Batponies thrive in dark areas. That's why our family is so huge. My name is Last. I am the youngest batfoal. I live in a huge cave in the Everfree Forest with my mom, dad, five sisters, and three brothers. My parents wanted all girls. My brothers and I are disappointments. We are reminded of it every day.
Alice approaches me. She's the oldest. A tall, slender batmare, many call her gorgeous, with pearly white fangs and captivating yellow eyes. Anyway, I hate her the most. "Go away," I mutter.
"Don't speak to me that way, Last," my sister hisses. No, I mean, literally hisses at me. She does that a lot.
"Whatever. Whadoya want?" I snap back.
"Go get me some berries from that cave you found," Alice orders.
"But it has an Ursa-MAJOR!" I cry, appalled.
"So?!?" Alice screeches, glaring down at me.
"Fine," I whisper, fear flooding my very soul.
As I creep through the cave, I shudder. Then I hit something. Something BIG. REALLY big. "Aaaahh!" I cry, turning to run. Claws tear into my hindquarters, and I can feel muscles being ripped. A scream resonates throughout the cave. Is it mine? I-I can't tell. My world is fracturing, everything falling to pieces. I turn, flying painfully off the claws. Diving at the cave floor, I scoop up sharp rocks. Chucking them one by one the bear, I smile weakly as it roars in rage and pain. But the smile doesn't last long, the pain in my lower half hits me like a wave. I look down, then wish I hadn't. My hind legs are literally hanging by a couple muscles. My back is laced with enormous pain, and I feel like blacking out. But I know I have to keep fighting. The bear reels back it's paw to swipe, throwing me into the cave wall. There goes another bone. I fly at it's face, jamming stones into it's eyes. It shrieks. Then I feel a claw slicing through my left wing. I fall to the ground, limp. I know it's over. The bear charges, it's claws reaching towards me. I feel them slicing through my body, feel my throat and lungs being punctured. It somehow managed to miss my heart, making sure my death is a painful one. I let out a final scream as everything fades to black.
I see a bright light ahead. A black alicorn with a silky white mane flies out of the mist surrounding everything. "Welcome to the After Glades," she greets, a warm smile entrancing me.
"Wh-what's the After Glades?" I ask, frowning in confusion.
"It's where ponies go right after they die. Their fate is chosen from there. The spirits who died naturally get put to rest for eternity. But some have things to take care of," the gorgeous mare answers.
"What's going to happen to me?" comes my reply.
"You fall into the second category. Your sister sent you there on purpose to get you out of her way. Now she will be reborn again and again until you kill her in revenge. Then you will be put to rest," says the soothing voice. "You will posses newborn foals, taking over their bodies. The bodies will grow like any other pony's, but you will be in control of the mind. Your sister, though, will look the same. In only an hour, she will die from sickness so that she may be reborn in a different family," she added.
"Why? Why can't I just li-, er, die in peace?" I shout, angered.
"Your spirit will never be peaceful unless you get revenge! I've seen those that chose to not do it, and they are haunted, sickening creatures!" the alicorn screamed, stamping her hoof in annoyance. "Now, choose your first body,"
As the alicorn sends image after image through my head of foals, I stop her on one. A pair of twin boys. Pale yellow fur is contrasted by their red and white, shaggy manes. "That one," I say, thinking about the larger of the two. "Before I go, what's your name?" I add as an after thought. She is cute after all.
"Staras," she answers, smiling. I can't tell, but I think she's blushing. As her horn lights up, her white magic surrounds me. I feel a tingle throughout my body and instinctively close my eyes. When I open them, two ponies are staring down at me. One, a light yellow mare with a red mane, and the other a slightly darker yellow stallion with a white mane. My new parents.
7 years later
I laugh as I run after Flim. "Get back here!" I shout, my skinny legs moving as fast as I could make them.
"Never!" my 'brother' shouts back.
another 5 years
"And stay out!" the old mare shouts, shaking a hoof at me.
I cringe. I hadn't meant to break the vase, she wanted me to clean it! My hooves got too slippery and it fell!
present time
As I sleep, I thrash. Staras enters my dreams, a sad look on her face. "Last, you musn't get too attached to your current body. In five years, you will have to leave it, and the pony you are inside will die. You will then have to find a new body," comes the harrowing news.
"But-but I haven't found her yet!" I shout, surprised and afraid.
"I know. Just give it time. In your last five years, I suggest traveling the living world with a cover story to search for her," Staras orders.
I nod, sadly giving in.
5 years passed
"Flim," I groan. "I'm sorry. I-I can't stay,"
"No, no you can't die!" Flim shouts, tears pouring down his face.
"Goodbye," I whisper, my head falling to the side.
