It was...weird, being alone.
Axel wasn't used to this feeling. It didn't give him bad vibes, per say. The steady beat of his heart showed that there was no tension within him. It was eerie. It crawled underneath his skin and settled in his bones as if it were another creature applying gentle pressure. Axel felt like he needed to change the mood. To make himself agitated, on edge. That was how he survived all of these years, after all.
However; no matter how many times he tried to spook himself. To make himself jump and neigh in surprise. There was nothing. Silence except for the running trickle of the waterfall and a pitter patter of his heart.
Odd. Surreal.
Axel narrowed his eyes at his mismatched reflection. He didn't like it. This needed to stop.
It was the new year. Axel had lived through plenty of years, plenty of seasons. It was always the same voices and the same characters. Their actions changed, but the players were still the same.
Yes, the voices were annoying. Aggravating. He fought with them. Or at least he tried to. After seasons long he learned that physical fights didn't work. Unfortunate. All he could do was n** and snap at them with words.
Yet they weren't here now. It was strange. Unusual. As if another part of him wasn't there. A limb detached.
It felt like something important was missing. Something he couldn't live without. Was this the new normal?
He didn't like it. There was no way he could get used to this.
There were a few things he could do in this situation. He could try to live like this. To be "normal". The ideal that he was taught about as a foal after his parents decreed that his friend was not real, but imaginary. Or he could try to revert. Go back. A new year didn't mean he had to try new things after all. Sure, others liked to start new traditions. To become "better". In his parents words "normal". But in the few hours of this "normal" life, it felt....bad. Off.
He'd like to have the ones who annoyed him. Who would cackle at his faults and blunders that he made on a daily basis. Hell, he was even starting to miss when they made off hand comments.
The only issue was, how would he bring them back? Axel blinked at his own reflection before looking around. Again, no one was there. He shouldn't have been surprised. Nor should he have felt the heavy weight of disappointment when he searched around and didn't find a glimmer of any presence.
He breathed through a sigh, his breath visible.
How was he going to get them back?
He'd have to start where it all began. When the voices started.
His parents said that it was a chilly day, much like today. Even though the chill was settling into their bones the skies were clear, the sun was out. The complete opposite of what was happening on land. Legend stated that Axel was a bumbling happy go lucky foal. Someone who didn't watch their step or didn't care where he was going. Axel snorted at the thought. He liked to think he was completely different now.
His dad had challenged him in a race. If there was something that hadn't changed, it was his intensity when it came to challenges. Axel never backed down from one. He always gave it his all. Little did he know, there was a tree in the way of his path. Axel had been focused so much on his father that he didn't realize---until it was too late.
Of course he tried to skid to a stop. But his momentum was too much. It was too late. He slammed head first into the oak and was met with darkness.
When he woke up, he saw his parents and.....more. The world was more vibrant. Including *them*. There they were, bright, bubbly and nagging at him from the first day. *"Get up silly, it's time to play!"* Oh, how he wished he knew how many more they would bring into his life and meet.
Desperately, he wanted them back. The stallion turned towards the oak and frowned. He didn't enjoy pain. But if it would bring them back.... it was worth a shot.
Axel steeled himself as he got up before barreling towards the tree. He shut his eyes tight, and......then there was nothing.
When Axel opened his eyes next he was met with the stars of the night sky. Multi-colored eyes blinked.
Then he heard it. *Them*. *"Get up silly!"* He couldn't help but smile.
WC: 783
