Blue faith

Cloudchaser didn't want to open the door.

Every fiber in her body told her not to do it.

However, she had little choice in the matter. Especially when dealing with patrols. It was either do so willingly or risk your home being set ablaze.

With shaky steps, she walks towards the door. Her hooves are slow and heavy as she tried to calm her racing thoughts and the fear that gripped her body in waves.

She had to be strong.

She had to be.

A gentle hood on her shoulder made her relax ever so slightly. Casting a look toward Flitter she saw that the mare had a determined expression on her face. Her eyes used to be dim and sad now glowed with purpose with bits of carefully concealed anger. Even so the smile she flashed her sister was one of reassurance.

Cloud took a breath.

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Four.

That was how many were at Cloud's door.

Two pegasi, one Earth, and a scarred-looking unicorn that looked to be the leader.

He is dark with a light brown mane and tail with a pair of firm yellow eyes. One eye of these eyes looked to be scarred in a way that looked as if he could barely see. Regardless when his gaze met Cloud's a small but menacing smile formed on his face.

The mare couldn't help but flinch.

"Even madam, I don't mean to be a bother but do you mind if I and my squad can come in?"

"No".

The response was clear and firm. Leaving no room for misunderstanding.

The Unicorn frowned.

The way his eyes flashed told Cloud that he wasn't the type that liked being denied. Fortunately for her and Flitter, they were in their home, and thus had the power to deny his request. The ones who obeyed curfew are given more rights than the ones that don't. All though they were small and nearly useless compared to the system they had before.

The patrol leader leaned closer.

"I've come across two dead ponies on duty and their wounds gave me an idea of what might have occurred. Now I could be wrong, but just in case I thought it was a good idea to check on the local rebels".

Cloud fumed.

"We are not rebels, Merely ponies who remembered what was like to feel sympathy".

The stallion chuckled at her response.

"Those who go against our queen no matter how small are ponies who don't know their place in our new world".

Flitter step forward. Pushing to stand beside her sister. Her expression was every negative emotion Cloud felt at that moment. Yet even still the only difference was that Flitter had no filter.

"The only one who's an obvious rebel is your marefriend every time you go out for work. I mean haven't you wondered why her lips taste a little salty? Then again you might be the one doing the stroking in the relationship".

"Flitter" Cloud warned.

Leave it up to the pegasus to escalate an already tense situation.

"What?! I'm not wrong!" She snapped. Her eyes bore holes into the stallion. She did not hide the hate she felt toward them and everything they represented. Not when she was the first among many who realized the horrors that ponykind was truly capable of under a dictator.

The stallion on the other hoof merely chuckled.

"I know who you are Flitter and I know the crimes that you and your sister have committed against the crown. Do you think I don't know the truth? It's obvious from the body language and your eye that you're hiding something so I'll ask again".

He learned close. His expression is dark and his eyes wild.

"May we please come in?"

Flitter on the other shook her head snorting

"As if w-"

A hoof struck. Connected with the mare's throat faster than the two of them could react.

"FLITTER!"

The pony fell back gasping. Hooves crawled at her throat. Before Cloud can even fully process what was going on another blow connected against her skull.

She collapsed.

Head spinning as she fought to stay conscious. As this is happening the four ponies enter the room. The leader Black Lavender ordered his squad to search the home. When all that was said and done he went into the kitchen before coming back out with a glass of wine in hoof. Sipping it he spoke

"You know I use to have a daughter? She was young and had just entered the Royal copse before judgment day. At first, everything went well at least until we found a small group of humans huddled together for safety near a collapsed structure".

He laughed shaking his head in amusement.

"Those dumb animals I killed the younger ones, making sure to break every bone in their tiny little bodies. I even went so far as to use my magic to slowly twist their spine until it snapped".

His amusement quickly fell as did the glass cup.

"Unfortunately my lovely daughter didn't like that. No, not at all. Imagine my shock when she turned her blade against me while I was performing a sacred duty!"

He stomps his hoof. His expression morphs into anger with a hint of regret.

"I had no choice such an act of foolishness is punished by death!" So while she was hesitating I slammed my blade into her throat, and as she lays there dying in a pool of her blood I gifted her the blessing of a father's love".

He trots over towards them. Standing above both mares with a look of pure hatred as he stared down the two of them.

"She died screaming".

He hissed.

Upon seeing the look of fear in their eyes he smiled.

Oh, he was gonna enjoy every second of this.

At least he would have if it wasn't for the blood-curdling scream that echoed from inside the house. A second later came another scream. This time it was a voice that sounded as if they were paralyzed by fear.

"IT'S UPSTAIRS!"

Lavender turns his gaze toward the stairs. As he did so an Earth pony emerges from the basement having heard the screams as well. However, before he could shout orders he felt a sharp object pierce his neck.

The stallion roared in pain turning to back hoof, Flitter.

Only to receive a chair to the face.

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Screaming.

Olmon hears screaming,

And it isn't from the pony he had in his grip

Standing up Olmon digs his foot into the dead pony's skull. A moment later a sickening crack echoed in the hallway.

With the said deed done and nothing else to lose Olmon turns heading toward the directions that the screams were coming from.

A knife dripping with blood held tightly in his grip.