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// Prologue: The Last Song of the Forest 
// Story: On Wings of Grace 
// by Midnight Solace 
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1258 years prior to present

Shining Cloud ran through the forest as quickly as her hooves could carry her, her breath coming in rapid pants as her pursuers gained on her. She tightened her grip on her foal as she leaped over a bundle of fallen trees. She hissed in pain as her hoof clipped a large stone protruding from the forest floor, but she did not stumble. She could not allow her pursuers to take her and her filly. So she ran.

Now the Everfree forest was known for its dangerous creatures and plants; but if one was familiar with its inhabitants as she was, then they could navigate it safely and surely. And nopony was more familiar with the accursed forest than Shining Cloud, Princess of the Song Kingdom, whose existence was unknown to even the newly risen princess of the sun, Celestia and her sister, newly risen princess of the moon, Luna. And they never would, as Shining Cloud and her filly were the last remaining survivors of the Song Kingdom, as she had watched the griffon invaders slaughter her subjects. Her husband, Ivy Shield had remained behind to give her a chance to escape, and forced her to do so despite all of her begging for him to come with her. She had watched from the edge of the forest as her kingdom burned. Then she ran.

It was not long after that the invaders had taken chase, noticing that the Princess was not among the fallen ponies. What few guards that had escaped with her had been lost prior as they engaged the numerous groups of pursuing griffons. Shining Cloud was bleeding from numerous severe wounds and her vision was fading in and out as the blood loss began to take its toll on her. The only thing keeping her going was pure adrenaline and the absolute need to protect her daughter. She stumbled on a root and fell face first to the ground, her filly still clutched tightly in her hooves. She could hear the invaders approaching and silently prayed to any force that would listen, begging for a miracle to save her daughter’s life, even at the expense of her own. From above her she heard a low, threatening growl and looked up to see two Timberwolves glaring down at her, red and blue orbs following her movements. They dropped to the ground and slowly approached her, yet they did not attack, but instead drew closer so that they could catch her scent. After doing so, they lowered their muzzles and licked her face, a protective tone in their whimpers at seeing her injuries. Instead she pushed her foal across the ground towards them, the rest of her body unwilling and unable to respond to her commands. She looked up into their eyes and quietly whispered, “Please, protect her. Protect her as you would your own princess, for she is now the last remaining Song.” An understanding look appeared in their eyes as one of the Timberwolves approached and gently picked up the foal in its jaws. She watched as the two Timberwolves escaped into the forest, the Song Kingdoms last hope clenched in their jaws.

The ponies were almost upon her now and she closed her eyes as she happily accepted her fate, knowing that her daughter was safe. She didn't even feel the burning spears pierce her side as only a few words escaped her lips. “Mommy loves you, my Winter Song.”