Sister Slaves (Built Upon Dreams, Paid in Blood)

Octavia and Limestone walk down a worn, thin dirt road in the foothills on the outskirts of Ashmore. Both carry a vanilla-folder containing music sheets. In Octavia’s right hand is her fiddle in a leather-bound case. In Limestone’s left hand is a lunch pail full of hay sandwiches and peach slices.

Nearing their destination, they walk up the wooden steps of a single-story home that’s seen better days. Knocking on the door, they wait patiently for it to open. Shuffling comes from behind the door. Hearing the lock unlatch, the doorknob turns, and the door swings inward revealing an elderly mare in her late eighties. Her glasses are large and thick. Her skin sags, causing her to have a permanent dull expression.

“Oh goody, you fillies made it on time…” The elderly mare turns to look at her grandfather clock in the hall. “Yep, right on time.”

“Hello, Miss. Daisy.” The sisters smile at the mare.

Daisy smiles back and slowly steps away from the door, her cane keeping her steady as she walks further into her home. “Come fillies, let’s begin your lessons.”

Pinkie and Marble are with their parents in downtown Ashmore, shopping for supplies for the day’s supper. Entering the bakery, they walk up to the counter where a mare stands behind the glass display, counting what pastries remain within. “Did you have a good morning Mrs. Cake?” Cloudy Quartz asks, placing her basket on the counter.

Mrs. Cake looks up from her work and smiles at the family. “Oh yes, it was a rather good morning. Sold about 65% of our breakfast pastries.” She sees the twins looking over at her husband who’s working on a batch of chocolate chip cookies. “It looks like the twins are fascinated by my husband’s and I’s baking.” She looks at their mother. “Are they fascinated by your cooking and or baking?”

Cloudy Quartz smiles. “Oh, very much so. They love helping me whenever they can.” She pats her daughters on the head. The brim and crown of their bonnets bouncing along with her pats.

Mrs. Cake’s smile disappears as she realizes her bonnet is missing from her head. “Oh, I’m sorry…” She picks up her bonnet from the stool behind her and puts it on. “I forgot I took it off.” She ties its strings.

Igneous smiles. “No worry Mrs. Cake. Unlike most stallions, it doesn’t bother me.” He chuckles. “Just be glad you’re not a zebra mare living in Zebrin. Zebra stallions would kill you for not wearing your headgear in public…” His laughter dies as he puts his hands on his hips and frowns. “Savages…” He walks away from the counter towards the center of the store. The twins watch their father with concern.

Mrs. Cake looks at the stallion with a raised brow. Seeing her confused stare, Cloudy Quartz gives a sigh. “He fought in the Zebrin-Earthen War.”

“I didn’t know your husband fought in that war?” Mrs. Cake picks up her clipboard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Cloudy Quartz runs her hand along her brow. “There are days I would like to forget he did…” She looks over at her husband. He paces back n’ forth as he prepares a cigar. “The war did more harm to him than it did him good.” She removes the blanket from atop the basket. “I just wish the government would raise his benefits, to compensate for his loss.”

Sensing that they shouldn’t be a part of the conversation, the twins walk over to Mr. Cake and watch him as he pulls out a batch of cookies from the large brick oven.

Mrs. Cake nods. “I hear you… My husband barely gets enough for his service in the navy.” Cloudy Quartz hums, acknowledging her words. With a smile, she reaches into the basket and pulls out a slice of chocolate-strawberry cake. “What’s this?” Mrs. Cake wonders, her eyes staring at the plate displaying the dessert.

“Oh, just something I made for my eldest and her fiancé.” She gives the slice to the mare. “They’re getting married.”

Mrs. Cake smiles. “Finally, I was wondering when they would make it official.” She takes a small bite of the dessert. She hums, enjoying the light chocolatey textures and the richness of the strawberry filling. Smiling, she swallows and wipes some frosting away from her lips. “How’s she holding up?”

“Oh, what am I going to do?” Maud whines as she squeezes her upper arms.

Cheerilee watches the emotional teenage filly pace around her classroom. “Maud, relax.” She taps a stack of papers against her desk’s countertop. A moan escapes Maud’s lips as she passes her desk. “I think taking your mind off of the wedding will be good for you.” She gives a small smile. “Why don’t you help me…”

“Oh… What was I thinking! I’m only sixteen! I can’t be getting married… I didn’t even finish my schooling…”

Cheerilee gives her a flat lip stare. “Have you told your parents how you’re feeling?”

“No!” Maud whipes her head to face her boss, her left eye twitching all the while.

“Well, I think you should tell them,” Cheerilee states clasping her hands together.

“I can’t, I need to look mature…” Maud pulls on her bonnet’s brim.

“Maud, calm yourself!” Cheerilee gets up from her desk and walks over to the scared filly.

“But… But…”

“But nothing.” She rubs her thumb under the filly’s eyes, wiping away her tears. “You’re not married yet. So, you still have some time before you have to grow up.” She lifts her chin and gives a soft smile. Maud nods her head as she takes a deep breath. “Now come, help me get these lessons prepared.” Cheerilee sits back down at her desk. “Monday is going to be a hectic day for us.” Maud nods, taking her seat by her mentor.

Obsidian sits at his kitchen’s table, pencil in one hand and several sheets of paper in the other. He frowns, setting down the stack on the table he marks in a bubble. “How is it going? His mother asks walking up to the table, her newborn in her arms.

“Alright… I just… Why do I have to take these tests for the army?” He holds up the papers. “Pa never had to do this when he joined!” He places his pencil down, placing his head in his hands.

Rose Sapphire smiles as she sits next to him. “Things were different back then.”

“But I have to take this test again… I thought I was excepted?”

She runs her hand through her son’s mane. “They’re just keeping you on your hooves.” Obsidian’s brother extends out his arms, his small fingers wiggling. He smiles and takes his brother from his mother’s arms. Holding him in a loving embrace, he points his finger at him. His brother grabs the finger with his small hands. With a chuckle, he shakes his brother’s hand.

BOOM!

Looking out the window, they stare at the town’s skyline and see a pillar of back smoke rising from the northside of town.

“What was that?” Rose Sapphire asks.

“Maybe it was a gas leak…”

“No.” Onyx hisses stepping out of his study, interrupting his son. “That was no gas leak!”

Limestone sits at a grand piano, its ivory keys are worn from years of use, the stain used for its wood construction faded with time. In front of her on the music-rack is a single piece of paper covered in musical notes. She squints at them and places her fingers on the corresponding keys. With a hum, she plays the top three rows of symbols.

“Good, but you’re a little flat on the ‘G’ and ‘A’ keys.” Miss. Daisy comments from across the room. Limestone sighs as she places her fingers back to their starting positions and tries again.

Sitting across from Limestone by the living room window, Octavia studies her music-sheet on a metal music-rack in front of her. With her bow resting on the strings, she places her fingers of her left-hand on the correct strings and frets, and moves the bow along them, playing the melody on the sheet.

“Wonderful, wonderful…” Miss. Daisy hums walking up to the filly. “You’ve been improving.”

Octavia looks up at her teacher. “Thanks, ma’am… Ow!” She drops her fiddle in her lap as she rubs the back of her hand.

“But you’re playing it to slow!” Miss. Daisy states, wagging a wood spatula in front of Octavia’s snout.

“But, I was trying to play the notes right…” Octavia whines.

“You can’t over think it dear.” Miss. Daisy picks up the fiddle and closes her eyes, playing the same notes. “You must feel, you must be one with the fiddle.” Finishing the melody, she hands back the instrument and walks into the kitchen.

Octavia sighs as she puts her chin on the chin rest of the fiddle. Closing her eyes, she plays the notes. Though it wasn’t as fast as how Miss. Daisy played it, it’s faster than her first attempt. Looking over at her sister, Limestone gives her a thumb up. Octavia returns the gesture before turning to the next music sheet.

“Now that’s more like it.” Miss. Daisy chuckles walking into the living with a bowl of grapes. She sets it down on the coffee table. “Who wants a snack?” The sisters smile as they walk up to the table, taking a hand full of grapes. “I think you fillies deserve a break…”

BOOM!

The home shakes, knick-knacks and furniture vibrate in place as a shockwave rolls across the town. Feeling chills run up their spines, the sisters run into the hall and look out the large window facing downtown Ashmore. In the distance, a large plume of black smoke rises into the air. Fear washes over them as they move their gaze to the sky.

“Fillies follow me into the basement!” Miss. Daisy shouts, motioning them with her cane. Seeing that they’re not responding, she throws up her cane and smacks the floor with its handle. “Fillies… Now!”

Sitting at a small square-shaped table, Maud talks silently to herself as she goes over the multiplication and division questions for tomorrow’s lesson. Cheerilee stands by the blackboard, writing down several questions and facts on it with a stick of white chalk. The scraping of calcium carbonate against black slate causes Maud to grind her teeth. “How long does it take to get used to that sound?” She looks over at Cheerilee.

Cheerilee giggles as she colors in a multiplication sign. “It took about a year for me, but there are days where it annoys me.” Maud folds her ears against her head.

“Hello? Miss. Cheerilee are you here?” A filly calls out, sticking her head into the room. Maud looks towards the door and sees Ruby standing under the doorframe with a booklet in her arms. Her red colored eyes light up when she sees her. “Hello, future sister!” She waves with a giggle.

“Hello, sis,” Maud smirks.

Cheerilee looks over her shoulder. “You can come in dear.” Ruby nods, stepping into the classroom. “What is it that you need?” She sets down her chalk and walks up to the filly.

“Well… I was wondering if you can help me with Friday’s math homework?” She asks, placing her booklet on the desk.

Cheerilee raises her brow. “You haven’t completed your homework?”

Ruby shakes her head. “No, I have finished my homework, I just wanted to make sure I did it right?”

Cheerilee shakes her head, chuckling. “Well you’re in luck, pull up a chair, and your future sister-in-law will help you.” She walks back to the blackboard, while she gives the filly a goofy grin.

Ruby giggles at her teacher’s manners. Placing her booklet on Maud’s table, she pulls up a chair and takes a seat next to her. Picking up her booklet, Maud turns to the marked page and looks over the work. Picking up a red colored pencil, she makes a couple of marks.

“Maud?”

“Yeah?” She replies, not looking up from her task.

“Are you looking forward to the wedding?” She rocks back n’ forth in her chair.

Maud moves her gaze from the booklet. “Yes… I’m just a little nervous, but I’ll be fine.” She gives the filly a smile. “What about you?”

Ruby watches the fan’s blades directly above her spin slowly. “Yeah!” She smiles wide. “I will finally have a lot of sisters!” “Maud giggles at her words. With a smile, she rustles her mane through her bonnet.

BOOM!

The classroom shakes violently. The ceiling fans swing haphazardly. Books, knick-knacks and school supplies jostle around. Countertops, desks, and shelves vibrate in place. As the dust settles, Ruby gets up from her seat, her body shakes as she latches onto Maud. Holding the filly in her arms, Maud gets up from her seat and walks over to Cheerilee. “What was that?” She asks, comforting Ruby.

“It sounded like an explosion…” Cheerilee sees a stallion running down the hall. “Mr. Zinc! Mr. Zinc!” She calls out.

The stallion stops in his tracks. “Yes, Miss. Cheerilee?” He looks into the room at the trio.

“Do you know what caused the explosion?” She asks.

“No, but I’m going to find out!” He replies, heading down the hall to the front door of the schoolhouse.

“What do we do?” Maud asks.

“I’m not sure…” Cheerilee states, putting on her wool jacket. “Lets’ check it out. Maybe the coal refinery blew?”

“But I thought the coal mines are closed during the weekends?” Maud follows Cheerilee out of the classroom.

“Maybe the maintenance crew went to work early and did something to the machinery…”

BOOM!

BOOM!

CRACK!

BOOM!

Several explosions ripple through the town. The schoolhouse creaks and groans as shockwaves assault its inner framework. Bits of plaster rain down on them from the cracks forming along the ceiling and walls. A ceiling lamp shakes itself loose and crashes onto the floor in front of them. “MA!” Ruby cries as she tightens her grip aroud Maud’s neck.

“Shh… It’s all right…” Maud coos, as she regains her composure.

Getting back on their hooves, they dash out of the schoolhouse.

Stepping out onto the school’s courtyard, they look towards the town’s horizon and see several plumes of black smoke rising into the air across the town. A crowd of earth ponies running from their right causes them to turn their gaze in that direction. They see a massive fire raging from one of the epicenters.

Earth ponies pour out from the black smoke. Soot and bits of debris cover them, some bleed from their ears and snouts. Others are unlucky, they stumble or crawl out, many falling to the ground like flies, their wounds overwhelming their wills to live.

Gunshots ring out all around them as stallions and teen-colts take up arms and fire into the air. Ripping their gaze from the dead, they stare into the sky. Above them hovering seven-hundred-feet in the air, is a Unicorpian scout-class airship. Its ten cannons aiming towards the earth. Ten ear piercing cracks sound off in rapid succession. From the spent gunpowder smoke, ten distinctive black round-shaped metal objects rain down upon the town.

Feeling a sense of dread as she watches one of the cannon rounds falling towards their position, Maud drags Cheerilee by the hand and runs back into the schoolhouse. “Hurry!” She shouts to the nearby earth ponies. Running down the hall, she gets to the entrance of the basement and opens it up. Several other earth ponies follow after her and pile into the large concrete shelter. Seeing no one else down the hall, one of the ponies, a young mare and stallion shut the door.

Pinkie and Marble stand beside their father as he bargains with a farmer for his produce. “What if I buy a pound of radishes for four tokes…” He pulls out a bag from his burlap sack. “And a bag of my wife’s homemade peanut brittle?”

The farmer looks at the bag and licks his lips. His wife standing behind him rolls her eyes. His two children laugh at his and his wife's expressions. “Well, my sweet tooth can’t pass up a deal like that!” The farmer shakes Igneous’s hand.

After swapping items, Igneous and the twins step away from the stall and walk further into the farmers market. “Now where did your ma run off too?” He muses looking through the crowd of earth ponies. The twins giggle as they help their father in the search.

“I see her!” Marble shouts, pointing as she jumps up n’ down.

Igneous chuckles. “Well, why don’t the two of you go get her.” He whispers in their ears. The twins giggle uncontrollably as they take off running.

Nearing their mother, they jump and latch onto her waist. Stunned by her daughters’ actions, she looks down at them in confusion. Their laughter causes her to have a sneaking suspicion. Looking around she eyes her husband a few feet away with a shit-eating grin on his face. She rolls her eyes. “Did you put them up to this?”

“Maybe?” He walks up to her and kisses her forehead.

She sighs, scratching the back of the twins’ necks. “You got the radishes?”

“Sure did.” He holds up the paper sack filled with the spicy roots. Cloudy Quartz smiles and places them in her basket.

BOOM!

An explosion tears through the pleasant vibes of the market. The busy street which the market resides falls into silence. The crowds stop in their tacks as they look to the sky at the large plume of black smoke rising into the air. The town’s folk stare in awe as fear overwhelms them.

Pinkie feels a chill run through her body. “Ma…” She holds on tight to her mother. “What’s happening?”

Cloudy Quartz pulls her children close to her. “Igneous what’s going on?”

Igneous feels a heaviness in his chest. “Cannon fire…” He grabs his wife’s hand. “We’re under attack…”

BOOM!

BOOM!

CRACK!

BOOM!

Several explosions rock the town. Two of the bombings erupts two-hundred yards from their location. Debris scatters into the air as fires spill across the nearby homes. Earth ponies take off in a panic, hopelessly searching for shelter.

Looking over his shoulders, Igneous sees a two-story church a block from town hall. “Follow me!”

“Where are we going?” Cloudy Quartz runs after him, her daughters holding her hands tight.

“The Trinity Church!” He shouts, weaving through panicked ponies. Getting to the church, he rapidly knocks on its doors. “Can you let us in!”

A mare on the other side of the doors opens them. “Come in quick!” She motions them in. Noticing others near her church, the mare waves her hand calling them to safety. “The entrance to the basement is in the back!” She shouts over her shoulders to Igneous.

Nearing the door to the basement, Igneous throws it open, allowing his wife, children and several of his fellow earth ponies to pile into the small basement. With the basement filling up fast, he stands under the doorframe, placing his hands against the sides of the doorframe. Looking towards the entrance of the church, he sees the mare guiding others inside, pointing to places where they can hide within the church.

Before he can call out to the mare a cannon round slams into the earth eight feet from the church. The front half of the church disintegrates as the air blast slams against its frame.

Igneous stares in horror as he watches several ponies fly through the air. In an instant, they crash into the back walls, glass windows and or pews. His body numbs as the lifeless body of the mare lands in front of him. Her skull is caved in, her neck is shattered, and her left eye dangles from its socket. Slowly getting up from the ground, he stumbles down the stairs, shutting the door behind him. Shaking he sits on one of the steps of the stair and lays his head in his hands. Sucking in a deep breath, he calms his nerves and looks at the ponies before him. His twin daughters stare at him wide-eyed. Feeling a sense of dread, he slowly steps up to them and pulls them into a hug.

“I’m scared!” Pinkie cries.

“I wanna see my sisters…” Marble cries.

Cloudy Quartz looks at her husband. “What about our other daughters?” Other mares look at them with concern.

“I’ll go and search for them.” Igneous gets up and heads for the door.

“We’ll help you.” Two older stallions follow after him.

“PA!” The twins yell as they chase him down.

“Fillies, stay with your mother!...” Before he can finish his command, several more explosions assault the town. The ponies within the basement stumble to the floor, while others brace against the walls for support. With a grunt, Igneous crawls to his family and hugs them in a protective embrace.

Maud stares at the concrete floor. Her mind is numb with countless thoughts of disbelief running through her mind. Hearing a painful ring in her ear, she begins to rub it. Ruby lays her head in Maud’s lap. Soft snores leave her lips as she rests her tired mind. Cheerilee sits to Maud’s right. Her eyes tremble as she watches herself pick at her nails on her left hand.

“I don’t hear anything?” A child speaks.

“Have the bombardments stopped?” A young stallion asks. His fearful eyes looking at the ceiling.

“It’s been two hours, they must’ve!” A mare chokes on her words.

“Calm! Let me check.” An elder stallion grunts as he gets up from the floor, walking up the steps to the door.

“Be careful.” A young filly cries. The stallion nods as he places a hand on the doorknob. Opening the door, he pokes his head out.

The hardwood floor of the hall is covered in plaster, lose wires and glass. With the walls and ceiling bare, the wood laths are exposed allowing some of the cellulose insulation to ooze out.

Standing still for several seconds, the stallion listens for the crackle of gunfire or the thunderous booms of cannons. Instead, he hears the distant cries for help from the outside. “The coast is clear.”

Holding Ruby in her arms, Maud walks around the rubble littering the gravel roads of her hometown. Her eyes stare in shock at what she sees. Cheerilee walks beside her, her heart heavy with dread. Nearing the town’s center, they see what remains of the farmers market. Stalls lay in ruin. Goods, produce, and bodies lay scattered across the street. Holding back her emotions, Maud looks around, her eyes trembling as she searches for her family.

“MAUD!” Whipping her head to the left, she sees Obsidian, his parents and her sisters, Octavia and Limestone running towards her. “Ruby! Oh, thank the Lord!” Obsidian places one of his hands on Maud’s shoulder and the other on his sister’s head. Lost for words, Maud leans into him, laying her head against his chest, Ruby lays her head on his shoulder. He wraps his arms around them, comforting the both of them. “It’s all right.” He whispers. Maud’s sisters join in on the embrace.

Pulling his wife into a hug, Onyx smiles at his son as he rubs his fingers along his newborn’s scalp.

“Have you seen my parents… The twins?” Maud chokes.

Obsidian sighs. “No… I haven’t.” He takes his sister from Maud’s arms and holds her in his. “We’ll find them.” He looks down at Limestone and Octavia with a soft smile. “Together…”

“Maud! Octavia! Limestone! Oh, thank heavens!” Cloudy Quartz shouts, tears flooding her eyes.

The sisters see their parents and the twins rush up to them. Pinkie and Marble pounce onto Maud pulling her to the ground. “Sisters!” Maud cries, with a chuckle as she pulls them into a hug. Limestone and Octavia sit beside them, joining in on the loving embrace.

Standing over her daughters, Cloudy Quarts lays her hands on her knees and takes a deep breath, trying to calm her shaking body.

Igneous looks into the sky with several other ponies. They all see the Unicorpian airship that had assaulted their town off in the distance several miles away. It’s now a black spec in the afternoon sky.

“What do we do?” Obsidian asks looking at Igneous and his father. Ruby, Maud, and her sisters look up at the stallions, their eyes full of fear.

Igneous and Onyx look at the devastation surrounding them. “We help look for survivors,” Onyx replies, removing his flat-cap from his head, clasping it in his hands.

Igneous nods. “Then let’s get started.”

-Two Hours Later-

Maud along with Obsidian and several other ponies slowly make their way through the rubble ridden streets of central-district Ashmore, searching for survivors.

Arriving at Town Hall, they look upon it. The pride of Ashmore still stands tall over the town, but not proud, its façade scared by fire and ash.

Nearing a large section of plaster wall from a house that was blown to bits, Maud, Obsidian and four others grab a part of it and lift it up, moving it to one side. Eyeing what’s underneath, they jump back in shack at what they see.

A mare lays face down in the mud. Her arms are bent in ways that are unnatural. Next to her are her children, two colts. The colt to her left lays partially under her. All they can see of him is his lower half and one of his hands. His brother lays their mother’s right. He lays facing up in the mud. His legs and spine are broken. His eyes stare painfully at the group,

Maud stares at the family, tears swell around her eyes. Her legs buckle sending her the ground. But, before she falls into the mud, Obsidian catches her. “Hey! Take a deep breath…” He coos in her ear, holding her tight to his chest.

“I know these colts… I tutored them!” Maud chokes. “They were so sweet…” She grabs his blue polo shirt, crying into his chest.

One of the stallions next to them rubs the back of his neck. “Compose yourself filly, we need to take them to the dead pile…”

Pinkie and Marble stand on the roadside near their home church. Hey innocent eyes overlook the destruction before them. Confusion and anger consume their thoughts as they watch several stallions pull the body of the candy shop owner from the rubble that was his shop.

Hearing an agonizing cry coming from the pub across the street, the twins timidly cross the street out of morbid curiosity.

Peeking into the building, what was once a lively place, where many gathered to waste time, is now an impromptu medical center madhouse of earth ponies running about, trying their best to fix the wounded and dying. Hearing a scream, the twins move their gaze to a mare laying on an oak table. They stare numbly at the blood gushing from her torn legs.

“PINKIE! MARBLE! What are you doing?!” The twins jerk from their sister’s voice. Turning around they see Octavia standing over them, her tears wet the fur around her eyes. Her eyes full of concern. Noticing the chaos in the pub she looks in and sees the dying mare. Fight back her emotions, she lays her hands on her sisters’ shoulders. “Come fillies, turn your eyes elsewhere.” She leads them back to their mother.

Igneous stands by the steps of his home church, or what’s left of it. Its roof is blown off, the bell tower once towering proudly over the town with townhall, now rest on the church’s floor. It’s top with the cross being the only visible piece from where he stands.

“They’ve destroyed the Lord’s house!” The pastor yells, hot tears rolling down his face. Igneous feel pity for the stallion. With a sigh he kneels down beside him. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, the pastor looks at Igneous with pained eyes. He extends out his arms towards him. Igneous looks down at his hands and sees several pieces of stained-glass. “My son made these… Made every single stained glass for this church… And now they’re gone… I have nothing left to remember him…” The glass cuts his hands as he fists them. Seeing the blood drooling down the stallion’s arm, he Igneous gently opens his hands and removes the glass fragments. Sobs overwhelm the pastor he grips onto Igneous. Igneous returns the embrace, his eyes staring at his town, his home, all the while a fire burns through his soul.

“Mares and stallions! Please can I have your attention!” The area around the church quiets down as all eyes fall upon the mayor of Ashmore, Bedrock a stallion in his fifties. “I’ve been spreading the word, that we must leave our homes! It is no longer safe!” He steadies his broken arm. “We must go north and head for Ponyville or Stalliongrad!” He shouts through clinched teeth.

“Why don’t we stay and fight!” A stallion yells, calling on the town to cheer him on. Several others join in with him.

“What if they come back!” A young mare asks, holding her child close to her chest. “What about the safety of our children!”

Bedrock looks at the crowd with sadness. “We must go… Half the town is either dead or wounded! We can’t stay and fight!”

“We have enough stallions!” A stallion yells

“Our town’s population was only twelve hundred and half of them are gone!” Bedrock growls. “If they come back, they will spare no one!” Several mares and children begin to cry. Pinkie, Marble, Limestone and Octavia tighten their hug they’re giving their mother.

Several stallions step up to the mayor. “Allow us to gather what stallions and teen colts we can.” One speaks up. “Lets them, let us stay and fight.” He places a hand on the mayor’s good shoulder. “It will give the ones fleeing enough time to make it out.”

The mayor looks like is about to protest, but Onyx steps up to the group. “I think splitting up the refugees will help get many to safety.” He states.

“And why split up the survivors?” A stallion asks.

“If the Unicorpian blimp comes back, they’ll easy spot a group that numbers in the hundreds.” He places his hands on his hips. “But is we leave as small groups number in the fifties or little under a hundred, we have a better chance at hiding from the blimp.”

The mayor places his good hand on his chin and thinks. With a long sigh he looks at his citizens with a defeated frown. “I give you permission to gather a force, but count me in, I’m not leaving my town…” He looks at his town with a loving smile. “I want my revenge.”

“Alright, spread the word, we are leaving!” Onyx shouts.

Four groups of survivors, ones that are able-bodied and those whose injuries aren’t fatal, make their way out of Ashmore. Putter-wagons that still function haul supplies, while wooden carts pulled by giant boars, haul the children, the elderly and the injured.

Pinkie and her family are in the largest of the group. They sit in the second wagon from the front. Sitting with them is Obsidian’s mother, brother and sister. Four leather suitcases lay in the back of the wagon along with several sheets and dense-cotton-fabric tents.

Dread fills the air, it's so thick that a knife can cut it.

Pinkie, Marble, and Ruby stare at the hills in front of them as they lean against the short wall on the right-side of the wagon. Their eyes watch the bushes and pine saplings swaying in the breeze. Limestone and Octavia sit left of their mother, their gaze looking at their town as it fades in the distance. The smoke from the dying fires creating a dark hazy mass over the town. Maud sits on her mother’s right, she watches her sisters, studying their expressions as her mind replays the attack over and over in her head.

Igneous, Onyx, Obsidian and eleven other stallions march in front of the groups with lever action rifles in their hands. Being in the back of the group it allows Obsidian to glance over his shoulders, his gaze staying on Maud. Igneous looks at the young stallion with a flat stare as he studies his mannerisms. With a sigh, he turns his attention back to the road. Onyx eyes his son as well, but he only gives a sigh before returning his attention back to his task.

Nearing the crest of the ridge on the hill. The four groups say their good byes and go their separate following the trails that will lead them to towns nearby.

-Six Hours Later-

Worn from the long hike, largest group of refugees from Ashmore pull off to the side of the road. Hiding their vehicles in the tall brush, they set up camp. Within to time twenty-seven tents are erected in a semi-circle. The sun setting in the shines its last bit of light onto the snow-covered lands.

By their family’s tent, Cloudy Quartz sits besides a firepit with Octavia, Limestone, Pinkie, Marble, Ruby, Rose Sapphire and her newborn. A cast-iron pot sits on a bed of hot coals. Lifting the lid, Cloudy Quartz scoops up a ladle full of honey baked beans and fills up several metal bowls. With help from Rose Sapphire, they hand the meals to the children.

“Let’s pray before we eat.” Rose Sapphire hums, clasping her hands together. They all say a soft prayer. Saying amen, they children begin eating their meals hungerly.

“Dear?” Igneous and Onyx walk up to their families.

“Yes?” Cloud Quartz looks up at her husband.

“We filled this up with spring water from the creek.” He sets down a large wooden bucket. The fillies pick up their empty metal cups and dipthem into the bucket. He smiles at his daughters as they take a drink. “Do you know where Maud went off to?”

“No… she Just walked off to the hills up that away.” She points north towards Ashmore.

“Speaking of Maud… Where is Obsidian?” Rose Sapphire wonders.

Igneous and Onyx look at each other with wondering glares.

Maud sits on a large rock overlooking the small grassy valley surrounded by the northern mountain ranges. Her eyes fall upon one of the mountain peaks as she watches its snow twinkle in the moonlight. The small stream next to her, flowing past her at a brisk pace calms her. Placing her left hoof in her lap, she rubs its base, relaxing the tense muscles.

“Maud.”

She looks over her shoulders and sees Obsidian making his way to her. She can see that his eyes look tired. “Hey Obsidian…” She turns her attention back to her hoof. “How are you?”

Obsidian takes a seat next to her on the rock. “I’m the one who should be asking you that question.” He watches her rub her hoof.

Maud sighs as she watches several patches of grass around them dance with the soft breeze. “I’m alright… I just can’t get the images out of my head.” Obsidian places an arm over her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. She sighs, laying her head on his chest.

They sit in silence for several minutes, letting nature sing to them. Watching a giant storm cloud rolling across the sky, Obsidian strokes his fiancée’s cheek with his left hand, enjoying the quiet. Feeling his love pull away from his embrace, he looks down at her with concern. “Is everything alright?...” Her lips press against his. They stay this way for several seconds before she pulls from the embrace.

“I love you.” She whispers into his ear.

“So, do I…” He holds her head in his hands, pulling her into another kiss. This time they pour more passion into it. Without breaking her kiss, she moves from her spot on the rock and sits on his lap, her knees resting beside his hips and her hooves resting on his knees. Breaking the kiss, they pant as they stare into one another’s eyes, reading one another’s passion.

They kiss again, their tongues fighting for dominance. Maud breaks the kiss gently bites down on his lower lips as she pulls away. “I want you to give me something to remember you by…” She whispers into his ears.

Obsidian looks at her, confused by her statement. “Leave you… Maud! We’re not even married yet…” He runs his fingers along her cheek. “I not going to die…”

She kisses him again.

“You don’t know that!” She pushes him down against the rock. “The Lord will forgive us…” She kisses him again. “This is what he commands us to do.” She lays her forehead against his, her eyes looking lustfully into his. “I don’t want to be left alone with only my memories of you.” Tears roll down her cheeks.

Obsidian lets his worries go as he kisses her hard, his tongue dominating hers as he lifts her up, laying her on her back on the soft soil. Breaking the kiss, he pulls her bonnet off, setting it beside her as he runs his other hand through her mane. She bites her lower lip as her hands work the button of his pants. With his pants lose, he grabs her wrist and pins them against the ground. “I’ll give you what you wish…” He kisses her again as he lifts her dress’s skirt.

Igneous leans against a redwood tree on the edge of camp. He stares out into the darkness of the brush, waiting for something or someone to show themselves from the void. With a grunt, pulling out his watch from his jacket’s pocket, he uses the light from the lanterns of the camp behind him to read the time. ‘9:12pm’ He frowns and stares back at the forest.

Hearing rustling coming from the bushes, he looks to his left to see Obsidian and Maud stumbling out if the woods. Their manes are wild and their clothes unkempt. He grits his teeth and coughs loudly, alerting the two. Maud seeing her father’s stern expression blushes, her eyes full of embarrassment as she puts on her bonnet. Obsidian looks down at his hooves, keeping his cool. Igneous frowns as he waves his hand, beckoning them to come.

Standing in front of her father, Maud gives a nervous chuckle. “Pa, I can explain…”

“Explain what exactly?” He looks her over, taking off her bonnet. “I can smell the act of mating all over the both of you…” he frowns fixing her mane. “Go wash up and head to bed, I need to speak to your fiancé.” Maud looks back at Obsidian then her father before heading to her family’s tent.

Obsidian stares at his father-in-law. Igneous’s eyes are stone cold. The young stallion falters a bit. “Sir, her and I got…” Igneous smacks him across the face.

“Got carried away! Colt, you need to learn to keep it in your pants!” Igneous pulls out a cigar. “You’re twenty-two, you should know better.” His eyes sending dagger at the colt. “You know premarital sex is a sin!”

Obsidian rubs his cheeks, recovering from the powerful hit. “Maud wanted to bear a foal, and I gave her what she wanted!” He grits his teeth as he stares down the stallion.

Igneous frowns. “I do not need my daughter with foal while Unicorpian troops are breathing down our necks!” He jabs a finger in Obsidian’s chest.

Obsidian steps up closer to the elder stallion. “I know that sir! But your forgetting one thing! I’ll be there for her!” He snorts. “I will protect her and our foal, it’s my responsibility to do so and by-God I will not cower!” He puts a fist to his chest. “If you dislike our decision to mate out of wedlock, then try to break us up!” He turns around walking away from the stallion.

Igneous rubs his snout, with a sigh, he breathes in smoke from his cigar. “I won’t break the two of you up… Hell, if I did, it will only make matters worse.” He takes another puff. Obsidian turns around and faces him. “The both of you have to work it out with the Lord now…” Igneous walks up to the colt and hands his cigar over. Obsidian takes it with some hesitation, he looks at the bound stick of tobacco before taking a puff. Igneous watches the colt for a bit before resuming. “I hope you know that you’re no longer a colt, but a stallion now.”

Obsidian looks at his father-in-law. “I know that sir...”

Igneous nods. “Good.” Obsidian gives back the cigar. “Goodnight, son, get some rest.” Obsidian nods and heads back to his family’s tent.