Remember to Say Your Goodbyes

Cupcake Castle was the first of many "dates" with Derpy. The dates weren't quite as a couple, but not quite as friends. I could tell over time that she was warming up to me, but was still hesitant to let me get close to her. It was not until the 4th date that I was finally able to give her a warm nuzzle goodbye. Her hair had been soft and windblown, as usual, and it smelled of flowers and the spring breeze. It was a light scent, that didn't cloud the snout or fill it unpleasantly. It was a scent i'll never forget. It soon became a regular occurrence, but never lost its effect, always leaving me breathless and smiling. A short while after our first nuzzle, I invited her to go to see a concert with me. The Red Hot Chili Ponies were in town, and i'd gotten some tickets from Percy. He claimed he didn't need them, but I knew he wanted to go with me. I promised to make it up to him. The stage was set and we arrived early, ready to see my favorite band in all of Equestria.

The first notes seemed to seep into the dusk, light fading as the notes grew. I knew this song right away, the initial chords striking a place within me i'd long forgotten.

"Sometimes I feel like I don't have anypony. Sometimes I feel like, my only friend, is the city I live in. The city of alicorns. Lonely as I am, together we cry." A chord followed the last word, echoing into the distance. I smiled, having mouthed along to the words the entire time. I looked at Derpy and saw her smiled mimicked mine. I scooted closer, enjoying the warmth. "I trot through the streets cuz, she's my companion, I gallop the hills cuz, she knows who I am. She sees my good deeds and, she raises the sun, well I never worry; that is a lie."

"I love this part," she whispered to me, the drums slowly coming in. The chorus broke out, accompanies by an explosion of rainbow over the stage. The effect was truly amazing to watch; Music and rainbow dancing and exploding in time. When the initial boom happened, I jumped about three feet straight into the air, and the ones after shook me to my core. It was a beautiful song with a beautiful visual show and a beautiful pony. It was a truly perfect night.

When the concert ended, I walked her home. Well, I walked along side her as she flew. I could see she was getting tired, gradually drooping closer and closer to the ground. I strafed until I was underneath her, and when she finally fell asleep, she landed on my back with a thud. I quickly re-balanced and continued walking towards her small home near the castle. Her head was near my ear and I could hear her soft breathing, her presence warm and comforting on my back. We finally got to her house, and I nuzzled her awake.

"You're home." I whispered to her softly. "Why don't you head inside and go to sleep?" She looked up and looked around wearily, getting off of my back slowly.

"Come in with me." She said. I quickly turned bright red, confused and disoriented at her words.

"Wha-what? Bu-bu-bu-but..." My voice fell out and I looked around, mouth agape. She walked up to the door and unlocked it, walking inside. She left the door wide open, a clear invitation to me. I looked around once more, empty streets providing no answers and rustling of leaves giving me no insight. Finally I caved and walked inside after her, shutting the door behind me.

It was a small house, clearly only meant for a single occupant. It did however have a cozy feel, and felt more open than it really was. There was a small kitchen and dining room combined. To one side was a restroom door, slightly ajar but unoccupied, and to the other was a hall leading to the back.

"Hello?" I asked, slightly worried something had happened. I looked in the restroom just to make sure. A small mumble told me she was in the back. I walked to the back and pushed the door open lightly.

"C'mere." She said tiredly. "Come and cuddle with me." She turned slightly red, and looked oh-so cute. She was slightly tangled up in the blankets on the bed, and her head was hanging upside-down off the bed, looking up at me with that nervous little smile that melts my heart. The only really good word to describe the whole scene was D'awww. Nothing else could satisfactorily do it. I mindlessly walked over and crawled up onto the bed, her coming up after me. I squirmed under the blankets next to her and scooted close. She looked over at me and smiled, then put her head down on the pillow. In that moment she could have asked me to gallop off of a cliff and I would have. Lucky for me, she didn't. I followed suit and put my head down after her. Before I closed my eyes and went to sleep I gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and smiled. I saw her turn even more red, then I was asleep.

This was it. The last day of my life. I got up. Walked to the window.

"Why do you mock me with the beauty of sunrise Celestia? Why?" I say to the window and bed, figuring they care about as much as everyone else. Time starts to lose its purpose to me. Slow. Fast. It becomes hard to say how it's passing. People rush about me blurs of color and splashes of conversations. Some yell at me, some say nothing, some just tell me goodbye. A few stood out, clear among the insanity. Twilight; her lack of words, yet so powerful and perfectly chosen, made the numbness inside of me leave for a while, replaced with guilt and fear. Derpy; Saying nothing, just looking down, crying. Scootaloo; Talking to me about Percy and how much she missed him, her husband. Finally the guards came for me. Twilight came along as well, walking behind me in silence. The castle stood over me once more, foreboding and dark, holding within my imminent death. Soon we were deep inside, and a single stone door stood in our path. It was not grand, it was not terrible, it did not even appear foreboding. It was just a door. I laughed quietly to myself.

"What was that?" The guard said, turning towards me quickly.

"Just a laugh sir."

"Well why'd you laugh?"

"It's just funny. My death is imminent, waiting just behind that door, and the door... It's just so anti-climactic." At that, he grunted and lead me in. It was a medium sized, round room. Few lights. Just a small dip in the floor and some glass around it. The guard lead me over to the dip, and the glass lowered enough for me to get in. It raised back up slowly, just high enough for me to not be able to get out. Everyone took a step back.  Celestia walked in and walked up to the glass.

"Caesar." She said with a nod.

"Your highness." I responded.

"Any last words?" She asked. Time seemed to slow down, almost to a stop. Did I have any last words? This is what i'll be remembered by. What do I say? Something meaningful? Sorry? No. I didn't do it? No-one would believe me. It's too late for that. Ummm... Gotta hurry... Time was going back to normal... Just... Say something dammit!

"No." As I said it I felt a weight lift off my chest, but it was light. The door creaked and Luna walked in, staying in the back. Seems like all the most important ponies in Equestria were here. Celestia's horn began to glow, I could feel my fur tingle as the glow spread over me. She squinted in concentration, beginning to look angry. I looked around the room one last time, drinking in the last thing i'd ever see. Twilight in tears, the guards' stern faces, Celestia's intense look, Lunas green eyes.

Wait.

No... That's wrong. That's very wrong. I could feel myself begin to pull away, body beginning to separate. Luna doesn't have green eyes. She must be...

"Luna is a..." My words were gone, the vacuum of space sucking the oxygen from my lungs as I teleported. Darkness closed in quickly. 'Changeling,' I mouthed to myself before the black filled my vision and mind.