Hard times

Section-3 Ponyville

    Standing a few feet outside of the doors of the building she began to observe. She looked around as the vast expanse of nothingness that laid before her and back at the building that rested behind. She looked up at the barn and tried to imagine what it was like in the past but all she saw was an old grey building. Nothing, absolutely nothing could return this barn to the way it was, no repair could help nor any demolition. The only thing left to do was to imagine it better.

    Walking through the expanse made her feel strangely afraid. Maybe it was the emptiness of the location, or maybe just the fact that it wasn't her home, whatever the reason made little difference to her. Walking through the wasteland she came upon what appeared to be a small town on the horizon. She noticed that the buildings appeared to be relatively intact. She began to run across the vast expanse to the structures that laid on the horizon.

    As she neared the town she saw that all the houses and shops were deserted and had partially been worn away by weather. All but one building had fallen victim to decay. In the center of the town was a large oak. The tree grew tall and proud despite the pollution. She walked to the tree and much to her surprise it was a library! She stood at the door and read the sign off to the side.

    "Ω-Golden Oaks Library-Ω"

    She turned to face the door and knocked. "Why did I just knock?" She asked herself as she put a hoof to her face. "Because its impolite to just walk into somepony'$ home uninvited." A voice answered. She jumped a bit in surprise, she hadn't expected anypony to actually answer her. "Wh-who are you!?" She asked to the mare standing in the doorway. "I am Princess TwilightSparkle, er well I used to be anyway, and what about you?" Still a little thrown off by the presence of another pony she tried to piece a sentence together. "I-I-I'm I'm..." "It's okay you can tell me when you've settled down, come in." She generously ushered her into the library. "So where are you from?" Twilight asked. "Canterlot." She replied while looking around. She had never seen so many books from before the time of the high council and so perfectly intact. Her looking around lead her back to Twilight. She watched her as she poured two drinks. She noticed the purple aura that held the cups, she also noticed something else, "wings?" She said to herself. "What was that?" Twilight asked. "You...you have wings and a horn, how?" She asked. "You look surprised, haven't you ever seen an alicorn?" She shook her head no in response. "Oh....well a long time ago my teacher Princess Celestia turned me into an alicorn," Twilight'$ voice had a slightly mournful tone as she spoke. "Back then there were four alicorns including myself." Twilight saw her start to form another question and said. "I'm going to guess you were about to ask how I'm still alive?" She nodded. "Well alicorns are immortal so long as they don't kill themselves." She looked at Twilight in awe. To her this was more than some old pony, to her this was knowledge over years, and experience that was virtually endless. She hadn't noticed but that her admiring had turned into staring joined with and awkward silence. "Um, hello?" Twilight waved a hoof to snap her out of her trans. "Oh, sorry its just....you're amazing!" "Well I appreciate the compliment. Here you go," Twilight handed her a cup of tea then continued. "Now that your a little more at ease can you tell me your name?" She looked down at her drink and back to Twilight before answering. "I'm Vega." 'Vega? Hmm why does that sound familiar?' Twilight thought to herself. "You know awhile back I used to know a mare who told me, if she ever had a little filly she would name her Vega. Heck of a coincidence hung?" Twilight asked. "What was her name?" Vega asked curiously. "Lyra, if I remember correctly. It's sad to say but she's probably dead by now." Twilight answered. Vega lowered her head and said. "She is." Twilight raised an eyebrow and asked. "You knew her?" "Yes," she replied. "She was my birth-mother." Twilight lifted Vega'$ head up and asked. "If you really are Lyra'$ offspring then why is your mane and coat grey?" Vega wicked a tear from her eye and said. "The high council permanently dyes all filly'$ coats at birth." "So you've never seen your true colors have you?" Twilight asked. Vega shook her head no. "Would you like to?" She asked. Vega'$ eyes looked up at her in disbelief. "The dye is permanent. You can't take it off. Can you?" Twilight simply nodded. "But if I do take it off I won't be able yo put it back on." Vega considered both opinions before answering. "I want it off."

    There they were, side by side they walked. "Where are we going?" Vega asked. "We're going to see some old friend of mine." Vega looked at Twilight in confusion. "There's others out here!?" She asked excitedly. "Yes, aside from you and me there's four others out here that I know of." 'We're not as alone out here as I thought.' Vega thought to herself. "I know this may make you feel uncomfortable so its okay if you don't want to tell me but I gotta ask. Is Bon-Bon still alive?" Twilight asked. "Bon-Bon?" Vega replied in an unknowing tone. "Yes Bon-Bon, your mothers mare friend." Vega looked at Twilight in anger as she had insulted her. "My mother was never with another mare!" She spat her words in anger. "My mother was with a stallion since before I was born!" She continued angrily. "I'm sorry that it offends you to hear it but your mother was..." Twilight stopped herself dead in her tracks. She took a deep breath and exhaled. Once she was settled she said. "If you really don't believe me I'll prove it to you when we get to where we're going." They both turned and kept walking.