A New Beginning: Time of Rebellion.

Midnight woke hours later, the sun high up in the air. She was lying in cool grass under a tree, a bandage wrapped around her side.

When the mare attempted to move, pain shot through her. The wound was nasty, and it would be slow moving and walking for another day or two until that healed up. Grape was laying next to a small fire, it had grown colder as everypony prepared for autumn. Pulmonaria was sleeping by the fire too, a few toys cuddled close to her. Midnight struggled to get up, a few dots appeared in her eyes at the sudden movements. The wound was killing her! She wondered who those ponies had been though! They had been clearly trained, the element of surprise had helped them. Without they'd all be dead. This had to be reported when she got back. If Celestia was deploying Unicorns for magic attacks, it'd be a whole new war. Moving slowly over to Grape, the earth pony turned her head, hearing Midnight walking over

"Good...You're up...Appleloosa is about three miles away...But me and Pulmonaria got tired" She explained, moving over abit to let Midnight have some room to lay down by her. Taking the offer, she sunk into the ground next to Grape, wondering if they were dating or not. She had kissed Midnight back! Was that a sign? Deciding to push her luck a bit, Midnight moved closer to Graperose, their bodies pressing. Hearing a chuckle, she leaned forward, softly nuzzled her neck, smiling happily as the nuzzle was returned "It's alright...You need your sleep..We all need to get our strength back after that." She whispered, feeling a kiss on the top of her head that made her squirm, the lips deadly close to her horn. "Thanks...You're too sweet.." Rolling her eyes, Midnight rested her head. They hadn't known eachother for long, but Midnight already loved her. Well, maybe not love just like a lot. A squeak made her lift her head.

"There's a letter! In my saddlebag! One of the magicians had it!" Widening her eyes she floated out the scroll, tearing it open and began to read.

Dear FlashFire. I'm sending you, along with three other hoof picked unicorns to assist this country. You are four very talented unicorns, and I know you will get this job done. As you know already, this little rebellion has been going on for far too long. If my student Twil...Well never mind that. I ask of you to deliver a critical blow. Our spies report that Midnight Shadow, a unicorn who is also the brother to Galaxywing, is currently heading in the direction of Appleloosa. I ask of you to please find her and make sure noone see's her again. If you brought her to me that would be most helpful.

~Princess Celestia

Midnight crushed the scroll, tossing it aside angrily. How dare she! Hiring...Assassins! To come and kill her! Such a thought was unheard of! Though she feared, if Celestia could deploy unicorns...Sure, Unicorns did throw out spells a bit in battles, but many of them missed. The accuracy those ones had used...A whole line of them would be terrifying. Many questions arose. How had she been spotted? And who was this Twil? Student student...Was she referring to Twilight?! No...The books showed her as a nice unicorn...She would never assassinate! At least, she thought. But what did she know, never in her life had she meet the strong unicorn. The only real reason Midnight knew of her because her mother always used to read a spellbook, written by her. She shook her mind clear of the thought "Grape. Wake up Pulmonaria please, I know I said we need rest but we can't waste any more time. Carry her on your back, we need to get to appleloosa as soon as possible. Any survivors or supplies will be very useful." Midnight felt Graperose lift up her head, the warm feeling on her neck fading quickly "Okay okay fine...But I'm tired after carr-"

"I know. And I'm very sorry. Just...Please. We have to move.."

Pulmonaria let out a whine as she was woken, but she soon nodded, a quiet tongue lashing from Graperose made her hush and crawl onto her back, wrapping her front legs around the mares neck.

"Alright...I'll carry the bags with my magic alright...Say uh Grape where did you get the pistol? Can I see it?"

Grape pointed to her saddle bag, which Midnight tried to open it with her magic, but her the tip of her horn sparked twice before stopping. Groaning her head pounded, horn aching suddenly.

"Whats wrong Midnight? Are you hurt?"

Not wanting to make her think she was hurt, Midnight shook her head "No. Fine. I'm just a little tired that's all. My horn is acting up a little, I must have hit it or something." But it was clear that the spell that had hit her was to disable magic. Worry crept into her but she tried to keep it down. What if she couldn't even use magic again?!

"Let's just get moving. What way is Appleloosa from here?"

"Southwest. Though more south. I'd say it's about a thirty or forty minute walk from here. So it's safe most likely."

"Alright. Now why don't you tell me about this pistol and it's weird designs all over it as we walk?"

Grape nodded "Well...When my Grandfather first moved here, he met a pony who said they had traveled all the way Saddle Arabia, a trader. My grandfather asked if he had any weapons, something to help protect himself around in the woods. The trader pulled out that same pistol, the designs are some writing, but I forget what. It's easy to reload, a little quicker then an equestrian pistol. He gave it to my father, and my father to me. I don't have anything for it though, it was loaded when I pulled it out."

The story lasted around twenty minutes, they had picked up the pace, and soon, they were there.

Midnight nodded, looking it over. It was smaller, little grooves on the inside of the pistol to help the bullet spin more. Longer barrel, a tiny bit bigger.

"You can have it if you'd like!"

"W-What?! I couldn't! It's your families!"

"I don't plan on shooting it again. I'm not a gun mare like you...Please take it. As a gift! I'll need somepony to protect me!" Grape smirked "Now you have two!"

Midnight grinned "Sweet! Thank you so much Grape!" She jumped forward, nuzzling her chin softly "I'll carry it with me at all times!" Floating it up, now the blue mare had two pistols! Perfect! And Grape kept to her word! The pistol took around seven seconds quicker to reload! "Wow! It's fantastic!" In that small time a tiny bit of her magic seemed to have returned, but just floating two simple pistols send jolts of pain down her body. She had to keep going though, to protect them!

"You're welcome.."

Midnight sighed happily, blowing Grape a kiss. The earth pony giggled, rolling her eyes "Thanks. I'll treasure your air kiss forever!"

BAM

"Ouch!" She had been so caught up in staring, that she had run right into a building...Or what was left of one. Bullet holes riddled the wood, the top half had collapsed, a few rats scurried out of the wreckage. A pegasus, clearly a scout, had seven or eight bullets buried into his side. He was bent over a hold in the building, dried blood on the wood below him. "G-Grape...Don't...Look...Up. Just follow me.." Hearing fear in her voice, Graperose nodded, glad Pulmonaria was asleep right now. Following Midnight, the hot sun poured down on them. Tumbleweeds drifted out of the town. What had once been a bustling trade center for apples, it was now a ghost town. It was supposed to show rebellions would be demolished, but it only encouraged them even more! A stone statue was right at the entrance to Appleloosa, a leg of the Stallion torn off by a cannon ball. He wore a vest, or something, along with a hat. A sniper lay propped up against his side. He was...Old too. Very old. How he looked showed that! But he also looked as strong as a young stallion. Getting closer, Midnight read the words on the bottom.

"Braeburn. Leader of Appleloosa's finest sniping division. Killed in the second skirmish. May the hero rest in peace."

Midnight looked over the giant stone statue, this stallion must have been a hero. It even said hero! But why, leading the best sniping division is nothing to get a statue over! Ugh if only there was more about this stallion...

After weeks of being deserted, everypony either dead or gone, many of the wooden buildings had burned. As she walked down the street, hearing the hoof steps of Grape behind her Midnight wished she hadn't brought her. Ponies, dead, everywhere. Bodies torn in two, shots in every place imaginable. The sandy ground was dried red in many places. Little flames were still going on, the buildings creaked when a breeze came through, threatening to topple over. Half the town wasn't even accessible, and all the spots where trade had happened had been burned.  It looked like they had been attacked during the night, some of the ponies lie dead, in pajama's, not even carrying any form of weapon. She saw through a shattered window of a hotel that a mare was in bed! Lying in bed as bullets ripped through the walls and killed her. Was this how Celestia thought she should end rebellions?! Murder every pony in the town? She kicked the ground in disgust, closing her eyes tight. "Grape lets just go..." The fact that this had been done to everypony...It stung. Celestia had done something horrible here. She saw fillies, colts, brutally murdered. This town had been killed to make an example! How horrifying! At least they were holding out at ponyville...Maybe Celestia was trying to save ponyville and not kill the entire town. Why would she want to save it though?

"What?! It's almost dark, we're tired, and you said we'd get supplies and stuff from here!"

"I don't want to sleep here please...Appleloosa is a death trap! Look at all these buildings they're going to fall! Every pony is dead and there aren't any supplies!" Her voice came out harsh but cracked at the end. It was horrific what had happened here! "Hey...Hey now calm down...It's ok.." Grape was at her side in a second, a little kiss on her ear making her sigh "It's just so horrible what happened here!"

A sleepy mumble was heard from Grape, Midnight knew she needed sleep. Though she couldn't carry anypony. Three saddlebags were worn on her back, stuffed full. A fourth was on her leg, surprisingly light that. But that weighed her down a bit. "Okay let's just head towards...Dodge City. Those ponies are living I heard. And by the sound of it your ponyville needs ponies fast!"

"Alright...Dodge City? You mean Dodge Junction right? Shouldn't we rest first though, You really look like you could use some sle-"

"Lets just go until I collapse. I'll push it for you Midnight. The city is only a few miles away.."

Now she was confused. Her old map didn't have any Dodge City but she trusted Grape.  It had probably been re named anyways.

" Alright...Just remember I can't really use my magic all that well at the moment.."

"I know I know...Lets go! I've always wanted to go t...there !" Her voice was a little mumbled, her fatigue and tiredness clearly showing.

They walked slowly, Midnight had to constantly fall back, trying to keep Graperose walking. Pulmonaria just slept away, though occasionally she'd yawn or squirm on Grapes back as the mare began drooping her head, walking off, tripping. They had reached the woods, where they had just come from and it was too much for them. Grape slumped to the ground, falling into a deep sleep.

Midnight facehoofed in irritation. They were just beneath the tree's, but if only she could've gotten then two of them a little further...This would have to do! Setting down the saddlebags, she rested Graperose against a tree, the same with Pulmonaria. Lying down next to them, pistol tucked into her chest, the unicorn fell asleep too. Today had basically been a waste. Not much had been accomplished. It pained her to know that she was doing so little..They were dangerously low on food too.

They had enough for a small breakfast and that was it. In the scrap with the magicians when she had gotten blasted and skimmed their food had been hit numerous times. Her dreams were none the pleasant either, images of appleloosa haunted her until she woke, wet. Sweating cold sweat. She panted softly, looking around scared until she realized this was the real world, not her dream! A low fog had covered the tree's, dew could be seen on every blade of grass. Two ponies snoring next to her. A calm peaceful night for them...At least that was good!

Still, she knew that now it was time to go. It was early, the safest time to travel. They had to be back in ponyville by tomorrow afternoon, or Galaxy was in big trouble!  Stretching, tears flooded her eyes and she clamped her mouth shut. Determination had seemed to null down the pain from her wound, Midnight had completely forgotten about it! But now she was bleeding again, having re-opened the wound. Blood trickled down her side turning the blue fur crimson. The cool morning air made her shiver. Great, freezing cold, hungry, bleeding, tired. Could things get any worse?!

Getting up to her hooves, the mare leaned against the tree, panting softly as she slowly bled. Not much, but she felt drained from it. Midnight whimpered in pain, crying softly. She didn't want to alert them, to have Grape fuss over her and clean her up and make her rest and go slow. She'd lie, Midnight had to! They had to get moving and a wound would only slow them down! Pain ran through in waves, the unicorn bit her lip, sitting there and dealing with the pain so they could rest more.

It stopped bleeding a few minutes later, but those few minutes had seemed to be hell. Her side was numb, blood leaked down her legs after dripping down her side. Wet salty tears stung her eyes. It made little sense to her why she hadn't woken up Grape and asked for help, but her mind had just said "No!" Midnight didn't want to wake them, to have them worry for her. It wasn't her job, her job was to protect. Not that.

Waiting a while longer to get a control of herself, Midnight walked over to the two sleeping ponies.

Leaning over she poked Grapes shoulder repetitively until the mare groaned, opening her eyes. Midnight hid her body, not wanting the blood to be seen. It'd be easy to hide it, a river had to be close too. She'd just wash in there !"Come on...Too early..."

"We have to go. You know this. It's early. Wake up Pulmonaria. We're heading to Dodge city." Muttering her sentence, Midnight nodded. They had to go now. "We wasted yesterday, today we get there, get support and get back to ponyville. I'm not letting my brother down once again.." She knew that it was a little strict, demanding, but Midnight wanted to get this done. Spending time relaxing was nice, but she had a duty to do, one that she would not abandon. She loved Graperose, but Galaxy was the only family she had.