The Long Road Ahead

-Character descriptions in the authors notes-

The soft chirping of birds could be heard from inside the farmhouse on the outskirts of a small village, that is, until a small blue mare with white freckles and a lavender mane ran into the house, storming through the dwelling until she reached a locked door, glaring at it a she yelled through it.

"Open the damn door!" She yelled at the door, expecting a voice to come through it.

"Alright alright! Give me a moment!" A distinctly male voice called out. After a moment the rattling of a lock could be heard. The mare didn't give the stallion inside a moment to open the door fully, kicking the door open once she saw it started to creak open. Her older, orange brother let out a small cry on pain as he fell back onto his bed, looking bewildered at the mare that stormed into his room.

"I thought I said No!" The small mare shouted, her anger focused on her brother. "You know what mother thinks of it Edan!"

"I don't care what mother thinks of it Mia! I'm 20 now, I'm old enough to make my own decisions!" He shouted back at her, standing back up and brushing himself off. He went back to the knapsack he was filling with his belongings.

"I don't care how old you are, you have responsibilities here!" She said, her face scrunching up a bit. "And don't use those little nicknames right now! You know I don't care for them."

"Fine, Cosimia. Better?" He asked.

"Much." She spat back

"How did you find out anyway, I haven't even told mother and father about it yet." He asked, throwing a few more shirts and trousers into the bag before tying it closed.

"From your little marefriend at the tavern. 'Oh, you hadn't heard, you're brothers heading off today to that clan outside town.'" She said in a higher pitched voice, re-telling what she had heard in the tavern.

"Damn it Raven." He said under his breath. "What does it matter to you anyway? The way you've been acting lately you sound like you plan on leaving soon as well. Why can't I leave?"

"You know exactly why! Father's getting older, and soon he won't be able to take care of the planting and harvesting!"

"Why can't you just postpone your little adventure and take over for him until he can hire a worker or two to take care of the farm."

"I'M A UNICORN!" She yelled, pointing up at her horn. "I can't do farmwork as well as you or father! I never have been good at it, and I never will!"

"You don't know that Mia." He said. An angry grunt came from his sister and he sighed. "Cosimia. You haven't earned your mark yet, you don't know what you'll be good at. I have. I don't think a flaming arrow means I'm meant to farm." He said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood and calm his sister down.

"GUUUUH." She groaned loudly and turned back toward the door, quickly leaving and slamming the door behind her.

Edan sighed heavily and began securing some leather armor to his body. As time passed, he finally finished getting ready and slid the knapsack over his shoulders. He took the stairs by twos and headed for the door, but stopped as he saw his parents standing there, his sister pouting as she stood in front of the door next to them.

"Listen," He sighed "I'm leaving to join a clan and as of right now there's nothing any of you can do to stop me."

"We know." His father said, his age clear in his voice. "We don't want to stop you." He said with a smile. An angry cough came from his daughter. "Okay, most of us don't want to stop you. We're just here to wish you luck, and we hope you come back to visit as often as you can." His Wife nodded, but his daughter just crossed her arms.

"And I'm not gonna stop you either." Cosimia said, her pout giving way to a smile. "Instead, I'm going with you." Her smile swiftly turned into a grin as she gestured to the knapsack at her feet. She went to grab the iron armor she had piled in the next room.

"WHAT!?" All three of her family members shouted, turning to the door with mixed expressions.

"You heard me." She said from the next room. "Someone has to go and make sure he keeps himself out of trouble. Besides, I turn 20 soon, so if he can just pick of everything and leave, than so can I." She said with a grin as her brother sighed heavily and slapped is hand over his face.

"B-But Cosi," Her mother said worriedly. "The world is a dangerous place, especially for a young mare like you."

"Mother please, you've seen what I can do with my magic, I can take care of myself." She said softly, coming back into the room and hugging her mother. She was now decked out in dark iron armor that only left her head unprotected, but the iron helmet under her arm showed she wasn't dumb enough to leave her head open for much longer. "Besides, you don't need me here. What good is a unicorn at a farm anyway. I'm no good at planting seeds or harvesting crop."

"She should go." Her father said, surprising everyone with his sudden acceptance of the situation.

"B-But Father!" Edan said before getting cut off.

"No buts Edan. She has her reasons, and I'm not going to force my only daughter to stay somewhere she'd rather not be." He said in a stern voice. He turned to his daughter and smiled. "You'd better be safe out there Cosimia. I raised you to be a smart girl, don't waste that brain pulling idiotic stunts that'll get you killed."

"O-Of course Father." Cosimia said, surprised by how well he was taking the whole situation.

"Alright." He said with a sigh. " Well, the sun should be setting soon, you two had better be off."  Her father said, stepping out of the way of the door. Her mother tried  to hold back her tears as she hurried forward and hugged her children.

"Stay safe you two." She said in a shaky voice before stepping back, giving the two a clear shot at the door.

After a few more goodbyes, the two siblings stepped out of the farmhouse, the warm spring air embracing the two.

"That was..." Edan said.

"Y-yeah..." Cosimia responded.

Without another word from the two they set off, their boots kicking up dust on the trail to the north.