I was thinking and I wondered, what if there wasn't a happy ending in Windborn? Nightwing wasn't defeated, the pegasi were still enslaved, and worse still, Star lost. So I wrote a short story of my perspective on a different kind of happy ending.

The black feathers. There were so many. The terror coursed through Morningleaf's veins as she stumbled to the ground, nosing desperately at the pitch dark plume. "Star…oh Star…no please!" Her voice heightened and her breath was labored. She had already lost so much, she couldn't bear losing him too. Beside her, a warm stream slid down her neck as Brackentail stood beside her, tears falling across his cheeks. In the air, Nightwing trumpeted triumphantly. "Bow to me, steeds of Anok! Bow to your ruler! No one can challenge me, not even the supposed black foal." The words rang bitterly in Morningleaf's ears. "He can't…this isn't right…no…" She struggled to her hooves, swaying unsteadily but she would not, could not, let Nightwing win. "Morningleaf," Brackentail whispered, his shaking form bent in an awkward bow. "He-he'll kill you!" His eyes, she could see were wide with fear under his forelock. "For me?" He pleaded. For a terrible instant, Morningleaf considered standing her ground. After all, what was there to live for? But…the look that Brackentail gave her, a gaze of sheer desperation. She had lost everything, yes, but so had everyone else. Morningleaf realized in that moment that Brackentail had given everything for her, since that fateful race in the ravine. The chestnut filly nodded and hesitantly lowered her body as Nightwing's shadow passed over them all. She tried to mute the cries of anxious pegasi, terrified for their lives. Nothing was ever going to be the same. Hopelessness crushed her soul like a nut, cracking on the pavement beneath her hooves. "What are we going to do?" She nickered despondently. Brackentail sighed deeply, and she could hear the hitch of tears to come in his throat. Her own was clogged and tight. Above them, Nightwing shot a stream of silver starfire into the air. "Sleep everyone! Tomorrow, we will begin building a new home." He commanded, leaving in a streak of black and diving to his foals, hidden in the trees. Morningleaf's legs gave out and she crumpled into the grass. Grass littered with the ashes of many fallen pegasi. She couldn't believe Star was gone. "They didn't deserve this. No one did." Brackentail lay down next to her, and she scooted closer, embracing the warmth under his orange wings. He nuzzled her kindly. "Whatever happens, I'll always be here," he promised. The words drifted into the night, and Morningleaf clung to them as she closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep. ------------------------------- Moons had passed, Morningleaf wasn't sure how many. All she knew was they were making progress. They had continued using the tunnels, pegasi creeping out and escaping across the Dark Sea. She knew it wouldn't be long before Nightwing noticed. However, they continued to press their luck. In the past few weeks, they had only lost one steed - a young foal named Moonriver who had caught a cold and not been able to recover. They considered that a win, the Rebels of Anok. But all good things come to an end. Even small bright lights in a sea of darkness. Being a hero often means sacrificing yourself for others. On one fateful afternoon, Brackentail and Morningleaf were grazing side by side. They had just sent one of the last groups into the tunnels, leaving only the two and a small gathering of others. They were feeling especially giddy, considering Morningleaf had felt the first kicks of a foal. She felt like she was finally getting a life back, despite all of the suffering. She couldn't help but remember her life-long love and adopted brothers erupting in a plume of silver smoke. She leaned against Brackentail, who nickered lovingly. He had been with her through everything. As she took another leisurely bite of the grass, Nightwing strutted into the clearing. Riversun and Starfrost close behind him. The foals were almost yearlings, and had adopted a slightly less tyrannical, but still severe, behavior. "Where are they?" Nightwing thundered angrily. "I know you've been sneaking out steeds…" Brackentail lay a protective wing over Morningleaf's back. "We won't deny it." Both had discussed this day for ages. They knew it would eventually come to this, and they were willing to die protecting Anok. Even with the unborn baby. Morningleaf paused, thinking of the possibilities if they could escape. A happier life. A fantasy she had nursed. The thought dissipated as she stared into Nightwing's cold brown eyes. "Then you shall die." Morningleaf, Brackentail, and the developing foal stood together. A family. For all they believed in; every pegasus who had died and those who still had their lives ahead of them. As she met her mates eyes, she didn't fear the dark abyss she knew would await them as Nightwing opened his mouth and readied the silver starfire. "I love you," both whispered, their chestnut hides disintigrating to ashes, holding each other one. Last. Time. Fly straight and find your rest