Chapter 1: Memories and Magic
Starshower rose and stretched her legs. She tried to ignore the pangs of hunger in her stomach as she left the burned building she had spent the night in. Today would be another long day of sneaking and running, trying to make it to the forest without being caught.
Her parents had been the only thing in the dream with any color. The Meadow around them had been a fuzzed-gray color. Her parents. Her parents were dead. Starshower bit back a sob.
The dream was the last memory of her parents, the last happy thing in her life. The last bit of good, bright, wonderful color. The last thing that her parents had done was to save her from them. They had barred their way, letting her go free. It had been the last thing they had done, giving themselves up for her.
She checked that the coast was clear before heading down the cobblestone streets, eyes always searching for any of them and any way of escape, ears alert to pick up any noise.
Starshower had been walking for less than ten minutes when she heard them coming after her. She broke into a dead run, then glanced back. The road led right into the forest, and if she didn't slow down she would make it to safety.
Starshower's hooves clattered along on the cobblestone road. Their feet made loud, harsh, strange noises. Then Starshower's ears picked up another sound. A sound that most certainly had sealed her doom.
Hooves, adult pony hooves. And the sound of magic crackling.
Starshower looked back, and then ran harder. They had taken control of another pony, a unicorn.
"When you are scared, think of a happy thought," Flowerdew's voice echoed in Starshower's mind.
Starshower closed her eyes. The sound of her own hooves and heavy breathing filled her ears. The memory and the dream of the picnic and her parents filled her mind. The terror that they ensued filled her soul. Her heart was trying to overcome the terror with the memories.
Loud, pounding hooves on cobblestone streets; heavy breathing.
Pretty flowers, cool waters, rolling hills.
Ugly, evil, controlling creatures; bad unicorn magic.
Loud hooves, rolling hills, ugly creatures.
Starshower blinked, and heard magic crackle around her. Was the unicorn's magic upon her, already?
Cobblestone, flowers, magic.
Starshower blinked again, wished she were in the Meadow, and then tripped on a brick. She fell, hard, and knew she would be caught.
Magic crackled. A soft 'bam' followed.
But she didn't land on hard, cobblestone brick.
