She heard their uneven breath. I must keep running… If I don’t…
No. said a small voice in the mare’s mind. No, don’t think like that. You will be fine. And you’re right, keep running. You can do it. Keep running.
As the mare galloped, she could hear her pursuer’s legs pounding into the ground with such force that she could feel the impact from 10 yards away. If only I could fly! I could get away! She thought.
What good would your wings be to all the ponies of Equestria? They may grant you freedom, but what of the subjects of whom you vowed to protect? No, running is the answer… Lead them away. Try to lose them, somehow.
The once ruler of the greatest kingdom ran with all her might. She found new energy in her own prep-talk.
The Princess saw what she thought looked like a strange flat mountain. As she galloped forth, she soon came to realize that it was, in fact, a forest. She ventured into its depths, using all of the thinning amount of energy to light her injured horn. She heard the villain's curses as they too reached darkness of the woods. “Where is she, my weak image?” came a voice that made the mare’s blood run cold, her heart stop. She could no longer think.
How is this possible? The Princess thought frantically. I-- her-- she’s gone! S-s-she was! How-- why..?
Luna. Came the firm voice in her head. Stop. Now in not the time for questions. Extinguish your horn. You can find you‘re way out. Think of your sister. She would think of her people first, then her self.
Yes, Luna thought. I must keep going.
After a while, Luna started to see the trees on either side starting to thin. She saw an opining about 5 yards ahead of her. When she reached her destination, she her lungs freeze, her heart stop for the second time the night. In front of her, smoldering from a fairly recent fire, was Ponyville. She felt sick, weak, and a strong urge to run and hide; to flee back to Canterlot, to lock herself in Tia's room, and sleep.
