Changing For The Better

On a bright and warm day there was a family, all curled up together in the shade of a tree. Mother, Father and daughter were curled up together happily, all fast asleep. The daughter, Umber Sky, was the first to awaken. She blinked a few times, smiling happily as she nuzzled against her sleeping mother. Though the white mare did not awaken at the barely noticeable touch of the filly. Umber Sky looked to her Father, who was protectively curled around his wife. She clambered out of her Mother’s loving hold and walked closer to her father. “Daddy! Wake up!” she said happily, yet softly. The stallion’s eyes half opened and a sleepy smile appeared on his face.

“Hello Umber.” he said quietly, momentarily glancing at the still sleeping mare.

“Daddy let’s play a game!!” the filly begged excitedly. Knight Watch sighed, shutting his eyes again for a moment. “I’m still very tired sweetie, maybe in a few minutes.” He suggested. Having only just awoken from his nap, he wasn’t completely ready to play with his energetic foal. Umber pouted, but murmured an ‘okay’. She walked a few steps away and sat down, looking up at the sky and watching the few wispy clouds pass them. Knight Watch smiled and his eyes slowly began to shut again as he listened to the steady breathing of his wife, Day Dream.

Umber Sky looked back at her parents and sighed. It was quite apparent that they had no plans to get up and play anytime soon. The small white filly looked around, searching for something to do. Her eyes fell upon the forest not far behind them. She’d been told about this forest of course, it was known as the Everfree forest. And she had definitely been warned about the dangers it held. Though the filly began to wonder. ‘How bad can it be if we had a picnic so close to it?’

She looked back at her parents. After confirming that they were definitely asleep again, the filly began to slowly trot towards the forest. Though the closer she got the more worried she felt. Standing at the edge of the forest, she stared into the darkness. Her ears were pressed against her head as she considered going back to her parents. ‘No, it’s fine. I’m not a baby. I’m a brave pony.’ she told herself, stepping forwards. The foal began walking into the darkness of the Everfree Forest.

Day Dream was awoken with a start when she heard a high pitched scream. She lifted her head quickly and looked around. She saw her husband, who was now also awake, but not her daughter. “Umber?!” she cried in a panic. “Umber!” she shouted, standing up. Her husband also stood up and he shouted out for their daughter alongside the pegasus.

“Momma! Daddy!” A voice cried. Day Dream turned to the source of the sound. She knew that voice, it was her daughter’s. “Umber!” She shouted, galloping as quickly as she could towards the source of the noise. Knight Watch galloped after the mare. Eventually the couple had to stop at the edge of the forest. Day Dream glanced along the edge of the tree line, her soft pink mane being swept up by a sudden breeze. “Umber?!” Knight Watch shouted. She could hear the panic in her partner’s voice. It matched her own. “Da-” the filly began. For a flicker of a second she was in sight, galloping towards the safety of daylight. Though she was cut off, followed by a sickening scream.

“Umber Sky?!” Day Dream shouted. There was no reply, not a single sound. “Umber!” she shouted again, though this time it was mixed with panic, fear and grief. Moon Watcher was struck with silence as the horrible truth dawned upon him. “Dreamy, come on.” he said softly, beginning to back away from the forest. “No!” the mare cried, tears running down her cheeks. “Umber!!” she cried again, beginning to gallop towards the forest. Knight Watch was, of course, in as much pain as Day Dream. But he couldn’t risk any dangers jumping out to them. He used his telekinesis to stop the mare. His magic held her in place, though she continued to try and run.

“Day Dream stop!” he shouted, tears running down his cheeks as he pulled her back. “It’s no use.” he said, struggling to talk due to the lump in his throat and the tears running down his cheeks. “She’s gone, Dreamy.” he whispered. He stopped using his magic, feeling that they were far enough away to stay safe for now. Day Dream fell into his embrace, crying onto his shoulder. Knight Watch cried alongside her, holding her close.

That had been exactly a year ago now. Day Dream stood by the edge of the forest, not caring about the rain soaking her coat, mane and tail. She stared silently into the darkness. For the first few weeks after losing Umber Sky, Day Dream would return to the forest each and everyday, hoping and praying with all her might that by some miracle the filly would walk out and into her arms. Though that day never came and after a month, Day Dream gave up. Both she and her husband mourned their daughter still, though not as openly as they used to. The couple had eventually returned to work, treating life normally. Though their loss still plagued their thoughts, every day.

Day Dream had hoped her husband would have been able to join her, but he had not been able to get out of work for this day, no matter how hard he’d tried.

So there she was, a mare who had once dreamed of having a happy family. After the loss of Umber Sky, Day Dream and Knight Watch hadn’t had any more children. Whether it was the fear of losing any other children or not wanting to feel as though they were replacing Umber was unknown to them. The couple didn’t speak often. Knight Watch was normally about to leave for work at the time Day Dream got up and he didn’t get home until very late, as Day Dream was headed to bed.

Her spouse had never brought up their daughter and in return she stayed quiet. The few times they did find themselves in conversation they didn’t have much to say. They would exchange light conversation, about how work had been and how they were that day. Recently Day Dream felt her husband had become no more than an acquaintance and that broke the pegasus’ heart. She had dearly loved her husband and wanted to believe she still did.

Day Dream sighed heavily. She turned to leave and began walking away from the forest. Though the cloud coloured mare stopped when she heard a rustling. She flinched at the sudden sound and slowly turned. Her pale pink eyes scanned the edge of the forest, though she saw nothing. The mare shook her head, telling herself it was just her imagination. A sudden fierce breeze blew her mane back, brushing against her face momentarily. The wind pushed Day Dream back a couple of steps. She grimaced as the wind seemed to push her back towards the forest. She turned around quickly, hoping that maybe she would see any lurking dangers this way. Though as the wind and rain battered against her, she saw a bush rustling.

At first she assumed it was simply the wind, but every few moments a movement came from that area that didn’t seem quite right. The mare carefully approached the shrub and peered between the thickly intertwined branches. At first she saw nothing, but after a moment Day Dream saw a flash of light blue. She jumped back for a moment, but soon peered back through the thin branches. She soon realised that they were eyes, but not like the eyes of a normal pony. They were all blue, no iris or pupil, just plain blue all the way over. Thought they seemed to be slightly paler towards the middle of the eye.

The pegasus quickly pulled the branches aside and was shocked to see what was tangled up in the shrubbery...