Pursuit of the Past

I stand in the now-unfurnished hall of the palace, a halo of morning sun dripping through the stained glass to surround me. A lovely day approaches, no clouds decorating the dawn sky.

It’s quiet, but not peacefully so.

At the end of the room paces the ruler of the glorious daystar, my teacher, Princess Celestia. In the recent months, she’s grown haggard, skin taut on her bones and shadows beneath her eyes. Yet she remains strong, like a craggy cliff amidst a tumultuous ocean—immovable. I admire her and fear for her all the same.

“Twilight,” she says, a slight tremble evident in her normally-confident voice, “my student, listen to what I say. Equestria is in danger. I fear for the worst.

“Not I, nor Luna, nor even Cadance, can predict what will occur in the upcoming weeks. And,” she takes a shaky breath, “we can’t stop it. Our magic, even combined, isn’t powerful enough to deflect whatever is to come.” With light, long strides, she trots over to the sole window not blocked by multi-colored shards of glass. “But whatever is coming, it can’t be good.

“The reports have come in from across the ocean of pestilence and chaos. They've begged me to remain here, and I'm ashamed to confess that I've obeyed.

"I’m not sure what to think yet; Discord is working by my side to unravel this, but we haven’t figured anything important out at this time. What we’ve received is far from conclusive. It’s vague, but the warnings are serious.

“I’m putting my trust in you, Twilight. I know you are capable of anything you set your mind to.” The ghost of a smile flutters across her mouth only to disappear within the creases of her frown. “Use what you’ve learned. When this event arrives, it will push you to your limit. Keep your friends close, for you’ll certainly need them to overcome these trials.” I’m surprised to see tears in her eyes when she turns to me; over all the years I’ve been studying under my teacher, not once have I seen her cry. “Good luck, my star pupil. You will succeed.” Under her breath, she says, “You must.”

I clear my throat and reply, “I won’t let you down, Princess,” but a pained expression, one that puckers her forehead and drags down her lips, is the only answer I receive.

She turns away, wings tucked against her body and limbs rigid. I take it as my dismissal just as two guards enter to escort me from the room.

I know not what approaches, but I’m determined to overcome it no matter the cost. My Princess is counting on me, and I can’t afford to disappoint her.

☆☆☆

Day 10

I’m afraid I’ve already disappointed my teacher. It isn’t my fault, not entirely, but that doesn’t excuse my failure.

I’ve let her down. But I refuse to quit.

In the evening after our meeting, I returned to Ponyville, and at the train station, my friends greeted me with glee. Though we’d parted ways a few years after my arrival, we’d kept in touch, and none of them hesitated in welcoming me back from what I’d expected would be an extended stay in Canterlot. They’d all moved on, built their own lives, and all but myself had distanced themselves from Ponyville.

Their existences had changed, and we’d all but severed communication save for a few, thin strands of connections. Yet our friendships remained as solid and infallible as ever.

For a few short days, we were reunited, but the time came that our carefree reminiscing has to be cut short. We parted ways, tearfully, and made empty promises to get together soon.

They were so unaware of what was coming. Then again, we all were.

Now I’m on the move. I’ve no other choice. Ponyville has become a desolate wasteland with its decayed gardens, crumbling structures, and boarded-up windows. It’s a ghost town. I had no choice but to flee as all the other survivors did.

The disease tore through it with ease just five days after my return, sparing but a few. The Mayor, Cheerilee, Scootaloo and Bon Bon were among the dozens claimed. Their funerals were brief and combined into one service. Mourning didn’t last long.

Fire fell from the sky, wicked tongues of blue flames that singed whatever they could touch, and communication ceased between cities due to unfavorable weather. The fire was followed briefly by a relentless monsoon. Not one city or town was spared.

The trains no longer functioned properly, and the air balloons were either whisked away or torn to shreds, so if anyone wished to escape, it’d have to be on hoof. Technicians couldn't figure out why the trains weren't cooperating with their magic.

No science couldn’t explain it. But it happened. There’s no denying it.

The storm wasn't logical. And it wasn't natural. Equestria had never seen anything like it.

For a few days after the terrors halted, I stayed behind to help as much as I could. There was little I could do; the death toll was higher than it’d ever been, and those who managed to survive were too despondent to cooperate. I helped the surviving shop owners board up their windows and pack before they set out to find new lives.

Then I was the only pony in Ponyville.

But that didn’t last long, for I was gone by sunrise on the sixth day after the start of the chaos.

Princess Celestia’s words continue to echo in my mind as I travel through towns that have faced the same fate as Ponyville. Her trust is in me. Somehow, I’m to end this calamity.

I wish the answers were in my books.

Alas, my tests have never been so easy. The only lead I have is my friends, the embodiments of the Elements of Harmony, the slayers of chaos. If I’m to figure anything out, they need to be by my side.

A few hours after my departure from my home, I started for Appleloosa, the closest location to Ponyville where I need to go, and I’ve been traveling there ever since.

Four days have passed. Going by hoof is agonizingly slow, but there are no other methods anymore.

I’ve never realized how far away the small town is from my home. Sure, I’d calculated the distances from Ponyville to Timbucktu multiple times, made maps and even published an atlas, but the journey wasn’t something I’d ever accounted for.

I never knew I’d have to take this trip.

I need to gather my friends. All I have in my saddle bags are my Element, some parchment and quills, a fair supply of Zecora’s latest concoction, a map, and an herb book. I hope it’ll be enough to succeed. I need all the help I can get, though. That’s for certain.

It’s a lonely journey, but it’s one I must take. I no longer have Spike by my side for he struck fear into the other citizens of Ponyville once he hit his growth spurt, and he’s been living in the far north for the past four years. No clan would accept him, a dragon raised by ponies, so he holed up in a cave near the icy cap. I miss him dearly, but there’s no sense in dwelling on heartache now.

The path to Appleloosa grows shorter, and I intend on reaching it by dusk in a few hours. I anticipate gathering my friends will be easy albeit tiring. Soon we’ll be together again as we were ages ago. I don’t doubt the task of finding them and banding together will be fairly trivial.

It’s the solution-finding that I dread.