Nothing Lasts

by Dark Enigma

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Other, Romance, Changelings, Original Character, Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1016

Happiness, sadness, love, hate, friendship--nothing lasts forever. Clescent is a changling in a world that is dead. She has no memory of what happened, no memory of where she came from. The only option she has is to keep moving forward.

Does it matter if it's set in stone? Even stone isn't permanent. The world is empty, and the only friend Clescent has doesn't trust her. Well, he doesn't really trust anypony, but with no other pony around, his distrust and utter hatred for ponykind falls onto her. But then, why did he save her? Does he feel alone and simply want company? No matter the reason--since Clescent is a changling--he is the only way she can fill her need for love. It's too bad he is full of so much hate. So if she wants to survive, she has to find a way to change that. She needs love, and soon, Shine Rush will find that he needs it more.

[Subject to be heavily edited before the second chapter is published.]
[If you would like to make a better cover art, go ahead. I'll give you all the credit for the art.]

Published 2014-01-01 10:10:05 UTC
Last updated 2014-01-01 10:10:05 UTC

Prologue

So... hungry... I can't remember my last meal... I can't remember anything... my name... where I'm from... nothing.

A fiery hue attacks the sky as the sun rises to its perch, creating shadows that narrow along with the horizon. A sea of purple and red sand stretches as far as the eye can see with the only distinguishing feature being the dark mountains far ahead which seem to never get any closer as the Changling, Clescent, drags her own shadow across the landscape slowly springing to life.

So... hungry... where am I going?

A wind picks up, tossing sand eastward--away from the mountains. And since Clescent's weak hooves cannot stand against the wind--regardless of its low force--she, instead of fighting the wind, redirects herself towards the violet fabric being pulled away to reveal a golden sunrise.

After a couple of clumsy steps, the wind doubles up on her and changes to the opposite direction, forcing her to follow its will. Her hooves fumble and fall on accordance to the increasing gale. Then, a sudden head wind topples Clescent, and pins her down on the shifting sand. She whimpers as she desperately tries to get up, but the wind--and her trembling muscles--don't let her.

It's no use...

Darkness veils her somber eyes while the wind adds to the growing void by throwing blankets upon blankets of desert sand on her. The previous night's coolness still clings onto the particles of dust and rock which soothes Clescent's muscles somewhat and further throws her into the promising grip of sleep.

I can't sleep now... Sleep will kill me... Come on, Clescent. Get up... ... Clescent... My name... Can't die now that I know my name.

The wind is howling feverishly, but Clescent can only hear the muffled rasp of sand. She tries to worm herself out, pushing the sand away from her parting lips and pale face with her fore hooves. But weakness--feeling like stones forming around her joints--slow her process to a stop before she manages to break the surface.

Before her is a glow streaming in from behind a curtain of sand as if a gold fire is burning behind it; the radiance causes Clescent to smile and giggle to herself.

The light is so pretty. Like a burning gem...

Clescent's eyes droop lazily as her smile dies. The light dims while the sand is replaced with a void. Morning approaches, but without the hope of new life. Instead, darkness is the only thing this changling can hope for. A wave of sheer peace washes over her tired body as she becomes detached from her mind.

Maybe... I can rest just for a little while... just a little... while.

Nothingness, dark nothingness bleeds into the malevolent desert. This evil desert does nothing to contain its sand riding the energetic winds scouring the floor for anything they can make miserable. And it doesn't take them long to find their next victim cloaked in a black garb and carrying a body on a sling. The wind seems to rebel against this garb as it blocks any means for its minuscule projectiles from pelting the pony within. It tears at the fabric, causing it to flap wildly, but the garb stays put. Behind the pony braving the sandstorm is a deep trough outlining the trail the pony took as he heads to a cave opening with a shimmering light of a campfire dancing inside, contrasting the darkness of the swirling storm overhead.

With hardly a struggle, the pony hurries inside to get the body--barely clinging to life--out of the raging storm. Once deep enough inside--in order to escape the hungry wind--he lifts his head wear to reveal an untouched, burly azure mane and deep-set green eyes which he sets on the sling. A soft touch of breath eases in and out of the body the sling carries. But it is so light at times that at any moment, it might be the last.

The colt carefully undoes the hook and eye on the sling, and the body of a half dead changling sprawls out onto the sandy ground. Looking over to the far side of the cave, he fetches a water pouch and puts it next to the mouth of the changling, delicately squeezing the pouch so a few drops can land on her tongue.

The feeling of the refreshing liquid running across her dry tongue brings her enough consciousness so she can open her eyes. Though her eyelids feel like sandpaper as she blinks to focus her vision, a clear image of her rescuer comes to view, and more importantly, water.

The changling jumps up with unexpected energy and snatches the pouch, downing its contents in three large gulps. She then tosses the pouch behind her, sighing afterwards from the drink she had. With a small hiccup, she uneasily gets up.

"Where am I?" she begins to say as she walks around the cave. Nothing too interesting catches her eye: there's a fire in the center of this rocky cave, illuminating a few crates--some opened, some not; there's a pile of hay in the back next to a bench with some strange equipment almost resembling a chemistry set--a really weird chemistry set with glass bottles contorted in grotesque shapes, and, deeper into the cave, are some glowing orbs she recognizes as burst gems--though from where, she has no clue. A deep pressure on the back of her head is making her memory fuzzy.

Running ahead of her, the colt blocks her path before she gets closer to the equipment and says, "Don't touch anything! Got it!"

Clescent takes a few steps back, almost charring the tip of her tail with the campfire. "Sheesh, you don't have to be so hostile."

"In this world... yes, I do."

Then why save me. "You still didn't answer my question."

The colt scoffs and walks toward the fire, sitting down next to it after making sure the wood inside will still last for a few more minutes. "Ponyville... what's left of it anyway."

I know that name... But from where?