The Time of Sorrows

The sun set on the dusty remains of a city. The wind swirled around the broken buildings the sound of firefights in the far distance. The dead, limp bodies of soldiers who gave their lives for an empty cause. It has a name, this dead city,  given by the ones who have walked through it. The skeleton city, the place ponies go when it is their time to die.

The moon that so many had fought over, now began to ascend into the sky.  A small dot appeared on the horizon walking slowly into the city of the dead. The figure slowly looking around at the soldiers he once called his friends, had once called brother. The figure looked at the carnage this rebellion had brought into this world

“over what? “  He thought silently. ‘over her? over the idea that SHE would return from imprisonment and take the throne?’

He laughed at the idea as he walked, he felt his life start to fade but he couldn’t stop yet he wasn’t safe. The uniform he wore dragged across the ground as the useless foreleg dragged slightly behind. A mostly intact building caught his eye, slowly he limped toward the door. With a deep sigh he sat on his haunches the burning pain in his chest grabbed his attention. Laying back against a small pile of rocks and lifted his jacket above his now completely numb leg. The whole in his chest right above his leg was big enough to fit a softball and have room left over. That mental image ran through his head, and made him laugh through the pain.

“Damn, how do I keep finding myself in these situations?!” His laughter turned to a pained cough as a sharp pain shot through his heart. Blood seeped from his nose and mouth. He sat staring at the ceiling “maybe I will survive this”*cough cough* blood splattered across the floor “or maybe not...... well this sucks. Ha well Shatter Star way to go!” he sat staring into nothingness only the sound of a slight breeze coming from the broken door next to him accompanied the silence, then a sound snagged in his ear like the sounds of gravel shifting under a hoof.

Star quickly threw his limp dead leg up,  intercepting a knife that sliced from the darkness of that broken doorway.  The blade stabbing straight through his leg nearly hitting him in the face “your too slow you bucking asshole!”  he said dragged his faceless attacker foreword and kicked them across the room.  Star threw his half dead body toward his assailant, rage fueling his weakened body.   Luck was with him, and he was able to  pin the faceless foe to the ground.  Jerking the knife free of his injured leg, ready to lodge It deep inside his attacker’s heart, but the sound of a sob caught him off guard, he noticed for the first time the size of his attacker.

The frightened mare stared up at the stallion waiting for him to end it like she had seen so many times in the ruins of her city. She closed her eyes and prayed to Celestia that he would just end it quick when something wet  hit her  face. Slowly she opened her eyes to look up at the stallion who’s blood and tears were falling onto her upturned face. Before she had a chance to move the stallion lunged the knife and wedged it into the ground inches from her head.

Star rose from the ground and slowly limped himself to the rubble he had been resting on before he had been so violently interrupted. “Look at what this war has come to!” He Yelled with a taint of humor.  “Me nearly killing a young mare scared out of her mind!” His mouth twisted into a smile lost somewhere between humor and pain.

       The mare still hesitating rose to her hooves and grabbed the knife holding it close to her chest “ar..... are you going to hurt me?” she asked with a quiver in her voice.

        Star noticed the she was shaking “of course I’m not going to hurt you! Its kind of what I’m trying to run away from.” a familiar feeling shot through his body stopping him mid-sentence he winced at the pain. Star let out a deep sigh and weakly between gasps for air asked “so....... what’s your ….... name beau......tiful?”

          She  stood in disbelief for a few seconds not sure what was happening right in front of her. Not moving from her spot she stared at the stallion, studying him. He was dark blue in spots fading to pale blue from the blood loss.  His hair was green mixed with red streaks. Her gaze drifted to his face, he looked broken and bruised, but that’s not what struck her the most. What she noticed as the most striking thing was the bag under his eyes and how pointy his teeth were. 'His eyes look so sad, sunken, and dead' she thought to herself.

“so are going to just gawk at me or you going to say something I don’t have all day you know!” His tone was brash as it echoed through her mind.

           “Um my name is Solar …... Solar Heart” she said very sheepishly as she came toward the critically injured stallion “and may I ask who you might be? I think I heard you saying something earlier of shatter star?” Solar said taking one step closer towards him.

             “Eeyep, the one and only” he said trying to look nonchalant, but just ended up look like he was in even more pain.

               “Is it that bad?” Solar asked softly as she  looked directly into the hole in his chest.

                 “well, I can say this is only the second biggest hole I've ever had in my chest.” a grim smile again twisted across his face.  Solar on the other hoof was less the amused at his attempt to lighten his dire situation.

               “How can you be making jokes!?!” She was surprised by her sudden explosion of anger and confusion that boiled up in her chest. Quickly, she moved to Stars side and looked deeply into the hole in the stallions chest “this looks like one of those magic blasts wounds?” she wasn’t sure if it was a question or a statement.  Her head tilted slightly as she looked at the wound.

                 “Oh really! I could of told you thaaaaaaat!”  His words were cut off as Solar shoved a hoof into the freshly bleeding hole. “WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU DOING!!!” Star screamed spitting blood all over the Mare’s face.

                With a very distasteful look on her face Solar wiped the blood off and continued prodding the wound, star couldn’t do anything but yell profanity’s “just calm yourself down my mom was a nurse and she taught me a few things. I'll be right back!”  Solar turned and darted into the room she had attack Star from. The sounds of ripping cloth echoed through remnants of the broken room where Star remained, his breath coming in ragged pain filled gasps.

           To this point Star was in no way new to pain but his thoughts have started to fade only leaving the pain of his failure. The world around him started to darkening the only sound was starting to move farther and farther until it was miles away 'finally the sweet relief of death, maybe finally I can escape all the blood shed that follows in my wake. Maybe just maybe.' Stars eyes started to feel heavy.

          Sleep sounded good to Star, he closed he's eyes and he began too drift away.  All the pain started slowly to numb. The world started to gently slow and calm…but a small voice drifted in the growing darkness, then a sharp pain intruded on his growing peace, bringing everything back to him all at once. Star shuddered awake to find  Solar standing in front of him.  She seemed to be scolding him, this confused him. “Don’t you die yet stupid.  I can get you out of here.” she laughed as she started to peel Star off of the rocks he had been resting upon. “Where’s all your jokes now smart ass?”

          Star choked back blood.  “I was just taking a …... breather.”

           Solar shot Star a very gentle smile “now this is going to hurt a little …well maybe....  a lot” she said as she starting to wrap Stars shoulder and chest. The stallion could do little more than  stare into the distance.  He was almost aware of what Solar was attempting to do, but even her voice  had begun to fade. The sound of the wind filled his ears but there was something mixed in, a far too familiar sound.

         “Solar..... stop.  I need you to stop  what your doing and listen to me!” Solar jump, startled by his sudden change of demeanor.

           “now I know it hurts but you’re a big stallion I will get you out of here, I know that  Celestia's army has a real swanky med tent.  I think you can make it.” she looked at Star with another smile of concern and continued bandaging.

          Stars ears perked as the sounds grew ever nearer “NO!”  The word was meant to be a shout but it came out a violent whisper instead.  “NO, First; we can’t go there, and second;  I need you to go hide somewhere.  Hide where no pony would ever look!” His whispered tone was so intense it sent a shiver of fear through her.

            Solar look Star straight in his dimming dark blue eyes, her own voice drifted to a whisper as well.  “why?”

          Laughter bubbled barely audible as Solar turned her head to face the new voices coming from the street  “just please Solar ….. hide don’t make a sound or move just hide!”

          “I can’t leave you here!” she looked deep into the stallions eerie dim blue eyes.

           “Who said anything about leaving me? Please,  just hide.” Star reached up and dragged his hoof across Solars’ face.  “you can’t help me if you’re dead ….. or worse.” his hoof dropped to the knife she still kept close to herself “now whatever you hear or see, DO NOT come out until you are sure that no pony is here.” the voices grew ever closer. Star took the knife from Solar and set it next to himself as he turned to stare out past the door to the street waiting for the inevitable.

               “But I can move you,” She plead.  “ I can drag you to safety.  You just have to try for me. Please!” Star turned to see the eyes of a young mare who was so totally terrified.  Those eyes were a mellowed yellow with red mix in spot they seemed to swirl with the fear in her heart. Tears start to well in Solars eyes “please if you die I will be all alone again ….” the words welled in Solars throat her words got jumbled and mixed with sobs “you’re the first Celestia damned pony who hasn’t tried to kill me or worse so I’m not going to let you die.”

              Star was so shocked by her words.  He just met this mare and now she’s crying about not wanting him to die 'what’s wrong with her’,  he thought to himself.  ‘There is no reason for her to die today’. Star reached out and grabbed her head and put his forehead on hers “I promise I will never leave you alone if you just go HIDE.”

                “Hey I think I heard some voices from over in that building!” a voice rang out from the silent rubble outside.

                  Solar looked at star and nodded her head “you better survive this.” she hissed as she dried her tears before ducking into the other room.

                  Silence once more took over the building, nothing but the wind dared to make a sound.   Only the wind had the audacity to move about with it’s effortless dance.  It seemed defy all the blood  that had been shed around it, as if the wind was blissfully unaware of the world. This thought humored Star, why was he thinking such profound things, “ha I guess I’m getting soft.”

                  Three figures emerged in the dusty door way. They all smiled with sadistic glee “looky what we've got here the bird that we cut the wings off of I didn’t think you'd get this far,” the three unicorns walked farther into the room “you’re a tough bastard, I'll give you that much.  I've never seen anypony get this far after their wings were cut off. Not to mention the hole blown in their chest.” A sadistic smile twisted the unicorn’s mouth as he kicked a rock at Stars face. The rock connected smashing into pieces, blood ran done his face,  Never once did he look up as the unicorn continued he tirade. “Oh captain look how far you have fallen, the head of  Celestia’s northern army,   and now you are nothing but deserter.” the unicorn lifted Stars head and stared into his dim eyes “and how does it feel to see the stallion that ripped your wings off is now going to kill you”

                A smile slid across Stars face “if you were good at you job you would have killed me when you had the chance.” Star said calmly as his tongue slid out of his mouth licking the tip of the unicorn’s nose.

                The unicorn recoiled at the sensation of a blood covered tongue scrapped across his nose. The smell of copper and bile filled his nose.  Anger flushed the unicorn’s features as his hof came up menacingly,  “OH YOUR DEAD NOW!  YOU HEAR ME?  MY NAME IS HAMMER SWORD AND NOW YO....... die!?” a sudden pain shot through the right side of his chest. The pain was quickly followed by another twisting pain in his side just before it all went dark.

                   Star pulls the knife out of Hammer before he fell “ha... if you were good at your job you wouldn’t had left yourself open like that.” the other two unicorns looked on in horror. “so you two want some?  I have plenty of knife to go around?” An evil smile spread across Stars bloody face.

Solar hid under a pile of rubble that she had called shelter for the many nights since the war had begun. She had curled herself down, laying as silent and motionless as the rock that surrounded her.  'I pray to you Celestia don’t let him die.  I just don’t know why… but just…Please, let him live' The prayer was sent silently into the night. A sudden loud sound, a voice cut through the silence,  It was impossible for her to hear  what was being said, but the tone of the muffled voice made her blood run cold. The unfamiliar voice spoke first even though she couldn’t hear what they were saying his tone was very smug and he sounded happy with himself, a short pause the other Stallion spoke again but he sounded like he was belittling a child. Her teeth ground together as she tried to stay still.  All she wanted to do was go kick some pony flank.  She calmed down after she heard the now familiar sound of Star’s voice, with a sigh of relief she couldn’t help but smile.  She didn’t question herself why that scratchy voice gave her so much solace.  A sudden yelp startled  her out of her thoughts, the unknown stallion was screaming all she could hear was mmmmfffff mmf fmmfm HAMMER mmfmfmf then everything went so quiet, as the stallions voice trailed off followed by a hard thud.

                       Again Stars voice picked up, this time there was some humor in it. Solar strained to hear as silence fell for a heart beat before the other two  voices rang out in anger. The sound of  many thuds, bangs, and scrapings came from the other room. A sound like the breaking of celery stalks followed making her cringe.  She knew that sound all too well. Tears streaked down her face as she covered her ears to try and shield herself from the horrific sounds, but to no avail. The sounds of breaking bones continued to endlessly flood her mind. Complete silence finally settled over the room, and she tentatively lifted her hoofs 'is it over?' she thought silently, still afraid to make a sound.  The only sound was her own ragged breathe.  Thirty minutes seemed like thirty years as it scraped past until she gained the courage to leave her safe haven.  Carefully creeping out, she grabbed a piece of rebar, and went to the door into the other room. There was Nopony to be seen only a blood stain that dragged across the ground and out the shell of the front door.

Her mind went blank, as she stood in utter shock. Suddenly something wet hit her mane, she quickly wiped it off and looked at her hoof,  “what the hey …...!!!!!” Shock and fear over took her.  “blood!”   Her scream seemed to drown in terror.  Without thinking, she jumped into the room to search for Star.  He needed her! To her horror all she found was a scorch mark and a pile of dust. The room reeked of copper and burned dirt.  Solar felt nauseous as she looked at the scorch marks where the stallion she had trusted her life too had been. Now he was just… gone. Solar stood in that one spot for what seemed like hours.  There was a pain in her chest,  her heart simply felt so terribly empty “you bastard you lied to me…why did I even think I could save you I’m such an idiot.” tears  flowed from her eyes. “What am I going to do now?” Slowly she lay down on that scorched spot, and closed her teary eyes, falling into exsausted sleep. Hopelessly, no longer caring what happens to her now.

Solar slept deeply that night even though she wished she hadn’t.  The nightmares came to her, creeping into her sleep trapping her there. she dreamt that she was at the park with her whole family. A day of fun playing games with her two sisters.  The laughter and warmth of the sun were slowly stilled by a cold breeze that seemed to wash over the park. A dark shadow slowly flowed over everything covering the happiness until only Solars family remained visible in the darkness. Dread washed over her as she watched her younger sisters fade into the darkness. Solar tried to scream, but the darkness swallowed her words.  She turned toward her mother, wanting to get her out.  It is too late, her family has been taken by the darkness…Solar is all alone now, in that darkness.

Solar sat in the pitch black silence, it was cold all around her, but she just didn’t care. Everypony she had ever cared about was gone now. Her family, her friends, everypony she had ever met, and it was all her fault. Maybe if she had tried a little harder back then, maybe they would be here right now. Maybe if she had died in their place. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.  These word circled her mind in the dark landscape all of her faults, all of her failures. She couldn’t save anypony not even the stallion who had given his life to save hers. That thought made her stop, she thought about Star for a moment and as she did the coldness seemed to ease. She could see his dark blue coat, his weird green and red hair, and those eyes that until now she hadn’t noticed, he had no pupils just dark empty pits surrounded by a brilliant gold ring that just rests on the brink of nothingness.

The image of Star seemed to warm her, but she had no idea why.  She had only just met this stallion, and he really had done nothing to stand out, not really. She pondered why star made her feel this way. Perhaps it wasn’t what he had done, but more how he was. His voice reminded her of her father, but the more she thought about it Solar kept coming to the odd conclusion, he made her smile for the first time in a long time.

                          Solar no longer felt scared. The darkness retreated from her eyes, leaving only a blank white endless void all around her. She laid there basking in the warmth. For that moment she was warm, and safe.  It didn’t matter she was alone…but the feeling was short lived, images of the scorch marks on the wall made her remember Star was gone. The darkness slowly crept back in on Solar, a chill rose from her right side. The darkness started to consume her as again she started to blame herself for what has happened. The darkness crept up her flank covering her back as it slowly stared swallowing her up.  Solar did nothing to stop it 'there’s nothing out there for me anymore' She whispered to herself as she lay her head down, allowing the darkness to take her… but a small light had begun to shine in the distance. Her ears pricked slightly as a familiar sound drifted in the darkness. She listened for a second “hurry up and get up we need to leave damn it” Solars eyes shot open as a hoof hit her in the back of the head.  She flipped on her back to see a dark blue colt looking back at her “I said we need to go, those bucking idiots from last night will be here soon we really need to go!”

The small colt stared at the dumfounded mare “did I stutter?  Let’s move!”  He said as he picked up a small nap sack made of a ripped cloth, and turned towards the door to the street.

Solar sat there very confused about what she just heard “what?”

The colt turned back glaring at her “I am leaving. If you would like to come with me,  you can.  But if you don’t, I’m not going to make you.”

He turned his back to her, and slowly walked to the door.  Solar blinked in confusion, her brow creasing.  Was she going to do follow this kid from out of nowhere or is she just going to sit here and let death take her...... “wait …. wait for me” She shouted as she jumped to her hooves stumbling a little as she rushed forward. It wasn’t hard to catch up with the young colt, “um can I ask where we’re going?”

The strange golden eyes that looked up at her were devoid of emotion,  “I have no clue, we’re just going to keep going this way I guess.” he shrugged and looked forward once more.

“ok, well at least that’s a plan …. I think, so umm what’s your name?” Solar asked, almost afraid to ask it. She was afraid of the answer as she looked down at the mystery colts messy green and red main.

“Hmmmmmmmm.” he put his small hoof to his mouth and pondered for a second as if he hadn’t thought of it before “hmmmmmmm I can’t really think of one....... you got any ideas?”

Solar stops in her tracks “are you for real?” the small colt turned his head and nodded before he  kept on walking. “so your telling me you don’t know your own name?” she said catching back up with the small oddity.

“Now I didn’t say that I just think it’s time for a new one that’s all.” he looked up at her with a goofy smile.

Still utterly dumbfounded by this whole thing “ok, ok forget the name how old are you?” she said taking a deep breath.

“hmmmmm” this time he stopped completely as he took time to think about his age, like no one has ever asked before.  “you know I don’t really know, give me a sec.” he reached out his right fore leg and looked at the shoulder scanning its length then looking at his right hind leg and flank then finished by looking between his forelegs and seeming to look very disappointed by what he saw. He flipped up his head “I would say four at this moment in time I think give or take a few years but around there.” shrugging once again before he simply continued on into the street.

“And you didn’t know that before?” she looked down at him.

“Well not really but I can tell by the size of the bones in my legs and shoulders plus sum other (cough cough) less fortunate places are also smaller and correspond to this age soooo it’s a crack shot at most but it won’t last that long anyway.” he stretched out his little back letting a small crack from it and fluttering his tiny wings trying to lift himself but to no avail, with a huff of displeasure he folded his wings and pouted.

“you know, you don’t sound like a four year old colt.” she said trying to look him in the eyes as they walked through the rubble strewn street. “and what do you mean it won’t last that long?”

With a loud sigh, the colt stopped and turned to face Solar.  Who did  not see the sudden stop coming, she nearly runs him over.  Scrambling to stop, she nearly stumbles and falls face first onto him.  Catching herself with a disgruntled huff, but the  humorless look in the colt’s eyes stilled her angry words.  “ok I know you have questions, and I will answer them.  I just need you to wait.  We don’t have time for explanations right now.   If we don’t move now you won’t last to hear any of it.” His golden eyes turned to look forward into the very light Grey almost white coat  of Solars chest. “I told you once I’m never going to leave you alone, and I’m no liar so let’s get moving.”  The colt turns and slowly walked away from Solar once more.

“Wait how did you!?” the colt turned his head and winked.

“I was thinking shining star or, or maybe flash point oooooooooooo I like that one!  flash point it will be.”  He seemed quite pleased with himself.

Solar stood with her mouth wide open as she watched the small colt quietly mumbling to himself “could it be him? No, it isn’t possible! No way, but I didn’t see the body…. but then how is he so young?” she said talking into her hoof. She looks up to the colt who had created some distance between the two of them. “hey... hey wait for me!” Solar got up and started to race toward the small colt that was walking into the sun rise.