The end. Not where I’d love to start a story, but it’s fitting I guess, the ending of my world.

Over such a small thing too. A stupid chest. My world ended from a tiny little box with a key-hole. Sentiment is a bitch.

“AND SO ARE YOU!” I yelled at their retreating form.

On the other side of the coin, I guess every end is a beginning. At least that’s what Hollneigh Wood writers want us to think. Though, sitting here, staring at my shoes, waiting for my coffee, wanting to just have it all end, not just my world but the entire world. That is, until I saw Her. Only one thought that ran through my head, the only thought that could be heard over the wave of shock.

Music.

The confident sway in her hips, the flawless grey fur, and the consuming black mane. She walked past, eyes closed, humming a tune I could have sworn I’d heard somewhere before. If she wasn’t a Muse sent from Faust herself, I would visit the moon one day.

The rhythm picked up its tempo. The melody reached its climax. The music puns stopped running through my head, and the blood started going to my heart, pumping as fast as it was. Fuck the coffee. Fuck that chest. Fuck the end of my world. She was right there. The music of my heart and soul. And she was walking away. Getting farther away from me.

My heart was pounding again. Not from Her, but matching the same fevered beat of my feet on the sidewalk. I ran. Ran like gravity didn’t mean a thing, and my muscles weren’t just screaming for me to stop, they were full on rioting. But still I ran, faster and faster, I had to catch Her. I had to meet Her. Had to run faster. Damnit! She was so far ahead. But wait. She stopped, finally. Thank you window shopping!

As I came up to her, out of breath, hair a complete mess, fur matted with sweat, face covered in barely dried tears. Not my best look, but hell, time to roll with the punches. It took me a few seconds to catch my composure, but she seemed amused more than anything, those brilliant amethyst orbs twinkling brightly above her smile.

As I stared into them, those shining purple doorways to heaven, I couldn't even speak. The very idea of words seemed to insult Her, the even existence of language an affront to this goddess of beauty incarnate. The only thoughts that made it through the crashing seas of my confusion was music. Not an old tune sung a thousand times, but new music. A sound never heard before, a song left to be composed. And then she laughed.

If what I heard before was music. This was Life itself.

“Well, miss “new music” do you have a name?” She didn't so much ask, as the Eternal Herd’s choir sang

Had I really said that out loud? I did, didn't I? The most stunning mare I’d ever met, even more enthralling than “they who shall not be named” when we first met. And She already thinks I’m a kook. The least I can do is give her the name of her new creepy acquaintance…

“Well, I suppose it would be rude to not introduce myself first, wouldn't it? My name is Oc-“ And with that, the world went white.

--- [=]-[=] ---

My everything hurt. first step: check for missing limbs; Legs? Ow… check Arms? …Ow, check. Tail? Tail?! Ow… yup, still there. Fingers worked as well as expected. Toes? Not important, what happened to… what was her name again? O-something? Wouldn't matter much if She was dead. I opened my eyes, and could barely make out my blackened arm in front of me.

Soot wasn't that color. My arm would be a much darker grey. She was that color though. Against the pain, I pushed myself up. alright, maybe not yet, give me a few seconds. As I made my way towards her, I could only slightly see her moving, even unconscious and covered in cuts she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. As I finally reached her, checking as best I could for signs of life, I realized I couldn't hear Her breathing. And as I struggled to remember that week in gym where we learned CPR, panicking. I didn't hear the ambulance arrive, or my own screams as they pulled me from Her.

The end. Not of my entire world. Not of life. Not of the Seven. But of consciousness. But not before I made sure She was in the gurney next to mine. And then my world went dark. No fanfare, no explosion this time. Just, gone.

Author's Note

Alright, so time doesn't matter much at the end of the world. But order of events might.

What's next? the middle? the epilogue? THE END OF THE WOR-... wait, no, that already happened... What about why neither of them seems to use names? Or what was so important about that chest? what gender were "they" anyway?

Maybe a better question is what happens fourth? Before the end, but after the beginning, and just between now and then. no a little more to the left. Perfect. what happens right there? Let's find out!