Clouds

Sebastian ran through the forest leading the other prisoners. Tree branches slapped at his face and scratched at his eyes. Little trickles of blood leaked from the small scratches they had made. He didn’t care. This might be his only chance out. The fire behind him grew. Flames leaped for the sky as if they too thought that this was hell. Sebastian sprinted as fast as his skinny legs could carry him until he saw the ragged body of Fluttershy. He stopped dead in his tracks and collapsed to his knees.

“Fluttershy!” He howled.

“Sebastian,” She groaned in reply.

“I gotcha.”

“Must… find… Derpy.”

“You should have stayed in the clouds.”

“Derpy.” Fluttershy moaned once more.

“We’ll find her.” Sebastian picked up Fluttershy. The little pony didn’t weigh much. She was easy to carry. A stampede of prisoners came rushing from behind. They were so desperate to get out that they hardly took any notice of Sebastian and the pony in his arms. Sebastian ducked through the crowd.

“DERPY!” He called above the screams, gunshots, and explosions. His voice was drowned out. Still he called. He dashed about the forest in hope that Derpy might be there, but she wasn’t.

“DERPY!” He screamed until his throat was raw. He ran out of the forest in a last desperate attempt to find Derpy. Fluttershy called for her friend, but her already too soft voice was never heard.

Outside of the forest fires burned everywhere. Gunshots and explosions still hadn’t ceased. Sebastian spun his head in every possible direction. Maybe, just maybe, Derpy would turn up. There! Over by the garden. He sprinted towards her.

“I found her.” He whispered in a hoarse voice to Fluttershy. She gave a worn cheer in reply. Sebastian set Fluttershy down on her feet next to Derpy.

“We’re here.” He announced. Derpy took her face out of the ground. It was beaten and bloodied like the rest of her body.

“You’re safe now.” Sebastian said as he stroked Derpy. She smiled. Fluttershy gave her a friendly nudge.

“Come on. We need to get out of here.” She said, mustering up the last of her strength.

“I hurt.” Derpy complained.

“Me too. Come one. We don’t have time to complain about pain. We have to go.”

Derpy groaned and shuffled to her hooves. Sebastian was just about to pick them up when a Natzi guard appeared. His left arm was disjoined and he stumbled around with a fierce limp. His right arm held a pistol. Sebastian looked up in terror at the man.

“Bitte!” He begged. The poor kid knew his fate. Derpy and Fluttershy stood on the sidelines frozen, not realizing what was going to happen.

“Stirb, Jude.” The guard snarled and fired the gun. The explosion was earsplitting. The bullet hit Sebastian in the chest. His body jolted back. A hideous howl escaped his mouth.

“NO!” Fluttershy and Derpy screamed. They understood now, but it was too late. Blood gushed out of Sebastian's chest. The solider smiled and turned the gun on himself.

“Wir sehen uns in der Hölle.” He muttered. Another earsplitting blast filled the air. This time the bullet hit the soldier. He collapsed to the ground. Blood pooled around his head. Fluttershy and Derpy dared not to look. Their eyes flashed back to Sebastian. His eyes glazed over and he fell face forward into the dirt. Fluttershy ran up to his body.

“NO!" She screamed hysterically. She wrapped her front legs around his body.

“Please, please, please No.” She screamed. Derpy was too shocked to do anything, until she heard a gunshot right behind her.

“Die Juden sind dort drüben! Finden Sie sie und tötet sie!” A Nazi shouted.

“RUN!” Derpy screamed. Even though she was broken and bruised she ran. The last thing Fluttershy ever wanted to do was leave her friend. Poor, sweet innocent Sebastian. He didn’t deserve this. She squeezed him one last time and ran off. Every step hurt. Tears ran down her face. The screams and gunshots faded. Derpy was just ahead.

"Come on!" She screamed back to Fluttershy. She pretended not to hear. She didn't want to feel anything. She just wanted to be numb. Numb was better.