Eyes

He stared at the base of the Princess' horn.  "I'm just not very sociable," Wind Whisper said softly, his gaze falling to the floor for a moment before pulling back up to her horn.

Princess Twilight Sparkle cocked her head a bit, locking with his eyes, though he did not return the gaze.  "Lots of ponies aren't sociable.  Hay, I'm one of them."  I know you mean good, but please leave.  "But Mr. Whisper, you have no friends, and I can't tell why.  You say you aren't sociable, but everything I've seen thus far says otherwise.  Everypony I've talked to say that you're kind, courteous, and helpful."

Wind's gaze slid to the many paintings adorning the walls of the living room.  This vein of questioning had been going on for the better part of an hour now.  She desperately wanted to help him, and he desperately wanted her to just leave him alone and stop staring at him.  By this point he wasn't sure whether she was helping him out of genuine concern or because he now posed a challenge; most usually gave up by this point.  Please, go.

"I'm not a good talker.  I'm boring.  I'm not that smart.  I'm just not the kind of pony others want to be with."  All these things were true, in Wind's opinion, though that may have been because he'd been telling himself these things for years.

He knew the Princess' face had grown concerned, oh how he wished she would just leave, she was so kind.  He wasn't sure how much longer he could stand this.

"None of those things are things to be ashamed of."  Please stop.  "I know plenty of ponies who aren't good speakers or aren't too intelligent," she said with a bashful look, "but they're still nice to be around.  I think you just tell yourse-"

"I see ponies' deaths!"

Twilight Sparkle fell silent at the outburst, her mouth opening and closing silently.

"E... Excuse me?"

Wind squeezed his eyes closed and hung his head, "I'm sorry," he mumbled, "I... I didn't mean to... I'm sorry."  He took a long breath and let it out slowly, keeping his eyes closed.  "I know... you won't believe me.  They said I was crazy, in my old town.  Had to move away just to get away from the whispers behind my back."

He opened his eyes and studied her face, avoiding her eyes.  Her face was one of shocked bafflement.  "So... when you say you can... see ponies' deaths... what exactly do you mean?"  she asked.

Wind was silent for a minute.  "Do you really want to know?" he asked quietly, the barest trace of hopefulness in his voice.

Twilight nodded her head.

Wind let out a breath he had been holding and closed his eyes again.  "It's not voluntary.   If I could stop it, I would in a heartbeat.  He opened his eyes and gazed towards the window, the bright afternoon sun polishing the floorboards.  "It happens when I look into other ponies' eyes.    I see their deaths.  Sometimes they never even see it coming, it just cuts to black.  Sometimes it's fast... sometimes it's not.  The end result is always the same, though.  Darkness.  Complete, smothering black, so thick I'm always afraid I'll simply be swallowed up by it... I guess someday I will."

Twilight sat in somber silence for a moment before asking slowly, "Do you see anything else?"

Wind shook his head.  "No.  I see it from their perspective.  I don't hear anything, though, thankfully.  I think If I could I'd have gone insane long ago. "

"And this happens with everypony?" she asked softly.

Wind nodded, "Not just everypony, everybody.  Griffins, zebras, donkeys... everything dies eventually.

Twilight was taken aback by the dark line of thought.  "Have you seen your death?"

Wind let out a bitter chuckle, "No.  Have to look directly into their eyes, mirrors don't count.  I can't see my own death, ironic, huh?

"And do these... visions come true?"

"Always."

The room was silent, the finality of Wind's voice echoing in Twilight's mind.

"...do I ever die?"  her wings shivered by her side.

Wind stared at the floor for a long minute before slowly looking into Twilight's eyes.  After a brief moment, his eyes darted away, back to the wall.  He was still for a beat.  "Everybody dies someday, Princess."