After Death

### Prologue

Andrius was sobbing. He loved Flare. He did. He would do anything to help her. Even if that meant- no. Andrius was going to see her again. But... he couldn't wait. He was all he had left in life, so was it worth living? Was it worth living in a world where you had nothing? He looked up at the highest building he could see. The very top. He was going to climb to the top. Because he needed to die here. Not next to her. Because he had nothing left in the world. Andrius leapt from building to building, feeling the wind blow through his hair, the heat of the sun on his skin, but he didn't care. He didn't care if he died. If he died, he'd see her again. She'd be waiting for him, and Andrius wouldn't let her down. He would climb to the top, no matter how hard it was. He had to do this for her.

Andrius climbed. He crawled, he slung his leg up over the ledge, he used anything to help him. But there was only one thing that helped him. Andrius' brown eyes filled with tears, as he slowly slid down the side of the building, slowly falling to his death. But the thought of seeing her again was worth it. He got to the ground, and heard the sirens in the distance.

Andrius didn't move. The sirens were getting closer, but Andrius wouldn't move. He was sitting at the highest building in North Equestria, watching as the sky went dark. Andrius was dead. Andrius was dead and he didn't care. He closed his eyes, and then... Andrius felt the pain again. The pain of watching this world die. He closed his eyes and screamed. He screamed as the sunlight dimmed. He screamed as the world dissolved around him. Andrius sat up. It was the last thing he did. He ran from the building, and the sun was setting. He wasn't alone. There were countless ruins scattered across Equestria, but none looked like the ruins of his old life. Most didn't even have a structure in the center. All around him was a wasteland. A place of death. Andrius looked at a mountain in the distance. He wanted to climb it, but he didn't know how. He looked at a cactus. He wanted to pick it, but it had needles. He looked at a dead yellow plant. He didn't want to pick it, but it didn't look alive. Andrius closed his eyes. His fists were clenched, he couldn't move. He was dead. He knew it. He had to go.

### Chapter One

"She's gonna kill me!" Andrius exclaimed, frantically pulling the next string. The string pulled, but it wasn't as fast as before. Andrius was frozen, unable to move. The sword of ice was still hovering at the ground, but now it was closer, and Andrius could feel it getting closer to him. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live. But he couldn't move, no matter how hard he tried. He was a prisoner to the sword. A prisoner, fighting against himself. "Stop!" Andrius finally cried, "PLEASE! PLEASE, I CAN'T DO THIS!" The sword wasn't listening. The blade got closer, and Andrius couldn't move. He just sat there, frozen, unable to move, watching as it got closer and closer. He tried to hold his breath, but he couldn't. The blade hit his cheek. His blue blood sprayed out, covering his white coat. He cried out, and the sword was pulled.

"NO! PLEASE NO!" Andrius fell to the ground, his last breath escaping his lips. He was dead. He had failed. "Please," he whispered, "no." He couldn't see anymore, and all he could hear was the sound of his heartbeat. It got louder, until it was deafening. The pain, all of it disappeared. His vision slowly disappeared, until everything was dark, and Andrius knew nothing.

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Andrius shot up, feeling as though he was being stabbed. He looked around him, his eyes darting in every direction, until he realized he was in his bed. The room was dark, but he could tell it was around three in the morning. He couldn't believe it. He was alive. Andrius rubbed his eyes, and laid back down, curling into a ball. It was a dream. A bad dream. Just a dream. It wasn't real. But then again... Andrius closed his eyes and fell back asleep. He didn't want to know what was going on.

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"Come on! Come on! Come on!" Flare hissed, jumping at the edge of the lake. "Come on!"

Andrius looked up from the water, looking at the girl. She looked happy. Her blue eyes were filled with joy, but also anger. He smiled, and watched as Flare ran around the shore, screaming at the water. Andrius laughed and put the food in the basket down, walking over to her.

"Flare! Flare! Come back! It's dangerous!" He shouted, but Flare wasn't listening. "Flare!" He shouted, as he ran across the beach, trying to catch up with her. "Come back!" But Flare ignored him. She ran farther into the water, laughing. "Flare! No! Get back! Get back!"

Andrius got closer and closer, until his feet touched the water. It was freezing, and the cold water stung his skin. He yelped, and started to run faster, but he wasn't quick enough. Flare looked back at him, and her eyes widened. She began to run faster, trying to get back to the shore, but it was too late.

"Flare!" He yelled, and tried to grab her, but she was too far away. "FLARE!" He screamed, and dove into the lake. He opened his eyes underwater, but all he saw were fish. The little fish darted around him, and Andrius reached out. His hands got wet, and he felt something brush against them, but it disappeared. Andrius shot up, gasping for air. His hands were covered in water, but he quickly wiped it off, and looked around him. It was dark, and the room was empty. He closed his eyes, and then heard the door open.

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"Andrius? You okay?" Flare asked, looking at her lover. He looked tired, and his eyes were filled with fear.

"Y-yeah. Just a dream," Andrius sighed, getting out of bed.

"Another one?" Flare asked, holding onto his arm.

"Yes," Andrius sighed, looking down at her. "Sorry I woke you."

"No, it's fine," Flare said, and then gave him a smile. "What's it about?" She asked, as they walked towards the kitchen.

"I can't remember," Andrius said, looking down at Flare. "Just another dream," he sighed, and Flare nodded. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and kissed her forehead.

"Don't be," Flare replied, "It's not your fault." Andrius gave her a small smile, and Flare leaned up, giving him a kiss. "I'll make breakfast."

"You're a goddess, Flare," he whispered, and she laughed.

"A goddess who needs a cup of coffee," she replied, walking to the kitchen.

Andrius smiled, and walked towards the stairs. He slowly walked down, and into the main hall. The house was dark, and Andrius walked through it, seeing all of Flare's paintings. All of them were so beautiful, he couldn't help but smile. He looked at the stairs, and felt his stomach rumble. He quickly ran to the kitchen, hoping that Flare would hurry up. He sat down on the couch, waiting, and looking out the window. It was nighttime, and Andrius closed his eyes. He wanted to go back to sleep, but he was hungry. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and quickly opened his eyes, standing up.

"Hungry?" Flare asked, walking into the room.

Andrius smiled, and nodded, "Yes, thank you," he said, and took a seat at the table.

Flare put the food on the table, and sat down. They started to eat in silence. Andrius' mind was racing, and his heart was pounding. He looked at Flare, and then looked back at his food. It was almost like he couldn't taste it. It tasted like nothing. It tasted like dirt, and he didn't want to eat. He knew why he was so scared. It was the dream. It was another dream. He closed his eyes, and heard Flare's voice.

"Are you okay?" She asked, looking up at him.

Andrius opened his eyes, and nodded, "Yes. Just tired." He gave her a smile, and she smiled back.

"I was thinking of going to the festival today," Flare said, and Andrius' eyes widened.

"I don't know if it's safe," he replied, and looked down at his food.

"It's not," Flare replied, "but I want to go. I'll be fine."

Andrius sighed, and nodded, "Okay," he replied. "I'll come with you, but I won't stay long."

"We'll see," Flare said, and Andrius looked up at her.

"No!" He said, standing up. "No! I won't allow you to go out!"

"Andrius-"

"You can't! It's not safe!" Andrius snapped. He quickly closed his eyes, and then sat back down, "I-I'm sorry," he whispered. "It's just- you can't go," he repeated.

Flare shook her head, "I don't care," she replied.

"I do!" Andrius said, standing up again. "You can't go! I don't want you to!"

"Andrius, please!" Flare snapped, standing up.

Andrius looked at her, and his heart was racing. Flare was angry. She was really angry. He had never seen her like this before. Andrius sat back down, and looked away. "I don't want you to go," he repeated, but this time softer.

Flare sighed, and shook her head, "Fine," she muttered, "I won't go." She put her plate in the sink, and left the room.

Andrius looked down at his plate, and slowly stood up, following Flare into their bedroom. He watched as Flare got into bed, and he slowly sat down beside her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"No, I'm sorry," Flare said. "I'm sorry, Andrius. I'm sorry I got so angry," she said.

"No. No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I said all of that. I shouldn't have," Andrius sighed.

"You don't want me to go?" Flare asked.

Andrius looked at her, and shook his head, "No. I don't. I want you to stay with me," he said, and Flare nodded.

"I will," she replied, and gave him a hug. "I will, Andrius. I'll stay. I promise," she whispered.

Andrius pulled her closer, and kissed her cheek. "Thank you," he whispered.

Flare smiled, and looked into his eyes. He looked so scared, and she hated to see it. She never wanted him to worry about her, but she couldn't help it. She gave him a smile, and then kissed him. Andrius was shocked, but then relaxed and kissed her back. Flare wrapped her arms around him, and Andrius hugged her back. He had to make sure that she never left his side. Andrius didn't want to lose her. He loved her.

"I love you," Flare whispered, and Andrius kissed her again.

"I love you too," he whispered, "more than anything in the world."

Andrius was going to stay with her. He didn't care if she left. As long as she stayed, that's all he cared about. Andrius closed his eyes, and soon enough, he fell asleep. He was dreaming, but it wasn't a dream that he wanted.

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He was standing on a cliff. It was very cold, and he looked around him. There was nothing, but trees and ice. The trees were dead, but they were tall. Andrius felt like he was in a forest, but there was no sun. It was just cold. Very cold. Andrius wrapped his arms around himself, trying to keep himself warm. He could barely see anything, and he started to walk. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he needed to get out.

The snow crunched beneath his feet, and he slowly walked forward. He heard something moving in the distance, but he didn't stop walking. He continued to walk, trying to get out of there. But it wasn't working. Andrius felt his heart pounding, and his head hurt. The snow had melted on him, and Andrius stopped to look around him. He couldn't see anything. The sky was dark, and all he heard was his heart beating. It was slow and rhythmic, but loud. Loud enough to drown out the noises. He had to get out. He didn't know why he had to get out, but he had to. Andrius took a step forward, but it was too late. The ice beneath his feet cracked, and he fell through. He yelled out, and the ground was covered in ice. It was frozen, and Andrius couldn't get up.

### Chapter Two

The snow crunched beneath his feet, and he slowly walked forward. He heard something moving in the distance, but he didn't stop walking. He continued to walk, trying to get out of there. But it wasn't working. Andrius felt his heart pounding, and his head hurt. The snow had melted on him, and Andrius stopped to look around him. He couldn't see anything. The sky was dark, and all he heard was his heart beating. It was slow and rhythmic, but loud. Loud enough to drown out the noises. He had to get out. He didn't know why he had to get out, but he had to. Andrius took a step forward, but it was too late. The ice beneath his feet cracked, and he fell through. He yelled out, and the ground was covered in ice. It was frozen, and Andrius couldn't get up. The ice was thick, and he couldn't break it. He punched it, but the ice wouldn't budge. He tried again, and it just cracked. He hit it again, and then again, until he heard something. A scream. It was high pitched, and it pierced Andrius' ears.

Andrius looked up, and he saw someone. Someone with a glowing red coat. She was on the ice, and her hair was flying in the air. Andrius' eyes widened. It was Flare. She looked terrified, and she was trying to get across the ice. But there was nothing to get to. There was nothing on the other side. Just a big empty void. Flare screamed again, and then the ice beneath her cracked. It started to break, and then it shattered. Andrius watched, as Flare fell, and he screamed. He reached out, trying to grab her, but she fell too far. She was gone, and Andrius was left alone. He kept calling her name, but she wouldn't come. But how could she have died in death?

"No!" Andrius cried, looking around him. He had to get out. He had to get to her. "No! Flare!" He cried out, trying to get up, but it was no use.

"Flare!" He screamed, and closed his eyes, "FLARE!"

The ground started to shake, and Andrius opened his eyes. He could see nothing but ice and snow, but he could see Flare. She was in front of him. Her eyes were filled with fear, and she was standing on top of the ice. He wanted to get to her, he wanted to reach her, but he couldn't move. Andrius' heart pounded, and he started to shake.

"Andrius?" Flare whispered, looking at him.

"No! Flare! You have to get off the ice!" Andrius shouted, trying to get up.

"Why?" Flare asked, looking at him.

"Just get off!" Andrius snapped, trying to move, but he couldn't. He couldn't get to her.

"Why?" She asked, and then she started to fall.

"NO!" Andrius yelled, watching as Flare fell through the ice. "NO!" He cried out, watching as she disappeared beneath the ground. Andrius sat up, panting. He looked around him, but there was nothing. No ice, no snow. He was in his bed. He had fallen asleep. He was home. He had made it. He was safe. Andrius laid back down, and took a deep breath. It was just a dream. A bad dream. It was going to be okay. He was going to be okay.

Andrius closed his eyes, and then felt a hand on his cheek. He opened his eyes, and saw Flare beside him. She was smiling, and she kissed him. Andrius smiled, and kissed her back. She was alive. She was here, and he wasn't going to lose her. Not this time. "I'm sorry," Andrius whispered, and Flare hugged him.

"It's okay," she whispered. "Don't worry."

"But I was dreaming of you," he whispered, "of the ice. And you- you fell through it."

"It was just a dream," she replied.

Andrius closed his eyes, and then felt his stomach rumble. "Sorry," he whispered, and sat up, "I should get food ready." He sighed.