FALLEN POWER
Spiritstorm faced the steeds who’d supported her most of her life. “I want every single steed here to go to the Stingerwing Forest, away from me and Fernheart.” said Spiritstorm.
Spiritstorm turned to Fernheart, saying. “I will fight you, only if we can use our hooves and teeth.”
To Spiritstorm's surprise, Fernheart agreed. Fernheart made the first move, ramming her opponent in the chest. Spiritstorm somersaulted, landing on all four hooves. She charged Fernheart, flew up, and pummeled her with kicks to her back. “Hey, stop!” neighed Fernheart.
Fine, if you want to fight like a real pegacorn should, let’s do it. thought Fernheart.
Fernheart charged Spiritstorm, flying so fast her wings blurred. Spiritstorm turned invisible as soon as Fernheart reached her. Spiritstorm kicked Fernheart in the face with her hind hooves. Fernheart pretended to be dead, but as soon as Spiritstorm thought she’d died, she would turn invisible and blast her with fireballs.
Spiritstorm started to walk away, the two mares healing themselves. Fernheart turned invisible, then she flew as fast as she could, hurling big, black fireballs at Spiritstorm. She tried to dodge them, but it was no use—she knew that she was about to fall. And if she fell, there would be no one to protect the herds.
Her wings gave out, and she fell like a stone toward land. As she fell, she stared at Fernheart, full of anger. She hit the ground hard, leaped up quickly, and flew. She flew away to think about what she should do to help the herds.
Once Spiritstorm was far enough away from Fernheart, she sat down to plan.
All of Spiritstorm's pegasus supporters flew to her, spreading their wings, making them look larger. “What is this? These steeds should obey me and me only!” neighed Fernheart, annoyed.
HELP
Spiritstorm walked to Fernheart. “Would you want to be forced to do what your lead mare says?” asked Spiritstorm. “Tell me.” Fernheart’s ears drooped a bit. “No, I wouldn’t but that’s what I did . . .” said Fernheart, turning on her mother. “This is your fault, Echostar!”
Echostar reared, angry. “So what? I only did this because you don’t listen! You deserve this. You created so many rifts between you and me because you are self-centered and arrogant. You might be powerful, but you’re alone. And I hope it remains that way.”
Fernheart and Echostar tried to blast each other with their magic, but Spiritstorm teleported in between them. “Let me kill her! She is not a real Mother. This is all her fault, she deserves this.” screamed Fernheart.
I hope I never see you again ‘Mother’. thought Fernheart. Tears streamed from Fernheart’s eyes as she flew away. “Fernheart, wait! Please!” shouted Spiritstorm. She flew quickly after her. “What do you want, Spiritstorm?” asked Fernheart.
Spiritstorm sat down next to Fernheart and placed a wing over her back. “I want to help you. I can help you handle your family problems if you want me to, but it’s your choice.” said Spiritstorm. “I’ll leave you alone now. I’ll be in the Moon Herd lands if you need me.”
When Spiritstorm got to Moon Herd, she saw Autumnberry sitting alone. “Hey Autumnberry, why are you out here alone?” asked Spiritstorm as she sat down next to her friend. Autumnberry turned to look at Spiritstorm. “No reason, but why did you follow Fernheart, to kill her or something?” asked Autumnberry.
Spiritstorm started to wonder if Fernheart was lying. “I didn’t kill her, I helped her. She has . . . issues, so I told her to come here if she needed anything,” said Spiritstorm. Autumnberry was very upset by this. “Why? Why did you bring that thing to our herd? You’ve killed us! I’m going to tell Redray about this.”
A while later, Redray approached Spiritstorm and Fernheart. “Why did you agree with her, Spiritstorm? I thought you were here to help us,” he snorted bitterly. “So much for that.”
Spiritstorm moved in front of Fernheart. “The reason I agreed with her was that she is being shunned and abused by her herd. She doesn’t deserve that. No one does, not even the worst creature ever like she was.” said Spiritstorm.
Redray didn’t like this at all. So, he pretended to agree with her. “I suppose so. Fine, she can come but she stays with you and you only. Understood? I will not risk that monster killing my herd.” said Redray. Fernheart saw her mother, Echostar.
She started backing away as her mother landed, knowing she would be in trouble. “Fernheart, why would you leave? I told you to stay within the borders!” said Echostar. Spiritstorm grew very angry. She blasted Echostar in the side with her magic, making her fall to the ground. “Leave her alone, Echostar,” said Spiritstorm.
As Echostar got up, Fernheart fled. “That is why she is like this. She was being shunned. Why? Echostar told the herd to shun Fernheart, and she never felt guilty about it.” said Spiritstorm. “As for you Echostar, you will dethrone yourself as over-mare of Spring Herd. You are no longer Echostar, you are now Echosong. Say goodbye to your position.”
Spiritstorm flew off to find Fernheart and bring her home. “Fernheart? Where are you? I’ve done what you wanted. I’ve dethroned Echostar.” said Spiritstorm.
How could you, Spiritstorm? thought Fernheart. “Hello? Fernheart? Come out, please,” said Spiritstorm. Fernheart flew down from the tree she was hiding in.
“Oh, hi Spiritstorm.” said Fernheart. “Why are you here?”
“I came to tell you the news, Echosong is not a lead mare,” said Spiritstorm. Fernheart gasped, looking angry. “What! I didn't want you to dethrone her!” neighed Fernheart. “Ugh, fine. I guess I have to be the lead mare of Spring Herd now. I hope you know, I’m not ready to be a lead mare yet. So, if my herd starves, it will be your fault and yours alone.”
Spiritstorm and Fernheart flew back to their herds. When Spiritstorm arrived at Moon Herd, Echosong was still there, pinned to the ground. Spiritstorm used her horn to turn Echosong from a pegacorn to a horse. “What have you done to me? I will tell my herd about this!” neighed Echosong.
Echosong galloped back to Spring Herd, but she could not control the steeds anymore, because she was not the lead mare. When she arrived, her filly was laying down in the shade.