It’s been sometime since I’ve thought about my past. I always find myself contemplating what I’m going to do next, how I’m going to continue on, and what’s in store for my future, but I could never bring myself to recall the memories I’ve been repressing for many months now. But here I was, surrounded by corpses as I steadily bled from a wound in my side, finding my mental defenses shattering to allow the unwanted visions of my earlier days flooding back into my conscious thoughts. I tried to fight them away, but I was too tired and so, after pointless effort, I resigned myself to remembering everything I thought I had destroyed.

I don’t recall much before my fifth birthday aside from the random bits of warm smiles and joy in the sun that were permanently imprinted in my mind. After that, things became clearer. I vividly remembered the picnics my parents would take me on and all of the love they would shower me with. My parents loved me so much. I winced, the emotions of my past filling me with sorrow due to my current life. I could feel tears streaming down my face, but not from the pain. The pain was nothing new to me and so that left only one possible cause. Regret.

I drew in a breath, the intake stuttered by shaking sobs as I tried to suppress the images, but they would not relent. My mind betrayed me and I was once more assaulted by memories unwanted. I guess I should begin at the beginning. My name is Dazzle Drive, daughter of Sparky Drive and Torrent Drive, and I’m the first equine Necromancer.

I beamed excitedly, my eyes wide with wonder. “Really, Mommy? Will I really get to come with you to work tomorrow?” I was bouncing on my hooves, my sky blue mane dancing in its twin braids.

“Only if you’re good, Dee Dee. Mommy and Daddy have to talk to somepony tonight and so you’ll be staying with Miss Blossom.”

I nodded furiously, all too eager to go and play with Orange Blossom, my foalsitter. She lives only a few blocks away in the common quarter of Canterlot, my hometown, and is my best friend from when I was much younger than even now. I’ve lived my whole life here with my parents and often stayed with Blossom when they had to work the same shifts or whenever they decided they wanted to go out somewhere.

My mother nuzzled my neck softly, making me sigh happily. “Now, my little Dandelion, Blossom should be here shortly.” That is another one of the nicknames that my mother, and later Blossom, loved to call me, my golden yellow coat the source of this one. “You’re six years old now, so I think you can go outside on your own. Why don’t you go wait for her while Daddy and I talk?”

I agreed excitedly and scurried off to play in our yard. Our house isn’t too large, being only two stories, but we have plenty of room to play outside. Tonight is the first time I’m able to come outside without my parents or Blossom watching me! “I can’t believe they’re letting me play outside! Too bad the sun isn’t around anymore. None of my friends ever come play anymore....”

I sighed softly and looked around before deciding I would just run around behind our house, pretending to be a brave knight. I turned to trail along our gate when a soft green flash caught my attention from just around the corner. My curiosity overwhelmed my instinctual nervousness and drove me to find out what is causing the light. I lit my small- I mean stout, because I’m a big pony, yellow horn for its dim, blue light and peeked around the corner, eyes wide to search over every detail.

“That’s boring....” My lip curled in a pout, disappointment growing, until I noticed the faint glow pulsing in my mother’s rose bush. I walked over to the roses, my purple eyes growing wider as I drew nearer. I’m not a particularly courageous filly, but my curiosity could definitely make up for the lack. I buried my worries in order to figure out what it was that was hiding. I strained my eyes against the darkness, the glow being the only light due to my house’s shadow blotting out the moon’s light, and crept onward.

A low hum caught my attention and I stopped to look around me for any sign of something else being nearby, but all that was there was the faint glowing of whatever was in the bush. I took a deep breath and sprinted right up next the rose bushes, taking extra care not to run muzzle first into the thorny flowers. I wasn’t scared-. No, definitely not! I’m a big pony! I was just... excited! Yeah, excited. I mean, there was a strange glowing thing in the roses that wasn’t there before, so it would make sense to be excited and not afraid.

I blinked, finally noticing that the hum I heard was much clearer now and sounded more like a quiet tuba. And it was also coming from the bushes. “Is it the light that’s humming? That’s weird. Lights don’t hum.” I sparked my horn into action to open the bushes enough so I could see inside, but I put too much magic into the act and tore the flowers apart quite gracelessly. “Oops.... Mommy is definitely not gonna be happy.”

I sighed, silently praying to the missing Celestia that Mommy wouldn’t find out before peering carefully inside the hole I had created. The glow had gotten much dimmer, but I could still see something towards the very back of the row of flowers. I, even more carefully this time, set my horn into action and wrapped the object in a blue aura, but dropped it as a small jolt of electricity shot through my horn and down my body to the tip of my tail. I loosed a startled ‘eep’ and rubbed my tingling horn with my forehooves. “Meanie thing! Why did you zap me?”

There wasn’t an answer. It’s not like I expected one or anything. No, not at all. I moved forward again in an attempt to retrieve the dimly lit item and, this time, grasped the object in the crook of my right forehoof. It was smooth and hard with some strange bumps on the front. I held it in front of my face, staring at it in the dim blue light as the green glow faded, and frowned. “A rock!? It’s just a rock!?”

I huffed before stowing the rather large slab of stone in one of the saddlebags I always wore before turning back towards the front yard. “Maybe Mommy will know what kind of rock it is. Even if it is just a dumb rock, it was glowing.” I trotted off, my merry mood back in place now that my adventurous curiosity had returned, and stopped outside our front door. I could hear my parents’ muffled talking and could even hear some of the words.

“Are you sure... Nightmare’s army?” My Mom’s voice was soft, but easily recognizable over my Dad’s deeper words. “Why don’t you join the Royal....”

Royal? Nightmare’s army? What are they talking about? Are they going to meet the new Queen? Oh, wow! My Mommy and Daddy are gonna be famous! I strained my hearing even more, pressing against the door to gather as much sound as possible.

“I don’t know, Sparky. You heard what happens if you ignore Nightmare’s draft. The Dew family went missing not too long ago. I don’t want that to happen to you and Dazzle.” My dad sounded strange. Like he would if he was scared or something, but that didn’t make sense. Daddies don’t get scared.

“Well, you can’t just leave us. We’re the top two engineers for the airships and, if this is going to turn out as I imagine, then She’ll probably want to requisition our services to build her own personal airships.”

“You talk as if I’m not going to come back if I accept. Don’t worry, dear. I can take care of myself.”

I reached up to our door handle and prepared to rush in and figure out what they were talking about, until a soft cough and the clearing of a throat behind me stole my attention. “Now, Dee Dee, you really shouldn’t be eavesdropping on your parents. If they’re trying to talk in private then you need to just wait till they’re done.”

I spun on my hooves and folded my ears back at the sight of the stern filly before me. Orange Blossom was almost nine, just about to reach adulthood, and was certainly tall for her age. Despite her name, she didn’t actually look like an orange so much as she did the actual flower. She had a white coat with a bright yellow mane, brighter in contrast to my darker, more golden fur. Did I mention she was pretty? Oh, she was very pretty. The perfect pony and my favorite pony ever other than my parents.

I flushed and looked at my hooves, unable to hide my shame. “I’m sorry Blossom. I didn’t mean to. Please don’t be mad at me.” I just couldn’t bear to have the filly of my-.... I mean, my best friend hate me. Instead of scolding me further, however, she just giggled and hugged me. I sighed in content.

“Oh, Dee Dee. Why would I be angry? You’re just too cute to be angry at!” She pulled away and my body tried to stay in contact for just a moment longer, but she had already moved past me to the door. I jumped up next to her and waited as she raised a hoof to knock. “Mister and Missus Drive, I’m here for Dazzle!”

I watched her as she moved, admiring the open heart-filled book that adorned her flank. I’ve always wondered why she had that cutie mark instead of an orange related cutie mark like the rest of her family, but I could never work up the courage to ask her and thus inform her of my staring at her flank. My father soon opened the door and grinned happily as he motioned us inside. “Hello Mister Drive. I hope you’ve been having a good day so far? Or perhaps night now.”

“Oh, yes. Thanks for asking Blossom. Other than the stress of work and other things, it’s been pretty decent.” He led us into the kitchen and, the moment I saw my mother, I rushed up to her and gave her a hug. “Thank you for agreeing to watch Dazzle for us. It’s so nice to have somepony we can trust to take care of her when we have to go out.”

“Hey, Mommy! Look at what I found out back!” I quickly dug through my bag and pulled out the rock, holding it in my teeth. She took it in her hooves and looked at it carefully. “It was glowing when I found it, but now it isn’t. I think it was making a sound, too, but I couldn’t tell. Then it zapped me when I used magic on it! It still looks funny though and has weird squiggles on the side so I thought you’d know what it was!”

“Hmm. Let me see.” She turned it over and looked at the strange lines on the front occasionally raising her eyebrows like she had found something interesting. After a few seconds of me bouncing impatiently before her, she handed it back. “It’s a rock!”

I laughed and put it in my saddle bag once more. “Duh, Mommy. I knew that! I want to know what kind of rock.” I watched her expectantly, but she just shrugged.

“I’m not sure, Dee Dee. It looks like a regular rock to me. Don’t you think you should just go put it in the garden with all the other rocks?”

“But it has squiggly lines! See?” I levitated the rock out once more and practically shoved it in my mother’s face. She just frowned and shook her head.

“I don’t see anything, sweetie.” She held it out for everypony else to see. “Honey, do you see anything?”

“It’s just a regular rock, Dazzle.” I stuck out my lip in a pout, frustrated that they wouldn’t tell me the truth. I can see the funny-looking lines, so why won’t they just say they’re there? “Why don’t you keep your rock, okay?” He ruffled my mane causing me to squeak out a bout of laughter. “Now, go on. You don’t wanna keep Blossom waiting, do you?”

My eyes went wide as I looked over to the older filly whose brows were furrowed in mock impatience. I nearly panicked. Mocking or not, I didn’t want to make her wait! I swiftly kissed my parents on the cheeks and stood next to Blossom, leaning against her just slightly. She nuzzled my neck before turning to leave and I followed right behind her “Bye, Mommy! Bye, Daddy! I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“I’ll be sure to get her back before noon, Mister and Missus Drive.” I watched behind me as we left, making sure to keep my parents in view as they waved at us before shutting the front door. Blossom looked down at me, her soft pink eyes glowing in the moonlight. “So, Dee Dee, what do you want to do today?”

“I dunno. Whatever you want to, I guess. I didn’t even know I was going to your place until this morning. Do you know what the new Queen is like?”

“I’m not sure, Dazzle. I haven’t met her and I certainly won’t judge based on all the rumors.” She looked at me, curiosity evident on her face. “Why do you wanna know? Did you hear something about her?”

“Oh, no! I heard Mommy and Daddy talking about a royal army and Nightmare’s army or something like that. Are they going to be seeing the Queen?” My features were alight with excitement at the thought of my parents meeting the Queen. “That’d be so cool!”

Blossom frowned slightly, but quickly replaced it with another grin. “They just might, Dee Dee.” I squealed and bounced in joy making Blossom giggle. “Now, let’s hurry to my house. We can read one of your favorite action stories or maybe even build a book fort!”

I couldn’t even attempt to contain my joy as we both raced off down the road, our giggles filling the air as we ran. The two storey houses soon gave way to smaller, single-storey homes.We arrived faster than normal due to our quicker pace, but even without it we could have gotten here speedily. She only lived a few blocks down the road from us, after all. We burst through the front door of her quaint, blue house after unlocking it and slammed the door behind us before racing towards her living room. Her house was small, smaller than mine, but still quite cozy and had plenty of room since she was the only one living here.

We stopped in front of her bookshelf, a cheap oak piece painted off-white, and glanced at each other. We both knew what to do. In a flurry of hooves, magic, and books, we quickly set to work creating a large wall around ourselves, giggling madly during the process. It took several moments and quite a lot of help from the taller pegasus, but we were soon encased inside of a castle of knowledge, all of her books used except the one that was filled with all of the short adventure stories I loved.

“Okay! How about we get some reading in? I’m sure you’d love to hear about Daring Do’s next adventure!” She laid herself on the floor and turned the book’s pages to the first chapter before raising her wing and motioning me underneath. I grinned and snuggled up close to her, focusing on the words, as she draped the white wing across my back. “Tonight, we’re going to be reading Daring Do and The Pyre of Peril.” She cleared her throat and posed dramatically as she began to narrate. “Daring Do fluttered down into the octagonal opening on the roof of the Maresopotamian ruins....”

My eyes drooped heavily as I felt the need to sleep wash over me, but I was determined to listen to the rest of the story. Blossom was just so amazing at telling stories that I wasn’t surprised her cutie mark was for such a task. I opened my mouth to yawn and tried to stuff my hoof in there to stifle it, but she caught the action out of the corner of her eye. Drat.

“It looks like somepony needs to sleep. Come on, let’s get you to bed. We’ve been reading for quite a few hours now.”

“But I don’t want to. I wanna listen to you read some more. I like listening to you read.” I really do. Really, really do. “And besides, I’m not tired.”

She smiled warmly and brushed my mane out of my face with her wing. “I know you love it when I read to you. You helped me get my cutie mark after all.” I remember that day very well. Almost two years ago I had been upset about some bullies at school and so she read to me to cheer me up. During the little reading session, her mark appeared. It made us so happy. “But you still have to go to sleep. I don’t want your parents getting upset because their little filly is too tired to stay awake tomorrow.”

I tried to pout and resist. I even put on my best ‘crocodile tears’ display, but she had been my babysitter and friend for too long. It didn’t even faze her. “Awww.... Fine. I’ll go to sleep, but.... Could you sleep with me?”

“Sure. I don’t see why not seeing as you’re my favorite little filly ever!” She nudged me towards her bathroom with her head. “Brush your teeth and hop in bed. I’ll be right there when I finish myself.”

I nodded enthusiastically and made short work of the brushing before dashing into her bedroom. I was quite excited. I mean, she always agrees to sleep with me whenever I come over, but it still makes me happy. I sat on the edge of her bed, waiting patiently, looking about the small room as I always do. Nothing has changed. Same blankets, same Wonderbolts poster, same picture of her family on the nightstand. That was good. I like when things don’t change, because I love everything just the way they are right now. I heard Blossom’s hoofsteps coming closer and, without disturbing the blankets too much, slid under their warm embrace.

Blossom soon stood beside the bed, gazing warmly at me before climbing in beside me. Once again, I snuggled up next to her and loosed a content sigh. “Good night, Blossom.” I could feel sleep beginning to take hold, but continued to fight it as best as I could.

“Night, Dee Dee. Sleep well.” After a soft kiss on my forehead, I was soon pulled under by the claws of drowsiness and, after one final murmur of bliss, fell into the world of dreams alongside my best friend.

Wake up, pony child.

My eyes shot open, scanning the room from just under the edge of the blankets. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, straining to be free from its hiding place. “Who.... Who’s there?” I couldn’t see anypony around us even after leaning up enough to check the areas I couldn’t see while lying down. “I.... I’ll call the guards. D-don’t think I can’t scream.”

Come to me, pony child. You are destined to wield my power.

“Who are you? I.... I’m not going to listen to a stranger!” I hid under the blankets and curled up closer to Blossom in an attempt to hide as best I could.

I will not hurt you, pony child. Come to me and accept my gift.

I shook my head violently in protest, but eventually my foalish curiosity got the better of me once again. I slowly poked my head from my hiding place under the unbeatable blanket shield and squinted towards the door leading to the kitchen. I could see a faint green glow, a familiar green glow, coming from the living room area. “That’s where I left my bags... and that rock!”

Being as careful as I was able, I slid out from under the blankets and onto the floor, muffling my hooves by climbing down as slowly as possible. I crept towards the kitchen and glanced at the clock on the wall. Eight-thirty? Well, at least I didn’t miss out on too much sleep. I looked back at Blossom, ready to just jump back in bed and snuggle up under the warmth and safety of the blankets, but found the urge to figure out where the voice was coming from to be too powerful. Stalking out into the living room, I checked the place where I had set my saddlebags and, sure enough, there was the rock, sitting on the floor and glowing like the first time I had seen it.

I stuck my hoof out to touch it, but, the moment before I would make contact, the glow died and I was left with nothing but the dull grey stone with the funny lines. “Well, that was rude! Waking a pony up and then just leaving when I do what you say!” Did I just yell at a rock? Yes, I did. I sighed in frustration and grasped the rock in my teeth, stuffing the item back in the saddlebags once more.

A soft shuffling sounded behind me and I spun around, quivering in fear at the thought of a stranger coming to foalnap me. My worries fell away, however, when I saw Blossom standing in the entrance to the kitchen, her mane messed up from sleeping on it funny. “Good morning, Dee Dee. Why are you up so early?”

“A funny voice woke me up and when I went to look for what was talking I saw that my rock was glowing!” I glared at the bag behind me.

“I didn’t see any light when I came out here. Unless you count the moon, of course. Are you sure you weren’t imagining it?” She smiled affectionately at me and I found it difficult to come up with anything to prove it was. A fact made obvious by my uselessly flapping mouth. She chuckled and gave me a hug. “Don’t worry about it, Dee Dee. You were probably just sleepy and thought the moon’s light was your rock glowing. Now come with me to the kitchen. I want you to help me make some pancakes.”

I, being a pony that loves pancakes, answered the only way that would make sense. I squealed in delight and dashed back into the kitchen, bouncing on my hooves as I waited for her to join me. “YES! I’D LOVE SOME PANCAKES!”

Blossom laughed and was soon standing by my side, pulling out various bowls, a pan, and a whisk to start preparing the food. “Okay. Let’s get started then. Could you get me the milk and eggs from the cooler while I get the mix and heat the stove?” I nodded and levitated the items from the white cooler that she asked for onto the small counter beside the stove and once more set myself to bounce as I waited. I could practically feel myself buzzing from the excitement growing in my mind. “Sure are eager, aren’t you? I guess I could let you mix it.”

“Oh, can I!? I won’t let you down! I’ll mix it better than anypony has ever mixed pancakes ever!” Another giggle and she began measuring out the flour into a large bowl. I watched as she poured precise portions of milk into the mix followed by an egg and.... “Why are you adding salt? Salt doesn’t taste good in pancakes!”

“It’s how my mother used to make them. She never explained it to me, but I guess it’s a way to balance the taste. Don’t worry, you won’t be able to tell it’s in there.” I nodded, still confused, but willing to go along with it since none of the other times she’s made pancakes were bad. Following the salt, she added some baking powder and a small amount of vanilla. “There we go! Now we just need it mixed and it’ll be ready for cooking.” She grabbed the handle of the whisk in her mouth and passed it to me. “I’ll hold the bowl for you while you do the honors.”

If I was any more excited, I’d probably explode... twice. I grasped the metal utensil with my magic and waited as she picked the bowl up in her front hooves and sat on her haunches in front of me. “Now, Dee Dee, you have to stir it quickly until it’s smooth, but make sure to leave a few lumps in there. We don’t want it over mixed. You can start whenever-”

I set to work, ignoring her warnings, and stirred the mix as quickly and with as much force as I could muster in my horn. The mix splattered over the bowl and onto the both of us, but I continued to spin the whisk, giggling as the drops of batter splashed onto us. Despite the mess, Blossom laughed right along with me as both of our faces soon became pre-pancake masks. I stopped and admired my skills. We had lost almost a quarter of the original mix, but what was left was definitely perfect for pancakes. Aside from the many lumps still in the batter.

Blossom set the bowl down and pulled me into a sticky hug. “Oh, Dee Dee. You made a mess!” She giggled and licked a small amount of batter off my nose. “At least it’s good for baking! You had to have mixed pancakes before.”

I shook my head, splattering more batter on the floor and counter. “Nope! I just remember the last time you made me pancakes. I wanted to show you I could do it too! Erm.... Sorry about the mess though. I guess I could have done that a little slower.”

“It’s perfectly fine, Dazzle. Nothing a little water and a rag can’t clean up. Let’s get these cooked so we don’t waste the batter, then we can clean up and take a bath.” She rubbed my head and turned back to the stove, carefully measuring out the batter and pouring it out onto the skillet. I stood on my hind legs and propped myself up on the counter to watch the pancakes cook, waiting patiently, or as patiently as I can be, for them to be ready. “Now, when you cook the pancakes, you have to wait until the batter stops bubbling on the top. That will tell you when it’s time to flip it over.” After explaining, she grasped a spatula’s handle in her mouth and, with one fluid motion, flipped the three disks onto their backs. The tops were a golden brown, just the way they always were when she made them. “This is the tricky part. It’s all about timing and temperature here and can take many attempts to get it just right.”

After waiting less than a minute, she scooped the pancakes up and set them on a plate she had pulled from a cupboard before we started. They were, as usual, perfect in shape and color. “Wow! You’re amazing! I wish I could cook as good as you.” I was beginning to drool as their smell met my nose.

“As well as I, but I’m not that good. My mother was the best.” She measured out two more pancakes, finishing off the remaining mix, and cooked the pair to perfection. “Let’s eat and get this place cleaned up! We gotta get you home before your parents start to worry that I’m stealing you for myself.”

We giggled softly, both of us knowing that they wouldn’t mind if I stayed longer than planned, and brought our breakfast to the table in the living room. After coating the tops in peanut butter, something she had shown me back when she first started foalsitting me, and smothering them in syrup, we dug in, munching happily on the delicious cakes. They didn’t last long against our attacks and soon there was nothing left but pools of syrup and crumbs. “I’ll clean the dishes for you since I made that mess in the kitchen.” Before she could say anything, I levitated the plate and forks above my head and walked to the sink, leaning over the counter so I could see what I was doing.

“I’ll go get a bath started then. Don’t take too long.” I watched her move into the bathroom attached to the living room and heard the water begin to fill the tub. I didn’t waste any time as I washed the dishes and silverware and set them in a small rack to dry before taking a rag from the cupboard to clean all of the splattered pancake mix from the walls and floor. “It’s ready, Dee Dee!” Blossom called over the pouring faucet.

“One more second! I’m almost done!” I scrubbed furiously, my tongue sticking out in concentration, as the spots vanished underneath my rag. Nothing can stand against Dazzle’s wrath! Haha! Another call from Blossom made me toss my cleaning cloth onto the counter and rush off to join her. The bathroom was filled with steam from the tub making it difficult to see and I soon found myself being lifted into the air by a pair of hooves. “Eep! Don’t do that!” Blossom giggled softly and set me down into the water, the warmth quickly filling my body. “I can climb in myself, you know. I’m a big pony!”

“I know, but I like it better this way. Soon enough I won’t be able to pick you up like that, so I have to get it all out of my system now.” She climbed into the tub behind me and pulled me into her stomach. “Now let me wash your mane and back.” I nodded softly, a small blush forming on my face. That’s weird. Maybe it’s the heat. She set to work, squeezing out a large glob of shampoo into my mane and working it into a lather. “How have you been since I last saw you. I know it’s only been a week, but I’m sure you’ve got plenty of stories to tell.”

“Not really. School’s been out so I haven’t really talked to anypony recently other than Mommy and Daddy. That’s okay, though. I prefer being with you three anyways!” It was very true. I loved spending time with Blossom and my parents.

“Don’t you have any friends from school that come over?”

“Not really. I do have a few friends, but none of them are as fun as you.” I leaned back further, relaxing as she rubbed my head with her hooves. “Besides, I still have plenty to do at home! I play with my toys, read stories, and draw pictures. Oh! I have a picture that I drew for you! I’ll show it to you when we get home!”

“I can’t wait to see it. Anything you drew has to be the best drawing ever.” She pressed against my back with her hooves. “Lean forwards so I can wash out the soap.” I did as I was told and closed my eyes. I could hear her filling her bath bucket with water from the tub and braced myself for the rush of water. As predicted, the water poured over my head and washed the suds to settle on the surface of the tub. “Now for the rest of you.”

As she lathered up my back and sides, I couldn’t help but to sigh happily. She washed the dirt and pancake off of me and then set to washing herself, taking less time on her back than she did mine. “Want me to wash your back too? It’s hard without magic. Mommy’s asks me to wash her back sometimes, too.”

Blossom smiled and turned around to lean against the rim of the tub. I poured a small bit of shampoo onto her back and started working my hooves. “Just be careful of my wi-.” I brushed over her feathers and was rewarded with a face full of her stiff wings as they shot out. She gasped and spun around, knocking me into the water. “Oh, I’m sorry Dee Dee! I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Wh-what happened! Why’d you smack me with your wings like that? Did I hurt them?” I spoke quickly, afraid I had done something bad to them, and started to tear up.

Blossom just smiled and hugged me again. “No, no Dazzle. My wings are just very... sensitive. If anything it felt kinda nice. Come on, I think we’re both clean enough. Let’s get you home okay?” I nodded and clambered out of the white basin and waited, dripping water onto the floor, for Blossom to pull the tub’s stopper and drain it. She grabbed a towel from a rack on the wall after climbing out herself and dried me off before doing the same to herself. “Okay! Grab your bags and let’s head out!”

“Aye, aye, Captain Orange!” I rushed from the bathroom, my damp mane occasionally splashing water as it bounced, and set my bags on my back. Blossom followed a few minutes later, her mane now slicked back behind her ears in its usual style. She grabbed her own bag, checking it for her keys, before leading the way out her door. The lock was set and we set our course for my house, our hooves clopping softly on the cobbled road.

There is not much time. Accept me if you wish to save them.

I stopped and looked around. Well, that’s weird. Whose voice was that? “Did you hear that, Blossom?”

“Huh? I didn’t hear anything. Are you okay?”

I yawned slightly, but shook my head. “Maybe I’m still a little sleepy. I thought I heard that voice from before.” I grinned up at her and the fear on her face melted away.

“If you say so. If you’re not feeling all right, though, be sure to tell me. I’ll carry you on my back the rest of the way.” I nodded and closed the gap that she had made. We walked for a few more minutes under the light of the midday moon without any incident.

They are coming to take them. Accept me now and all will be well.

Okay, now I’m scared. “Ummm.... Blossom.... Could.... Could I actually get that ride now? I still hear the voice.” I could see the worry in her eyes and leaned up against her as she scanned the area.

“Sure. Just, tell me if you hear anything else, okay?” She squatted down low enough for me to climb on top of her and waited long enough for me to settle down between her wings before lifting herself from the ground. “Let’s hurry up and get you home.”

I nodded and she set off at a trot, bouncing me slightly with each step. I didn’t mind though. Being this close kept the voice from coming back. For a while, at least. I watched around us as we moved, waving at all of the random ponies around us as they travelled down the larger streets. We were passing by the final road before my street when I heard the voice once more.

It is too late, but you can still welcome my gift.

“Ummm.... Blossom? Could we get back faster?” I glanced back at my bag and saw green light coming from the crack of my saddlebag’s flap. “The voice won’t go away and I’m kinda scared now.” She bit her lip and nodded before cantering down the street and around the corner. She slowed to a halt at our front door and knocked gently.

“Mister and Missus Drive! I’ve brought Dazzle back!” A soft thud could be heard from inside followed by the soft voices of a pair of stallions. Blossom cocked her head and knocked again. “Mister Drive? Is everything okay? I have Dazzle with me!”

I hopped off her back and pushed open the door, too eager to see my parents to wait for them to answer. “Mommy! Daddy! I made pancakes to-....” I stopped, staring in shock at the sight of two Royal Guards standing over my parents. “Mommy? Daddy? Are you okay? Why are you laying there?” Behind me, I could hear Blossom gasp and sob, but I was too focused on my parents to care. “What’s wrong? Why won’t you answer me?”

The guards looked at each other before pulling their weapons out with their magic. “We’re sorry, but you’re going to have to be silenced. Any supporters of Nightmare Moon must be dealt with along with any witnesses.”

They killed your parents.

Time seemed to slow around me as my rock floated out from my bag and in front of my face. I once more heard Blossom gasp in shock, but, once again, I had other things on my mind. “K-killed them? They’ll come back right? They always come back in the stories!”

They are gone.

My eyes started to burn as tears welled up in my eyes. “G-gone? Forever? But.... But Mommy said I could go to work with her tomorrow! She can’t be gone if she’s going to do that!”

She is no longer alive and cannot do what she promised.

I sniffed, closing my eyes as I felt the tears streak across my face. “That’s not true! She has to do it! She promised! She... promised!” I knew it was true. I could feel it. But I didn’t want it to be. How could Mommy and Daddy die? Parents aren’t supposed to die!

I can help you bring them back. All you have to do is accept my power.

What? “Really? Please! Whatever you want! Just help me bring Mommy and Daddy back!”

Very well. Open your eyes and let Mi’rith, my soul, into your own.

I did as I was told and was once again aware of my surroundings if only for a moment. I heard the clanking of the guards’ metal armor as they ran towards me. I heard the screams of Blossom above her sobs telling me to run away and come with her. I heard my own wailing cries as I mourned my parents. But, most of all, I saw the small rock I had been carrying morph into a large slab of stone, the random scribbling shifting into the common language.

I am Morla, ancient basilisk hidden away from the eyes of the world. I am Morla, last of the powerful and keeper of our lore. I am Morla, frail and failing so to you, I turn. I am Morla, and Mi’rith, my soul, I give so you may learn. Take the power of death and bone, give to me your magic and skills your own. Of Necromancy you’re told, the basilisks’ legacy you hold. Unicorn magic is gone, forever and on.

The tablet swirled with visible green energy, spinning like a tornado in front of my eyes. The guards stopped short of it, watching as the tendrils of power began snaking towards me. I panicked, trying to escape, but I was held by an invisible force, my eyes locked on the glowing slab. The green fingers of magic snaked up my legs, tingling my skin as they climbed towards my head. I heard Blossom scream my name again, but I couldn’t turn to face her. The tendrils reached my forehead and wrapped around my horn. I felt a strange warmth fill my body and I began to feel comfortable. Like nothing wrong could ever happen and that everything that had gone wrong would soon be fixed.

And then, there was pain. My mouth opened in an agonized scream as I felt the magic slide into my horn and begin to tear it from my skull. I could feel the link to the horn being cut, but the pain remained. I thought I heard another wailing sob from Blossom, but my own drowned any other possible noise out. I watched as the horn was ripped from my head and saw blood drip from the severed bone. I wanted to close my eyes, forget everything that was happening and go to sleep to wake up and find it all to be just a really bad dream, but the tablet kept my eyes open. I could feel something growing where my horn had once been, felt the blood of the wound pouring down my face. The magic from the tablet stopped pouring from it and I felt something move on my forehead. The pain lanced through my skull as the last of the light slid between my eyes and, just as the last traces disappeared, so did the agony.

I was left sobbing on the ground, the pain nothing but a phantom now, but still traumatized by what had happened. I looked up and saw the guards beginning to walk slowly towards me. I felt that thing in my head move again and a picture of my parents’ bodies appeared in my mind. I looked over to them and saw the same green light begin to cover their bodies. The spot on my head pulsed slightly and I shuddered as I felt myself growing weaker. Oh, I feel horrible. Please, just let it all be a dream. I want my Mommy and Daddy. I want Blossom to hug and and smile and hold me.

The guards in front of me screamed in unison and I looked up to see my parents tearing into them with their hooves and teeth. I watched in horror as the pair of unicorns swung their swords at them, each hit sinking into their bodies and drawing black blood from them, but neither of them seemed to care. “Mommy! Daddy! Stop! They’re going to kill you again!”

My parents stopped their attack and dropped the now dead guards onto the floor. I smiled, just a bit. Maybe they aren’t dead. I carefully walked up to them and nuzzled my face against their necks, being extra careful not to touch the cuts. I didn’t want to hurt them, after all. They were icy cold and neither of them moved to respond. “M-mommy? Daddy? Are.... Are you okay?” I looked back towards Blossom who was only staring at me, a look of terror stuck on her face. I felt the thing in my forehead moved again, something that made Blossom close her eyes and hide her head, and heard a soft thump behind me. That couldn’t....

I spun around and saw my parents laying on the ground once more, their eyes open and dull. I poked them both with a forehoof. “Mommy? Daddy? You’re okay right? You.... You were okay a few seconds ago.... Wh-why won’t you answer me?!”

A soft clop from behind me made me jump. “They’re dead, Dazzle.” Blossom’s voice was strained and hoarse. I could still hear her crying even as I sobbed loudly.

I spun around and felt my forehead squirm again. Blossom flinched and cowered away from me. I started crying even harder. “Wh-what’s wrong? Do.... Are you going to leave me too? I’m sorry! I don’t know what I did, but please, don’t leave me like Mommy and Daddy!”

I fell to the floor, bawling loudly and was soon wrapped by a pair of warm fore legs. Blossom softly whispered in my ear, kissing the back of my head and stroking my mane. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to do that. It’s just.... You just brought your parents back from the dead with magic from that.... eye on your head. Don’t worry.... I’ll never leave you. We.... We’re all we have. Just each other now....”

Author’s notes: A new story by me in the same universe as After That Fateful Night. Debating on whether I should finish this alongside ATFN by doing alternating chapters of each or if I should finish ATFN first and get back to this. Either way, I’m working on ATFN’s next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy this and, yes, this story will be in first-pony following Dazzle’s perspective. A little clue on the aging system of my world. A pony’s life is roughly 40 years and an average human’s is about 80. So, if you take a pony’s age and multiply it by two, you get the human equivalent. Blossom is 8, almost 9 so she’d be about 17 right now (9 being the age ponies are generally considered ‘full-grown adults’ for me.) Dazzle is 6, so 12 in human years. Help out at all? Good. Cause it’s important. Yup, yup. Anyhooves, Peppy out!

Editor’s Note #1: Dr.Jekyll here and because I’m not above such things... I am forever first... But whatevs... fantastic start, Peppy. I know this is gonna be great (with all my spoilery knowledge of just where this is going [That’s what’s known as editor privileges, people. {I’m so tempted to just start dropping fake spoilers right now. (Snape kills Nightmare Moon... Blossom is a ghost the whole time... [Wat? {You want me to stop with all the brackets in brackets in brackets in brackets in brackets in... (...Well hello there. My name is Mr.Hyde. Sorry about my... companions... inane prattling. I’ll be sure to shut him up soon... [...Gah, my head. You know what? I’m not feeling to good right now. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope to see you guys next chapter.] ) } ] ) } ] )