For the one I serve with all who I am.
Five foals, three mares and two stallions settled at the end of my bed. Compassion and discourage bore their faces, as they spoke of things concerning government, and family. I didn't pay much mind to what exactly, all I thought about was the dawning reality of death, as I lay in my vegetable state. My muscles fail me, my words escape me. But my mind had always stayed faithful in the end.
They all quickly cleared the room as a nurse escorted them out, informing them of my health state, which was apparent enough. All I hear is the beat of my own heart, as it matched the tune of the peep that kept me alive. Silence filled the growing night, though I could not move my eyes were wide open, gazing upon the nothingness that encased me.
What was my life? I was a knowledge-hungry filly, seeking only such. To which my adult life was dedicated to the preservation of friendship, and the peace that followed suit. It had seemed to any passerby I had a full and happy life, filled with trouble and redemption, sorrow and joy, confusion and clearance. But in the end, after the day is over and the birds are nestled warmly in their nests, and the squirrels dream of likely things, and the bunnies cuddled up in their barrows, what had I done to be worth mention?
Applejack and her family visited the following day, leaving a bushel of red delicious apples in their wake.
The weathered mare gave encouragement to me as I starred into her green eyes, wishing with all my might I could speak to her once more, to tell her how much I love her.
"You make sure to fill up on those apples when you recover, ya'hear?" She said so confidently, so...surely.
Sweet little Apple Bloom, not so little anymore, began to weep with those words, hurrying out of the room. Big Macintosh, with a face of doubt followed.
Applejack, near the threshold, told with the most honesty of anypony, "I love you Twilight Sparkle, don't you forget."
The window, which was directly across from me, whistled as the wind pierced through the seams. And what happened outside of that window was bright and beautiful, all that my life was for upholding. Two colts tossed a ball to one another, a farm pony sold her spoils in shimmering baskets of cherries. This was all fine, I was happy to see my life wasn't wasted, that I was able to teach the youth of my country what I was taught, what I learned about friendship and the elements of harmony. But there is this hole in my heart, I've noticed it my whole life, it was there since I was a filly, it continued to sink as I lay here now. A hole seemingly never to be filled.
Looking over my shoulder, I gawked at the basket of apples that taunt me. My mouth watered as I imaged myself biting into one of the famous Apple Family crisp juicy apples, perfectly ripe, perfectly divine. I was paralyzed, but my mind said otherwise, as I often fantasize about doing average everyday things, from brushing my teeth to taking a walk. I longed for a normal existence, but I know that my days are numbered now, my life is to it's ending. I will embark on a journey I will never return from.
My four friends entered the room, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack. I want to greet them so very badly! but all I can do is blink, all I can ever do is blink. I speak to them this way having whole conversations, or, seemingly. More one-sided conversations.
They all sat on my bed, all around me, giggling and talking about things going on with their foals and their achievements, something I wish I could have done. But I never had time for such affairs, never sought time to meet a nice stallion, to start a family.
"And did you hear, Pinkie's daughter was accepted into U of P?" Fluttershy said with delight.
Rainbow Dash added, "If only Pinkie Pie was here to see her now...w-we all know she'd be so proud."
She ended with a sniffle.
"Let's not bum-out Twilight guys. let's change the subject." Applejack retorted.
I was in a room, but not the same as the hospital room, it was brighter, larger. All around me was a blinding white, and I could walk again! I did so, for what seemed like forever, step after step in one direction. I heard in the unforeseeable distance crashing of ocean waves. It was calming, reassuring, like hope was near. It was then I saw a pegasus, but not any ordinary pegsasus, it was glowing white against a background of gold. It wore a robe of white with a gold belt. Quickly I trotted towards it, thinking of salvation...but this all changed when the majestic pegasus shifted it's body to reveal it's true self, a black changeling-like creature with flaming red eyes. Terrified, I try with all my strength to stop my onward gallop, but I was locked into a trance as the creature bellowed with a sinister laugh. That's when I awoke.
I pondered through all that I'd learned throughout all my life, what was that creature I saw in my dream? I had never heard or seen such a thing, and I have heard and read quite a lot! It was rotting and winkled, as if it was a corpse. It had red, deep-set eyes, and long webbed wings. It must have been a creation of my own imagination. However, something so hideous, I'm not quite sure. What I do know is; I have never seen anything so terrifying in all my adventures, in all my voyages, throughout all of my missions...this I know for certain.
These are my final hours, I feel it in all I am. My lungs grow faint, my heart even so. It was the afternoon, the sky was due for a showers, and the darkness of the room was unsettling, as if somepony had prepared that moment just for my escape from this plane of existence. In just that second of dread...as fear and sorrow encased me, I heard a sound like thunder, and light unlike any other. And with that a stallion appeared before me.
He was stunning! A blinding white coat covered him, with speckles of gold, and he bore a crown of sterling silver and emerald. He spoke with a voice like thunder,
"Daughter, why do you lay here?" confused, I thought to myself, "I'm paralyzed! Isn't it obvious."
But to my surprise, he replied to my very thought!
"Do you wish to be free from this bondage? from this world? You have served me well through your life. Though you do not know my voice, or have heard my name."
Knowing my thoughts were answered, I obliged,
"Who are you? why have I not heard your name before? I would think I would remember reading about you somewhere, are you a king of some far off land?" This was a day of things I did not read about, that's for certain.
"I Am Who I Am. I Am the wind that brings forth the fall, I Am the seas that set the tide. I Am the sun as it rests it's head to welcome the stars. Your kind believe they hold the world in their hooves, they control the sun, the moon, and the pasting summer. But what they do not know is who had set the laws before their fathers waged war, before the sands had found their home upon the beaches."
Beyond flustered, I tried my best to figure out this "I Am"; "Are you the tree of harmony? an embodiment maybe? Are you the one who has helped us defeat past foes?" He responded with a clap of lightning, as if power settled in his very essence.
"I was the one who planted the tree of harmony, who molded and placed the elements in it. And I am the one who has watched you even before your birth, I know you more than you will ever know. Innocent has always been your mind, this is why I give you the opportunity to follow me, this is why I come before you as your heart gives way, the heart I first started, and the heart I will stop."
Tears had filled my eyes, not knowing why, I shuddered as he had finished his words. I knew, don't ask how or why, but I knew this stallion was no illusion, he wasn't any masked demon who was going to shape-shift to my surprise.
"I, I will follow you, I surrender my life to you."
And with that, my fate was sealed. My words could not be taking away, nor be changed. A hole in my heart, that had been there since my foal days, was filled poring over! Joy filled my eyes as my sight slowly was blinded by the light given off by the King who stood before me.
I had lived a full life, but only eternity awaits.
