Cyclone, a Wings of Equinox Short Story, Part Two: Truths and Lies

I trotted toward my own cave, my eyes almost immediately drawing to the three pegasus drawings on the wall. One gray, one cream, one bronze.

Me, Whisperspring, and Autumnflight. And soon one more would be added.

My family.

I walked into the cave, feeling a cooling breeze on my face from the thin air vent. “I’m back.” I nickered.

“Dad!” My three-winter daughter Whisperspring galloped up to me, shoving her nose in my chest. I felt my heart swell in pride and love for my daughter. “How are you?” I asked. “You stayed safe during the battle, yes?”

“I made sure Mom was safe.” She nickered, arching her neck. “How many Equinoxians did you take down?”

“Several. So many I lost count.” I laughed.

“Wow.” Her eyes, one brown, one green, shone in the sunlight coming from the vent, sparkling. I nuzzled her cheek. “Soon it’ll be you fighting beside me, my apprentice.”

I looked up just in time to see my mate, Autumnflight, her sable champagne coat glowing in the vent’s sunlight. As always, her beauty took away my breath.

“Hello.” I said.

“You didn’t get injured, did you?” Autumnflight asked, adjusting her green and blue wings.

“No.” I nuzzled her forehead, love filling my heart. I glanced at her wide belly. “How’s the foal?”

“Fine.” She laughed. “You don’t have to ask.”

“I enjoy it.” I nickered.

“What was the most interesting thing that happened on the battlefield?” Whisperspring asked.

Immediately my mind went to the pinto stallion. I clenched my teeth, fighting against the image of his face as he fell, how not a single trace of hatred was on it.

Don’t let the lies poison you. I thought. There had been stories of pegasi who’d defected from the Dark Order, losing their wings to follow the lies of the King.

There was only one King, and that was Abaddon.

“Dad?” Whisperspring was still looking up at me. “You okay?”

I shook myself. “Nothing very interesting happened on the battlefield.” I said. “It was actually fairly boring. Just another Equinoxian invasion.”

She lifted her chin. “When I’m a warrior, I’ll make sure that I’ll destroy all of the Equinoxians. Then there wouldn’t be any more fighting.”

I smiled. “You speak big, filly, but Shakirans have been fighting Equinoxians a long time. If there was a simple way to defeat them, many warriors would have thought of it long ago.”

She flipped her cream mane. “Then I’ll figure out a new way.”

“Be an excellent apprentice, and you just might.” I said.

The pinto stallion probably had a family. The thought was so sudden I nearly slammed into the wall in surprise. Where were these thoughts coming from? I had never cared about the private life of an Equinoxian before. They were just targets, things to destroy.

So what was this strange, melancholy feeling in my heart?

“Are you okay?” Autumnflight asked, her face drawn with concern.

I nodded. “I’m okay. I think I’m just dizzy from being in the fresh air for so long. Not used to it.” I walked toward the opening. “I’ll go to the smoke chambers and see if that helps. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll come with you.” Whisperspring said.

I shook my head. “You stay here for now. Some other time.”

She nodded. I walked out to the rock ledge, looking around my home, trying to distract myself from the thoughts of follow the call, follow the call…

I made note of the spiraling rock ledge that went all the way down into the heart of the volcano. Far below was the lava, so distant you couldn’t see it. Most believed the volcano to be dead, but my people knew better. It wasn’t dead, simply asleep, kept under wraps by the dragon Abaddon. On the day of the destined Final Battle, the volcano would awaken. But as far as I knew, that wouldn’t be for another couple hundred years.

I turned toward the cave partially covered with dry leaves. If anyone could help me with these thoughts, it was the Mansha, the stallion wise in all things to do with thoughts and health.

I lowered my head to avoid the leaves and looked inside. “Mansha Onyxglade?”

From the shadows, a dark chestnut stallion stepped forward, his black eyes glistening like beetles. “Ah, the honorable Stormblaze, newest commander of the honorable Dark Order!” He bowed his head. “What can I do for you, Commander?” He rubbed his dirty wings together as if he was some sort of pegasus fly.

“I have an unusual problem.” I said. “One that must not leave this room, do you understand?”

The Mansha’s eyes glistened. “Oh I see…” He nodded. “I understand. I have just the thing.”

I paused. “I haven’t even told you what it was.”

“Let me guess. Unusual thoughts, sudden strange emotions? Connected to an Equinoxian you met on the battlefield?”

I blinked. “How did you…”

“You’re not the first warrior to come to me today.” The Mansha laughed. “Some Equinoxian was spreading around the poisonous lies particularly thick in this battle. But don’t you worry. I have just the thing for such a poison.”

“Oh good.” I sighed. “I was worried I would be stuck with this strange feeling in my heart.”

“It’s called…ugh, I detest the word so much… sympathy.” Onyxglade shuddered, pulling out a clay jar. “Yes, it must be extinguished immediately. Drink this once a day until the symptoms fade. Pure dragon blood. Always does the job. Come back for more if you run out, but it shouldn’t. It is one of my enchanted jars. You can drink and drink but it never runs out. Just don’t break it. And only one sip is needed.” He leaned in close. “And I would recommend keeping your symptoms to yourself. Some pegasi aren’t as understanding as I am.”

I nodded. “What is your required payment?”

“The standard.” Onyxglade said.

“Of course.” I nodded. “Four Equinoxian hooves?”

“I expect my payment by the end of the week.” Onyxglade said.

“I will get it to you tomorrow.” I looked at the jar and took a sip.

It was sweet and wonderful. I felt the medicine run down my throat and the strange feelings in my heart were replaced by the familiar disgust for the Equinoxians.

“It’s already working.” I sighed.

“Good!” Onyxglade nodded. “Now go on now and get home, truly enjoy your family without all of that… ugh… sympathy for Equinoxians.”

“I will. Thank you Onyxglade.” I left the cave, feeling greatly relieved.

***

Fireheart watched her brother leave the Mansha cave, her orange eyes trained on his movements.

He was carrying the dragon  blood medicine.

He had the heart stirrings.

A deep cackle welled in her chest. Finally. She’d been hoping for a chance like this for eight winters.

She could finally pay her brother back.

It was your birth that stole everything from me, Stormblaze. Fireheart thought. And it’ll be your death that will give everything back.