Reading further would have told her that this was not a wise soul, but instead a deceptive spirit. Or, that using her own mane strands was a bad idea.
The walk back was easier than both of them had expected. The disgusting sensation of having eyes on them at all times had started to fizzle out once the two of them started walking, and Sap was terrified of the sight they were about to see.
When Fire Bolt rounded the corner that made her skin crawl, however, the bloody newspaper that once covered the killed colt lay alone on the bricks, covering nothing but the dirt between each cobblestone. She froze for what felt like the fourth time in that hour, a strange sense of relief filling her body. Yes, she should be worried about the whereabouts of the colt, especially if he was still alive and seeking help, but at the same time, a sense of dread and illness that she didn’t even realize she’d been fighting so intensely had lifted a significant amount, almost as if his attacker had left and taken its prey along with it. “He was… under the paper. I covered him with the newspaper. He’s gone.”
Sap and Bolt stood in silence. It felt almost peaceful for a moment as the strong pull that felt magnetic, meant to bring them inside to safety once more, gradually disappeared. “Let’s get out of here while we can,” Sapphire said sternly, choosing to ignore the mystery. “I believe you, though.” The confirmation that Bolt didn’t know she was waiting for made her sigh in relief, and as they walked around the simplified gravesite as quickly as possible, a darkness seemed to radiate from the floor. A chill ran down her spine as she hopped away from it anxiously.
“I’m good to fly,” She said before her sibling could ask, who nodded and spread their wings.
They started to fly back to Bolt and Moonshadow’s cottage together, and Bolt couldn’t help but reminisce to pass the time as they glided through the sky.
The two young and adventurous pegasi soared through the sunny blue sky above Ponyville. Their vibrant manes and tails trailed behind them, carried by the wind as they joyfully darted and weaved through the fluffy white clouds. Their laughter echoed through the sky, carried away by the wind as they reveled in the freedom of flight. Sapphire sometimes felt bad for the earth and unicorn ponies, as they couldn’t experience the liberating exercise.
Fire Bolt led the way with confidence. Her wings beat with strength but also grace and elegance, matching the fiery spirit that burned within her. Sapphire Swirl, their coat a shimmering shade of lime green, followed right behind, their swift and agile movements mirroring the elegance of the sparkling gemstone for which they were named.
As teenagers, they shared a deep bond as both siblings and best friends. Together, they had embarked on countless adventures, exploring every corner of Equestria they could reach. From the tranquil meadows of Sweet Apple Acres to daring each other to take on the Everfree Forest, they continued to push each other to greatness.
Their wings carried them even higher into the sky, where they could feel the cool embrace of the upper winds and the thicker air of the higher altitude. They performed acrobatics in silent synchrony, twirling and spiraling without the need to cautiously avoid collision as a testament to the bond they shared. With each beat of their wings, they pushed the boundaries of their abilities, wordlessly challenging each other to daring feats of speed and agility. But amidst their playful rivalry, they always watched out for one another. If one veered too close to a cloud or faced any real danger, the other was there in an instant, their wings flapping like a protective embrace, ready to lend a helping hoof.
They certainly weren’t always this close. In fact, they didn’t even know each other for many years. See, Fire Bolt grew up with an older sister, a musical earth pony, and her two parents, her father being a long-retired Wonderbolt and her mother a nurse pony. Her older sister struggled with a long-time illness, treated by their mother, but used her musical talents to escape her sickly life. When she was a young teen, Bolt's father died suddenly from unknown circumstances, and her older sister succumbed to her illness not long after, leaving herself and her mother behind. She spent many years filled with anger, spending her time in solitude and pushing her limits to reach the top speeds her father had at her age under the assumption that it was genetic, constantly furious at the emotionally absent Wonderbolt for leaving her behind and taking her beloved sister with her.
Then, as a teenager, she’d run away from home to visit Ponyville, an escape that she never meant to be permanent, where she met Sapphire Swirl, a charismatic pegasus pony with an excitement for life that Bolt so deeply lacked. They related to each other over their two-toned eyes and love for humor, and eventually, Fire Bolt became herself for the first time and let a considerable amount of her anger go. When Bolt met Sapphire's family one day in Ponyville, she's suddenly struck with unease -- these ponies looked and sounded so similar to herself. She decided that this must be the case simply because she searches for family everywhere she goes, painfully alone, but as time went on, it was harder to ignore the similarities between Sapphire Swirl and herself.
They each had one orange eye - Bolt having one blue eye and Sapphire with a magenta - strikingly bright and exactly the same hue. Sapphire had always said that they felt a sibling-like bond with Bolt, but at the family event, she couldn’t feel further than at home. Homesick for a place that didn’t exist, she excused herself to Sap’s bedroom, discovering a photo that proved something both exciting and sickening – Fire Bolt and Sapphire Swirl shared a father. Struck with a new sense of anger for her father, Bolt and Sapphire grew closer than they thought possible, and from then on they were inseparable. Every sentence was finished by the other, and their true personalities shone through as remarkably compatible.
They continued to fly and perform trick after loop as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over their joyful flight. Fire Bolt and Sapphire Swirl knew that no matter where their wings took them, they would always find their way back to each other.
But that shining memory was gone now. They finally reached the cottage, which was nestled amidst a grove of tall trees, and a sense of slowly-familiarizing unease hung in the air. They landed softly on the front porch, their wings folding neatly against their sides.
Pushing open the door, they stepped into the comforting warmth of the cottage. The scent of Moonshadow's calming lavender candles filled the air, casting a soft, flickering glow on the wooden furniture. Fire Bolt wondered how long it took after she left for him to light them as she hung Sapphire’s saddlebags on the hook by the door. “Moonshine, I’m home! Sap is alright, but I need to tell you s–” She suddenly saw him when she turned.
Moonshadow sat at their round dinner table, his eyes closed in deep concentration, eyes darting back and forth under the lids. His green mane shimmered under the candlelight, and his horn emitted a faint red glow. As a gifted magic-wielder, Moonshadow possessed the ability to tap into visions and see glimpses of a realm beyond Equestria, a talent that had proven to be valuable for late-night conversations but never before to a real-world issue that she was aware of.
Sapphire Swirl's eyes widened as they watched Moonshadow, their voice hushed with anticipation. "Bolt, if he’s having a vision right now, maybe it has to do with what happened to the colt." They turned to their sister. “The timing is really strange.”
Fire Bolt nodded silently, her unbreaking gaze fixed on her partner. She had always admired his ability to delve into the mystical realm of visions, seeking guidance and unraveling secrets that had no bearing on their own world. As Moonshadow's eyes slowly opened, he focused his now-seeing gaze on the two of them.
"Fire Bolt. Sapphire Swirl." Moonshadow’s voice was a calm yet distant tone, and Bolt could tell from the inflection of his voice that he was speaking from another plane – if it was him speaking, that is. "There is a malevolent force at work here. There is one who seeks to bring chaos and despair. He has not been seen by Ponyville in centuries." Bolt didn’t react as Sapphire tapped their hooves anxiously. She figured as much and trusted her partner’s ability to safely convey this new information. “Wraithsong. Find her. Wraithsong. Wraithsong. Wraithsong.” He repeatedly droned before the faint magic illuminating his horn exploded into a blast of light, blinding everyone in the room temporarily before returning to his usual self, albeit a bit drowsy.
Bolt finally proceeded to his side, resting a comforting hoof on his shoulder. “Wraithsong? Who is that? Did you see her?” Sapphire asked, and Moonshadow squinted, thinking hard.
“I… I don’t know who I saw. I did see a book,” He swallowed, taking a shaky breath. “There’s a book in the Frozen North. We need to find it.”
“...Oh.” Sapphire had never witnessed a vision before. “Should we… rest up first?”
Sonar shook his head. “No time. I’ve got tea if you need the caffeine. Jasmine.” He rose from his seat, rushing to the kitchen to reheat the kettle.
“Wait, hold on, we can’t just leave already! I… there was a body out there!” Fire Bolt contested, but her partner didn’t slow down.
“Not surprised, I’m sure everypony’s taking care of it. We need to take care of this, though, I don’t think–”
“It’s a colt, I found him. Nopony’s taking care of it,” She interrupted him, and his expression softened as he approached her.
“Oh, Boltie… I’m so sorry.” Sonar pulled her into an embrace, and she almost started to cry again.
“But you’re… ugh, you’re right.” Bolt pulled away from the hug. “If your vision is guiding us out of Ponyville, it just means that something’s definitely still here.”
“We’ll get some tea, and we’ll get going. Sound good?” Sapphire offered, and Fire Bolt nodded, even though she hated tea.