Chapter 12-- Old Friends
Once again, in just a matter of hours, I was torn. There was Ice, my first love, the mare I had always hoped to make mine… Then, there was Sunshine, the beautiful golden dun mare I now loved.
"Just come with me," I muttered. Ice gingerly stood up, and limped along, her legs still weak from the long gallop. There was a wide island of rocks ahead that I wanted to avoid if at all possible. I looked ahead, and, in the far distance, there as a spit of land just big enough for a horse to cross.
"Come on. There's a strip up there, but we need to run, because we don't know how close behind us the humans are."
"But, Thunder, I-"
"Ice, this is a test. If you can't do this… then you are meant to be a stable mare."
"Oh Magick…" she leaned up against me. "I love you, don't you understand."
"Ice, I do understand. But I can't stay at a stable. I'm wild… and so are you. But if you can't keep up with us… then you are meant to be a broodmare." Ice looked crushed.
"I understand." I heard a shrill whinny in the distance, and I looked up. There was a large group of horses galloping towards us. I could barely make out a dark bay and a gray mare before he and his fifteen mares stood before me. I looked at them and saw the smiling face of-
"DREAM!" She ran to me, and we snuffed noses.
"I've missed you!"
"Step away from my mare," I heard voice say. I looked up.
"Excuse me?"
"Step away from my mare." He was large, black, and intimidating. I looked behind him and saw two more familiar faces- Chesapeake and Poison.
"Meet my herd," Dream muttered. There were some very beautiful mares with him- a cream colored mare, a light gold mare, and more that I couldn't even describe. I saw a large gash on Dream's belly that appeared to be in the midst of healing, and even though he was 5 and I was about 3, I challenged him.
"My name is Rico, and I accept your challenge."
"Magick, what are you DOING!" Sunshine whispered harshly.
"Winning myself some new mares," I whispered back as Rico charged at me. My mind went numb. I rose up onto my hind legs and threw all my weight at Rico. I screamed, and my hoof connected with his face, leaving a long, bloody gash. I wanted to go for his chest, but I didn't want to let my guard down. I sank my teeth into his neck, and I felt his hoof against my side. I swung my body away, and let go of his neck, and had skin in my mouth. He had a huge gash on his neck, and I felt proud. We went back up on our legs, and that's when it happened- he fell over. He just… fell over. I stood over him, confused.
"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped.
"I… ohh… I…"
"What?"
"I have…" a red mare ran to him.
"Rico, is it colic?"
"Oh, Rena, I think so."
"There's nothing we can do for you… you're going to die."
"Good fight… little pony… you take them…" And, with that, the mighty Rico closed his eyes. "Go."
"I, obviously, am Rena," said the red mare.
"I'm Snickers," said a dark bay mare with lots of caramel, brown, and white.
"I'm Shimmer," said a gold mare.
"I'm Peanut," said the light gold mare.
"I'm Pure Existence," said a silver mare.
"I'm Gwenivere," said a chestnut mare.
"I'm Claire," said a mare with black and white spots.
"I'm Magnet," said a black mare.
"I'm Firefly," said a red mare with a white sock and a white star on her head.
"I'm Simple Pleasure," said the cream colored mare.
"I'm Bounce," said an excitable dark gray mare.
"And this is Ruby," Rena said, stepping away from the three year old. "She's mine."
"Understood. I am Magick Thunder, Piñata, Sunshine, and Ice. I will care well for you."
"Let's just go," Rena snarled.
"Fine." I broke into a gallop toward the strip of grass.
"MAGICK THUNDER!" I stopped.
"Yes?"
"Why don't we cross here?" Ice asked, embarrassed.
"It's easier up here." They all galloped up to me, except Ice, who was trotting. I saw Sunshine stop, and go back to her.
See why I love her?
"What's with her?" Magnet asked nastily.
"She's injured. Sunshine's just keeping her company," I said, glaring at her. Magnet yawned.
"How sweet."
When they finally caught up, I decided to send Ice across first, since she was hurt. Now that I was here, I realized how dangerous it was- it was muddy, narrow, and the rocks on both sides were extremely jagged. She began to cross, and when she was halfway across I sent Bounce. They all went over fine, up until I sent Magnet across. She was trying to look cute for me as she went across, and she slipped. I watched in horror as she fell over and a rock pierced her side.
"MAGNET!" I ran to her, my legs sliding a bit in the mud. "Are you alright? Can you stand?" She was struggling, but she got up.
"I'm fine," she snapped. Her side was bleeding badly.
"Let me just-"
"No. Let's continue." The last two mares, Rena and Ruby, came across and we continued.
"Where exactly are you taking us?" Pure Existence asked.
"Home," I replied.
"I'm a racehorse, you know. Me and Simple Pleasure."
"That's nice." She fell back into the herd, and Dream came up.
"Hey, Magick."
"Hey."
"I missed you so much!"
"I missed you, too. How did you get out?"
"I broke out with Chesapeake and Poison. They used me as a racehorse… I was so dumb before, and so were Chessie and Poison. We thought barn life would be great… but it was horrid."
"Tell me about it. I brought some mares from my barn with me that wanted to come along… it might have been a bad idea… Ice got hurt, but Sunshine and Piñata seem to be doing well."
"Yeah… we had a head stallion when we broke out, but when we met up with Rico and his clan, Rico challenged Ambitions, and we became his. But then you found us and I'm so glad you did. Magick, the reason I wanted to talk to you is… well… when we find somewhere to call home… I want a baby."
I looked at her, and she smiled at me.
"This is going to sound silly, because I never planned to see you again in my life, but… Magick Thunder, I've been saving myself for you. Peanut, Shimmer, Firefly, they're expecting Rico's foals. He wanted to get me pregnant, but I told him I felt too young. But I don't. I'm ready to be a mother, Magick. The mother of your colt or filly. Please?" I smiled.
"I can't wait."