor of my room, my black mane with the green streak hanged messily down the sides of my face. My vibrant sage colored coat shined in the moonlight. I need to go now before I change my mind... I was in my room in the middle of the night. My room contained a dresser, a closet, and a small bathroom. It also contained a luxury bed able to fit two grown ponies. My desk was to the right of my bed. They were near the one window in my room, which looked out towards the Land of Serenity. It was a kingdom of peace, my birthplace, my hometown... My haven. I knew I was going to be gone for a while. I picked up my saddlebags, and left my room. Before I walked out of my room, I remembered the one thing I swore myself never to abandon. I trotted towards my closet and as I swung it open. There it was.

It was a sweater that was given to me by my dad. He never really explained how he got it though. I just knew it was important to him and I knew anypony who saw it would know what it meant. The color of blue and the yellow striking down like lightning through the middle brighten as the moonlight touched its silky surface. It was one of the first jackets ever designed for the Wonderbolts. I took it off the stand it was on and slowly put it on, feeling every stitch and strand used to create the jacket. My wings fit through the holes on the back perfectly and my forlegs were covered from top to bottom. Even though it was missing its zipper because of the jacket being through many flights, I felt the warmth of the jacket. The heartwarming feeling of a wing draped over a young foal gave me security. I think that'll do it. I thought to myself. That being said, I walked out of my bedroom, hoping nopony saw me.

I took my key and locked the door. The 'Click' of the keyhole echoed through the long and deep hallways of my "house". As i trotted down the stairs, the hallways and the rooms, my hoofsteps clicked through them.

There was one room where I stopped though. The doors to the room were big. I guess that's why it's called the throne room. No one ever misses that room. I approached it and stopped. In my saddlebags I searched, looking for a piece of paper I pre-prepared. A note I've waited so long to give to my mom. As I placed it in between the cracks of the two massive doors, I sighed with closure. Leaving the door behind and continued walking to the front gates of my home, I was finally to the front door which was pretty big.

With a small creak of the door, I opened it to the outside. The chill of November sent goosebumps down my body. My wings trembled with sensation. The trees were dancing with the wind and the leaves flew through the air into the night sky. I was about to take my first step into a world I never knew. Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I knew this was a journey I would take alone. Exhaling and opening my eyes, my hoof was about to cross into the new world. This is the right decision. I can feel it. Extending my wings and ready to take off, my name was called out by a voice i knew all too well. This was something I didn't expect.

"Lightning Flash," the voice said in a calm but beautiful voice, "What in all of Equestria are you doing?"

I hung my head low and turned around, folding in my wings. There in front of me was an alicorn princess. Her mane and tail curled down to the ground with the colors of pink, magenta and green. The whitish-pink coat and the mane colors she possessed along with those compelling jade green eyes, the ones she gave to me, was enough to know who she was.

"Hey mom..." I replied.

"What's going on here?" she said with a sleepy and worried voice. "You are all packed to go and you don't even tell your mother. Are you going someplace? Where?"

There was no point in hiding the truth now. She had the right to know. "Mom, I'm going to find out who I'm destined to be. I know what it will eventually lead to but I need to find out somethings on my own and being in this castle, being in Serenity isn't going to help with that. I'm going to see what the world is really like and I'm going to experience it. The road ahead will be tough, I know that, but this is something I need to find out alone."

All she did was stand there. After a minute, she held her head down.

"I..." Her voice sounded like she was about to cry. "I didn't... do enough... did I?"

"That's crazy Mom." I walked up to her to try to comfort her. I nuzzled her cheek to raise her head as tears began to form in her eyes. "You mean more to me than anything in this world... I just thought not telling you would bring less pain for you." My eyes were starting to glaze over. Crap... This is not what I wanted. I thought.

"You are the strongest mare I have ever known," I stated, "I know you will be alright. You've kept Serenity going three years after... After him... I'm doing this for him... I'm doing this for Dad..." I cracked just a little as a couple tears ran down my face. After staring at my mom for a few seconds, her face slowly but surely brought out something I haven't seen all month: a smile.

"...Just like your father..." was all she said. Not being able to respond, she came to me and hugged me, soaking my coat and jacket with her tears. "I'm so proud of you Lightning..." That's all she said during her sobs.

I was letting out more of my tears as I hugged her back. This was something we both needed, something everypony needs: another family member to cry with; a shoulder to lean on. After hearing a couple of sniffles from my mom, she let go of me.

"As the Princess of Serenity, and me being your mom, you have my permission to go. Just please be careful," she said as a another tear went down her face.

"I will... And you know it," I replied back. The tears in my eyes were in finally thanks to my stubbornness as to letting my emotions out. Now wasn't the time to mourn, it was the time to act. I walked out the door of the castle and my mom followed suit. I spread my wings ready to take off the next village, which was a couple miles away. I turned to my mom, the wind making her mane swerve and sparkle in the moonlight.

"My connection to you will always be strong so be sure to think of me when you get the chance. I'll always be there to talk to you." She was always a caring mom. I knew what that meant.

"I will," I answered back, "Take care of the boys for me."

"I know," she said, "And be careful."

After those last words, the wind blew in my mane. My eyes closed as chills went down my spine. Opening my eyes, one thing was left to be said. I turned to my mom, who had one of the biggest smiles on her face that I haven't seen in a long time.

"I love you mom," I said.

"I love you too, baby," she said back.

After those last words were said and a final tear leaving from my mom's eyes, I spread my wings and flew in to the midnight sky as fast as I can. Getting a bird's eye view from up high, the Land of Serenity was under me. My home is now behind me. And as my mom waved to me from a distance, I knew this was going to turn me in the right direction. My jacket danced with the wind and my mane pushed back slightly. I wanted this path to change me. I wanted to see what a new future held for me.

This was it. My life right then and there changed me forever.

Note on the door to the throne room:

Don't know when I'll be back but I'll know how to contact you.

Thank you for everything. I need go my own path.

I'll see you again Mom. I love you.

Lightning Flash