A/N: This is for a challenge in the Ponyville Challenge Forum, where I can only write until the song is over. Then, I have to move onto the next song and the next snippet!

These five were all written while on my Rise Against play list - and I strongly suggest listening to these songs. c:


SWING LIFE AWAY -

"This isn't right," says Twilight Sparkle, letting the book that she has been looking through drop to the ground. She shakes her head, mane flying, and takes a step backwards. Nearly trips over Spike, who has to scramble out of the way.

The small dragon doesn't look annoyed, though he has every right to be, but upset and desperate, because that is His Mare that is so upset and hurt. "It's okay, Twilight. Maybe you just overlooked something. Try reading it again!"

Tears prick at the corner of the unicorn's eyes, and she gives a stamp. It is a childish action, so unlike her, giving a brief look as to how completely frustrated she is. "I did! And there's nothing there! I don't...I don't think that I can fix this, Spike."

Spike rests a hand on Twilight's shoulder, tries to pour as much comfort as he can into that small action. "It isn't your fault that this happened. Solar Flare -"

"Only came here because of me," mutters Twilight, and she almost leans into her long-time friends touch but instead, shrugs it off. "I'm nothing but bad luck."

WEIGHT OF TIME -

Pain shoots through Gilda's left shoulder, left side, left wing, and blood steadily drips down, staining the floor of the cavern. Her claws clench at the ground but find no hold on the smooth stone, eyes closed tight as she tries not to scream.

"Is that really all that you have for me?" asks the much older gryphon, tilting his head to the side. A tuft of white feathers fall into his eyes, which are little more than golden slits.

Gilda ducks her head. Stretching out her trembling leg before her, she dips into a bow once more. "I'm sorry, Majesty. I tried, I really did! There was this pony though, and she kept interupting me!"

"Excuses," hisses the King, taking a slow step towards the quivering gryphon girl. "Is that all that you offer me still?"

PRAYER OF THE REFUGEE -

"Princess, a letter for you." The guard bows, deep and low, offering a piece of folded paper to the ruler.

It's a crumpled thing, with dirt smeared over it's top. One corner is torn, as though it was sealed and past off in a great haste. She takes it, dismisses the pegasus stallion, returns to her bed to open it.

"Whatever could this be?" she questions, though her voice is soft and swallowed by the stillness of her bedchambers.

It takes a moment to get it open. Then a moment longer to unfold the tarnished paper, to make out the scratched through words and the trembling signature.

Celestia, it says, I told you war was coming. You didn't listen, and that's your own fault. We were angry. Desperate. Hungry and Cold. Now? We have a new leader.

It's signed Derpy Hooves.

DRONES -

Ponyville is a small place, where everyone knows everyone. Birthdays are celebrated by the town as a whole and there is never a lonely face and yet, amidst it all, you can still manage to become part of the scenary - for these ponies do not pry the way ponies do out in the big cities.

On good days, when the pain is not that bad, when her heart is not that heavy, Derpy can smile and join in with the taking. A word here, a word there, and ponies are always nice to her, always welcome her into the conversation.

Which is nice, because her house is empty and lonely and cold, even during the day.

On her bad days, when the pain is horrible, when her heart and mind and choices are beginning to waver, Derpy only needs to lower her head down to the ground and walk in silence. No one bothers her, no one even looks her way.

Which is nice, because she doesn't think that she could bear trying to talk right then, especially not to Twilight Sparkle, who watches from a distant with wide and wondering eyes.

LANTURNS -

The night is dark and empty. Not a single star graces the sky, not a single gaze can find the moon. Heavy clouds blanket everything and a light drizzle falls from the heavens, casting a different view onto the world.

It is in the Everfree Forest that we find ourselves, in a small clearing that is seldom seen. Cast out from the reality of the rest of Equis, and given only this one night, this lone Autumn Eve, to leave the depths of the wild trees and forget the fear of the creatures that lurk in the darkness.

It is in this one moment that beings who are not pony and are not dragon and are not deer gather by the light of a burning fire and dance - wrapped in smoke and mist and fog and a small

brief

glimpse of freedom.