Seven Sins

“Is everypony ready to go?” asked Clear as she cleaned off her pure white fur that look almost like it was shining.  We all nodded a yes and started in a quick trot back on our journey.

“Are we there yet?” moaned Rose as she sat down on the ground and started to act like she was dying.

“No, and don’t ask again,” shouted Thunder as he continued walking past Rose.  My hooves started to hurt a little so I decided I’d let them rest and I took off in a slow glide above everyone else.  “Hey, Pride!” screamed Thunder as he looked up at me.

“Mhmm,” I replied.

“Mind if you take this for a while or help me set it in a cloud I need a rest my hooves are killing me!” he shouted louder.

“Sure,” I said as I landed next to him and took the leaves off his back and flew up to the nearest cloud and set them on it.

“Oh man, my hooves are killing me,” he said as he lay down next to them on the cloud.

“What about us ponies who can’t fly?!” screamed Candy in protest.  She shook her hoof in the air and started chanting ‘not fair’.  I sighed and landed next to Clear to ask her a favor.

“Can you do a spell to make non pegasi stand on clouds?” I asked as nicely as I could.

“Why would I?” she asked snottily.

“It’s the only way we can travel and rest at the same time,” I said trying to explain my plan.

“Fine but as soon as we get out of this mess you owe me, big time,” she said as she quickly cast her spell on Candy, Green, and herself.

“Thank you so much,” I said with a smile.  I quickly picked her up and landed her softly on the cloud with Thunder on it.  Brigitte picked up Candy and did the same; we both had to work together to pick up Green and Rose lazily lopped onto the cloud with a moan of protest.   “Brigitte and I will push first, if that’s okay?” I asked as I flew to the back of the cloud and started pushing.  The cloud felt weightless and was easy to push; it took us half as long to reach a good camping place as it would have on hoof.  We quickly unpacked the extra food we saved and set up camp.

“I’m glad we packed extra firewood, now that we’re out of the forest it’ll be hard to find any,” Green said as he lit the fire setting the extra wood to the side.  “Who’s hungry?” he asked unwrapping the leaf that held the food.  We all screamed a ‘yes’ and ate in silence.  “If we were one of those rich ponies we would be eatin’ sal’ds from around Equestia, right ‘bout now,” he said angrily.  I ignored his little rant and ate quickly and started to look for clean water.  All I could find was a small pond but I still needed to boil the water for it to be safe to drink.  I ran back to the camp and looked for something that wouldn’t burn up in the fire or put it out.

“Oh I have these,” Candy said as she pulled out a metal flask and a small pot out of her frizzy mane.

“I get the flask but why a pot?” asked Rose as she grabbed the flask and took a swig of the containments.  “Blah that’s not even cider!  What the hay is it?!” she screamed spitting it out.

“Oh that just something I’m working on at the bakery, silly,” Candy said like it was nothing.  She took the flask and took a big swig of it and started to sway while she was just standing there.  “That’s good stuff, right there,” she said with a giggle.

“How much have you had today?” I asked smelling the alcohol that now filled the air.

“Not very much,” she lied.  I shrugged it off and grabbed the pot and flew back to the pond and filled it half way.  I set the pot in the fire and the water started boiling and the toxins fill the air.

“Here’s the water,” I said taking it out of the fire and letting it cool.  Once the water was cool enough to drink I took a huge swig of it and started to feel my dry throat stop aching.  I relaxed and sat next to the snoring light pink pony.  “Goodnight, Rosey,” I said remembering my fillyhood name for Rose.  I quickly fell asleep and started to snore along with the others.

I woke up with a jolt like the day before but I still felt strange feeling that someone was there.  I stood up on my hooves and slowly opened my wings, I stepped closer to fire.  There was something in the shadows of a tall tree.  I fully opened my wings and started to growl.  I took flight and gently hovered over the others sleeping bodies, trying to protect them.  I slowly moved closer to the shadows and landed quietly.  I heard a low growling and the shadows started to move quickly back and forth.

“Who are you?!” I shouted.

“I am Capricorn, youngest of the Zodiac’s twelve daughter.  My sister sent me here to send you a warning.  Fear us!  Our father sent us to kill you before you reach his kingdom.  We will kill you if you step any closer to our home.  Return now, you have been warned!”  screamed the pony changeling-pony hybrid.

“Never Princess Luna sent me on this quest and I will not deny my Princess!” I shouted and shot my wings out trying to stand my ground.

“Silly pony, you should fear us!” she shouted and disappeared into thin air.  I looked back at the others to make sure they were okay but they were still sleeping.  I sat down and started to stand guard and see if Capricorn came back.

“Who are you looking at?” asked Candy cheerfully.

“No one,” I answered quickly to ignore any more questions.  “Go get some water,” I demanded.

“Fine, miss bossy boss.  So mean,” she said as she walked away carrying her pot.