The Origin of Friendship

Sonata Dawn’s small hooves happily caressed the soft gold beneath her. Her long, wavy blonde mane was stained by the sunlight drifting in through her window and her luminescent, atmosphere-blue eyes shone against the brilliance. Her harp was resting against the wall next to her bed and she lifted it into the air with a haze of gold-tinged magic. Small spots of phosphorescence bobbed hypnotically about the expanse of her room, slipping serenely through the two white wings curving up from the topmost points of her curls. They gave the smallest of twitches as she opened her mouth…and began to sing. The notes of the harp fell like light rain through the clouds of her voice. The stream of light and magic wound its way around the empty room and Sonata’s spirit began to reverberate with hopes, wishes and dreams. The air around her chorussed with her memories…

She had been born into the light. One of the first two mares to slide into reality on Cavallor. Her first sight had been the flaming sunbird and the first sound she heard, its glinting melody. The experience had gifted her with some of the most incredible powers in her vast, brilliant Universe, powers which challenged the very meaning of existence. Using them, she had simply…created. She had created the gleaming light around her: a towering city of glass and sunset gold. She had created the playful waters which wound their way through her glowing streets. And she had created her people: her loyal subjects.

Suddenly, the velvet-gold door to her room swung open. It made no sound; the hinges had been oiled almost every single day. Sonata blinked in surprise, then laid her harp gently back against the wall. Her magic faded softly as she released the instrument from her grasp. One of her subjects, Aaliyah Coliiasah, stood before her. She was breathing hard and the tan shoulders jutting out from beneath the straps of her amber dress were heaving arrhythmically up and down. Sonata tilted her head slightly to one side as she observed the expression on Aaliyah’s face. It was one she didn’t recognise: concern. She would not tolerate unhappiness in her empire…at least, she wouldn’t have had she known such a thing had existed beyond the fairy tales she had known her entire life. Her teeth shone as she giggled.

“You make such wonderful faces, Aaliyah,” she said.

Her eyes danced as Aaliyah walked slowly forward and placed her forelegs around Sonata’s neck. Her right hoof carefully stroked the small filly’s mane while her left brushed away the tears staining her own face; there was no need for the Queen of Light to see her in such a state. Aaliyah herself didn’t fully understand the emotions that wrecked her body. After all, even after twenty-one years, this was the first time she was experiencing an emotion such as sadness. It wasn’t one she could bring herself to appreciate. She pulled away from Sonata and forced her eyes to dance, feigning a jovial demeanour.

“Milady…”

“Oh, Aaliyah, you know you can call me Sonata. Everyone does!” Aaliyah stared at her for a moment, then coughed slightly.

“It is good to see you.” She stared for a few seconds longer, then shook her head as though dislodging her thoughts. “Sonata…my precious child…we must get you to safety at once.” Sonata’s wings twitched above her flaxen locks as her eyes sparkled.

“What are you talking about? We are perfectly safe here,” she said, winking. Aaliyah flinched.

“I…I am afraid not, my dear. I need to take you to the centre of Cavallor. I apologise for being unable to elaborate further…but the situation is out of control.” The foal’s nose wrinkled in excitement.

“Ooh, an outing! I love living on a flat world where we can find the middle of our planet. It sounds so magical and mysterious…the centre of our world. What fun!” The corner of Aaliyah’s mouth twitched slightly in joyful pain.

“Quite right, my little one.” She took Sonata’s hoof in her own, struggling to keep it from shaking as her charge jumped up and down in excitement.

She glanced uncomfortably at the harp glinting innocently amidst the pinpricks of light. Sonata had always loved to play…maybe if she had her most treasured possession with her, she wouldn’t feel entirely alone during her final moments.

She picked it up gingerly and handed it to her beloved Queen, who stared at the gilded gold curiously before taking the instrument from her. Aaliyah hesitated. “You should take this,” she said. Sonata clapped her hooves together.

“Oh, am I going to perform?” She squealed in delight. “How lovely! I can’t wait. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” She made a mad dash for the door and Aaliyah stood completely still for a few seconds before following. She lowered her head against the fear of millions of other faces as she walked. In the Kingdom of Light, emotions such as sadness and fear had been non-existent until a few minutes ago. Now, they were carved into the faces of every mare, stallion and foal she passed. The Queen noticed nothing.

“I can’t do it,” she thought, as she walked listlessly out the door. “I can’t bring myself to tell her that Cavallor is beginning to evanesce.”