The end of the line
lancer has lived for eons, he's lived longer then 7 pony generations and he's nearing the end of his life, when everything is said and done what regret does the dragon hold?
Story start,
I am so tired, time is quite the horrible mistress even at the end of my life I still wish to live, but why? I think I'm waiting for someone, but who?
"Ah in my old age forgetting things is a given."
"What does old age have to do with forgetting anything young dragon?"
lancers eyes roared to life, an intruder in my personal cave. "Infidel how dare you enter this sacred place!!" He roared raising his head to burn the intruder to the ground. He fired.
"Humph that will show anyone who wishes to enter here."
"Is that all the power your flames hold now, you have lost some conviction lancer."
"How! There has only been one horse that could be engulfed by my flames and not be a pile of ash!" I looked to the horse my eyes watering over as the memory's returned. "Cole?" I asked hopefully. "No he died a long time ago if not he would have come to..." I tried to place this as a hallucination it happened often every time I wake up I see them looking at me with a wide smile on there face me running to them too smother them in a hug only for them to... I can’t go on, with Cole the real live Cole here the memories of my friend, lovers, wives came rushing back to me. Grabbing my chest, it hurt the pain was indescribable!
"Easy big guy, you're at the end of your life but I still have a few things to show you, don't end heart attack that's just not cool." Cole said jokingly bringing a slight smile to my face resting his hove on my claw pushing the pain away my chest it subside I could finally talk.
"Cole its a great pleasure to see you. I wish it was under better circumstances."
"Not at all this was how it was meant to be. come on outside there's something you have to see." he commanded even after all these years his voice held that subtle power that made the near dead rise behind him in renewed vigor. he lead me outside, I never came out of my cave at night... why don't I come out of my cave at night? "look at the sky Lancer. The stars are shining so brightly, it is such a beautiful sight but its significance is so sad."
There were stars shining in the night they seemed so bright the sun itself would be put to shame, it hurt so bad why does it hurt my chest its tightening, the pain its too much!!! I let out a roar the pain transforming into anger, its been years since I've been angry; even longer since I've felt anger for Cole I had forgiven him.
"WHY!!?" I shouted at him.
"Why, what lancer?"
"Why did you let them die." Tears were welling in my eyes as I spoke to Cole. my heart is shattering looking at those stars why did it hurt to look at the stars.
"I couldn't do anything about that, but I can tell you it still hurts to look at them not so bad because I know what’s coming but the pain is still there I can only imagine how much it hurts for you looking at the stars created by the passing of your loved ones the gift they asked me to give you so you could never forget them. I wonder if they know how much it hurts you just to come out of that cave and see them in the night sky?" Cole looked up at the stars. A look that I could not identify formed on his face, it was painful to look at, almost as painful as my shattering heart.
"Those stars, my friends asked you to make them?" the pain it hurts but there's something else something warm. I feel tired my eyes are getting heavy.
"yeah lancer don't ever forget they loved you from the bottom of their hearts, but to tell you they loved you is not why I'm here nor is it to give you comfort at the the end, you know I don't work like that. I'm here for a different reason." he looked at me his eyes changing from a pained expression to one of happiness. "Now then to explain your situation in a nut shell what would you do to live with them again?" a question that I ask myself everyday. In my eons of existence I have asked myself what I would do to be with them again, and my answer has always been the same.
"What wouldn't I do."
"Good. now then you have limited time in this world, and usually it would take you a thousand years just to be eligible for rebirth, but if you are willing to forget everything, for a little while, I could make your rebirth process instantaneous you'll wake up a dragon with everyone you ever loved not that far away but there is a condition." he was mocking me this was just a horse what could he do for me in death, but still it was a chance to be with them again, I stayed with them till the very end, I could wait for the beginning.
"What is your condition?"
"You get no rest; the moment you die, the exact second you die you wake up as another dragon, a whole new life you will be thrust into with out a moment of respite." those weren't bad terms but waiting after they died that is true torture maybe these are lenient rules for a dragon that has suffered too long.
"That is fine, but I have a request if possible?" I asked hope in my voice but my body was screeching in pain now, the thought of what I was asking scared it, I had to distract myself focus on the warm feeling. I had forgotten what it was, the love I shared for them was still there even a thousand years after there passing I could still feel the warmth, it strengthen my resolve.
"If it was in my power I could do it." the pained look appeared again that's all that I could identify it was a look of pain but it seemed deeper a more primal pain.
"Assure me when I am born again that after they pass I will not be long behind, they may refuse and say I must live my life but my life is with them, tell them the torture it is to live and not have the ones you love so close, allow me this request even if they refuse, it is a choice I made and will continue to make." it was a difficult request or it would have been Cole has buried many friends; even more he has had to kill himself. a smile spread on his face it was infectious I started laughing.
"No prob that's what I would expect from you lancer the dragon that lived among ponies the dragon that fell in love with ponies." he began to laugh, loving the revelry. "Completely preposterous!! I had never seen anything like it, amazing a true miracle. and I don't say that lightly." Cole lied he didn't believe in miracles he says he has lived too long to see an impossible event.
"That's a nice sentiment, it would mean more if you meant it. What’s this thing you say that could bring me back?" the question nagged at my mind how could this horse help me?
"Oh Lancer, you should see it now, what I truly am." Cole began to flicker his hoodie began to fade replaced by a cloak of black flames the darkness of it all, it should be suffocating me but looking into it, it is a calming flame my pain and fears gone the warmth of love began to flow into me. for the first time since I met him I see Cole's cutie mark a skull with a dual scythe behind it most would be terrified of the sight but it was welcoming to me. A few more moments and I would be with them I pray that I can love and help them all.
"Lancer, look into the sky let your last sight be what they left for you." Cole placed his hove on my snout and single-handed raised my head to the sky. I suddenly didn't have the energy to lift it. The stars they were beautiful, there wasn't another word for them, six stars in a perfect hexagon they each shone a different color one purple with a slight pink in it, another a pure white with blue splashed in, an orange one, a yellow one this shined the least brightest as if it was a shy light, there was a full pink one that shone brightest of them all overflowing with energy, and a rainbow one glowing a constant and bright light it was the greatest feeling looking up I remember the pain but now that its the end nothing but joy filled me the world seem to grow darker as if fading away I knew I was dying nearing the end of my cycle my head was bobbing a little a sniffing noise could be heard under me this was a miracle Cole crying I let the darkness overtake me the stars the last thing a saw there was a hole in the center of them all and not a single light shone in the center.
"At least they will have the full 7." my last joke in this life as I let a small chuckle escape.
Cole P.O.V.
UGH MMPH don't cry not now wait for him to go he’s at peace let him enjoy the lights at least for a bit more.
"At least they will have the full 7." Lancer's last joke I could chuckle but after he disappears.
I laid his head down and watched as my closest friend lay beneath me. I laughed, laughed at the times I saw him screw up, at all the times he made me smile, at all the good times he and his friend spent with me... when did I start crying... when did I dig this hole... where’s Lancer? ooh... sniff... sniff I raise my head a tear falls down my face and I see a sight that was a true miracle there are seven stars in that perfect hexagon.
"I finally saw one." was all I could say as the rain rolled in you can cry in the rain no one can tell the difference.