Nothing.
I opened my eyes, and I saw nothing. My lips moved to speak, and my ears heard nothing. I commanded my limbs to move, and I felt nothing.
Perhaps I was dead. Perhaps I was dying. Perhaps I was dreaming. I had trouble remembering. My mother tucked me into bed, did she not? A mental picture of her leaning over me to kiss my forehead and whisper good fortunes flashed through my mind.
Father was proud. Father was sure. He had trained me all my life for the Run. I would be the first of our clan to win the Solstice Run in over a millennia. I would be the first warrioress to win it ever. I would go on to join the elite hunters, the Wonderbolts.
I would make history. I would make my parents proud.
"Rainbow Dash!"
My ears perked. Somepony called me. My parents' ethereal figures dissolved into the nothingness, their outlines burned into my vision. I reached out, and immediately pain shot up my arm like a rash. I screamed. The void that surrounded me began to fill with swirls of white specks.
Reality set in. I was correct. I was in a snowstorm. I was dying.
And I was not alone.
That morning...
I awoke today from yet another dreamless sleep. I used to be disappointed by that, but after several years of bringing shame to my clan, I've grown less and less concerned with maintaining family Seer traditions.
"It is the Run today, sister."
I rubbed my eyes as I looked across at my brother junior. Zephyr Breeze, named for his great-uncle, was a fidgety little fellow. He was very curious, but simultaneously unconcerned. He spoke this news with only a vague interest.
Are you not worried that today I shall die?
I didn't actually ask him that. I knew better than to.
"It is the Winter Solstice," I nodded. "This dawn I shall run."
I stood up from my bedroll to stretch. Stepping over Zephyr, I exited our room and walked down to the bath. I grabbed the bucket, dragged it outside, then proceeded to fill it with water from the pump. Once full, I hauled it back within.
I spent several minutes scrubbing my coat. The thick bristles of the brush pricked at my skin underneath, raising my discomfort. I washed my face, the cold water draining any remnants of sleep. I then proceeded to brush my mane and tail, pulling out the loose strands.
Lastly, I preened my feathers. My wings were tiny and pathetic. Not nearly strong enough to carry my weight, unlike most other Pegasi my age. Nevertheless, it was improper to show yourself in public in such a state, and so preen I did.
My parents waited for me in the family room. They both smiled at me, though I could tell they were extremely worried. For my health, or our family name, I couldn't be sure.
"Your garbs?" Mother asked me. I looked down to examine myself. I hadn't put anything on. I didn't see the point. Zephyr would grow into them eventually.
I hesitated. "They are necessary?"
"There will be royalty spectating the event," Mother gestured for me to turn back. "I'm sure you remember how Unicorns are about things like that."
"Those high-nosers come to watch every year," Father said dismissively.
"Her Majesty will be in attendance this year," Mother insisted. "It is the 1,000th Winter Solstice, you know."
"Gear is provided, if I may." I added quietly.
My mother pursed her lips, before conceding. "Very well. We must be off, now."
I was ready. Enthusiastic, hardly. But ready.
A knock upon our wooden front door came, surprising me slightly. As I was the closest, I moved to answer it. When I opened the door, our visitor lunged forward at lightning speed, gripping me tightly.
"Today's the day, Fluttershy!" A raspy high-pitched voice whooped.
I squeaked as I was lifted up and paraded around the room. I was being carried by a filly smaller than me, but unmistakably much stronger. Muscles showed underneath her sleek sky blue coat. The hands that held me were rough and calloused, while my own skin was laughably fragile.
"Good morning, Rainbow Dash." I managed to whisper.
Rainbow Dash, my best friend from foalhood, was already clad in the thick woolen Runner padding. This didn't surprise me; she always looked forward to this day. The prospect of earning so much glory at our age filled her heart with passion. It was for this reason that I decided against sharing my dread with her.
Rainbow Dash was a warrior. I simply was not. I wanted to let her have her aspirations, stark and unclouded. As best I could, at the very least. She had to have known on the inside: I was unlikely to survive. I had accepted that.
Rainbow Dash set me down eventually. I noticed then that her vibrantly colored mane barely reached over her ruby red eyes.
"Rainbow, your mane."
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Hoops and his pack of vermin slandered my mother. A round of fists went. I lost."
She said this nonchalantly, but to most Pegasi, this was a huge disgrace. Pegasi always hack their manes when they lose a fight. Rainbow Dash almost always had a short mane when I saw her. But then, Rainbow Dash got into many fights. I hadn't cut my mane once, but that means little when I've not yet sparred.
"Our wagon is headed to the lake. Will you ride with me?" Rainbow Dash asked.
I looked to my parents for permission. My father nodded. "Go. Your brother still must bathe. We will see you there."
"Okay," I hugged both my parents. Probably for the last time. "I lo- I will bring honor." I managed to correct myself in time.
"Celestia be with you." My parents bade me farewell.
I turned to follow Rainbow Dash. I stopped to hug Zephyr, who had just entered. Before I left my humble little home, I held him long enough to whisper the only helpful advice I could ever give him.
"Be stronger than me."
My breath appeared as a white puff as I exhaled. Small flakes of snow were already falling. Fluttershy sat next to me, and we both sat behind my mother. Our wagon rolled slowly along, pulled by a paid ass.
"My father and brother are at the lake already. I grabbed you a pack already. To make sure nopony tampers." I held up the bag to show Fluttershy, then passed it to her.
"My thanks." Fluttershy whispered.
I cocked my head at her. She remained still, her eyes hidden behind her pink mane.
"You'll want to dress, you know."
"I'm not cold." Fluttershy responded.
I elbowed her shoulder. "You will be. Dress."
Fluttershy sighed, then dug into her pack. She withdrew the rolled up clothes, then began dressing.
"Were there many already?" Fluttershy asked as she pulled her shirt on.
"Many Unicorns, certainly," My mother acknowledged. "This year will certainly be a grand Run. We are fortunate to see it in our lifetimes."
"Will Celestia raise the sun?" I asked in excitement.
"Most probably."
I simmered in anticipation. "The greater my triumph will be! Are you ready to bring honor to your family, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy looked at me with a look on her face that I didn't understand. "One way or another, I will bring honor."
I felt the heat of my eagerness dull at the way she spoke. "We will make it to the top of the mountain, I mean."
"And I am sure you will."
I frowned at that. Fluttershy knew I wasn't always good with words and their meanings. I didn't like it when she talked like that.
"Your parents trained you?"
Fluttershy nodded. "My father trained me to the best of his abilities."
I bit my lip in thought. Fluttershy's parents were conservative Pegasi. And as far as I knew, neither of them faced combat in their Runs. I had worried that Fluttershy might not be ready for the Run, so I asked to train with her.
Her father wouldn't let her do any more than basic knife handling with me.
"Good. Good," I scratched my head, then leaned in to whisper in Fluttershy's ear. "I need not say, but stay away from Hoops. Stay away from any gangs. Run straight for the mountain."
"I know this." Fluttershy nodded, still wiggling into her pants.
"Good," I nodded in satisfaction, patting her shoulder. "Good."
In a short span of time, the beach surrounding the frozen lake was flooded with ponies from across Equestria. A great many Unicorns and some Earth Ponies here to gamble, but mostly parents of Runners. I couldn't find my family in the chaos.
Almost as soon as we arrived, Rainbow Dash and I were given our numbers and ushered into our spots on the ice. Rainbow Dash was 11, I was 267. There was no chance I would see her during the Run.
I shivered. Rainbow Dash was correct in her earlier statement. My pack already began to strain my back. To either side of me, in the distance I saw a speck that was another Runner. Dawn was rapidly approaching. Soon the census count of the Runners would be complete, and as soon as we were all evenly spaced, we would begin.
"WELCOME, MARES AND STALLIONS FROM ALL CORNERS OF OUR GREAT NATION!"
I flinched at the magically enhanced voice that boomed across the ice. This was it.
"WE ARE GATHERED HERE ON THIS DAY, THE 1,000TH WINTER SOLSTICE, TO WITNESS THE GLORIOUS COMING OF AGE OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEGASI IN THE ANNUAL SOLSTICE RUN!"
I rubbed my hands together. It was far too late to run away.
"439 BRAVE COLTS AND FILLIES WILL RUN TODAY! AND IF THE OLD GODS BE WILLING, WE WILL WELCOME 439 STALLIONS AND MARES INTO OUR SOCIETY!"
I gulped. Old Gods be willing.
"RUNNERS, REMEMBER THE RULES: REACH THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN BY SUNFALL AT ANY COST! WHILE YOU MAY WORK WITH OR AGAINST ANY RUNNERS,
IT IS A GRAVE DISHONOR TO SHED THE BLOOD OF ANOTHER RUNNER! AND ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER THIS: THERE SHALL ONLY BE ONE WINNER! THE FIRST PONY TO REACH THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND CLAIM THE AURORA STONE WILL BE THIS YEAR'S CHAMPION! NOW ARE YOU READY?"
A chorus of chants rose from the long line of Runners circling the lake. I shuddered. The mountain directly ahead of me just seemed so... far... away.
"THEN I GIVE YOU OUR SAVIOR, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, CELESTIA!"
A bright flash of light washed over everything. Just as it did, the sun peaked over the mountaintops. Dawn had arrived.
"RUNNERS, BEGIN!"
Horns blared behind me. The spectators all cheered. I stomached the urge to turn around and disappear into the crowd. Instead, I lowered my head. I whispered a silent prayer.
And I ran.
I screamed in protest of the hands gripping my neck. Bubbles surged upwards from my mouth. I kicked wildly, without aim. I clawed at the arms of my attacker. My efforts were all for naught.
The icy cold water washed the tingling from my skin. The sharp pain of the broken ice digging into my back ebbed into a light itch. The energy flowing to my limbs slowed, and with it, their movement.
I did not imagine it would end like this. I had no enemies that I was aware of. I did not seek to win this tournament. I had dishonored no filly or colt. But there I was, being drowned by a boy I'd never met, only one of dozens slain by the river. Though I supposed, this was mostly my doing.
The color seeped out of my blurred vision. I was pushed deeper as I grew slack; my opponent was taking no chances. My eyes shut, or at least the light went away. By Faust, I was dying.
Mother, Father, I bring honor.
One hour earlier...
I lazily bit into my apple. The stampede steadily drew nearer. They marched in the distance like ants. My legs dangled off the edge of the rock upon which I rested. It was a long drop down the gorge.
The River Sol is and always was a bloody battlefield. According to my father, the yearly fighting at this spot began centuries ago, when several colts, riveted by the tales of the Pegasus Civil War, began cleaving at fellow Runners here. It was the perfect location. The river running through the ravine was quite narrow.
It made it rather hard for the aerial watchers to tell who was who.
Nopony knows for sure if that's really how it started. And nopony really seemed to want to end it. Parents would warn their foals about the River Sol. If they were from warrior clans (such as mine very own, Rainbow), they were trained in hand-to-hand in addition to survival skills. If they weren't...
It helped to be fast.
Honor be damned, fillies and colts would die there, as they have for generations. Runners looking to wipe out others from enemy clans, settle quarrels, avenge dishonors, preen the competition, or just see blood spilled for the fun of it. Plenty of foals had at least one reason to kill.
I wasn't worried. I was way ahead of most of the Runners. And it wasn't likely that I would be spotted way up on top of the gorge. Unless they decided to fly over. Some do. Most try to test their luck and save their strength for scaling the mountain, but for those who want nothing to do with the fighting, flying over it is the best way to go.
Occasionally I saw a Runner dart past below me. Trying to beat the chaos. Enjoy the lead while you can, I mentally snickered at them. As soon as I know Fluttershy is safe, I'll be back in front where I belong.
I studied the fast approaching horde. There were a few stragglers here and there, maintaining a safe distance from the rest of the Runners. Fluttershy would certainly be among them. She was to my right when we started, so she would be approaching from my left. I squinted.
I thought I saw her. Maybe I should have sought her out while on the lake, and just guided her through the battle. I had considered it. But I had to win. Fluttershy knew how to survive the cold. As long as she could just make it past the river, she would be fine. I'd be able to drop down and fend off anypony that tried attacking her if need be. They wouldn't expect to be attacked from above. But I doubted that'd be necessary; Fluttershy was a master at avoiding detection.
I grunted in pain. Looking at the apple in my hand, I discovered that I had stripped it of its flesh, and had in fact just bitten myself. Annoyance evident on my face, I let the core slip from my fingers, allowing it to plunge down onto the frozen hard ground below.
I stood up from my perch and stretched. The Runners were already growing closer together as they reached the river. I needed to get a closer view if I wanted to be sure I saw Fluttershy. Making sure my pack was secure, I unfurled my wings. Before I could take off, I was struck.
Searing pain stabbed at the back of my head. I had just been hit, hard. My vision went grainy and purple. Not good.
"Well, well, well. Hello Crash."
My heart thundered loudly in my chest. The fighting had begun. It had started with a few random slashes. Quick, concise strikes against targeted foals, who whipped around this way and that to spot the danger. Then more knives were drawn in defense. The first blood had spilled. Soon followed the first kill.
Sounds of pain filled the air on the frozen river. Within minutes, over a dozen fillies and colts laid on the ice, blood trickling from their many wounds. This was only the beginning.
The smart ones took to the sky. I desperately wished for the strength to join them. Most powered through the carnage. They shoved past each other, racing to break past the ravine's end into the snow-covered plain. It was at this point too that the first teams began to emerge.
Friends looking out for each other, foals with a common rival, loners tagging together to stay alive, or even brutes teaming up to take down whoever got in their way. The mindless brawling ended as the group thinned out. Most of the Runners were now halfway across. Only a few individual fights went on.
One colt used his hunting knife as a throwing dagger. He hurled it at a gaggle of fleeing Runners. The knife sank into the back of a filly, who collapsed instantly. The colt scowled; he must not have hit his intended target. Clearly he wasn't too distressed over the mistake.
I didn't even realize I was crying from the terror. I inched along the river's edge, my back pressed to the rocky wall. I remained crouched, as low as I could go without hampering my ability to move. The only Runners that remained were those who now picked over the corpses of the ones they'd killed.
Vultures, scavenging food and clothes from the packs of colts and fillies who no longer needed them. I tried not to watch, but I couldn't look away. There must have been close to forty bodies littering the ice. I moved my right foot to keep slithering along. I winced when it landed on something soft.
I choked back a sob when I looked to see my shoe on the arm of a petite grey filly, curled up on the rocky riverbed. A knife stuck out of the bloody cloth over her shoulder. I saw her widened eyes under her straw-colored mane. I... I knew this filly.
Little Muffin. Most foals that knew her called her Ditzy Do. She had been a failed Seer, much like myself. Unlike me, she hailed from a renouned warrior clan. Her clumsiness in training and her affable composure had tragically earned no affection from her parents.
She was one of the Blanks. No land to own, no clan to serve, to name to pass on. In the days leading up to the Solstice Run, she had assumed one of the many monikers she had collected over the years: Derpy. How little it meant now. Unless her parents suddenly decided to honor her sacrifice, she would have no burial.
She would burn with the garbage.
I clamped one hand over my mouth. Squeezing my eyes shut, I shifted my foot; I had to keep moving. But I heard a noise when I did so. I froze. It was like a sound of displeasure. I looked back down. Derpy hadn't moved underneath me, but her arm felt... tense.
She couldn't have frozen so quickly. I tilted my head to look directly into her eyes. Her left eye rolled up to stare off into nowhere. Her right eye was locked onto me. I blinked in surprise.
"...Derpy?"
Derpy stiffly brought her index finger to her lips. I smiled in amazement. Looking back at the knife, I then noticed that it had not pierced her flesh, but instead was tucked tightly into place with her arm. The blood on her top wasn't even hers.
She was playing dead.
I nodded at Derpy. I took my foot off of her, stepping down on the ground next to her. I still needed to move. There was no point in sticking around and possibly getting Derpy discovered. I silently wished her good luck, and prayed that the colts scouring for supplies didn't turn their heads my way.
I rolled over. Somepony was coming up fast. My ears rang, but I still had the sense to fight him off. I pulled my legs back, coiling like a metal spring. Like a swinging hammer, I bucked straight into his gut.
The Runner, whom I hadn't yet identified, buckled and dropped his knife. I struggled to my feet, and gingerly felt the back of my head. There was a slight gash. He must have thrown a rock at me. I growled at my attacker.
"Not a smart choice," The little dots dancing around my vision faded away, revealing who had just attempted to end me. "Striking a foe from behind? I should have known, Hoops."
Hoops coughed. "Your family line is over, Crash."
I looked around as Hoops stood back up. "Where's Dumbbell and your band of stooges? I know you wouldn't take me on without them," I crossed my arms smugly. "Luna knows you couldn't beat me otherwise."
Hoops seized his knife once more, twirling it in his hand. "Let us find out."
"Hey! Get her!"
My first instinct was to freeze. My next was to run. I burst up and sprinted, with speed that I have never known before in this life. Surely they wouldn't kill me? The aerial watchers must have had a good look now. I decided against taking my chances. If those colts didn't kill me, they would certainly take my pack, and I would perish within the hour.
I heard footsteps rapidly approaching behind me. I didn't look back. Right when I felt them about to overtake me, Derpy whizzed right by me. She too bolted faster than imaginable. They must have realized her little trick. I pushed to catch up with her.
We were barely through the gorge. They were faster and stronger, and would definitely catch us before we made it out. The wind was picking up from outside, blowing the snow in large bundles of swirls. I flinched at the gust of cold wind.
I dared to look behind me. There were six colts chasing us. They seemed to be taking greater care not to slip. When I turned my head back, I gasped. The snow was hurtling towards us. It had begun to storm already. Derpy, who had been only yards in front of me, vanished into the white haze.
I began to panic. I could try hiding. But if they found me, nopony would be able to see. I could keep running. But I would have no idea where I was going.
My inner debate came to a grinding halt when I heard a monstrous cracking sound. I shuddered, and looked down. The ice looked solid, but underneath it, I saw, very clearly, running water.
"Oh dea-"
I didn't even finish my thought before the underneath me gave way, dropping me into the deathly cold water.
I dodged his attacks easily. He was a big, lumbering goon. This was almost like a game for me. I didn't even brandish my own knife. I resolved to bring him down with my bare hands.
Hoops swiped viciously. He was growing frustrated with each miss, pouring more energy into each savage move. I smirked at his foolery. He would wear himself down before I even laid a finger on him.
"You're hitting a lot of air," I taunted. "I suppose it is easier to strike a target when you have somepony holding it down."
Hoops narrowed his eyes. He lunged, and I sidestepped again, dancing frivolously along the cliff edge. I spread my wings to help keep balance when the wind increased in velocity. I didn't plan on taking a dive, but nature holds no favorites.
"Help!"
My ears twitched. I saw from my peripherals that the fighting below had ended. And yet, somepony was screaming.
"Help me!"
Mother of Celestia.
I swiftly swung my leg up, bringing my boot back into Hoops' stomach. With him staggering backwards, I scanned the river below. The snow from the mountain was already dusting the ground below. I swallowed nervously at all the dead foals lying still.
Where are you, where are you, where are you?
I stiffened. There she was. Fluttershy was sticking out of the river, a portion now cracked open and freely flowing. Her arms slapped at the frozen surface, trying to find a grip to pull herself out.
"Hold on Fluttershy, I'm comi- AAGHH!!!"
I shrieked in agony. Something struck me with such force that I felt a sickening crunch. I tumbled forward, spilling off the edge. I fumbled furiously, twisting around so I could dig my fingers into the icy ledge for any purchase at all.
"Finally. I finally got you, Crash." Hoops laughed triumphantly.
I panted. My left wing was dangling uselessly. The bastard broke my wing! I stared up at him in shock, fear, and hatred. He relished it.
"How's this for honor?"
I shivered helplessly. The six colts gathered around the broken ice, ensuring they didn't step on a part ready to send them down, as well. I looked up at them pitifully.
"H-h-help?"
The colts chuckled. Help was far from likely. I whimpered as the closest one grabbed my pack. He yanked me closer, using his knife to saw the straps. I exhaled. I knew I was going to die. I shouldn't have tried.
The boastful cheers from the colts came to a sudden stop. Puzzled, I looked back up. I yelped when I saw the knife sticking out of the eye of the one who held me. I whipped my head to the side. There stood Derpy, paused in a throwing stance, and looking very, very regretful.
The colt's grip went slack, and I splashed back down. My pack, now frightfully unsecured, was tugged free by the current, and disappeared under the ice. I would soon follow it if I didn't get out.
I grabbed the arm of the colt who tried stealing my pack. His pale blue coat was stained by the red stream trickling from his eye. My stomach would have churned in any other circumstance, but at that moment all I could focus on was getting out. I seized hold of him, using his body as an anchor. I somehow dragged myself up, free from the water.
I coughed and shuddered. Derpy just saved me. I hoped so, at least. She never did have a good aim. Maybe she was trying to give me a quick death. Either way, I had to get to her. I had to-
"Oh Luna."
The five remaining colts were not merciful. I tried dragging myself closer. They beat and kicked Derpy with all their might. I think I coarsely screamed at them to stop. I don't know. I don't remember.
All I knew was that they were killing her.
Hoops raised his knife above his head, his eyes gleaming greedily as he went in for the kill. I hastily threw a handful of powdery snow in his face. He groaned in aggravation.
"Save yourself for a few precious seconds, go ahead," He muttered darkly. "But I still have you right where I want- AIIEEE!"
With one long arc, I planted my blade directly on its mark. The knife skewered his wing, nailing it into the side of his ribcage. I spat at the sobbing colt, who collapsed in pain.
"Try that," I grunted. I began to pull myself up. As my weight shifted, I felt a disturbance run through the ice. My eyes widened. "Shit!"
I scrambled to get up before it was too late. I didn't even get one leg up before the entire peak of the cliff snapped clean off under our weight.
I didn't think I could stay awake for long. They had finished Derpy. It must have been my turn, now. I sighed as they came to me. Hopefully I wouldn't be able to feel it.
But before they could reach me, I heard a large, terrifying crash. Little bits of ice were flung at my face, scratching at my skin. The frozen river underneath cracked some more, threatening to separate even further. I examined the mess hesitantly.
A large chunk of ice fell out of the sky, landing on the boys. I looked up in confusion. Where? How?
I crawled closer. I heard groaning. So somepony survived that. I had to run. I clambered to my feet, ready to wander into the snow. As I stepped over the white hunks and splinters, I paused. My jaw dropped at what I saw. How was that possible?
"Oh. There you are, Fluttershy."
