We had fled to the forest, away from the Unclean, warlike pink things that stood on two legs clad in metal and....cured hides. Me, and fathers most loyal ponies. We had never thought that their numbers would be so great. I didn't know where they had come from. They had no magic, nor did it seem to have any love for things not of there own kind. Their numbers and hate for ponies had overwhelmed us. Hoofsdale border post burned, lighting up the sky above the canopy of twisted branches in a false dawn. The sky awash in a hazy black and orange light.
It had been a grave mistake. The Unclean had set up an ambush for those that fled Guard post. "How are there so many?!?" One guard dejectedly cried as he fell. His white body riddled with countless arrows.
"Keep going Baroness, I gave my word that I would see you through this alive." Said Kaiden the towering orange stallion, who was captain of my fathers fort. He had a grim smile on his yellow face, his orange mane peeking out from his dented and worn helmet. I still could not look him in the eyes without blushing. His slap on my rump reminded me I had to run as he charged with his spear towards the mass of hate along with eight other guards. His charge breaking the enemy lines, allowing me an avenue of escape.
I ran from the sounds of the battle. I heard the guttural shouts the Unclean made, the unadulterated joy of violence upon them. I heard what few ponies were left as they cried out in pain only to fall forever silent. I heard the crunching of leaves and twigs below my hooves as I speed towards the Princesses castle. Thankfully my tears came in silence.
I slowed down needing to catch my breath. My leafy green chest heaving and constricted from exertion. I was to be...no... Sadly I now WAS the Baroness of Hoofsdale. My father had never expected for me to need to learn warfare. I was out of shape, something to be corrected if I survive, I guess.
My ears perked up as I heard something. It did not come from behind and I panicked. Celestia knows I made far to much noise as I frantically looked for a hiding spot dashing into a thicket of brambles ignoring the sting that left tiny rivulets of red along my flank.
A single lone figure clad in the golden armor of Celestia's guard stepped cautiously into the clearing I had hurriedly vacated. Even in that armor I could see her cerulean fur, but like her Fiery mane it was stained in a much darker rouge. I knew this pony well, we had grown up as siblings. It was rumored that she was one of Commander Hurricanes many illegitimate children. Further reinforcing that was the rather large bursary and the instructions my father had received upon her adoption. Unlike me, my sister was a warrior. This instruction was rather weird however. As she like me, was a unicorn. Also like me our mothers had died at birth, perhaps this was why even though we were so different our bond was unbreakable.
An Unclean sword raised high in her magical grip she shouted "Come out you mongrels!" the feral snarl on her lips. So powerful was the hate emanating that shamefully I hesitated. "I'd rather not set the forest ablaze but if you don't come out I will!" She growled menacingly.
Once again my flank stung as I burst out from the bush dashing towards her, fear melting away as I toppled at her feet hanging from her neck in a panicked embrace. "It's just me, Thunder Dawn." I wept, my body convulsed in spasms of grief and relief as she comfortingly wrapped a hoof around me. The fury in her eyes fell like a star from the sky and left the same sparkling trails across her cheeks.
"Sakurayu...." she whispered gently. Delicately petting my cherry blossom mane. I looked up and gasped. In my distress and quick evaluation I had not noticed her wounds. "You're HURT!" I cried out in surprise. My horn lighting up with the familiar and comforting cherry red aura as I began to weave the only magic I was good for in such a situation. Thunder Dawn cringed in pain as I attempted to close her wounds. I was useless for battle, but I had been raised to care for the ponies under my watch,
and had received the best medical training money could buy. I majored in healing and curatives. I remembered how heartily Thunder Dawn laughed when I failed the much more combative class for the third and final time. It was of course the one she excelled at.
I was the best healer Hoofsdale had to offer. I had even received accolades and praise in every school I had attended since I was a filly. I was not enough.
Thunder dawn must have seen the anxiety and dejection in my soft pink eyes. "I'll be okay, Sakurayu" she lied in a flat tone as she turned her head away from me. I did not call her on this lie, I wanted nothing more then to believe her words.
"Where is the detachment father asked you to bring from the castle?" I inquired eagerly changing the subject. "Celestia had no soldiers to spare as the castle is the source of this.....infestation" Thunder Dawn spat in disgust. "It's largely under control there and the military is hunting the bi-pedals as we speak. All of Equestria is lucky for Nightmare...." She paused correcting herself. "Luna's contributions to the castle." It was well known that even though Celestia had recently banished her sister
that she still loved her dearly. She had even gone so far as to decree that only on the night of her banishment may anypony refer to the younger princess as Nightmare Moon. She like most ponies wanted to forget the horrible events that had cost Equestria it's princess of the night.
Thunder Dawn continued "I and the small force your father sent with me had run into a large pack of the Unclean on our attempt to return." I could not help it, I began to weep at my last memory of Father as he fell at the forts rear gates ensuring my escape with Kaiden and his squad. Hoofsdale no more
then an roaring fire behind him and a line of ponies desperately holding back the stinking rabid creatures that had invaded. I remembered his last smile I would ever see as I looked back from the edge of the Everfree one last time.
"Hooooo" *sniffle* "Hooo" I tried again unable to contain the sobs in my sore throat. I settled with a simple "It's gone."
Thunder Dawns legs began to quake, for a moment I thought she would drop to the ground as I was. Instead Her head shot upward toppling her helmet, her long red mane whipping behind her in the dim moonlight. A terrifying rage filled scream filled the forest. I backed away from my once again feral sister. When her head lowered back there was an unmistakably deadly glint in her eyes. Her voice was flat, colder then the icy grasp of a Windigo. "Then I must get you to the castle"
She limped a little and wheezed as we dashed towards our goal. I begged her to allow me to cast another spell, but she refused. "We don't have the time Sakurayu."
She was of course right. No doubt her shout had attracted them. We were encircled by bi-pedals reeking of sweat and blood. "Ready yourself" Thunder Dawn said quietly. I did not know what to do, I did not know what I COULD do. Thunder Dawn however was a pony consumed, she wanted vengeance for all who had fallen. Two figures from behind came rushed towards us thinking they had us at disadvantage. I in my own credit had enough wits about myself to teleport just out of reach of their swords.
Thunder stood her ground. Her protective barrier holding fast as they struck. Her rear hooves came into contact with the nearest ones chest before he had time to bring his arm back up in defense.
Blood spewed forth from his mouth and nose in a fountain as his chest collapsed. Her sword easily passed the others parry pushing through his hide armor and picking up the impaled body and tossing it towards the enemy cautiously approaching from the side near me.
All Tartarus broke loose as the Unclean things discipline broke and the remaining forces rushed us. Seeing as my sister would be hard pressed I cast intermittent barriers as she lashed out on the throng pressing down on us. I was not trained and seasoned as she was. Each time I failed to bring up the barrier fast enough or blind an opponent I had noticed to late, Thunder cried out in pain.
We were growing weary and though I had only suffered shallow harmless flesh wounds The crimson pool at Thunder Dawn hooves was growing deep. I do not know how she held herself up. Never mind swing her sword and cast bolts of magic upon our assailants. "Sister" she spoke through gritted teeth "Sister I want you to teleport past the next charge." The foremost creature dropped to his knees astonished as she magically ripped the axe from his hands and lodged it in his face. "But Thundy..." I began using a name I had not remembered since we were small fillies. "I can't keep protecting you!" she shouted angrily as she hurled a rock with all her magical might, the projectile gouging a hole through the metal one monster wore.
"Past the clearing towards the castle, don't look back!" she ordered me dropping her sword and throwing up a glowing red barrier. I did not want to leave her. To abandon her and allow my sister to die at the hands of these...things. But I was a coward. I justified it in my mind as the sacrifice she wanted, and that is still true. But there is nothing noble about leaving your family to die. Only a selfish seed of survival that wraps it's roots around your heart.
I wanted to look back, I wanted to see my sister in her last glory, but shame prevented me from turning around. My body was lifted up past even the highest tree as the clearing behind me exploded with a magical energy. I don't remember much beyond that. Save a hazy memory of some ponies carrying me to the castle.
"How is she?" Celestia softly inquired of my attendant. "She'll be okay majesty" the soft feminine voice responded. "A broken leg, and some non-life threatening gashes, but mainly just exhaustion" "Good" Celestia replied. "Princess excuse me for asking but are you sure the mirror is... inactive?"
"Yes and the all the other treasures my sister collected on her explorations are secured." I didn't know what she was talking about and when I finally awoke no pony would speak of it.
I did not wait for my leg to fully mend. Nor for the guards to confirm that the creatures had been driven off. Celestia was even kind enough to send her personal guard and request the eccentric mage, Star Swirl to accompany me on my deed. The sounds of animals rang through the Everfree comforting us.
The animals never made noise when THEY were about. THEY frightened even the more terrifying residents. We came to the clearing...no that's not right....the land scar, for that's what it was. The guards were uneasy and I don't blame them for waiting just outside in the surrounding trees. Only Star Swirl would enter with me. The land was blackened and torn. No life even after the month I had impatiently been bedridden for had taken root. If not for the more distant calls of the local wildlife one would think the bi-pedals were back for there was not even the trails that animals often made through easily traversed land.
So furious was the blast that my sister had released, so full of hate and desperation, that the land was tainted Star Swirl informed me. But for me it was a sacred spot, unlike the others I felt something else here. This was the grave of my sibling, and indeed a place of death. But for me it was a place of sacrifice and even to this day when I'm here, I feel her love. I scooped up a small mound of earth and planted a seed, then covered it once more. Our horns glowed and we hoped it had worked. My monument of love for Thunder Dawn
It took a lot of effort and time to cultivate it, the only tree still decades later. Fittingly it would be the first time it blossomed in all these years. My children had to help me along as my health was failing. Unlike other ponies they felt what I felt here and they gently carried me to lie below the tree. Each said their teary goodbyes in turn then retreated a respectful distance. My horn glowed a soft pink and the cherry blossoms for which I was named for gently fled from their branches covering me and the gray rocky earth in a soft blanket. I closed my eyes one last time and dreamed of my sister.