Dawn

Dawn stood at the entrance to the tiny, mountain village, staring fondly at it.

Hydrei walked up to her. “Are you sure this is the place?”

Small beads of water formed in her eyes. “I’m sure.” She took a few weak steps down the cobblestone path and stumbled. Hydrei reached out and caught her mother. She helped her walk slowly into the village.

They ambled recreationally to a small, wooden bench at the edge of the tiny hamlet. Sitting down, Dawn looked around. Little cottages of colorful wood were pristine against the clean backdrop of the expansive pine forests beyond the village. A large, stone canyon stood in front of them, with a clear, shiny, deep blue river cutting through the bottom. Dawn turned her head, admiring the scenery. “My birthplace.”

Hydrei looked around. “Yes, it’s very beautiful. But why would a Unicorn village be so far into the mountains?”

“It was a Frontier Village.”

“A Frontier Village?” Hydrei asked. “What are those?”

“A beautiful idea of peace and harmony. Ponies from the three kingdoms were fed up with all the racism and hate between ponies, so they would flee into the mountains, outside any of the kingdoms. Frontier Villages were small communities of ponies of all races, backgrounds, and walks of life.”

Hydrei smiled. “They sound amazing.”

Dawn smiled. “Did you bring it?”

Hydrei nodded and reached into her saddlebag. She pulled out a small, crudely chiseled figurine of a stone pony.

“Are you sure you want to do this, mom? I know my granddaughter would love this for her birthday. She’s the same age we were when we got it from our parents.”

Dawn slowly closed her eyes and nodded. “It’s the least I can do for my father. If it weren’t for him, I would have died here. I wouldn’t be here. You certainly wouldn’t be here.” She sighed. “If only you could meet him.”

Hydrei smiled. “I would have loved that.” She handed the little statue to Dawn.

“Last chance,” she said. “You sure you want to go through with this?”

Dawn nodded again. “Yes. Yes, I do.” They both faced foreword, and Dawn threw the statue. It flew down the canyon, and landed with a tiny splish after a few moments. Dawn pulled out two tiny, green peppers and handed one to Hydrei.

“What’s this?” she laughed.

Dawn smiled. “On the count of three, eat with me. Ready?”

Hydrei chuckled again. “Why?”

Dawn breathed a sigh full of nostalgia. “Just a tribute to your adoptive grandfather. Ready?”

Hydrei chuckled, her stomach jumping up and down. “Sure.”

“One,” They both levitated their peppers near their mouths.

“Two,” They opened their mouths in anticipation.

“Three!” They both shoved the peppers into their mouths and bit down. Hydrei immediately jumped up and started waving her hoof at her mouth.

“AAH!” she yelled. Dawn sat on the bench, laughing, unfazed by the hot pepper. After a few minutes, Hydrei sat down, still breathing fast.

“Mah mawth huths,” she said, her tongue hanging out of her mouth. Dawn laughed.

“What was that?” Dawn asked.

Hydrei pulled her tongue back into her mouth. “My mouth hurts,” she said, smiling.

Dawn rolled her eyes and chuckled. “That’s normal. Just wait for tomorrow morning. Your flank’s going to hurt so hard, it will be painful to sit.”

Hydrei smiled. “Gee, thanks, mom.”

Dawn lied down and put her head on Hydrei’s lap. “Hydrangea?”

“Yes?” she asked.

“My life has not ever been perfect. I will not try and admit that. Every time I found love, whomever I loved always died. My father, your father, and your brother. All of them. But you, you are the only pony I have loved and not lost.”

“And you have always been there for me.”

Hydrei started stroking Dawn’s mane delicately. “Hydrei?” Dawn asked.

“Hmm?”

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you too, mom,” Hydrei replied.

Dawn smiled. She closed her eyes for one last time, never to open them again.