Dawn

by Izzy G

Finale

Ink first became aware of the crunch of straw and the softness of a cotton blanket over her. Then came the soft chirping of birds, echoed by the crackling of a fire. But there was no warmth from what she thought were flames. There was nothing even. If it was a truly a bed of straw she was laying on, it should have given off some warmth as well. It should have been prickly.

But there was nothing.

Instead came a twinkling laugh, followed by a soft voice that almost sounded like wind chimes. “Good, you're awake.” Ink rolled over with a groan, her mane tangled in her face. She blinked against the dim light and couldn't help but gasp loudly at the sight of the white mare sitting beside her makeshift bed. She giggled, “I see you know who I am.”

Ink nodded slowly, pushing her overgrown bangs out of her face and meeting the mare's emerald eyes. “How could I not?”

She sighed lightly, “I suppose that's true. It isn't until recently he learned how to properly handle my death.” She sighed almost sadly, “And now he may have to deal with yours, Ink.”

“No!” Ink sat up suddenly, expecting to feel the rush of blood through her but scared to find an empty numbness instead. Her drive was gone. Her resolve had dissolved into nothingness. She seemed to be merely there. “I-I promised! I promised I wouldn't leave him! And to take care of Thunder! And the brotherhood-”

“It doesn't matter now,” the mare shook her head, “Unless they fix your body, little one, you're here.”

“No! No, no, no, no, no!” Ink shook her head, almost relieved to feel tears prickle at her eyes, “Dammit, Snow, I can't stay here! I can't!” Her voice steadily rose until she was shouting, “I have a whole chunk of the Order to take care of! I have a daughter!” Her voice suddenly caught in her throat and she broke down, “I had them, anyway. I...thought I could give Night a future...that I could...” She collapsed into tears, burying her face in her hooves.

Snow Star sighed softly and stroked Ink's mane gently. “You're still very much alive, aren't you? I don't think you're time is up yet, little one. Typically the dead leave their worries at the bridge between worlds...but you...you still worry...”

“That's all I had...all I ever wanted...” Ink sniffled, looking up at Snow through a line of miserable tears, “I just wanted to make Night happy, to make sure my friends and those I held dear were safe. That's...that's all I wanted...But I can't anymore...I..I failed.” She hung her head, a sob escaping her throat.

“I..don't think you have, Ink. Yes, it's true that for the moment, you are in limbo. But yes, you have made Silent- or as you would call him, Night- happy in ways that even I couldn't. You've grown under his watch and in return, helped him grow as well. You're an amazing mare and assassin, Ink. In fact, I think you took a life you didn't even realize you had.”

Ink perked up slightly, brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”

“The stallion I knew as Silent Shadow is long dead, Ink Flash, and you killed him. Not with a blade or even combat, but something as simple as a smile and giving your heart to him. But instead of leaving an empty shell like most killings, you breathed life into the stallion you know as Night Wind. And by doing that, you have given him a future. You've given a reason for living.” She smiled thoughtfully, “You've succeeded in more ways that you could have ever thought possible, little one. In fact, there's still time if you truly wanted to go back.”

Ink's heart did a little leap of joy, her tears freezing instantly, “What kind of question is that?”

Snow couldn't help but laugh and ruffle Ink's mane, “Of course. I forgot who I was dealing with. Now...take care of him for me, will you?”

“I always will...” Ink nodded.

Snow smiled softly, almost sadly, as the world around the two dissolved into a white light. “Thank you.”

There was the fainting beeping of monitors as a blinding pain made its way into Ink's consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open slightly to see Silent sleeping in a chair next to her, murmuring to himself in his sleep. Ink couldn't help but smile faintly, even through the slight fog of pain. Adjusting the way he sat slightly, Silent's eyes opened a crack before opening all the way with a soft gasp.

“Ink...” his voice was breathy in disbelief, still slurred from drowsiness as he climbed out of the chair, coming to stand beside her bed. “Where'd you go, love? I missed you.”

Ink smiled knowingly, closing her eyes gently as Silent took one of her hooves in his. “I got lost. But it's okay, Snow helped me back.”

Although surprise flickered across his features, he nodded softly and kissed her forehead, “Welcome back, maestra.”

Ink couldn't help but giggle.