The Price of a Mile

by Alaxsxaq

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Adventure
Length: 1434

War story about soldiers behind enemy lines

War is no stranger to Equestria. The sword and bow must be used in anger every so often. Parents and children must be sacrificed to see the Kingdom endure. It is a sad reality.

Cloudrunner is a young pegasus, left with nothing in the world. The only place he has left to go is the military. A patriot eager to defend his country from the Minotaur aggressors.

But no matter how just the cause one chooses to take up arms, war is still war, and the tragedy it brings make the soldier feel more and more away from home, the trenches becoming the final resting place for far too many.

Trapped behind enemy lines, Cloudrunner and a ragtag band of soldiers must make it through a treacherous mountain range in the dead of winter, with the Minotaur army at their backs.

Set in the same universe as "A Twinkle of Hope" about 30 years before, but it is not required to have read that prior.

Image by GordonFreeguy

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-11-18 08:40:02 UTC

1. New Beginnings

1. New Beginnings

The cold April rain hit the window, creating a quiet, but not silent, ambience. The shadows the water droplets cast sprinkled the wall, covered in floral prints. This house was the only one he had ever known as home. But that time was quickly coming to an end.

The young stallion, lying on a couch downstairs, awoke from his nap. He glanced at the clock, a hoof-carved pendulum clock. He jumped up at the time. It was five o'clock. Time to give his mother her medicine. Not quite running, but rather flying, up the stairs, the pegasus gently knocked on the fine oak door to his mother's bedroom.

"...Come in..." A frighteningly weak voice whispered.

He crept inside, taking in the diminished, almost decrepit state of his dear mother.

"...It's five o'clock. Time for your medication, as per doctor's orders..."

He opened a drawer, and pulled out a small amber bottle. Prepared to take off the cap, the pegasus was stopped by his mother.

"...No. That won't be...necessary..."

"What do you mean?"

"Please come closer, Cloudrunner..."

Fearing the worst, he obliged. He took his mother's right hoof and held it.

"My time has come..."

"...No...no please don't speak like that! Take your medicine!"

"Oh my son...everypony must pass away. It pains me to have to leave you so soon..."

"But...I...I need you..." He brought her hoof up to his face and gave it a light kiss. "I love you mama."

"And I love you too babe...more than anypony ever could..." She gave a subtle smile, and began to caress the stallion's navy mane. "You look so much like your father...so strong...so handsome."

Even in such trying circumstances, Cloudrunner could not help but elicit a blush. He looked at the light yellow mare, his vision partially hindered by tears. "Mother...what will I do if you're gone...I don't kn‒"

"Leave this town. There's nothing for you here. There never was."

His lip began quivering, and his speech became shaky. "...B-but where will I go..."

"Anywhere but here. You're so young...so full of life, Cloudrunner...every parent knows they've succeeded when their foal can make it one his own...I know you can, sweetie."

He didn't say anything, instead letting his expression speak for him, which changed from sadness to determination.

"You will make your father and me very proud..." She felt herself becoming weaker by the second, and uttered one last parting sentence. "Remember, don't let nopony tell you who you are...or what you can do...and always know...that I love you...Cloudrunner...and I always will."

"I love you too..." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Smiling, the old mare closed her eyes and faded off to sleep for the final time.

Cloudrunner could not hold back anymore, and buried his head into his foreleg, staining his charcoal coat with tears.

The service was short, and few were in attendance. Directly in front of his mother's casket stood Cloudrunner, dressed in a suit, black for mourning. He had prepared a eulogy, but everypony had to get back to their busy lives, and didn't stay around to hear it.

Undeterred, the pegasus opened up the small piece of paper on which her wrote it, and read the message.

Or he would have, if he were able to speak. But sorrow claimed his heart, and the words could not form in his mouth.

The funeral service ponies lowered the casket into the ground. Cloudrunner tossed a few roses down the pit, his mother's favorite. Soon dirt had filled the hole, the headstone was the only thing indicating a pony was buried beneath it.

He sat in front of the stone for hours, reminiscing about all his mother had done for him.

When he was just a colt, the pegasus couldn't fly, unlike the other pegasi children. His wings were small and effectively vestigial. Ridiculed and dejected from everypony else, he would come home from class crying, his mother happily embracing him. Frustrated with his inability to fly, she would cheer him up by bringing him a glass of cider and apple slices to his small tree fort.

Other times at school, such as during "Family Appreciation Day," his mother would be too busy with work. Having no father, he was the one child without anypony. Not even his grandparents, while they still lived, came. But he later would find out they never really liked him.

But on the weekends on her day off, that mare would play with her son all day, and he'd tell her all about his hopes and dreams of becoming an adventurer, saving damsels in distress. Of course he knew now those were merely the ramblings of a colt's mind.

But she always believed in him.

And even in death, Cloudrunner knew she still believed in him. She was right; there wasn’t anything for him in this small rural town. Nothing but odious ponies. Nothing but bullies and bigots. He stood up, giving one last goodbye to his mother, and went back to the house.

"Well all seems to be in order. Now if you will, just sign right here, Mr. Cloudrunner." A rather rotund suited unicorn said, his tone sincere and kind.

Cloudrunner took the pen in his mouth and scribbled his signature. He then leaned back on the sofa within the old house.

"Thank you sir. I know it's not worth much. I wish I could have offered more." The pony said. Cloudrunner had never seen such sympathy.

"You need to make money too." The stallion replied.

"Here is your money; 1000 bits." He handed him a check, and placed the deed to the house in his briefcase. Closing it, he began to exit the building. Before he crossed through the door, he turned and said, "My condolences...Mr. Cloudrunner...I realize how hard it can be to lose a loved one."

"Thank you." The pegasus smiled, and the businesspony tipped his hat, then continued on his way.

Cloudrunner sat on the sofa, no longer belonging to him. Gathering whatever belongings he could carry in a rather small suitcase, he slowly left the home...the house. He looked one last time at the living room, imagining himself running around playing with his toys. He gazed at the kitchen...recalling all the hot meals his mother slaved to make just for him. Now standing beside the "For Sale" sign, he looked at the muted yellow wooden walls.

He sighed, and turned around, heading into town.

Walking through the empty streets, he thought about where he would go. What would he do? Something caught his eye, and offered him a place to go.

Nailed to the wall of the general store was a poster. On this piece of paper was a picture of a white alicorn wearing golden regalia pointing out at the viewer. Underneath her read the words "Celestia wants YOU to defend Equestria!"

Cloudrunner knew there was an ongoing war between Equestria and the Minotaurs to the south. It had caused his recent meals to be slim; the food was being rationed. Everyday trains filled with new recruits and artillery passed through. He wanted to fight, but was bound here to care for his mother. He was always a patriotic pony, and he proudly flew the Kingdom's flag on the porch. Maybe he could find his destiny, his true place, in defending his homeland.

Looking at his cutie mark, a lightning bolt stylized to look like an arrow, he wondered what his true calling was. He won that mark by beating the arrogant fliers at school once his wings grew out. He flew so fast he swore his tail caught on fire. Was this his place? An airpony?

Nothing left in the world, Cloudrunner galloped to the train station. His town was too small for a recruitment office, and if he was going to travel for one, might as well go all the way.

He placed the bits on the counter. "One ticket to Canterlot, Sir!"

The clerk hooved him the ticket. "Safe trip!"

Within the hour, a locomotive braked at the platform, its black funnel bellowing smoke. The conductor came out, checked his pocket watch, and yelled, "All aboard, the Great Western Railway. Next stop, Ponyville, and then straight on to Canterlot!"

Eager to start his new life, Cloudrunner hauled his luggage onto the passenger car and looked for his seat. It was fast approaching sunset, and the pegasus felt the weight of the day on his eyelids. He rested his head against the window, and drifted to sleep, dreaming about what the future held for this pony.