Prologue
The water was still as it listened. Not a ripple could be seen upon its silvery surface. It was intrigued by the young mare standing next to it, speaking to herself as she gazed into its depths, her eyes sullen and her checks hallowed.
The pond didn’t know what she was saying, only that it liked it when she spoke to it, when she complained to it, and when she complimented it. The pond had known this young mare since she was a tiny filly, but now she was all grown and no longer always had time to visit.
That’s why the pond had been surprised to see its favorite visitor back to talk.
When she had finished speaking in that hushed, yet compelling voice, the water rippled in response. The smile that graced her face made its waters ripple even more.
The mare wasn’t pretty, to be sure, but she also wasn’t ugly. Her heart, on the other hand, was pure yet defensive. The way the pond knew this was because the mare had never taken a single sip from it, never asked anything of it, only sat and talked.
This time, the mare was thoroughly upset, and the pond could tell.
“Why, oh why must I have been born to the over-stallion of MoonAge?” The mare lamented to the young pond. “Why not to one of the leaders of the other three herds, not the herd known for war and power?”
Nightmist, that was her name, the pond remembered. It had forgotten it in the time the mare had been away. The pond wondered whether or not the mare, Nightmist, remembered its name.
“I know it’s been a while since I’ve come here, Exousia, but I am here now,” the mare said softly, gazing into its waters. Yes, the mare had remembered the name she had given the pond from the beginning. The pond rippled in response, delightful and explosive.
The pond had been named Exousia, meaning power. The pond liked that, even though the mare seemed to blush in her own childishness. The pond lapped its waters closer to the mare in comfort.
Nightmist sighed as she sat down at its bank, her nose just inches from the lapping water. “Oh, Exousia. You’ve always been there for me. How could I ever repay you?” The mare whispered thoughtfully.
The pond went silent with its ripples.
Nightmist stood abruptly, seeing Exousia was no longer present.
“Exousia?” She asked, timid. No response.
What had happened? “Exousia?” She called again.
“Exousia? Who by the Ancestors is that, my dear daughter?” A soft, caring voice answered from the dark, causing the mare to jump in surprise.
“No one, Mother,” Nightmist whispered, standing stock still as she turned to face her beautiful mother. One of her ears were forward, listening to her mother, while the other was back, waiting for a response from Exousia. Her tail was flat against her rump, and her wings were neatly tucked.
Nightmist’s mother looked her daughter up and down as she nickered, “I have something to tell you, my dear. Come, sit beside me.” Her mother sat down at the edge of the pond, her wings unfurling to stretch, inviting Nightmist to sit beside her. Nightmist tentatively left her standing spot to sit a little ways away from her mother.
“No, beside me,” her mother teased as her left wing outstretched to hug her daughter closer. Nightmist giggled softly compared to her mother’s great laugh. Her mother was the spitting image of grace, elegance, and motherly love. Nightmist smiled up at her mother, tucking her wings in as her mother continued to wrap her left wing over Nightmist.
“Now, I’ve got some good news! Would you like to hear it?” Nightmist’s mother asked the last part in a whisper, her smile playful and mysterious.
Nightmist nudged her mother with her nose as she stated, “Of course I want to hear it! Why else would I be sitting beside you?” Her mother rolled her eyes enthusiastically as Nightmist gave out with another giggle.
“Now, don’t be too over excited to what I’m about to tell you,” her mother cautioned as she continued, “it will change your life.”
Nightmist waited, her eyes unblinking.
“The war is over,” her mother whispered to her. At these words, Nightmist jumped up in surprise, praise, and happiness, the best smile emanating across her face.
She jumped into the air, fluttering her beautiful feathers of green, black, cool gray, and purple. “It’s over!” She bleated, prancing around as her wings flowed out behind her. For such a mature looking mare, she was currently acting like a little filly.
“Yes, now calm down my child! You’ll jinx it!” Her mother laughed, smiling as she sat there, watching her yearling daughter prance around the pond. Dirt flung up as the consequence of Nightmist’s fanatics, and the pond was ridiculed by ripples.
“Now,” her mother continued, “I have more news that I know you’ll be just as excited for!” Her mother brayed, standing up and shaking off her pelt and wings, as if the ground was dirtier than sin.
“Oh? What is it then, Mother?” Inquired Nightmist as she settled down and stood there, ears perked up in curiosity. Her mother had a knowing, mysterious look about her.
“You’re going to be married, my darling!” Her mother exclaimed with great pride and enthusiasm, her smile dazzling.
Nightmist, on the other hand, had gone completely stiff.
“Ma-married? N-now?! To whom?!” She asked urgently, her eyes losing their beautiful innocence and her feathers dulling in emotion.
“Why, to Prince Flare of SunAge!” Her mother laughed as if it was completely and utterly obvious. She grew quiet, too, as she soon noticed her daughter was not laughing or smiling.
“What is wrong, dearest?” Her mother asked in concern as Nightmist looked down, her ears losing their curious tint.
“I-I’m just surprised, is all. Is that the only reason the war is ending? Because of this marriage?” Nightmist then asked, her eyes finally making contact with her mother’s in an accusatory stare.
“Well, um, yes, dear, it is, bu-“
“That’s all I need to know, Mother. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go and eat,” Nightmist whispered sullenly.
“Then I’ll join you in ou-“
“No, Mother, I’d like to be alone.”
Nightmist’s voice was terribly numb and indifferent as she stared at her mother, her ears stock still. Silence engulfed the small glen, and then Nightmist turned around and jumped into the air, shedding many of her multicolored feathers in her wake. Her mother watched as her daughter left her standing there beside the pond.
Nightmist needed to clear her head. The way she would have preferred to do that was to talk with Exousia, but Exousia had disappeared due to her mother’s presence. Obviously, the pond didn’t find her mother pure of heart.
Anger fueled her actions as she flew out of the canopy of the trees and into the air. She kept on rocketing upwards, until she was high enough to be just below the highest clouds. When she looked down, all she could see was a world turning its back on her.
Now, would Exousia find Nightmist so pure as it did before?
I hope you guys enjoy this little teaser xD I can’t guarantee that the first chapter will be out here soon, but I have the first two chapters covered. Depending on how well you guys like this, I may not continue posting her story, or at least until I’ve finished writing the whole thing.
Have a wonderful rest of your day, and remember to be grateful!
XD Thanks! I’ll make sure I do, I’m a little behind though with the holidays and auditions and other stuff
XD Thanks! I didn’t think it would do so well....
Words
I have no
Oh..my..GOODNESS that was
XD Okay, now I’ll definitely be writing another chapter before I post chapter one xD
Holy pegasus! And this is just the prologue!?!?!? I can't wait to read more!!!!
Thanks!
Loved it!