Coruscation

There was no sound, no movement, no other living creatures, just burning debris everywhere. Whatever it was that dealt out this destruction, it certainly was effective. Effective and scary.

Pulling out a camera, I started recording everything I was seeing. Sprays of yellow sunlight struggled to penetrate the dark sky. A light, grayish mist hung low in the air, creating a feeling of mystery. Buildings stood quiet and lifeless facing each other. Most of them were charred beyond recognition. Near their entrances, silent bodies sat undisturbed as if waiting to be swept away by the slightest wind.

“Those poor ponies,” I said aloud.

“Hm?” Twilight questioned, looking up from the hole she had been studying. “Something wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” I quickly replied, trying to keep my voice level.

A collection of skeletons caught my eye as I continued walking. Laying near a burnt out store, they were almost completely rotted away. Two of them lay arm in arm, the adult’s arm’s clutching the foal’s. Their faces expressing great pain and unbelievable anguish. Turning off the camera, I turned away and swallowed the lump that had developed in my throat.

Instantly Twilight was at my side, hooves gently wrapping around me. “That’s enough for now dear student. Let’s go take a break.”

“No, I’m good. I can keep going.” I said, struggling to get a hold of my nerves. “Don’t stop on my account.”

She looked at me for a moment. “Are you sure? We can stop and come back another time.”

“No!” I shouted. “I mean, no. I’m fine. Just a little shaken.”

She sighed. “Okay, if you say so. Why don’t we move on to the school? There appears to be a greater number around it compared to the rest of the town.”

I nodded slowly. “Yes Twilight.”

Not surprisingly, the school was just as messed up as the rest of the town. Various types of debris and ponies littered the floor everywhere we turned; most were still fresh, much to Twilight’s curiosity.

“Interesting. These appear to have been here only a few hours.” Twilight

“A few hours?” I replied. “But didn’t this happen yesterday? How can that be?”

Twilight nodded. “That’s right.” She takes off her backpack and begins rummaging through it. Pulling out some of her equipment, Twilight began to take samples from a few of the ponies. “Wait, that can’t be right.”

“What?” I asked. “What can’t be right?”

Twilight motioned to her screen. “According to this. Every single one of these ponies died from a broken heart.”

“A broken heart?”

“Yeah, sure there are other wounds. But the main cause seems to be an unnatural amount of feeling overcoming the heart.”

“But that’s impossible no one dies from a broken heart.”

“Say what you will. But nothing’s impossible.”

“But a broken heart? Come on, isn’t that a little strange?”

Twilight didn’t answer.

“Even if it was true. How would every single one die from it? There are both mares and stallions here.”

Again no answer.

“Twilight?”

She held up a hoof. “Shush. Listen.”

“Listen?”

Twilight gave me a look. “The singing. Can’t you hear it?”

“Singing?” I asked confused.

Shaking her head Twilight walked over to me and placed a hoof over my mouth. “Listen.”

As I walk along these shadows

My heart can’t help but feel shallow

I watch as everything falls apart

Getting further from the start

I waited here for you

But you never appeared

To wipe away my tears

And claim me as yours

Okay, someone else was definitely here. But that couldn’t be right. How could anyone survive this? I glanced over at Twilight who was writing something down. Leaving her, I went to the door and retrieved the stun rifle as well as a flashlight. Carefully, I walked down the halls, following the singing to the back of the school.

As I entered the library the singing stopped altogether. Not that I needed it anymore. There in the center of the room, bathed in the light of the flashlight a dark figure lied in a pool of blood.

The foal turned around, her face was flushed and streaked with trails of blood and tears, her long purple mane plastered to her forehead. She looked to be a couple of years younger than me.

“Uh, hello?” I called, lowering the stun rifle.

No answer. Just gave me a blank stare with her blue eyes.

“Do you need help?” I asked taking a few steps closer.

The foal cried out in terror and tried to get up to run. When she couldn’t get to her feet she started crawling away instead. It appeared both her rear hooves were broke. Although she didn’t seem to notice.

“No, wait. It’s alright,” I said, removing my helmet. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

She stopped moving and glanced back at me.

“Hi, I’m Midnight Dusk. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

Her eyes met mine, trying to decide if she wanted to trust me.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Eidolon.”

Eidolon?

“What are you doing in here all alone?” I asked. “Where is everyone?”

Her head snapped sharply to the left as she gave a low whimper. Her horn gave off a black light as she struggled to her feet.

“Eidolon?”

She clutched her horn with both forehooves. Dropping to the floor, she started to shake violently. She mumbled incoherently. Blood slowly seeped from her nose and mouth, causing her to choke.

“Eidolon!”

Suddenly, everything went blurry, and for a split second, an extreme shock of pain ran through my body. When I opened my eyes I found myself flat on my back. My body shook violently from the shock, my muscles paralyzed. I seem unable to form any proper words.

I stopped trying to talk and focused on trying to catch my breath. What happened? What was that pain? Why can’t I move? Am I even alive still?!

Eventually, I started to hear sounds starting to come into clearer focus. The outline of Twilight's head above me soon followed.

"C-Can you hear me? Are you okay?" She called as my vision went out again.