I walked into the brightly illuminated library.

“It’s no big deal.” She shrugged, “Just make yourself at home. I’m just going to gather a couple simple magic books for tomorrow morning. I’ll be right back.”

“Ok Twilight.” I sighed, “Thanks again.”

She's taking too kindly to this.

“No problem. It’s what friends are for!” She sent me a reassuring smile as she trotted up the stairs.

“Don’t get any ideas.” A young male voice growled from behind me.

“Um, what?” I asked, looking around for the source of the voice.

Then he came into view; a young, purple-scaled dragon with green spines. He glared at me furiously.

“You heard me.” He snorted, mere inches from my face now.

Jeez, what the hell did I do now? Who can’t I manage to piss off today?

“Ideas about what?” I beamed back at the dragon.

“Ideas about Twilight. She’s like a sister to me, you know.” He continued to glare.

There was a pause for a few moments before I realized what he was on about.

“Oh... OH! N-No man, no, Twilight and I pretty much just met today.” I shook my head and stuck out a hoof.

Clearly he had the wrong idea. Waaaaaay wrong idea!

“Oh, alright then.” He shifted his glare, “Just don’t let me catch you trying to try anything. Understand?”

“Yeah, got it man.” I nodded, “I’m Davin by the way.” I added, sticking out a hoof.

Man, some hell of a way to make a first impression.

“I’m Spike.” He grasped my hoof with his claw and shook, “Twilight’s number one assistant.” He stared mercilessly into my eyes.

“I see you’re getting yourselves acquainted.” Twilight giggled as she trotted down the curving staircase, carrying several books with her magic.

“Uh, yeah.” I looked to Twilight, then back to Spike, who was continuing to glare.

“Well that’s good. I have a few books here we can take a look though tomorrow morning, Davin.” She set the books down on a stand near a couch.

“I can’t thank you enough Twilight.” I creaked a half-smile.

I can't shake feeling guilty for letting her take me in, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make things a lot easier on me for the time being.

Twilight smiled brightly, “The couch is yours. Sorry it isn’t much, but it’s the best I have to offer.”

“It’s perfect Twilight.” I shot her a quick grin and set the bag of tools I was carrying next to the couch.

Best you could offer? Are you kidding me? I’d be happy sleeping on the hard wood floor! Wouldn’t be the first time I would’ve been obliged to sleep on the floor. Plus, I could be out there right now trying to find a quiet alleyway to crawl into and pass out. I’m K with this!

“Well I’ll see you in the morning, have a good sleep Davin.” Twilight started to head up the stairs, “There’s quite a bit I’d like to learn about you.”

“Sounds good to me.” I called back, “Goodnight Twilight.”

Twilight waved a hoof from the top of the stairs, then shut the door to her bedroom. I crawled up onto the couch and lied down on my stomach. My smile quickly turned into a blank gaze, as I rested my head over the side of the couch.

What a day. I don’t even know whether to feel regret or gratefulness. Grateful for those few ponies and their kindness and understanding; not only did I now potentially have a few friends, but also a job and a place to rest my head for tonight. I’m really going to have to make it up to Twilight for her hospitality. I feel regret because, well...

A single tear streamed down my face as I drifted off into sleep.

I found myself in what looked to be a public restroom. I took a quick glance around. The usual toilet stall and urinal, and sink with mirror. I looked closer into the mirror. Nothing. No reflection or anything.

“Well that’s kind of fucked up...” I said aloud; I looked down at my feet, or rather, hooves.

Nope, I was real, and still a pony. I shrugged and pushed the restroom door open with a hoof, which revealed a hazy, dimly lit, dark hallway. The restroom door closed behind me with an unsettling creak, which made me jump. I looked to my left and right; nothing to my left, just darkness. I studied the other direction, which seemed to brighten further down the hallway. I shrugged and decided to trot down towards the light. As I approached the source of the light, I could softly hear voices. Now I wasn’t sure if I was creeped out, intrigued, or just curious; maybe all three, I don’t know. Nonetheless, I pressed on towards the light; I approached a set of double doors, one of which was half-open. I cautiously peered inside of the doorway, revealing somewhat of a large auditorium, filled with people dressed in black, with their heads held low. On a second glance through the doorway, I was struck by an atmosphere of sorrow. I wasn’t in any auditorium; I was in a church hall. I had to take a step back out of the doorway.

“This is really messed up.” I sighed, and rubbed my forehead with a hoof.

Despite my hesitation, I decided to walk into the hall. Nobody seemed to take a notice to me whatsoever, other than the fact that there were hundreds of people. I continued on down the isle, scanning the faces of people as I walked past. Strangely enough, I recognized quite a few people, but not anybody I had seen in years; perhaps old friends from high school and junior high? I’m not quite sure. When I was a mere two rows from the altar, I spotted somebody I knew very well; my grandmother. She was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. My grandfather was sitting beside her, trying to comfort her, also trying hard to fight back tears. My grandfather never cried; I remember my father telling me that he never once had seen him shed tears when he was growing up.

“Grandma? Grandpa? What’s wrong? What’s going on here?” I stood up next to the end of the bench trying to meet my grandparents at eye level. God, seeing like this is tearing me apart...

No response. It seemed like they couldn’t hear me.

I stepped up right in front of her, and placed a hoof on her hand. “Grandma?” I was beginning to distress.

Nothing. It was like I wasn’t even there. I slouched down beside the bench, and just stared at my grandparents. It killed me to see them so torn, and there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t stand it. I sighed in frustration and rubbed my temples.

“Calm down, Dav. It’s just a dream... a really bad dream. Just wake up.” I commanded to myself, keeping my eyes shut.

I opened my eyes again to the same image of my grandparents in sadness and grief. “God damnit, Davin! Wake up!” I held my head with both hooves.

There was nothing I could do. This was a horrible dream, with no way to wake up from it. Perhaps I was hallucinating; having been through death and a rebirth, if that's even what happened, who knows what kind of insanities that might drive a person to!

I took a few deep breaths, and decided to deal with it best I could. I’d have to wake up sooner or later.

“...he was the absolute best friend anyone could ever have...” These words caught my immediate attention.

My focus was shifted from trying to keep myself calm; none other than Tom, my best friend, was standing at the altar. He was reading off a piece of paper he was clenching, with sadness in his eyes.

“Tom...” I stared up to him, I got up on all four hooves and started to trot closer to the altar.

There are only so many conflicting thoughts I can handle at any given moment, but at that second, I was reaching the boiling point. I wasn’t even sure what to think...

Where the hell am I?

Why am I here?

What exactly is going on?

Why doesn’t anyone notice me?

WHY CAN’T I WAKE UP FROM THIS FUCKING NIGHTMARE?!

Trying to come up with excuses and answers to all the questions at once was just causing me more mental stress. I shook my head in attempt to shake off the torrent of confusion as I trotted closer to Tom. My reaching the altar was cut short by a large, glossy black box. I studied it for a moment. My eyes shot open in realization and horror.

A coffin.

All the conflicting thoughts began to organize themselves.

“Oh my God, I’m at a funeral.” I exclaimed, putting a hoof to my mouth in shock. I returned my hoof to the floor, “But who’s funeral?”

I glared at the back coffin and took a look back to the crowd of people sitting in the benches now behind me. I recognized nearly all the people in the front few rows. My family; uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins. My good few friends were seated near the front as well, with their families. Taking closer consideration to the amount of people I actually now recognized, I came to a terrible conclusion...

Without hesitation, I slowly but respectfully, peered at the body lay arrest inside the coffin.

I almost fainted from the terrible bewilderment and realization, although I was too overwhelmed from the adrenaline pumping through my veins to fall unconscious.

It was me. The human, original me. I continued to stare, trying to contain my panic and disbelief. After countless minutes of gazing upon the person I used to be, the sound of Tom reciting his eulogy began to soak into my mind.

“Davin and I met in high school. As some of you may know, in his freshman year, he wasn’t the most popular of students. He had his few friends, and a generally positive and optimistic attitude. He never took a second to reconsider giving anyone a helping hand. I’ll never forget the day I met him.” Tom had to pause for a moment to wipe his watery eyes.

A day I remembered all too well.

I closed my eyes, and a single tear ran down my cheek.

October 19, 2007

I grabbed my Quikcard Racing jacket out of the back of my locker, and threw it over my back. It was raining buckets outside and I had a long walk home.

“Ugh, not having a driver’s license yet sucks.” I groaned, “Why couldn’t I be just one year older? Why couldn’t I be everything I want to be?” I slammed the locker closed in frustration and clasped the lock shut. I left the long hallway of lockers and walked towards the front entrance of the school. I walked through the first set of double doors as I was met by my friend Mark.

“Another day spent in this freaking dungeon, eh man?" I chuckled as I elbowed Mark as we left the front doors of the school.

“Yeah bro, what a long week.” Mark chuckled, “Going to be a busy weekend too!” He threw the hood of his jacket over his head.

“Oh really? What are you up to this weekend?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Oh, nothing special, just gunna be painting my pop’s ’69 Charger!” Mark proclaimed with excitement, punching me in the shoulder.

“No way man! That’s Awesome!” I couldn’t help but share his excitement. Mark had been waiting to paint that car ever since he and his dad started restoring it together.

“I know buddy, it's gunna be sweet!” Mark fist-pumped the air.

“Just don’t forget to call me up when you’re ready to throw in the engine and powertrain, pal.” I gave him a friendly shove.

“I won’t man, anyone who’s anyone knows you’re the best with that mechanical shit!” Mark gave me a reassuring slap on the back, as we halted in front of Mark’s bus.

“I’m no professional yet, man.” I stated rather unconfidently; I shrugged and looked at the ground.

“You’re way too hard on yourself, Strach. Cut yourself some slack! You were asked to give a demonstration to the grade 12 mechanics class for Christ’s sake!” Mark gave me a friendly punch in the shoulder, “Anyways, I better get going. See ya Monday bud.”

“Thanks Mark, I’ll try.” I gave him a less than reassuring smirk, “See you Monday. And good luck with that car, I can't wait to see it when it's finished!”

Mark gave a wave of his hand and hopped onto the bus, making his way towards the back row. I began my hike towards home. It wasn’t far, but it took a while. Not the best neighborhood for a freshman high school student that’s for sure. I just had to try my best to stay out of trouble.

As I walked through the nearly abandoned school parking lot, I noticed some commotion.

“There you are, you piece of shit!” an aggressive voice called out.

“W-What?” I jerked my head back in confusion.

I noticed an older student, running up to me at an alarming rate. He was holding a 1 ½ inch wrench, and was already dangerously close.

“Oh shit!” I blurted out, trying to make a run for it.

I didn’t get very far until I was tackled by the student with the wrench. He wasn’t much bigger than I was, both height and weight wise, and he was a couple years older. At age 15, I stood 5 foot 11, around 165 pounds. I was in fairly good shape for my age; I wasn’t scrawny, but I wasn’t that stalky either. I fell somewhere in the average.

“Where do ya think your goin’ Strach?” He pinned me head first into the wet pavement of the parking lot, cutting my face and drilling a knee into the center of my back.

Usually, I tried to keep my head low, and not go calling out on people when I was being picked on; after 10 years of constantly being bullied at school, I figured not giving people a lead in whatever it was they decided to get on my case about was one of the best ways to stay out of trouble. Usually. But the manner in which he addressed me made me furious. Only my father and best friend Mark called me Strach, and they're the only ones that rightfully should! I snapped.

“That’s Mr. Strachan to you!” I spat from the pavement, “What the hell do you want from me?”

“You got some nerve thinking you can call the shots around here Strach.” He scoffed, “Pfft, Mr. Strachan. You’re a fucking joke kid, thinking you can outmatch me in my own mechanics class.”

I was getting angrier by the second. “What, can’t figure out how to properly tune an analog speedometer?” I huffed, “I knew how to do that shit before I even came to schoo-Ahh!” My gloating was cut short by the wrench being swung to the back of my right knee.

“Don’t fuck with me Davin, you know I can kick the shit outta you, you fucking freshman!” He screamed, and prepared to swing the wrench again. Just as he was about to bring the wrench to the back of my head, he was stopped by another student’s hand, grasping his wrist.

“Let. Him. Go.” The voice was extremely direct.

The wrench left the infuriated senior student’s hand, clanging to the pavement beside my face. He got up off my back, and the student who came to my aid helped me up onto my feet. With a bloody face, I looked the senior student dead in the eye. Nothing was said as I limped away towards the helpful student’s car. The student who came to my aid offered me a ride home, which I gratefully accepted. I hopped into the passenger seat.

“Here, wipe your face with this. That’s going to be a nasty scar when that heals up!” He said, tossing me a ragged towel.

“Thanks.” I uttered, holding the towel to my face.

The car took off from the parking lot. Just as we got onto the road, I rested my head back into the seat, sighing in relief.

“You just saved my life, man.” I looked at the driver of the car, then looked back to the senior student, who was retreating back towards the school, head hung low.

“What the hell was his problem?" He asked, pointing a thumb back towards the parking lot.

“I gave a demonstration to the grade 12 mechanics class this afternoon.” I sighed, “Guess that guy’s ego didn’t take kindly to having a freshman try to teach him mechanics.”

“Nope, I guess he didn’t.” He chuckled, “I’m Thomas by the way.”

“Davin.” I replied, shaking his hand.

“Nobody will ever be able to replace him, and this world will not ever be the same without him.” Tom now had tears streaming down his face. “Davin, Mark and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you. You saved our lives, man. You are a true hero. You’re my best friend buddy... You will be dearly missed.” He choked on the lump in his throat, “so, dearly, incredibly missed. Rest in peace...”

“Damnit Thomas, why did you and Mark have to wind up stuck on the train tracks...” I shook my head, and was now silently crying. Being taken away from everything and everyone I loved was one thing, but seeing everyone grieve about my passing was something all on it's own. It fucking killed me inside.

Just as Tom finished his eulogy and stepped down from the altar, he broke down into tears and joined the side of Mark, who was standing with my mother, sister and father. My family then unknowingly took my side next to the coffin; I looked up to them with my big, teary eyes. I'd give anything to let them know just how much I loved and missed them.

Now it was incredibly hard to determine if I was dreaming or if I should accept the fact that somehow I was actually witnessing my own funeral, even if I couldn’t make anyone aware of my presence.

My father knelt down next to the coffin, “I... I’m so proud of you.” he choked on the words, trying to fight back the tears, “I love you, son.”

My mother was crying harder than I had ever seen her cry before. It was extremely painful to see everyone I was so close to in my life, break down and mourn like this.

If I could only just go back in time and reconsider to stay at the shop while Tom and Mark went to pick up parts... No wait, then no one would have got them off the train tracks in time... They wouldn’t be here, if it weren’t for me having to... Ugh, this is too much to have to deal with!

My mother too kneeled down to the side of the coffin, but could only get out a few words between her sobs. “You have... the proudest parents... in the world, Davin... We love you... so very much.”

My sister kneeled down next to the coffin and wiped her eyes, “You’re a hero Dav. Not many sisters can say that their big bro is a real hero. I’ve always looked up to you, Davin.” She covered her eyes and cried, “I love you big bro. I really miss you.”

With just those few last words, I couldn’t help but tear up even more. The nicest words I had ever heard my sister say. Normally we didn’t get along, but after that, I could never have a fight about anything with her again.

They left me and the coffin to rejoin with Mark and Tom, where they embraced each other.

I broke down into tears and stepped back from the coffin. Realizing that this was the last time I would see my best friends and family, I trotted up to the group, stood on my hind legs, and wrapped my hooves around as many of them as I could.

“I love... you guys. I wouldn’t be... who I am today if it... weren’t for all of you. I’m going to miss you guys... so damn much. I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...” I sobbed uncontrollably as I held them all for as long and as tight as I could...

Morning came a little too early for my taste. I awoke lying on my back, to the sun streaming down onto my face, beaming in from a window above the staircase leading to the floor above me to Twilight’s room. I took a glance around the library. No one in sight, but I heard clattering from the floor above me. I looked down to notice I was tightly holding two throw pillows in my front hooves. The pillows were a soft silky lavender fabric, and had embroidered gold lettering.

Moving on wasn’t going to be easy. But with just that little bit of closure, whether it be a dream, hallucination, or reality, being reminded of how much people cared for me back home, made me feel the most at peace I’ve felt since, well... Ever.

I took a closer look at the pillows I was clenching.

One read ‘Family’.

The other read ‘Friends’.

Author's Note

Sorry this chapter took so long, turns out I had a lot on the go over the weekend. I honestly had quite a hard time writing this chapter, hopefully I didn't drive all you guys away with the sad sappy stuff, it was just important for closure and character development. You know the deal.

As always, feel free to give your feedback. I'll have the next update up as soon as possible!