THE STONES

Spiritstar had been trying to locate where exactly the stones were for the past week. A guard walked up to her and dipped his head. “Hello, Spiritstar. I have located the stones you were searching for,” he said, raising his head.

“Show me,” said Spiritstar. The two steeds started to fly toward the abnormally large stones.

Two hours later, after finding the stones, Spiritstar had a wing cramp, causing her to gallop circles around the stallion with her. These cramps are getting on my last nerve! thought Spiritstar. Once she felt better and the cramp had ceased, she whinnied as bugs swarmed them. “I’m going to tell the herd—” she stopped as a bug flew into her mouth, causing her to cough.

“Get to the herd!” shouted Spiritstar, stressed. The guard nodded and shot off the ground, galloping through the sky to his herd. She trotted to Sunshade’s Cave, a cave snuggled deep into a mountain. A mare named Sunshade had lived here and had four foals, all of which became herd leaders. She laid down for a quick nap but fell asleep for almost two hours.

Two hours later, she woke up. I should get back. she thought. Spiritstar galloped forward, and jumped into the sky, pumping her wings, and lifting herself into the roaring currents of air.

She flapped her wings faster and soared toward Moon Herd. When she was above it, her wing cramped up again, causing her to fall out of the currents. Sagewind and Silversoul were the first to notice. “Mama!” they whinnied, launching into the sky, flying as fast as their small wings could take them. Tears streamed down their cheeks when they realized they wouldn’t make it. Tigerwhisper went into the sky and shot a huge, flat beam of light under Spiritstar, trying to save her. “I need help!” she whinnied to her friends.

Her mate, Redray, launched himself into the air and flew underneath Spiritstar, trying to push her upwards. Spiritstar's wing cramp had gone away, so she flapped her wings and was able to steady herself, but her parents were going to crash.

In the Stingerwing Forest, a mare by the name of Galaxyshatter heard something and went to check it out. When she got to Moon Herd, she stopped, shocked.

“Moon Herd . . . how did I even get here?” she whispered to herself.

Spiritstar used her magic to lift her parents into the air, saving them. She placed them on the ground and flew down next to them. “Are you okay?” she whispered to them, sitting down.

“Yes, we’re alright. Thank you for helping us, I guess,” said Redray.

Galaxyshatter trotted past Moon Herd, in doing so she snapped a twig with her hoof.

Spiritstar's ears perked up, alerted. She stood up and crept into the forest where Galaxyshatter was. “Who are you?” she whinnied.

Galaxyshatter was scared and turned around. “My name's Galaxyshatter,” she said in a cheerful voice. Spiritstar sighed, annoyed. “Why are you here, Galaxyshatter?” she whinnied, standing to her full height.

“Well, I was looking for my brother, but I lost him.” Galaxyshatter’s body language went from happy to sad in just a few seconds.

“Who is your brother?”

“Oh, it’s Lightningblaze,” said Galaxyshatter.

“But he’s my brother!”

“Does that mean we’re sisters?”

“I guess so,” Spiritstar's mother was Thundermist, but she didn’t recognize this filly.

Galaxyshatter was thinking of Lightningblaze and trying to remember where he was. “Galaxyshatter! Where are you?” neighed Lightningblaze, worried. Spiritstar's ears perked up at the voice. “Lightningblaze?! Where are you?”

Lightningblaze galloped to Spiritstar and hugged her. “Oh, my stars! I missed you! Where is Galaxyshatter?” he said worriedly. Spiritstar buried her muzzle in his mane, drinking in the scent of dirt and sweat. “Are you alright, Lightningblaze? You look sick.”

“I was looking for you and Galaxyshatter everywhere!” said Lightningblaze. He had been crying, that much was clear. “Lightningblaze, it’s alright. We are here now,” said Spiritstar, wiping away his tears. “Want to go see Mom? And meet my foals?”

Lightningblaze hugged both Galaxyshatter and Spiritstar. “I missed you guys . . .” nickered Lightningblaze, wincing.

“We missed you, Brother . . .” Galaxyshatter said, smiling. Spiritstar sank to her knees in sudden pain.

Lightningblaze and Galaxyshatter looked at Spiritstar. “Are you okay?!” said Lightningblaze and Galaxyshatter worriedly. Spiritstar screeched in shock as a tree branch fell, about to hit her. She flipped around and stopped the tree as soon as it was about to squish her.

Lightningblaze and Galaxyshatter both sighed. “We should go. I feel like there is something else going on here,” said Lightningblaze.

“Yeah, we should go,” said Galaxyshatter, about to trot away with Lightningblaze. Suddenly, Spiritstar screamed and formed a protective barrier around herself. Lightningblaze looked at Spiritstar. “Are you okay?” Lightningblaze asked. Spiritstar was sweating, terrified. “No, I’m not okay, my back hurts so much.” she neighed softly, falling onto her side.

Spiritstar healed herself and groaned.

The mare’s head was hanging low, and she was moody today, for some reason. “Are you alright?” asked Galaxyshatter.

Galaxyshatter hugged Spiritstar. Spiritstar wrapped her wing around Galaxyshatter, hugging her.

Galaxyshatter smiled. “Want to go meet my family and my herd, Lightningblaze, and Galaxyshatter?” asked Spiritstar. Lightningblaze and Galaxyshatter looked at each other. “Sure,” they both said. Spiritstar smiled and began to trot to Moon Herd. A few minutes later, they were standing on Death Rock. “Do you want to say anything to the herd?” she whispered to the two siblings.

Spiritstar looked down and shuffled her hooves a bit. “Hey, Lightningblaze and Galaxyshatter, do you guys want to be over-mare and lead stallion? I’m getting tired of leading the herd.”

“Sure, we don’t mind at all!” they said. Spiritstar whinnied, satisfied. She looked at the herd. “Listen to me for the last time! I am winging my authority over to my siblings.”

Galaxyshatter’s eyes lit up. “Oh my stars, yes!” Galaxyshatter said with excitement. Spiritstar looked out into the herd. “Say hello to your new over-mare, Galaxyshatter, who will now be known as Galaxystar, and lead stallion, Lightningblaze, who will now be known as Lightningray!” she neighed. Spiritstar, now Spiritstorm, trotted off Death Rock.

“Wait Spiritstorm, you can stay, we don’t mind,” said Lightningray. Spiritstorm's ears drooped. “Are you sure?” she asked.

“We’re sure. I mean, you are our sister after all!” Galaxystar said. Spiritstorm's ears perked up again, and she walked, with her head down, toward the new leaders.

Galaxystar and Lightningray hugged her. Spiritstorm whinnied for her foals, Silversoul and Sagewind. They flew up to her and landed on each other, squealing happily.

Galaxystar greeted them. “Hi, there! I’m Galaxystar!” she nickered. The two foals squealed, a bit frightened by the large mare. Soon, they walked out from under their mother’s wings toward the mare, sniffing her, not fully trusting her.

Galaxystar giggled a bit. “It’s alright if you don’t trust me yet, I get it.” Galaxystar smiled. Silversoul hugged the mare. Galaxystar hugged her and then smiled. “I need to go to Lightningray now! Bye, guys!” waved Galaxystar, trotting off. “Mama, I’m hungry!” said Sagewind, nipping at the grass.

Lightningray looked sad and lay on the grass. Galaxystar looked at Lightningray. “Are you okay Lightningray?” asked Galaxystar. Lightningray looked at his sister and then looked away again. Galaxystar hugged him, seeming to stare at nothing. Galaxystar sighed and hurried away to Spiritstorm. “Lightningray won’t say anything.” neighed Galaxystar. Spiritstorm flew up to her siblings and landed in front of Lightningray. “Lightningray?” she said, asking if he was alright.

Lightningray stood up and immediately began to yell and scream in Spiritstorm's face, angry. “What’s with all the yelling?” Galaxystar asked, confused.

“Shut up, you two-muzzled murderer!” whinnied Lightningray at Spiritstar.

Galaxystar stayed quiet for a moment. Spiritstorm looked away, thinking of Echosong, and how she killed her. Galaxystar said nothing and hugged Spiritstorm. “It’s alright, Spiritstorm, you had to kill that crazy mare,” said Galaxystar. Suddenly, Echosong appeared. Spiritstorm whinnied, shocked. “Guys, leave! Echosong is alive again!” she spread her hooves, so she wouldn’t fall if Echosong blasted her. Echosong giggled in a sweet yet psychotic way.

Galaxystar was spooked by the laugh. Spiritstorm launched off the ground, headed straight toward Echosong's head. Lightningray and Galaxystar watched the battle. “Get the herd to safety!” neighed Spiritstorm at her siblings.

“Get out of here!” Galaxystar yelled. The herd immediately followed her instructions and galloped into the woods. Spiritstorm's wings gave out, and she started falling toward land. Galaxystar dived down after her. "Are you okay?” asked Galaxystar. Spiritstorm opened her wings and steadied herself. “I’m fine!” whinnied Spiritstorm. Galaxystar also steadied herself and flew toward Echosong. “Why are you here? What could you possibly gain from doing this?!” she asked.