Thief.
Murderer.
Traitor.
Each word described the wretched soul that sat locked in the cell. There was no denying that. But there was one word that described him better, wounded him deeper.
Disgrace.
Once, he was noble. Once, he had honor. But for greed, pride, and a myriad of desires he had thrown it all away. And now, he has lost everything.
The cell was a small stone room with little to it. Its square dimensions were as long and as wide as a pony was tall. Taking up one side was a wood frame bed with a down mattress and pillow, each pure white. Atop it was a pure white sheet, perfectly laid across the bed and neatly tucked in. Yet its purity was sullied by a few small spatters of crimson blood that had originated from the pitiful creature who sat huddled against the opposite wall.
Sky Runner, last of the terrors of the sea, stared at the blood stains on the bed he refused to use. It was a comfort, let alone a luxury, he no longer deserved. Even after seven days of waiting in the cell, he had hardly moved from this one spot, much less left that side of the room.
He shifted slightly and winced in pain form the injuries spread across his body. These were not the result of torture or beatings as part of his punishment, the gallows were punishment enough. No, these were self-inflicted. A result of seven days of violent outbursts of rage at what a fool he had been. Like his broken body, the wall he sat against was coated with his blood.
The iron shackles chaffed and rubbed his wrists and ankles raw. His left eye was bruised and swollen to the point that he could hardly see out of it. His orange coat was matted with dried and fresh blood from the numerous lacerations and knotted with scabs. Fresh blood dripped down his face past a scab on his cheek from a recent impact with the wall. His wings were bent at odd angles, leaving the bones broken beyond repair. Even now, feathers fell from his once mighty wings. His hooves were cracked and even bled as the deep gashes tore into the quick. He cared not for his body. It mattered not what he did to this worthless mass of flesh he inhabited. Soon, he would be dead.
Sky let his mind wander back to the day he first experienced death. A day almost thirty years ago but one he now recalled with perfect clarity. It was a day of tears and sorrows for those around him. He saw his mother cry so much that day and every day since in a mix of sorrow and pride. His brother cried too though had never shed a tear since. At least, not that Sky had seen. As for Sky, he did not shed a single tear that day. He never knew why. Perhaps he had been too sad to cry. But now, the tears refused his call. They rejected him and left him to suffer in misery, unable to relieve his pain through weeping.
A four year old Sky Runner ran down the cobblestone streets of the Soldiers Quarters of Canterlot at top speed. His hoof steps echoed through the alleyway as he ran and his small wings flittered in excitement. The wind whipped about his brick red mane. He looked back with a massive smile across his face at the one who followed.
“Come on Blue! You can’t catch me!”
“Wait…up…Sky!” his twin brother huffed as he struggled to push himself on.
Sky ignored his brother’s gasping pleas as he rounded a corner and smacked the door post to their small house. He began leaping for joy cheering his victory as his wings continued to flutter more furiously from the added rush of success and excitement.
“I win! I win! I won again!”
The blue pegasus slowly rounded the corner a few seconds later, still gasping for air. “You always win,” Blue Thunder said as he bent over to catch his breath letting his light blue mane drape over his face. “It’s not fair. You’re faster and can run longer.”
“You’re just je…je…jealous you weak cry-baby,” Sky taunted, struggling with the envious word.
“Hey!”
The twins grabbed each other and began wrestling where they stood, though Sky held the advantage. Yet the fight would not last long as the door opened and a voice called out to them and a pair of hands reached down to pry them apart.
“BOYS! Enough!” The twins ceased their scuffle and looked up to see their mother who held them. A pegasus like them, she was less colorful being tan with a jet black mane and tail. “Quit your fighting and get inside. It’s time for supper.”
“But-” Blue began before being cut off.
“Not a word. Now hurry if you still want it while it’s warm.” She shoved the twins inside giving just one final word of warning. “And Sky. We’ll talk about that remark later.”
The twins grumbled under their breath, which did not go unnoticed, and headed into the kitchen following a short swat to their rear ends. As they started eating their meal of a simple stew a knock came to the door.
“I wonder who that could be at this hour. Boys, you finish your supper.”
The twins slowed their eating and eyed their mother with curiosity as she answered the door. When she opened it, they saw a tall green pegasus with an orange mane wearing the uniform of the Equestrian Royal Army. The white uniform was clean and the gold trim and cords stood in stark contrast to the dull and simple home. He stood with an air of self-control in the doorway, betrayed by the upset look of his face. One of distraught.
“Yes?” the mother asked. “Oh, Lieutenant. How can I help you?”
“Mrs. Gentle Rain? May I have a word with you?”
“About what?”
The soldier looked passed her at the young foals starring wide-eyed in curiosity before looking back at her. “Please ma’am. A word in private.”
The foals’ mother started to bring her hands up but stopped halfway, clenching them together. Even without seeing her face, the twins could tell something was off. Her hand shook as she held it up to gesture further in the house.
“Of course. Please come in.” She gently closed the door behind the soldier then led him to the living room. “Boys,” she said without looking as they passed by, “finish your supper.”
Something was very wrong. Her voice quivered and she moved slowly, almost unwillingly. After the adults had left, Sky and Blue looked at each other and silently asked the same questions. They hopped down as quiet as they could and sneaked over to the door to the living room.
Inside, their mother sat on the simple couch as the soldier stood. The soldier stood straight with his head bowed, silent. Their mother stared at him with utter shock and disbelief, her eyes wide and mouth gaping.
“No…” she said after a second of silence. “No, it can’t be. Please tell me this isn’t true.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss ma’am. I truly am.”
With that, their mother buried her face in her hands, bent over, and wept. Her cries echoed in the house.
“Mother?” Sky said finally, worried for the poor mare. “What’s wrong?”
She looked up at the worried foals in the doorway revealing her face that was now wet with tears then quickly moved to take hold of her children in tight hug. Her weeping never ceased.
“I’ll give you some time alone,” the soldier said as he proceeded to leave. “I’ll be back to escort you when it’s time. Words cannot begin to describe my sympathies.”
As the soldier left, the twins returned their mother’s hug, giving her the same hug that she always gave when they were sad and recited those words she had always told them each time.
“There, there. Everything will be alright. I’ve got you.”
The next three days were quiet save for the weeping of Sky and Blue’s mother. Each day she would go about her daily routine without a word or the smile she always wore. When no chores were needed, she would retire to her room and weep.
With their mother so sad and still not explaining why, the colt twins had put aside their bickering and fighting. The punishments and scolding had stopped, prompting the boys to cease all misbehaving. If only their father was here. He could cheer her up. He always did.
One the third day nothing was done. They ate a simple breakfast but nothing more. Their mother dressed the boys in black clothes and they sat silently in the living room for a couple of hours until there was a soft knock at the door. Their mother never stood leaving the guest to let himself in. It was the soldier who had visited earlier and started this trouble. The boys looked at him with hidden distain at causing their mother to be so sad.
“It’s time,” the soldier said.
The boys stood with their mother and they all followed the soldier out of the house as he closed the door behind them. Outside, they were met with by a small crowd of ponies. There were several other soldiers each in a regal uniform and several other ponies, young and old, dressed in black. While the soldiers appeared staunch and emotionless, the others wore the same face of sorrow as the twins’ mother.
Amongst the crowd were five carts pulled by ten soldiers, two to a cart. Each carried a single long burlap sack which appeared to have been kept as clean as possible. With each cart was an additional escort of four soldiers who maintained a formation around each cart.
After a moment of silence and a few bowed heads from the regular ponies, the crowd moved slowly down the street in continued silence as grey clouds formed and covered the sky above. Yet the water would never fall from those dark clouds which seemed as sad as the ponies below. As they marched down the street other ponies exited their homes and stood at their doorways with their heads hung as in reverence. A few old ponies stood as straight and tall as they could and gave a sharp salute as the crowd passed by. No pony said a word. Even the sounds of the hoof steps seemed to keep to the mood.
After a while the crowd came to the old cemetery. It was here that Blue finally broke the silence.
“Mother? What’s going on?”
“Hush child,” she said softly amid those silent tears.
Finally, the crowd ended their journey and gathered around three rectangular holes in the ground and two neatly stacked piles of wood. The ponies gathered to one side while the soldiers took positions around the holes and wood piles. The cart escorts carefully picked up the sacks and carried them over to the holes and wood piles. Three sacks were placed next to the holes while the other two were placed on top of the wood. The sacks were then carefully removed and five bodies were revealed.
Each body was that of a pony soldier dressed in the same crisp uniform as the others. The three next to the holes were earth ponies while the two on the wood were pegasi. Each appeared to be asleep as they lay motionless. One of the pegasi was familiar.
“Father?” Blue exclaimed. “Mother, why is Father lying there? Father!”
“Hush child!” their mother snapped, still unable to cease the flow of tears. “Please.”
After a minute, the soldier who had escorted the family stepped forward to address the crowd.
“For the past three years we have been at war with the Changelings. For the past three years many ponies have given their lives to defend this kingdom and those who call it home. These five before you are among the latest heroes to make the ultimate sacrifice for those they love. One, Sergeant Iron Cloud…”
The twins’ mother visibly flinched at the name and clenched her hands, holding them close.
“…stood against all odds and fought to his dying breath to allow his troop to retreat to live to fight another day and make a counterattack. Among those saved was myself. He was my best friend and the bravest pony I have ever known. For his actions, he will receive the Equestrian Medal of Courage and the Canterlot Royal Guard Medal of Bravery. Each will be presented to his wife, whom he leaves behind, who is with us with her two young colts.”
A soldier handed him a small box and he walked forward to Sky’s mother. The twins remained silent, still unsure exactly what was going on. When the soldier arrived, he held out the box which she took and held close.
“Your husband was a brave stallion and a hero. You should be very proud of him,” he said to her.
As the soldier returned to his place the tears flowed with new fervor from the eyes of Sky’s mother. Then the soldier spoke again as Equestrian flags were placed over each body.
“In keeping with the traditions of each tribe, the pegasi will be cremated so they may become one with the sky and the earth ponies shall be buried to become one with the earth.”
One of the soldiers held up a flute and began to play a somber tune as the horns of two unicorn soldiers lit up and the piles of wood caught fire. Sky stared in silent disbelief and confusion while Blue began shouting his objections.
“Why are they burning the wood Father is laying on? They said he did a good thing right? Father! Wake up! Wake up!”
Their mother said nothing but continued to weep and hold the box ever tighter. A second later the flames rose and engulfed the wood and their father.
“Mother! Why are they burning Father? Their hurting him! Make them stop! Make them stop!”
Blue tugged furiously at his mother’s dress as tears streamed down his face. The flag that covered their father burned and fell to pieces, revealing their father’s face. Blue continued his sobbing and begging for it all to stop prompting his mother to stoop down and take hold of him in a tight embrace, still weeping herself. Sky could only watch.
The sight of the flames burning the wood and charring the flesh. The pungent smell that wafted from the burning pillars. The three other bodies being lowered into the ground before the holes were filled up. The screams of his brother and the sobs of his mother.
He was sad. He was angry. He was confused. He knew what was happening and why. He knew nothing at all. He wanted to scream like his brother, cry like his mother. But he remained still and silent. The tears never came to his eyes. For this moment they never would. This was death.
The next few months made the horrific ordeal seem like an ordinary nightmare. Yet not everything when back to normal. Their mother would always avert her eyes and change the subject when asked about the event. The home seem empty without their father. Each day, their mother would take a moment after all the housework was done to retreat to her room and weep.
The sights, sounds, and smells of that day remained seared into Sky’s mind. He would never forget that day. It took almost a year for the young colts to fully comprehend that their father was dead and what that meant. Blue spent months hoping their father would walking in the door or believe their father was finally home when they had a visitor.
But years later, they understood the pride and honor that came with being the sons of a hero. Each decided to follow that example and continue that legacy. Sky joined the Canterlot Royal Guard while Blue had joined the Equestrian Royal Navy.
Yet despite such pride. Despite such honor. Sky Runner had thrown it all away for personal gain. He had disgraced the name of the father he had sworn to be like and dragged that name through the mud. Some son he was.
He stared back at the pure white sheet on the bed of his cell and the blood stains that sullied it. If his father could see him now, who would be the most pained? He thought about the life he had lived and the things he had sought after and gave a pained grunt of a laugh.
“A merry life and a short one. And such a vanity it all was.”
He leaned back to stare at the ceiling despite the objection from his body. A minute later, a set of hoof steps drew his attention to the cell door. There stood a pair of unicorn guards wearing the blue and gold colors of the Royal Navy. One was armed with a musket while the other had a saber hung at his waist.
“Sky Runner,” the saber wielder said. “It’s time.”
The guard opened the door as Sky got to his hooves, fighting the fiery pain that coursed through his body. He moved slow but careful as to not stain the white sheet anymore with the blood that covered his body. The guards led him out and escorted him to the courtyard of the prison. Sky Runner, the Demon Captain and ruler of the oceans, walked to his death in silence, never again to speak from his mouth.
Author's Note
This was written as a contest entry for the OC Life Stories group. Contest information Here.
I have decided though that this will serve as a prelude and teaser for a story I plan to do in the future. Hope you enjoyed it regardless and that if you did you will read the full story when it releases.