GIVING UP

A few days later, Spiritstorm shot upward, past the clouds to the point where she was able to see the curve of the planet. Oh! There's the coast. thought Spiritstorm. She thought of the word invisible and she turned invisible. Fernheart sensed her near, and she also turned invisible and went to Spring Herd’s land.

~*~

Soon after finding the coast, Spiritstorm returned to chaos. Fernheart trotted over to Spiritstorm. “If you want them alive, don’t fight me. If you want them dead, fight me. Your choice.” she neighed, trotting away and smacking Spiritstorm on the muzzle with her tail.

Fernheart flew up toward the clouds and let all the steeds out of their vine cages.

Spiritstorm turned invisible, flew up behind Fernheart, and shot her power in a thin, invisible beam. It hit Fernheart in the head, and she fell toward land. She opened her wings and steadied herself.

“Let them leave, Fernheart!” whinnied Spiritstorm. “Set them free!” Spiritstorm tried to tackle Fernheart, but she missed. “These steeds are mine! As a herd, we do not need you or your assistance! Leave us in peace!” yelled Fernheart.

The steeds looked around and saw all of the anger, aggression, and tension building within their friends and enemies alike. A former over-mare flew up to announce something useless to Fernheart and Spiritstorm, but important to others.

“If we need to leave Drakonia, then we will. We need to protect Spiritstorm!” said the mare.

“I will not protect that stupid, pathetic little filly! Fernheart is a better over-mare!” about one thousand steeds whinnied. The other five thousand steeds joined Spiritstorm and flew up to fight each other. “Hey, Fernheart!” whinnied Spiritstorm. She turned invisible, came back up behind Fernheart, and blasted both of Fernheart’s wings.

She fell toward land, her supporters flying after her. Anger twisted their expressions. When they reached her, they flew her gently toward the ground. Right after, some of the steeds who’d chosen to follow Spiritstorm changed their minds, deciding to follow Fernheart.

Now each army was about three thousand steeds each. Why is everyone following Fernheart? She is a horrible example for everyone. thought Spiritstorm. “Spiritstorm! Where are you?” shouted Fernheart.

Spiritstorm immediately turned invisible and flew up behind Fernheart and tackled her. Fernheart flew away from her, flew up, came back down, and kicked Spiritstorm's flanks and wings. Spiritstorm cried out in pain.

Both bodies rocketed toward the grass. Fernheart leaped off Spiritstorm's body, and she slammed into the grass, convulsing and twitching. Fernheart trumpeted the call to battle. Spiritstorm got up and wobbled a bit. She and her army flew up and surrounded Fernheart’s army. “Fernheart! Show yourself, you coward!” whinnied Spiritstorm.

“Surprise!” nickered Fernheart as she tackled Spiritstorm, pinning her to the ground. Two warriors from Spring Herd glided to pin Spiritstorm down. Spiritstorm rolled over, tossing the steeds holding her.

She created a white fireball. Spiritstorm hurled it at Fernheart and it hit Fernheart in the chest. “I need my followers to go to the Stingerwing Forest. Go there, and go in deep.” whinnied Spiritstorm.

The two steeds flew up and Spiritstorm flew back down at full speed, ramming Fernheart’s back with kicks. Once they were near the ground, Spiritstorm leaped off of Fernheart, and she slammed into the grass, twitching. Spiritstorm blasted her, or so she thought, with her flames just as a steed rescued her. The steed let go of Fernheart and rolled over, exposing a huge burn on his side. His breathing slowed, then he stopped twitching.

Sadness fell, softly, like a light feather, on Spiritstorm. “Spiritstorm! Why would you kill an innocent steed like this?” shouted Tigerstar. They pinned their ears at her. “I didn’t mean to, guys. I was aiming for Fernheart,” said Spiritstorm, staring at her hooves. “I didn’t mean to kill him.”

Fernheart reared and faced Spiritstorm, her anger rippling in waves. She shot her power in a wide beam, and so did Spiritstorm. The power collided with one another. Fernheart’s magic was stronger, so her power reached Spiritstorm, and she got hurled into a tree. Fernheart flew over to the tree where Spiritstorm was, thinking to end her for good.

Out of the corner of her eye, Spiritstorm saw her greatest supporters joining Fernheart’s massive herd. “End me if you need to,” said Spiritstorm. Fernheart growled and stepped back from Spiritstorm. The young yearling filly stood and looked around.