The Legend of Solun

"Avian, you sure you're alright with taking that out for me? You know how cold it is outside," Scarlette asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, Scar. The art building isn't but 15 or so minutes away, and I know it's worth it for your amazing art," Avian said. She was tasked with the job of taking Scarlette's art piece to the Kolari art contest, of which she herself could not attend because of work.

"Ngh.. I know. I'm sure you'll be fine, but you know me, I gotta worry about every little thing," Scarlette chuckled. Avian nodded, rolling her eyes and smiling.

"Either way, I gotta get going soon. Mr. Iri probably wouldn't enjoy me being late again," She said finally. Avian nodded, picking up the canvas of which she was to deliver to the contest.

"Good luck!" Scarlette called, picking up her light brown saddlebag and trotted her way to the door. Avian waved quietly, until Scarlette was out of the small cottage, and sighed.

"Now I just gotta get through this cold.."

-~*{-}*~-

"Alright, thanks! I have work tomorrow as well, right?" Scarlette asked, standing at the door of the coffee shop of which she worked.

"Yes, you do," Mr. Iri said, nodding. "Please don't miss this time, you've been gone much too long, especially with such little workers at the moment,"

"Yes, I know," Scarlette sighed. "I'll be here. Well, goodnight!" She said finally.

"To you as well." He smiled. Scarlette opened up the door with one hoof, trotting outside and shielding her eyes from the wind and snow. Her eyes set on her small cottage, her eyes tracing and following the hoofsteps in the snow of which Avian had walked.

"I hope she got it there on time," Scarlette mumbled to herself. She pictured the young mare walking in the cold, and shuddered. "I probably didn't win anyway. Some of the ponies in Kolari have some serious talent,"

She walked up to the door, opening it and smiling at the feeling of warmth through her mane and on her fur. She kicked the door closed with one of her hind legs, walking further into the cottage.

"Avian! You home?" Scarlette called, expecting an answer. What surprised her is that there was none.

"Avian!" She called again, but raising her voice a little. Still no response. Her mind was telling her to worry, but her body told her that she was still at the art show, looking at the amazing art.

"Yeah, I shouldn't worry," She told herself, letting out a sigh. "It's just my nature to be worried over silly things like this."

She walked into the kitchen, preparing to make a small dinner for herself while she waited for Avian to arrive. She wasn't the best cook, but whatever she made, Avian would always enjoy. It was never perfect, or anything like their parents' cooking when they were little, but it was always 'fine'.

Scarlette hummed herself a tune, flipping her daisy sandwich in the frying pan before letting it fall back down onto the surface. Once it was toasted to perfection, She grabbed herself a plate, and placed the meal onto it. Scarlette revolted at the crude plate she was using, but with her life, she always had to deal with what she had. Ever since her parents' death, anyway. They were a bit poor, and with Avian just barely not old enough to work, had to live off the minimum wage of the coffee shop she worked at.

'But whatever happens, I guess it always goes back to 'Just live with it,'' Scarlette thought to herself, sighing as she took a bite of her food.

-~*{-}*~-

The next morning had rolled around, and Avian still hadn't showed herself. Scarlette seemed to have looked around the entire house, trying to find her.

"Oh my Celestia, where could she be.." Scarlette said to herself, checking every room in seemingly every place. Scarlette looked to the door, and a million thoughts ran through her head. Maybe she was taken? Did something happen at the contest? Did she even make it to the contest? All these ideas were floating around in her head like butterflies trying to escape a condensed space.

"Avian! Please! If this is a joke, it isn't funny anymore!" Scarlette yelled shakily. With one more glance around the house, she decided to explore around outside to see if she could find her, or anyone who knew where she was. She grabbed her hoof-knit scarf, messily putting it around her neck before going out into the seemingly endless snowstorm.

She began to walk the path Avian's hooves had followed, yet they were barely visible since the amount of snowfall last night. Her scarf blew behind her, flying wildly and collecting snow in it's small creases.

"Avian..? Anypony..?" Scarlette called. Now she wasn't just calling for Avian, but somepony to guide her through the snowstorm. It seemingly felt endless, falling and falling, collecting on the ground. It felt like the world was against her, the snow falling just to keep her from where she was going. She knew her way around Kolari, did she not? And if so, why was she so lost?

A few minutes passed, and Scarlette still hadn't found buildings, or, practically anywhere. Just endless, bleak snow. She sighed, laying down in the snow and taking a quiet breath, shaking. She had accepted defeat, and now was just waiting for an escort back to her home.

All of a sudden, hoofsteps rang in Scarlette's ears, the snow crackling under other's hooves. Scarlette looked up, in hopes of finding someone who knew way back her town. Stood in front of her was a tall pony, covered in silver armor with a sword on his back.

"O-Oh, thank Celestia I found somepony," Scarlette said in relief, smiling. "I came out here to find my sister, Avian, and I got lost in all this snow, and..."

He looked down at Scarlette in hesitation, sighing. He looked her the eyes, mouthing, ' I'm sorry,' stepping back. Scarlette was slightly confused, until he suddenly turned around, kicking with one of hind legs, knocking her out cold.
«~---<^>---~»