The Colours of Life

“Loyal? Why have we run away?” Rhythm was concerned of Loyal’s recent actions. She knew something was definitely wrong, had they did something wrong. Rhythm kept asking the same question, “Why have we run away?” But Loyal never answered. She never looked back, the past was over. She needed to start over and that was what was put in front of her.

The forest laid in front of them, it was a place full of superstition, only the stupid dared to enter. Stories of the ponies that entered the forest never came back out the same. Some came out with different colours some found that their horn had disappeared. No matter of the stories it was a dangerous place. The grove of the forest was dark and dangerous. The willow trees blocked out most of the light but at night it was pitch darkness.

Rhythm hid into Loyal’s mane, she was scared of the forest because she didn’t like the dark. She started crying herself clenching her hooves tighter around Loyal. The little mare didn’t want to see anything, the look of the forest was haunting and hiding was the only option.

Loyal however was determined to run and keep running. She didn’t care for what happened to them. Tears were still dripping down her face and were blinded by the sadness so she occasionally tripped over roots that have emerged from ground. Branches over swooped their heads and Rhythm gave the occasional squeal. Sounds from the forest grew, the trees rustled by the creatures that moved about them. Cooing sounds streamed through branches, these sounds made Rhythm more anxious to look up. But still she didn’t dare to see the horrors that it may belay.

They came to an end. The road trailed off into 3 paths, there was a sign that had fell off many years prior. It was now covered in mould and vines and Loyal didn’t notice it. Loyal took a quick glance at each path and decided to keep heading straight.

The path she took became dangerous, sink holes and dangerous flowers began to sprout from beneath her feet. She took little caution the hazards and kept pressing on. The flowers that brushed against Loyal left her in a hazy state. She felt herself getting weaker the more she ran. But she had to keep going, if it wasn’t for her then for Rhythm.

She pressed on, harder this time trying to find an exit. As she went further into the forest the weaker she became in the mind and her legs. She started to hear voices, some of them familiar others where just hisses. The sounds grew louder and loyal became more distracted. Although there was one voice which she knew. It was a voice that she hadn’t heard in two years. It was her mother’s voice.

Loyal hesitated, the voice was very clear. Could it be her, was she still alive? Loyal stopped, Rhythm however still gripped tight around Loyal like a girth. Her face was piled deep into Loyal’s mane, although Loyal didn’t know if she somehow got to sleep or if she was still weeping from the scary horrors of the forest. Loyal had been running for hours without a break her hooves were pretty much falling off.

The voice still calling in Loyal’s direction, is someone really there? Was it really her mother? She had to go and find out otherwise she would never live it down if it really was her.

She ran off the track towards the calling voice. As she came closer and closer to the voice it seemed to travel further and further away. Everything became hazy again and her head was thumping with immense pain. She didn’t allow this pain get to her though, she kept trudging further heading towards the voice. She had to find it.

She ran was a few more hundred metres until it was it. She could no longer walk. Loyal had collapsed and past out. Rhythm fell off with a mighty THWUMP! She rolled off Loyal’s back into the long grass. She too was exhausted with all of excitement that had just occurred. Rhythm now had only a bit more energy left till she too would collapse. Rhythm crept up to Loyal and tried to put herself up along the inside of Loyal’s belly. She laid there worried about her friend but also about hers. She couldn’t do anything she was too exhausted as well. She only hoped there was someone there, or something that could help them. Just before she dosed off a bright shooting star filled the night sky. Rhythm made one final wish before she too fell unconscious.

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Back in Bridalday, Free Jumper was still filled with liquor. He had ordered and few of the town’s ponies to go and scout for the two missing mares. Free Jumper wasn’t impressed at her daughter’s actions. He thought about when he got his hooves of her, he would lock her up in her room for months. It was the only sort of treatment she deserved for running away like that.

As word got around quickly of the dispute many ponies gathered outside to seek more information. Many wanted to help look for the mare but when they heard she ran into the Everfree forest many retreated. Some however decided to look, maybe because they thought if they found her there could be a reward. Having the mayor in your debt was an opportunity that anyone could take - if they were stupid enough.

Free Jumper wandered around anxiously, he felt embarrassed and ashamed that he was put down by his own daughter. Having that on our record would make anyone feel silly and cold be considered a cowardly person. He being the mayor just makes the townsfolk wonder if he is really up to the job.

He felt himself as if he was being aimed for breaking a law or disobeying an order. So Free Jumper was forced to go looking for himself.