“Fold your wings properly, boy! They’re dragging in this wretched snow.”
The faded blue Pegasus glared down at her little foal as he walked with his head low and wings draped and outstretched. The dark circles beneath both their eyes showing much pain and fatigue from a long trek but seemed to stick out dramatically against the foal’s alabaster coat. His mess of lackluster grey hair seemed more akin to a pony with more years across their belt, and hung wildly over both his piercing ice blue eyes.
“I’m too frigging tired to care. Quit nagging me.” He spat with equal amounts malice and exhaustion.
The older mare would have smacked some sense into him any other time but she empathized all-too-well with him at this point. Instead, she sighed lightly and gently nudged him forward.
“I can see Canterlot now, sweetie. Just keep up the pace and we’ll make it to your uncle’s a little after midnight.”
The foal muttered something but it became lost deep within his lungs. He swallowed through a dry throat and spoke once more.
“Stop pushing me. I’m not a little baby, mom.”
A crease formed in the center of her temple and her lips curled back in frustration.
“Don’t you bark orders at me Defiance!” hissed the mare though her voice seemed more frail than demanding.
“We’re both running on the last of our reserves. This anger is the only this I have left.” Squeaked the foal. “I do not want me pushing me around though. I’m fine without you.”
The last of the mare’s energy seemed to be spent ignoring her son’s glacial disrespect and focusing on the task at hand, her muzzle never leaving the side of her son’s flank.
The world around them seemed blurred by the immense winter storm. In the distance, the light of the large majestic city came into view. It’s gold plated buildings stuck out in through the maelstrom. Flecks of radiant light shot through the wall of blinding ice shards and illuminated the frozen landscape.
The little foal’s heart began to race as he came closer and closer to his new home. With a sudden jolt of energy, the foal ran towards the city’s gleam.
His sudden movement caught the mare off balance and she collapsed into the snow, defeated by the long journey.
The mere elation caused the foal to ignore what had just occurred. He ran towards the sentry near the edge of Canterlot, no amount of weariness plaguing his heart. His gallop seemed erratic but held the last of the foal’s waning strength. Perhaps his mother had been right to pushing him. With her gentle prodding, the foal would survive and finally meet the dazzling city.
As the foal approached the two guards, he noticed expressions of surprise marred their faces.
He was not an unusual little pony, just quite emaciated and sickly. However it finally registered that the two stallions were not concentrated on him. He follow their gaze back from were he’d begun his wobbly run.
In the snow lay a faded blue mass, her spiritless eyes just visible through her pale grey mane. Like the great mountains the foal had traversed, the mare and her haunting yellow gaze were motionless.
She was silent and still within the restless blizzard.
