“Heads up!”

Twilight Sparkle caught sight of the snowball in time to duck her head out of the way. The small white clump sailed past her, bursting into a puff of powder when it hit a wall.

Rainbow Dash swooped low with a sheepish grin on her face. “Whoops. Sorry about that, Twilight. I was aiming for Applejack.”

“That’s about as good as your aim’s ever been anyway, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said. She chuckled and continued trotting down the street.

“It’s alright, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “It doesn’t bother me.”

“It may not bother you, but you’re not the only target. I’m the one who’s trying to stay warm here,” Spike said, brushing a small streak of snow off his scales. He hopped off Twilight’s back to walk alongside her.

Dash shrugged and flapped forward to talk with Applejack. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy bounded along next to Twilight, while Spike wandered between them. The seven of them moved steadily down Canterlot’s main boulevard. Thick crowds of holiday shoppers swarmed the storefronts, moving in and out of the doors like a living tide. Twilight’s group kept a solid pace as they made their way through the masses. A cold chill hung in the air, and Rarity constantly paused to readjust her scarf.

“So anyway, like I was saying, Twilight,” Rarity said. “I just think that… well, I mean, you were acting so aloof before we even left, and then you had your rather expressive reaction to the nightmare when we were actually on the train–”

“I think you guys are making that out to be worse than it actually was.”

“Twilight, you were shaking and sweating all over. And that was just after a short nap!”

“It was just a nightmare, I told you. Everypony gets them now and again.” Twilight shook her head and avoided Rarity’s gaze.

“Yeah, but you get them every other night now!” Pinkie chirped. She bounded back and forth at the rear of the group, making small craters in the thin layer of snow with every hop. “Not even Fluttershy has that many nightmares, no matter what time of year it is.”

“That’s true,” Fluttershy agreed. “I can usually space them out to once every week or so. If you want I can, um, give you some tips…”

“Really, it’s no big deal. I’m perfectly capable of handling my sleep schedule and everything that goes with it.” Twilight shot a small glare at Spike. “Even if some of those things aren’t supposed to be common knowledge.”

“Hey, don’t blame me for this.” Spike put his claws up defensively and moved closer to Rarity. “I’m the one who gets woken up every time you bolt out of bed screaming. That’s something you need help with, alright? One roommate to another.”

“We’re just worried about you dear. All of us are,” Rarity said. “And Spike’s right. Have you considered going to a doctor? Everypony needs a constant supply of a good night’s sleep; otherwise you’ll just fall to shambles.”

“Also, you’ve been acting weird around everypony,” Spike added. “I just gotta say something about this. It’s like you think we’re about to jump at you at any second. And you’re giving us these really funny looks from time to time, too.”

“And not ‘haha’ funny, either, but more like this ‘these eggs smell funny’ funny,” Pinkie pointed out. She turned and hopped backward, keeping her focus on Twilight. “And even when you’re not like that, you’re just generally being really twitchy… hey, that’s like Fluttershy too. Are you trying to take her place? Ooh! Are you two switching places? Because I think Fluttershy could pull off a pretty good Twilight, if she was given the chance.”

Fluttershy cheeks grew red. “I don’t know about that. I, uh, think I’m fine being myself.”

Twilight let out a long sigh.

“I’m fine. I don’t know how many times I have to keep saying that,” she said. Her voice had a gruff edge to it that made Fluttershy move a little quicker. “I might be a little… stressed out by the new season, but that’s all.”

“You finished the last seasonal preparations two weeks ago,” Spike pointed out. Twilight gave him another look, and he shrugged. “I’m just saying. I see you stressed all the time. It usually doesn’t result in you waking up screaming about monsters and ghost stories.”

Twilight paused to let the others walk ahead of her into an intersection. The others went straight, while she turned left. “Look, I’ve got to go run some errands and… meet up with my family. I’ll meet you guys at the restaurant at noon, okay? We can… we can talk about this more then.”

The group paused to stare back at her. Rarity motioned to say something, but changed her mind and turned back around.

“Whatever you say, Twilight. But don’t be late! These reservations weren’t easy to get at this time of year, after all.” Her eyes glided over to the display windows of one of the ritzier fashion boutiques of the city. “Now, speaking of errands, time to see about finishing up my gift shopping for the year…”

Rarity broke from the others and made for the store entrance. As Spike eagerly followed behind, the rest of the group continued on ahead.

“Hey Applejack, if you could be any one of us, which one would you choose?” Pinkie asked. Applejack tilted her head and laughed, but her response was swallowed up by the noise of the crowd. Twilight watched them leave until they were completely out of sight, then sighed and ambled down the nearby avenue.

Twilight wandered through the streets. Large groups weighed down by fully loaded shopping bags walked all around her, laughing and joking with one another. They stuck close to each other, nopony wanting to get too far away in the cold. Twilight avoided all of them. She stuck to the walls and avoided the traveling glances of ponies she recognized. Her behavior stayed like this for the next hour; she never once said anything aloud or stopped anywhere. Her path through the city grew erratic, turning at random intersections and doubling back on herself twice. As her aimless walking continued, her mind drifted in turn.

They’re right, of course. I have been way too moody lately. I can’t let these… bad dreams keep getting to me. Not anymore. I need to move on, and start getting back to normal relations with all aspects of my life. No more avoiding everypony.

Twilight’s expression didn’t change with her thoughts. She turned another corner, and realized that her hooves were taking her in the direction of her parent’s house. She made an abrupt turn and headed into a small back alley across the street. It was a tight space, clear of any other ponies and with a few high piles of snow.

That didn’t count, I just… I’ll see my parents with Shining and Cadance later tonight, so I don’t need to… well…

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Admit it. I just don’t want to go to the house just yet.”

If you don’t want to see the house, how do you think it’ll be to go to the palace later? Or finally meet up with the Princess again? The explanation on why you haven’t been replying to her letters is going to be hard enough as it is.

“Yeah, right.” Twilight sighed again. “Like I’ll have a good explanation for anything.”

The Princess will listen, she’ll understand. You can just tell her a little bit–

Twilight laughed, the harsh sound echoing in the tight space. “Explain… please. If I were to say everything, and I mean really lay it all out in all the detail I know, then the best case scenario is she thinks I’m crazy. Worst case…”

Worst case… she believes you.

“And if she believes me, then what else might she start to believe… and if the belief gets too strong, then, well…”

She trailed off, staring at nothing in particular. The alleyway hooked to the left, keeping her tightly confined between two tall buildings.

It won’t be that easy. They’re gone, they’re never coming back–

Twilight shook her head. “I can’t take that risk. It’s bad enough that I even know about it. I’ve got to keep suppressing them. I can’t let any little slip up jeopardize… everything.

Fine. But all that aside, there’s still the matters presently in front of us that need to be dealt with, which means starting to actually interact again with family, friends, and the Princess. You can’t keep putting all this off for– hello, what’s this?

Up ahead, the alleyway widened. Light shone through a small plate glass window built low in the wall on the right. It was a storefront, and it was crammed with books. The shop’s name was etched out in a fading black scrawl along the window.

“‘Starmare’s Antique Booksellers’,” Twilight said, reading off the letterhead. “Huh, I thought I’d been to every bookstore in Canterlot. Seems like an odd place for one, too.”

A small bell positioned over the doorframe announced her presence as Twilight ducked inside. She found herself in a confined and musty interior, one even more overloaded with books than the front window. They spilled off every shelf and were crammed into every nook and cranny. Several stacks lay scattered across the floor, each taller than Twilight.

“Um, hello?” Twilight called out. Her eyes flickered over a few nearby titles, none of which she recognized.

“In the back!” an unseen voice replied.

That sounded familiar…

Twilight headed towards the source of the sound. She moved carefully, being sure not to disturb any of the precariously stacked tomes. Sliding past a leaning bookcase, she turned into the only space in the store clear of books. A snug countertop took up most of it. It had a cash register gathering dust on one side, while a large, rugged-looking hardcover took up the rest.

Sitting behind the counter was a very healthy looking, gray-coated stallion with a curly white mane and sharp blue eyes. His head rested lazily on his hoof while his eyes slid through the open book’s contents.

Twilight gasped. She took a step back, bumping into the shelf and almost tipping it over.

“You’re… you’re…” she stumbled. A low glow appeared in her horn.

“No magic in here, please.” The stallion looked up. “It’s bad for the some of our older editions.”

He peered at Twilight with a blank expression. His eyes glazed over her without the slightest hint of recognition.

“I… um… who are you?” Twilight asked. She did a double take towards the door, inching her way back.

The stallion tapped a name tag attached to his light red coat. Twilight stared at the tag and back up to the pony.

“Fiction Burn… that’s your name?” Twilight stopped moving.

But he’s… he’s a spitting image… even the voice is the same…

“Ever since my father gave it to me,” Burn replied. “Is there anything I can help you find today, miss?”

“Um… I’m fine. Sorry, I just thought…” Twilight rubbed her head. “On second thought, do you… have any Sugar Cane books?”

Burn glanced up, scratching his chin. “I’m not familiar with that author, I’m afraid. Though if he’s more recent, I think you may have more luck at Spellbinder’s around the corner and down the block. We’re not very up to date on the current generation of writers here.”

“He writes… wrote… uh, his genre is horror?” Twilight offered. She moved towards the counter again, her eyes never leaving the stallion.

Burn motioned to a small alcove off towards the back of the store. “You can check in there. We do have plenty of old pulp series lined up, maybe you’ll get lucky. Another thing I’m not familiar with, though. I just never cared much for horror books. I can get drawn into the story fine, but they never seem to get the endings right.”

Twilight gulped. “Yeah, I… know what you mean. Well, thanks anyway, I suppose…”

“No problem at all.” Burn stuck his nose back down towards his book. “Anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Twilight stood in place, her gaze going from Burn to the alcove to the exit. She brushed her mane aside and moved closer to the counter. “What are you reading?”

“A compilation of ancient mythologies and legends,” Burn replied. His voice got noticeably warmer as he spoke. “This particular volume dates back about two hundred years. Not our oldest selection, of course, and given the advancements in sociology recently definitely not the most accurate if you were looking for some historical facts. But I always like going through it. I’m endlessly fascinated by these old stories, you see. Even more so when they were written at a time when the authors had a much stronger belief in what they were studying. It makes for some very interesting reading.”

“I know what you mean,” Twilight said. “They believed in some very… powerful things back then.”

Burn looked up and smiled. “Indeed. And they believed in it so strongly, too! That’s always the part that gets me. They just got so into what they were telling each other, what they were passing down through the generations. Ponies of the past were so concerned with what comes next and what’s out there beyond Equestria’s boundaries. Plenty are like that today, sure, but not like they used to. Back then, they obsessed over the slightest possible answers. Even the ones that weren’t very friendly to them when all was said and done. I mean, so many stories here deal with the end. Always worried about that last chapter of their lives, and what happens when the book is finally closed on them.”

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, trying to keep herself from sweating. “Yes, well, I can understand why we don’t get many stor– um, feelings like that these days. We’re all too caught up in reality now to worry about some fictional end.”

Burn raised an eyebrow. “Everything ends, miss. Everything. Especially reality. It’s the nature of life. It might take a while, sure, but it’ll happen. Or maybe it won’t take a while. Maybe as soon as you step out the door, that’ll be it, this story will be over, and it’ll all come closing down on the rest of us. Might be a rather abrupt way to close things out, but as I’ve discovered in my long hours of browsing these old books, anything’s possible if you believe it strongly enough.”

Twilight stayed silent, her face grave. Burn kept his eyes on her for a few moments, then leaned forward with a laugh.

“Apologies, miss,” he said. “I can get away from myself sometimes, not having many to talk to in here. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“No, I… I understand what you mean,” Twilight said. “Trust me, I absolutely do. But… but what I mean is, the end doesn’t matter. Not really. What we do along the way is what counts. We can’t get caught up with that final stretch, especially not if we can’t do anything about it.”

“Very true.” Burn sat back on his stool and crossed his forelegs. “However, you still have to consider all these ponies who believed otherwise. Who went to their dying breath with those thoughts filling their heads. And belief is a powerful thing, miss. Very powerful. Who’s to say they didn’t experience something?”

“Because reality is still here,” Twilight said. “They may have died, but the world didn’t die with them.”

Burn shrugged. “For them it did. Perception is key as well. We all see the world a little differently. You take that different view in life, you cross it with an overwhelming belief as to how your life is going to turn out and what’s going to happen to your world when it does, well… that could very well result in a whole separate little world for them.”

Twilight furrowed her brow. “You’re talking about, what… a bunch of alternate universes for everypony’s individual reality?”

“It’s a little high concept, sure, but still possible,” Burn said. He chuckled and shrugged again. “Of course, I’m really just talking out of my flank here. Honestly, believe what you want to believe, and the world will work out just fine for you.”

“I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”

A distant ringing noise echoed out over the city, striking out twelve times. Twilight perked her ears up. “Oh! It’s noon! I’m sorry, I’m late; I have to be somewhere right now.”

“Fine, fine, go right on,” Burn said. He gestured toward the door. “Although if I may offer some advice, don’t worry so much. About ends and beliefs and all that, don’t be like these old ponies. Don’t let it drag you down and consume you.”

Twilight tilted her head as she took a step back. “I don’t– what? I’m not worried, I’m–”

“Yes you are.” Burn’s face shone with empathy. “I could see it in your eyes the moment you walked in. Not the first time I’ve seen that look. I catch it in the mirror sometimes. Trust me, though, whatever it is, you can move past it.”

Twilight swayed back and forth, her gaze falling to the floor. “I’m… I’m trying. But sometimes things happen that you just can’t quite wrap your head around, no matter how far beyond you get them. Sometimes things just… just…”

“Life is full of events like that.”

“Not stuff like this. No way.”

“But they are not the point.” Burn shook his head. “There’s something more important to consider about your situation right now.”

Twilight stared at him. “Yes?”

“You are still here.” Burn leaned forward, locking eyes with Twilight. “Your story’s not over. And whenever it does get to that point where it’s time for it to end, you’ll be ready, willing, and able. And that’s all there is to it.”

He beamed at Twilight with a warm smile. Twilight stood frozen for another moment, then giggled.

“Little schmaltzy, don’t you think?” she asked.

“Hey, I work with what I got.” Burn flipped a page and resumed his reading. “You should go now, miss. You’ve got places to be, after all.”

“Right, right.” Twilight turned and headed towards the door. She shot one last look at Burn before she left. “Thanks for the chat, too. It’s been… enlightening.”

“You have a wonderful life now, alright?” Burn waved at Twilight without looking up. “Make your reality count.”

Twilight frowned for a split-second, then shook it off and turned towards the door. Snow had started falling while she was inside, and the alleyway looked like a wall of static. Twilight breathed deeply, letting a small smile break onto her face. The bell over the door rang as she pulled it open. Without another word, she stepped through the doorway and vanished into the world outside.