A New Beginning: Time of Rebellion.

Midnight blinked, shaking her head to clear the thoughts. Coughing into her hoof she spoke "My name is Midnightshadow. I'm just passing by. I just passed out on your property. I'll be gone soon."

Graperose nodded "The fillies name is Pulmonaria."

The filly had run off to go play. "She will be fine. Now follow me, we need to talk.."

Midnight stayed quiet, and got up. She didn't mean to stare so much at the mares flanks, but how could she resist! Averting her gaze, she stared at the ground to better help herself. Though she did catch grapes cutie mark. Three grapes. "Ok now sit and tell me exactly why you're passing though. You're lucky I haven't thrown you out, I only put you in my shed because you were hurt. And don't think I haven't noticed that staring. If you endanger that filly I won't hesitate to attack.." It was clear to Midnight, that Grape just wanted to protect Pulmonaria. Though saying she was a soldier for the rebellion, and sister to the leader might not help her case...But she would tell the truth.

"Ok my name is midnight my brother Is leading the rebellion and after a battle were going to lose and I'm coming here to Appleloosa or another town to search for ponies and I just needed to stop for a second I got really tired and passed out I won't hurt the filly I promise I'm leaving soon and I won't stare!" She spoke in a flurry, letting out a long sigh afterwards.

At the mention of "rebellion" Graperose was listening very eagerly now to this mares story. Her left ear twitched. She herself wasn't very fond of Celestia and Luna. Pulmonaria was a survivor of Appleoosa! From what little the poor filly could tell, it had been a massacre. "Ok...Midnight. Though you're not leaving soon" Midnight's face went from calm to a look of complete shock Huh?! Who're you to tell me I ca-"  "That wound down there is bad. Looks like you got skimmed by a bullet or a piece of shrapnel. Still very bad. It was almost infected but I managed to clean it and bandage it up. Still, I wouldn't risk running off or anything. Give it a day or two to recover. Alright?" The tone in her voice told midnight that she should say yes, so she nodded.

"A-Alright I'll stay for two days max. Then I really need to get to a nearby town."

Three Days Later...

Life on Graperoses grape farm was peaceful and quiet, relaxing and very enjoyable. Midnight had planned to leave yesterday, but she decided one more day of peace with Grape and Pulmonaria wasn't going to hurt. Though it was going to be hard to say goodbye. Having a major crush on grape, and adoring that little filly made it so very hard...Sure, she knew that she had a duty, but this was...Perfect! But midnight knew today she had to leave, no matter how much she yearned to stay here with them.

So there she sat.

Outside, early in the morning. Staring at her hooves and deciding what to say. The house that grape lived in was fairly nice. Two stories, painted white and made of fresh wood. Graperose said her father had built it no less then thirty years ago. At least that's what he had told her. That topic was a fragile one, the mare hated to talk of her parents, who had mysteriously vanished one day. She had last seen them go into the woods to head to town, but no pony ever saw them again.

The cold, brush air nipped at her, causing her to shiver. Midnight could see her breath. So cold... She thought, but she didn't want to risk waking the two of them by going outside.

The door opened, a familiar hoof touched her shoulder "Midnight! What're you doing outside this early? Oh dear you're shivering! Come on inside!" The soothing voice of Graperose woke her from her thoughts, she nodded and went inside, a smile on her face. She was quite happy that grape was awake. Some alone time with her was exactly what she wanted! Midnight knew it was odd that after three days she already loved Graperose. Or, had a crush on her. Maybe it was how tough she was...How dangerous yet sweet she was..

"How long were you outside? You're freezing!"

Midnight groaned "All night...I've just been thinking and stuff.."

"All night?! You need to get some sleep! And you need a blanket, please sit down I'll be right back!"

Galaxy would kill her if he saw what she was doing. Laying around and enjoy herself while they struggled! But it was just so good here..

She shook her head, but the purple mare was already walking away. She had been up all night thinking of what she would do when she left, and exactly what to say to the two of them. But that could wait again, midnight needed sleep. Her job couldn't be completed if while it was in motion she was passing out in the middle of a road! Sitting down, Midnight was already slipping away. A warm blanket was soon wrapped around her, a soft hoof rubbing her mane "Shh go to sleep midnight..." Graperose whispered, making her lay down. The warm mares body was right against her, their muzzles just barely touching. Midnight gave a yawn, soon falling asleep right against grape, the blanket draped over the two of them.

The sound of an excited filly standing infront of the them was what woke Midnightshadow. "Grape! Midnight! Come in wake up!" She chuckled, blinking open an eye sleepily and yawning loudly. Graperose grumbled, rolling onto her side "Too...Early.." Midnight shook herself, getting up to her feet groggily. "S-She's right...Grape time to get up.." With that the earth pony sighed, getting up and nodding "A-Alright alright I'm up I'm up...Calm down you to.." She stretched, yawning loudly "Midnight you're lucky you have comfy fur and are good at cuddling, or you'd be in trouble for staying up that late.." A gulp could be heard. "U-Uh...Thanks?" Midnight asked, taking a step back. Pulmonaria jumped "Comee on! Can we go play pleeeaasseee!!" The two mares nodded. "Yay! Hide and seek it is! I'll count first! Go hide!" Midnight and Grape left the house to a filly nearly screaming her numbers. "IM COUNTING TO SIXTY!" Pulmonaria yelled, already at seven.

Graperose pointed to the shed "There's tons of hay in there we can hide under!" Midnight nodded in agreement, following her I to the barn.

~~~

The two were once again side by side, hay covering them and hiding them pretty well. A loud "forty!" Could be heard. "Grape we need to talk ok?"

"About what?"

"Me and you and when I'm leaving"

"Me and you? What do you me-"

"SIXTY!"

"Shh after she finds us!"

They waited in silence, the only sound they heard the occasional hoof steps of Pulmonaria walking around the shed. A few minutes, later however, the door creaked open "I know you two are in here..Aha!" She pounced onto the ground right next to Midnight, just barely missing. "They're not in here?! Where are they!" Graperose chuckled, causing her to get pounced on, exposing midnight too "I found you! Haha!" The filly grinned and cheered happily, the three laughing together and throwing hay until Graperose coughed, looking at midnight. "Now there's something I...We need to hear, right?" She asked, looking at midnight with a serious look.

She shuffled her hooves, sighing sadly and nodding "I have to go. Probably for weeks. I have to get to a town, get supplies, ponies, to help. It's my duty and I can't just let my brother and thousands of ponies be killed. I must return to ponyville soon. I'm l-leaving...Now.." Her voice cracked. midnight could see the filly tearing up "B-but you can't go!" Midnight smiled weakly "I'll come back..Trust me...G-Grape...There's s-something I have to tell you before I go.." With a quick movement, their lips were soon touching, midnight swiftly pulling Grape into. However to her surprise she was kissing back! They kept up the kiss for a few moments before Grape broke it , giggling "You feel that way too? No need to cry Pulmonaria. And don't be sad Midnight we will be closer then you think!"

The unicorn was lost, legs wobbling as a daze seemed to have come over. The next sentence woke her from it however. "What? Huh how?!"

"We are coming with you that's how!"

Midnights eyes widened as Grape said that. She shook her head "N-No you can't come with me! I'm going to very dangerous places! And Pulmy's just a filly!" Grape rolled her eyes "Well I know how hard it is for you to leave us...And now that I know how you feel, you expect me to let you run off and never return? And you're like a big sister to her! She loves you!" The mare nodded "You've got a horn, and a gun. I'm betting you can protect us if someone attempts to attack us" Midnight could tell her defense was crumbling. And having a pretty mare around with her at all times would be nice...

"Humph...Fine.." Her voice lowered "Stupid Grape...Stop being so bucking beautifu-"

"I heard that Midnight!" The mare turned around, flicking her tail up, brushing her chin. "J...Agh! Just go get your stuff and lets go!" She grumbled, trying to get rid of her blush. The only thing that she feared was that they wouldn't go fast enough. They had at most four days to get to a town, any town that had ponies, or a militia, or anything. Her brother needed help, and she had thrown away days for her own comforts...She shook her head, trying to get rid of the doubt that lingered in the back of her mind. But she had to stay strong, now she had two more ponies to look after! All midnight had was the pistol, seven shots, a horn of gunpowder, enough food to last them maybe two days, and of course the old map. She rummaged around it, her hoof finding something hidden. She used her magic to pull out...A key? A white key, small, thin, three diamonds on each side. Not real diamonds. The shape of diamonds carved into it.

She stuffed it back into the brown leather bag, throwing it over her side again. The key probably went to something the pony she had gotten this from had owned. Graperose and Pulmonaria came out with a saddle bag each, just stuffed with clothes, food which was greatly needed, a old but newer map, and a pistol Grape stuffed inside her bag too quick for Midnight to get a look at it. "Alright! So we're going to appleloose to scavenge, then head to a nearby town...This will be very dangerous you two, so when we walk, I will go first, and if we get into any trouble you two have to run and get away as far as possible.." Right now they would be safe. Around noon they might not be so secure. Traveling at dawn was common, so seeing soldiers or other ponies was guaranteed. Both of them nodded, eyes widening in fear suddenly. "What? What is it?" She asked, gulping as she heard a twig crack. Pulmonaria squeaked, ducking behind Grape. When she turned around, four oddly dressed unicorns stood behind them, horns glowing under their hoods. The look of murder could be seen on their glowing faces..

Midnight gulped, and then, a flash of white blinded her.

What happened first?

She never knew, if it was Graperose who shot first, or the four unicorns who used spells.

But in an instant, the world was white, a spell...She didn't know which one was cast. A thud was heard, Graperoses shot had been a success. But the mare dropped the pistol, how Grape had gotten the strap around her neck so easily she would never know.

Still, it had given them advantage, now they were 3 to 2, one of the hooded unicorns dead already.

One of them had cast a spell, blinding them. The only thing Midnight could see, and feel, was magic. Bolts of magic shot all around, skimming her sides, burning off fur.  She winced in pain, pulling Graperose and Pulmonaria behind the shed. The house already had holes in it, the magic tearing right through it. Light debris fell on them, and she decided it was enough. A clear shot would be needed, Midnight didn't have many to waste! Jumping out from behind her cover, the last thing the mare remembered was pulling the trigger, and an incredible amount of pain.

Her shot luckily, had taken the lives of two, and the fourth had run off. Midnight hadn't even fully aimed as she fired, but the bullet had gone right through the neck of one as he was running, tearing right through, leaving a devastating hole. It passed through, digging into the chest of another. A very very lucky shot! But her glory faded quickly. Seeing their teammates fall, the last one casted a bolt that slammed right into her chest. She had flown back, skidding across the hard ground, a nasty gash opening along her left side. And then, she had slipped into unconsciousness.

Graperose panicked, seeing Midnightshadow fly back in the air, her body soon limp. She rushed over, quickly looking her over. "Oh gosh oh gosh...A-Alright.." Taking a deep breath, the mare pulled a first aid kit out of her saddle bag. Never had she expected to use it so soon. Cleaning the wound, wrapping it up with bandages, and throwing up once, Grape fixed up Midnights wound. It had taken precious hours though. In the meanwhile, Pulmonaria had looked over the mysterious ponies. The filly was shaking as she approached them, but something caught her eye that made her come closer faster. A scroll! On of them had a scroll on them! Running forward, she picked it up with her teeth, racing back to Grape "I found something!"

"Shh...Not now. Just put it in my saddlebag alright? We have to get going like Midnight said, or more of those mean ponies might come back. Could you help me carry her please?"

Pulmonaria nodded after putting the scroll away.