SIBLINGS

Echosong whinnied for Fernstar, her filly who was now a power-hungry yearling. She came and she was able to drive Echosong away from her enemy herd, Moon Herd.

“If this ever happens again, I will not hesitate to destroy you. Do you understand me?” asked Fernstar. “Annoying mare.” and with that, she walked away. Echosong galloped to her filly, jumped up above her, and kept galloping.

“Hey! Stop, Mother!” neighed Hazelmist, Fernstar’s little sister. “I will get my sister then!”

“What in the name of Sunstar is that?” neighed Echosong. The sun was disappearing behind the moon. “I know what is happening. It is called a ‘Solar Eclipse’. It will not last long, only for a day.” said Spiritstorm.

Out of nowhere, the spirit of Sunstar, the legendary mare, appeared in front of Spiritstorm. “I heard my name? Who has summoned me?” asked Sunstar. Spiritstorm knew what this mare had done and how she was a legend, so she bowed her head, a gesture of respect.

“Oh, dear, there is no need to bow to me. I want you to know that I support you,” said Sunstar. She turned to Echosong. “I’m truly disappointed in you, sis. You’ve truly become a monster, just like Mother had said you would become,” she said, with no emotion on her face, but with anger in her heart. “Sis, I thought Mom . . . killed you . . .” neighed Echosong.

Wait, Echosong and Sunstar are related? thought Spiritstorm. “She did, but that’s not the point,” said Sunstar. “Why did you attack your filly? What did she ever do to you?”

“So, you had a sister and never told me?” Fernstar whinnied, angry. She began advancing on the two siblings.

Everyone grew afraid, even the supposedly fearless mare, Sunstar. “Fernstar, don’t do something you’ll regret. She might be bad but she cares for you, and everyone. She turned into something that—other than her being distant and crazy—I didn’t even understand . . .” said Sunstar.

Suddenly, Echosong saw a vision of her mother. It felt so real because it was real. Her mother, Oceanblaze, landed in front of her.

“What do you want, old hag?” said Sunstar, stepping in front of her little sister defensively. Oceanblaze looked at Fernstar. “So, this is your daughter? What a freak,” she said as she trotted over to Fernstar. Fernstar had lost it at this point.

Spiritstorm helped Fernstar attack Oceanblaze.

Echosong, Sunstar, and Fernstar flew away to try to reunite and fix their relationship. “I didn’t know you were my aunt; you seem so amazing!” said Fernstar.

“Thank you, dear, you seem very sweet, despite what you’ve . . . been through,” said Sunstar, glaring at Echosong. They talked for hours, not realizing it was night. “I’m going up into the sky to speak to someone about coming back to life. Even if they say no, I will come to visit, okay? Love you both.” said Sunstar. With that, she flew up toward the sky, then disappeared in a flash of beautiful golden light.

A few days later, Sunstar came back. “I have good news guys. I am in my body and I am a mortal now! And I also don’t look dead.” said Sunstar.

ALIVE

Spiritstorm went near her adoptive parents and adoptive sister. When she was there, she lay down next to them. Suddenly, her mother appeared in front of her, causing her to leap up and canter toward her, sobbing quietly.

“Shh dear, I’m here now,” said Thundermist. Autumnberry, Redray, and Tigerstar woke up and saw Thundermist standing there. “How are you here? Fernstar killed you!” said Tigerstar.

“She did, but . . .” started Thundermist, trailing off. She sighed. “Where is she?” They trotted to the herd so Thundermist could see everyone. “Hey guys, it’s nice to see you again.” she nickered. When she saw Sunstar hugging Fernstar. “What is she doing here? And more importantly, why is Sunstar hugging her?”

Anger bloomed in her heart, then she galloped toward Fernstar and rammed her, tossing her off her hooves. “Hey! What was that . . . for?” whinnied Fernstar, shocked and regretful. She stood up and faced Thundermist. “You know what you’ve done! You tore my family apart!” neighed Thundermist.

“Mom! That's enough! She's changed!” said Spiritstorm. Fernstar just watched, stunned and sad. “Look, I'm sorry. I was just jealous because Spiritstorm got the attention that I never got. She has everything, but I have nothing!” she said.

“Wait, so your mother is Sunstar's sister?” whinnied Thundermist, changing the subject. “I need to talk to you Fernstar, alone.” They trotted toward an old redwood tree.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” asked Fernstar. They both laid down, and Fernstar wrapped her wings around Thundermist. “Why did you do that after you killed me . . .?” asked Thundermist.

“I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what I did,” said Fernstar. She stared off, probably reliving her life before this moment. Thundermist cocked her head, thinking. What made her like this, evil? Was it her mother, sister, father, or something else?