It's that dream again, the exact same one. A roaring sound blared around the pale filly pegasus, ringing painfully in her ears. Her short, straight red mane and tail whipped in the harsh winds. The bleak cityscape around her shook and trembled, the few tall buildings still standing began to crumble. It was stiflingly hot, but the sun was blotted out by crimson clouds, bathing the world is sanguine light, seemingly forever. Terrified shrieks soon surpassed the quaking land and the roaring sky as thousands of ponies ran, stampeding for their lives all in the same direction.
Why is this happening? Everypony running... are they all that's left? I- It can't be. I need... I need to run to. If I don't... Her eyes were dull and lackluster as she slowly turned her head back, the stampede that flowed around trampled over one another in their terror. Weakly, she tried to lift her hoof, but her legs seemed frozen in place. She felt horror well put within her as the roar grew louder, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest but her face was dull and blank despite her fear. Her wings quivered and burned, begging her to fly away, but, she couldn't move. Suddenly, the shaking and roaring stopped. Her heart skipped a beat as all went silent.
No... not again. Don't, please don't do it. Please. Around her, the panicked throngs had come to a halt staring off to the horizon, towards the source of the roar which was now replaced with a deathly quiet. The whirling red clouds seemed frozen in place and the air became still, without a wisp of a breeze. She could feel icy cold tears streaming down her face as she weakly shook her head. A gently whisper carried across the silence like a scream as little more than mouthed the words that always came next; “No...”
In an instant, the very air suddenly changed, she couldn't breath and her ear drums felt like they were being torn out of her head as she screamed in agony. She could feel the air being ripped right out of her lungs and she could hear her saliva boiling on her tongue. Desperately she tried to suck in even a single breath, but to no avail. Blood dripped down her head from ears, her tears sizzled away and her eyes burned as they rapidly dried. She turned her head as far as she could to the thousands of ponies behind her. Every time, she begged for her eyes to close, so she wouldn't have to see, but the pain in her terror stricken violet eyes was too great even moving her eyelids a milometer burned like her eyes were on fire, despite all of this, she could still see perfectly.
No! No! Please! I'm begging you, don't do it! She tried to scream, but her lungs felt like they were being pulled inside out and she couldn't hear a thing and her tongue cracked and bled as she moved it. Then, it happened, the first one, always the one closest to her, this time it was a colt younger than herself. He was a small earth pony with a curly brown mane and a white coat, no adult was with him... he was all alone. No! Not him please! He's just a colt! Me! Do it to me instead! The colt's face contorted in agony as he fell to the ground clutching his chest. Her eyes went wide as she watched helplessly. The colt looked to her, as they always would, his eyes begging to be saved just before... Bang! His small body exploded from the inside out. Blood, flesh and bone sprayed out, spattering her in his remains and his blood dripped from her fur. A searing pain emanated from her hind leg as a fragment of the child's bone was shot into her. Then, from further behind her, another pop as blood showered the air.
The sickening popping sound rang again and again, despite her ears being eviscerated, she could still somehow hear it, over and over again. She could feel herself suffocating, but she just couldn't pass out. Please, no more, no more! Just end it... why wont I just die!? I can't stand it anymore! Through her hooves she felt the ground begin to shake violently, her head shot up to see a wall of destruction rushing towards her, rapidly engulfing everything, decimating massive building as though they were nothing. She braced herself as the explosion that seemed to start miles away was now upon her. With a quick glance she found everypony else was already dead, the land was littered with mutilated body parts and blood, then, she felt the impact, her body compressed and she could feel every single bone within her snap and shatter, then... everything went black.
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“Ahhhhh!” A shrill scream filled the dark room as the filly bolted up from her bed. Her fur was soaked through with sweat and her heart was pounding as she gasped for breath.
“Galya!” The shout came from her bedside as the haze of her dream slowly lifted. The small figure spoke up, her voice heavy with worry. “You're okay, it was just a dream, please try to calm down.”
“I- I'm okay Mishka... I- I just...”
“You had that bad dream again didn't you?” Mishka said in a hushed tone. Galya's vision had adjusted to her room, she could see on the face of her little sister a deep empathy and worry. Mishka was a petite filly with large sapphire eyes and a warm amber coat. Her short, dull pink mane curled at it's ends, her curls exaggerated by her bed mane.
“Yeah, the same one.” Galya tried, but she couldn't keep her voice from trembling, she couldn't stop talking, if she let the silence flow back, she could still hear the horrible roar. “How long have you been awake? What time is it?” Was she standing over my bed the whole time? I hope I didn't wake her.
“I woke up when I heard you moaning and sobbing. I thought you were crying. That was about ten minutes ago. As for the time, it's almost six now...” Mishka trailed off as she turned to the clock ticking on the wall. It was too dark for Galya to see, but Mishka had exceptional nigh vision.
“Wait... six? It's six AM!?” Galya shouted, bolting to her hooves from her bed and flourishing her wings, sending her blanket flying across the room. Mishka bolted across the room, catching the blanket and rolling it up in her hooves before it could hit the floor. Keeping on her hind legs with soft flaps of her wings she neatly folded the blanket and placed it at the floor of her sisters bed.
“Y-yes... it's six o’clock in the morning. You should probably-”
“Leave! I need to leave!” Galya shouted, cutting off her sister.
“You need to-”
“Get to work!” She blurted as her eyes darted from the clock to her sister. A light fluttering sound filled the room as Mishka hovered over the her bed. With a soft click, the room suddenly filled with white light. Their small room was immaculate, Galya knew it was completely thanks to Mishka that she was so well taken care of. Their hard wood floors seldom had a speck of dust and the air always smelled nice and fresh. There wasn't much of anything in the room besides their beds and two pale beige curtains, one for each window, the base of each bed had a large wooden chest for clothes and bedding. A light tap came from Mishka as her hooves hit the floor. She nodded to her older sister.
“Your backpack is on the table downstairs in the kitchen, and don't forget your breakfast and lunch, if you don't eat enough you wont have the strength for flying practice after school or the focus to do your homework.” Mishka's empathetic look returned as she spoke. I don't know why you even insist on having a job, you're always tired and worn out. I wish the Princess never allowed you to get a job.
“I won't forget, if I leave now I can eat before my shift starts. Thanks so much for always making me food all the time, you know I love your cooking.” Jumping down from her bed, Galya hit her floor with a greatly less dainty thud than her sister. Within only a couple steps she reached the door, the old hinges squeaking as it swung open. She began trotting out the door, but just a moment later she came to a dead stop, facing away from her sister. A dull ache filled her heart as she took a shaky breath. “Y-you know, I actually have something to do after school today so, I won't be able to have our flying practice today.”
“Galya! If you keep skipping our sessions you'll never-”
“You should get ready soon to or you'll be late for school.” Without another word, Galya kicked their bedroom door closed behind her and, with a frustrated huff, cantered down the stairs to the kitchen, leaving her sister all alone.
Mishka looked forlornly at the door before giving a defeated sigh. Padding up to her sisters bed she prodded Galya's sheets with her hoof. They're soaked through. With a downcast feeling gnawing at her, she began to strip the bedding. One in fifty-thousand, that's the ratio of pegasus that are born that can never fly... is Galya the one? Placing the blankets on the floor she opened up the chest at the foot of the bed, pulling out a clean sheet. 'The princess has shown us unfathomable kindness and hospitality, taking us in as wards of Equestria and providing us with this home, only with the order that we go to school. I know Galya remembers better than I do how bad our home country was, she was never able to get proper medical care or education, just forced to work. Maybe that's why she wouldn't stay without getting a job, maybe it's because it's all she knows. She's giving up on flying, she can't fight her hammered in need to work, she can barely take care of herself. I wish there were more I could do.'
“I wish she would just...” Mishka took a deep breath. Be stronger.