Under The Tree

by Running For Anothers Dream

This is the story of two siblings who made a promise; two cousins who were too far apart; two mares that never meet but become best friends. This is the story of a soldier who never gave up on his country; a mother who never gve up on her child; a group of freinds who never gave up on each other. This is the story of a tree that has heard great secrets.

4. Dream A Little

A/N: And we get to see some plot in this chapter!

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That night, in her dreams, Nightwish walks through a forest. She thinks that it might be Everfree but isn't sure, as she's never ventured into that forest during her waking hours. The branches are a tangled mess, forming a cage above her that blocks out the sun. The few streaks of light that manage to get through dapple the dense underbrush and change the colors of a few sparse flowers, hidden among the mushrooms.

Maybe it isn't Everfree. Nightwish has never heard of there being mushrooms in the bordering woods.

"Hello?" Nightwish calls, hesitantly.

The wind doesn't answer. Neither do the trees.

She keeps walking. Long after she started, or maybe only seconds, the world around her begins to change. Colors bleed and mix together, like when a stone is chucked into the lake. Crackling energy fills the air and she screams, backing up as fast as she can.

Her back hits something solid. Nightwish spins around - and comes face to face with a stallion, tall and slender. He looks like fire, like embers, like the entire world is burning, burning, burning, and not a single part of it can be saved.

The scream catches in Nightwish's throat. Her hooves are rooted to the ground. Vines curl around her fetlocks, flicking through the spot where her fur is closest to black.

"Don't fear, little one. I come in peace," says the stallion, with a voice that sounds both like crashing rocks and Spring breezes. "No harm will come to you, so long as I'm near."

The vines crawl up higher, higher, wrapping around her knees. Nightwish still can't scream.

"Listen to me, little one, and listen to me well. I'm bringing you a warning, one that you must hold dear to your heart for years to come. You will be tested," says the stallion, with a small tilt of his head. Sunlight dances in his eyes; warmth and fury and so much love that it hurts. "You will be pushed. It will feel like the entire world is against you - but you mustn't waver. Your brother needs you, more than you could ever know. Be strong, Nightwish, for if you break than so shall he...and after, the entire world shall crumble."