înapoia

I was surrounded by dilapidated houses, abandoned shops, and streets with no distinguishable path. I was back in Ponyville, or what was left of Ponyville. I looked down and then back towards the buildings. I remembered this street, it was the one that lead into town. It was also the path that exited towards the Everfree forest and Fluttershy’s cottage. I looked behind me, and noticed a broken bridge buried under a mound be pale ash. The water no longer flowed under it, any semblance of life that could have been dried up long ago, along with the creak.

I pressed forward, stepping inside one of the many houses that littered the small town. The stairs that lead to the upper level of the place was torn to shreds, no longer able to be used. Off to the side, looking up, I saw a hole to what appeared to be the bedroom. Below there was a broken dresser, and a mangled bed frame, the mattress off to the side, covered in stains.

Walking over to the dresser, I opened up the somehow preserved wood, noticing a couple articles of clothing that could prove useful. I reached inside to grab a black scarf, wrapping it around my neck. It was warm and toasty, unlike the unforgiving hellscape outside. I also saw a grey hooded cloak, something that would protect me from the intense winds.

One thing that never moved, something that hadn't changed were the boulders. Their bulky bodies helped them stay in place, even under the pressure of the storms that plagued the world. I am not like a boulder, but I wish I was. It wouldn’t be so hard to travel otherwise. I also have to find shelter, also unlike a boulder.

Another sudden memory breached my train of thought, making me reach into my frock’s pocket. I felt nothing. Even with all the layers of clothes I was wearing, my body still went cold. I missed my friend, my little rock named ‘Boulder.’

I could almost sigh, but I just chose do so on the inside. It’s hard for me to express my emotions openly, even at the end of days. I had to try my hardest not to think about it, no matter how difficult it was. If I did, the world would have won over me, and I could not afford that.

I proceeded to exit the shredded house, back into the empty, dead, land. The hood over my head caught half of the stray dust and cinder that tried to find itself into my eyes. I only had to bleak half as many times as before; I’d call that fortune. Sometimes I wish my eyes were pebbles, if only to never have eye pain again.

As I traveled through town, I sniffed the air a couple times. It was a fruitless effort, since all that invaded my nostrils was the smell of ash. It was like a great fire passed through the land, burning away everything in its terrible flames. In truth, I wouldn’t know for sure. I was inside Ponyville caverns when it all happened, when the destruction of the world took place.

Still, I didn’t have too much trouble finding what I was looking for. In my peripheral was what was left of Sugarcube Corner. If I looked hard enough, I could have swore it looked the same as the first time I laid my eyes on it. I shook my head for just a moment, trying not to let my memories flood my mind. It was best if my head was as dry as the creak that used to run though the outskirts of town.

I walked up to the door of the place, the vision slowly revealing that it was just an open hole into the building. My mind was playing tricks on me, and I didn’t know why. Inside the place gave me a sense of nostalgia, the memories of the times I’d come here and have lunch with Pinkie slowly became the only thing I could think about.

“There you are, Maud. It’s about time you showed up, I’ve been waiting aaaaaaaages!” A bubbly voice boomed behind me, coming close to making me jump in fright. I turned around to see a sight I thought I never would again.

“Pinkie, what are you doing here? Isn’t everypony dead?” I tried to put as much emotion into my voice as possible. I think I was successful to some extent, but Pinkie was always good about gauging how I felt. I didn’t have to worry so much, but seeing her face again filled me with joy, with just a hint of sorrow.

“What do you mean, silly.” Pinkie bounced her way over to a dusty counter. “Look, here’s Mrs. Cake.” She gestured at empty space.

“There’s nothing there, Pinkie.” I stated matter of fact. I walked over to the counter with her, and threw my hoof towards where she said Mrs. Cake was. “See, nothing’s here?”

Pinkie gasped, “Maud, what’s gotten into you? Why’d you hit Mrs. Cake like that?” She put on the most stern face she could muster. “You could at least apologize, look, she’s crying now.” Pinkie went over and hugged the air, “There, there, she didn’t mean it.”

I’ve never been more confused in my life. I then notice her starting to become transparent, the littered kitchen clearly behind her. “Maud, please tell me what’s wrong.” Before she went to wrap me in a hug, she vanished.

I needed a rest, I think I was becoming unstable, the line between reality and my imagination blurring into a murky fog.

I made my way upstairs, the upper level somehow still intact after all the time it spent being battered by the world it now found itself in. I entered Pinkie’s room, noticing that the bed was a mess. It would have to do. Grabbing the blankets that were scattered across the floor, I rested my head on the smelly pillow, allowing sleep to overtake me. The memories that invaded me non-stop ceasing to follow.