The unicorn mother jumped as she heard voices in the distance, drawing closer to her home. She had known for some time that they would eventually find her, but for any reason she knew it would be today. She had woken up in the early morning, and she had felt a calmness like she never had before in her life. She knew that today was to be her last.
When she realized this, she sent off the last hope of her forsaken country into a hiding, the likes of which it would never be found. The hope was her own child, barely past a year of age.
The unicorn never felt a moment's panic as the voices grew infinitely closer, to where she could hear and distinguish individuals. She did not move a single inch as the door was bashed down.
A dark blue and black alicorn with the mark of the moon on her flank entered. She was fitted in ceremonial armor, which was streaked with hints of gold and other precious metals.
"Where is the child?", the alicorn bellowed angrily. The mother turned around and, without a single trace of fear, replied calmly, "You know not what you seek; it is as if you ask me of the weather outside. We both know the answer, but we do not understand why."
The alicorn was infuriated. "Do not play games with me! I am your ruler! You will not disobey me!" The mother almost cracked a smile. "Not to damage your ego, but… It seems I already have disobeyed-" the mother was silenced as she was dragged outside with alicorn magic.
Outside, several royal guards waited in a group and another alicorn, whose mark was that of the sun, stood ahead of them. Once she noticed her sister emerge from the home, she sneered as the mother was dragged out behind her.
"What of the child?", she quietly asked her sister. The dark alicorn glared in the mother's direction. "She is unwilling to digress the child's location, and she is useless to us. Shall I dispatch her now, Celestia?" Celestia shook her head and replied, "Let one of the guards do it.
Celestia approached the mare, sneering as she neared. She drew the attention of the guards, before announcing, "Are you prepared to die for your crimes?" The mare looked up into the alicorn's eyes before replying loudly,* "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"*(Who did I quote? Answer in the reviews.)
Celestia nodded grimly before stating, "You shall have the latter of your wishes." She brought a guard forth, who wielded a heavy axe. As Celestia ordered the execution, the guard hesitated. He had heard her speech and had been moved. And he too was a commoner, before becoming a guard.
Celestia waited as the guard hesitated, and finally slapped the axe out of the pony's hooves. "You fool! You shall obey your leaders! Leave, and never let me see you again!" She hissed as the guard dashed off, and she picked up the axe with her magic.
Meanwhile the mare had been muttering to herself. Celestia leaned down. "Repeat what you just said!" The mare looked up once again with a glimmer of defiance in her eyes. "I pray that my child may never know a harsh sun. That she may grow up living under warmth, and not tyranny!"
Celestia chuckled, "And how would that be possible?" The mare, for the first time in a long time, smiled and replied, "Princess, have you ever heard of time travel?" Celestia's eyes widened before the mare continued, "My child will be part of a timeline without you as a tyrant!" Celestia felt fear creep into her mind. "That's impossible! Not even an alicorn has THAT much power!" The mare once again smiled. "Then why do you sound so frightened?" Celestia turned and was able to glimpse her sister and the guards before they all winked out of existence.