Mother's Love
The sounds of battle roared overhead, screams echoing off of stone and timber while buildings collapsed under the onslaught of fire. Explosions rocked the senses, the dead and dying offering their symphonies of sorrow to the smoke-filled night. Rivers of blood covered cobblestone streets, and those who couldn't fight the almighty army bearing down upon them did their best to hide. Clashes of swords and spears punctuated the howls of pain and loss, desperation fueling those who had everything to lose against the conquering foe.
Huddled in an alleyway, an earth pony mare did her best to shield her filly from the carnage that was only feet away. She curled around her little one, trying to both cover her eyes as well as keep her warm. Shock had overloaded their systems, and both bodies trembled slightly from the exhaustion and adrenaline coursing through their bloodstreams. The mare did her best to comfort and quiet the filly, softly spoken words a comfort against the horror of invasion. At some point she had managed to lie down against the earth, the filly snuggling close while they hoped and prayed to the gods that the enemy would choose to overlook them.
The high-pitched screaming suddenly filling the air indicated another incoming projectile, and the earth pony jumped when impact sounded close enough to rattle her bones as the shock-wave jolted through her. The building it had struck promptly exploded. Lifting a hoof, she covered the mouth of her filly to cover up the cries of fear that slipped out. While the whites of her eyes could be seen, and her ears were flattened against her head, it was clear that the mare begged her daughter for silence.
As the dust began to settle, the sounds of soldiers marching through the city could be heard. The clear notes of the royal horn sounded then, the signal for retreat. It seemed as though Princess Celestia could not beat back this would-be conqueror, and would likely be opting for total surrender to save the remaining ponies under her rule. Part of the mare's mind wondered if this was merely some waking nightmare, but the pressure of the walls around her and the fear-filled panting from her daughter in her ear allayed that. This was real, this was happening, and if she wasn't careful things could go very, very badly.
Gruff voices barked out orders, and hoof beats revealed the soldiers were now checking for survivors. Terror sluiced up the earth pony's spine, and she curled tighter around her filly's shivering body. In her mind, the mare sent prayers to the gods that they would be overlooked, left alone to see the sunrise of another day. She could hear the sounds of others being found, the sudden impacts of their lives being ended grating against her soul.
No one will save you, a quiet voice said in the mare's mind, startling her. Surprised, she reared her head up and very carefully looked around to see if she could spot the source. Nopony there, save for the victors looting their spoils among the dead. As they got closer to their hiding space, the mare realized there was only chance to save her future. The certainty filled her then, her soul at peace with this decision.
Slowly, carefully, she extricated herself then stood up. Leaning her head down, she nuzzled her daughter, then kissed her on the forehead. "I will always love you, little one," she whispered, willing her daughter to understand what she was about to do. With a final caress, she strode out of the alley as though a crown rested on her head. Tall and proud, she moved slowly and gracefully with the confidence of someone walking to their death.
Immediately the soldiers reacted to her presence, squabbling over what to do with this mare. Clearly no fighter, she could be a prize among the stallions who were chuffed with the sensation of victory. Surprisingly, the mare began to sing. Her voice was clear and strong, and she sang of her sorrow for her people. As her heartfelt speech faded away, she said one last thing with the power of her voice.
"Forgive me."
Confusion seemed to stop the soldiers for several moments, as her words drifted into silence. The mare stood quietly, waiting for her fate. As one, the group of stallions seemed to shake off their stupor then fell upon the unarmed pony. When they had slaked their fill of her, one of the soldiers unceremoniously ended her life with the short yank of his sword. Now that they were done, they moved off into the night to either find other survivors or report back to their king.
Wan moonlight filtered through the smoke, illuminating the filly that had been left behind. Tears fell unchecked down her face, sobs stuck in her chest that refused to come. She had seen everything, the kiss of her mother's love lingering on her forehead. No pony seemed to be coming to help, and the battle itself had strangely grown quieter.
Shaking hooves barely supported the weight of her body as she made her way into the square, shying away from the rubble and the dead. The filly made her over to her mother's lifeless form, and without any other idea of what to do simply nestled against her. Crying quietly, this seemed to be the only reality she knew. Where could she go from here? What was to be her future? There was no way to possibly know.
Eventually, long after the sun had risen and the princess had surrendered, medical ponies had gone out to gather and calculate the dead, along with caring for the survivors. The filly was found covered in her mother's filth, somewhere between life and death. She had fought against those trying to bring her to safety, clinging to her mother's corpse and screaming for help. The hearts of those gathered broke, but there was nothing they could do beyond take the living and remember the deceased.
Carefully, they removed the filly from her mother and sedated her. In their uncertain future beneath the banner of the new king, a few swore to themselves that no more young ones would know the heartbreak of the death of their parents. Reality often wasn't kind, but they could try and soften the cruelty of nature with this solemn promise. To save the colts and fillies from the monsters, and hope beyond hope the future would be kind.