Chapter 1
Three day now I’ve been walking. Not a soul in sight. My stomach is empty, feeling like a ravenous pit. I’d move faster without this damn limp. Can’t hardly see anymore. Just have to keep walking. If I stop, I doubt I’ll be able to get up again. Can’t break my promise…
My legs feel like they’re made out of rubber. Just putting one hoof in front of the other is an ordeal in itself. Can’t stop moving. Have to keep going. I may be late, but I’ll get there…
It was an ambush. The griffons had called for a meeting. A ceasefire. We were deployed to guard General Heartstrong as he finalized the end of the war. Never quite made it to the talks though. Only miles from the demarcation zone they descended upon us. We were completely unprepared for the assault.
Bastards dropped rocks on us from above, killed half the group within the first thirty seconds. The rest of us, they decided to play with. Snatching us up into the air and dropping us to the ground below. If the fall hadn’t knocked me out, they would’ve finished me for sure. Must’ve looked dead to them, as they left me alone.
The general wasn’t so lucky. They left him alive, but barely. When I came to, I could hear him breathing. Raspy, shallow breaths. Wet, as the blood poured from his mouth. I was blind in my right eye, but I could see well enough that he wasn’t going to make it. They had torn him to shreds. It’s not right, to see someone that strong look like that. It did him disrespect. True to his nature, he wasn’t giving up without a fight though. His eyes focused on me, beckoning me to come closer. He spoke his final breath to me, and was silent.
There were no other survivors. I’d found myself alone, broken, in an enemy territory. And so I walked away. I don’t expect to make it too much farther now. I’ve been moving too long without sleep or food. The bleeding seems to have stopped, but I’m not sure if that’s good or bad at this point.
Every few minutes I feel my eyelids start to droop. It would feel so good to take a break… No. I must continue on. I can’t stop now. There has to be someone out here somewhere.
Three days now… They must have noticed that we haven’t returned. They’ll be sending out a search party to find us. They’ll find out what happened… Everything’s going to be just fine. Just have to keep moving. They’ll find me any minute now. Just a matter of time. Maybe I’ll even be early. One can hope, I suppose…
I tread carefully, doing my best to watch my footing. Everything is hazy, focusing is difficult. The lack of depth perception has caused me to fall a number of times, but I force myself back up and continue. The temptation of staying down grows with every fall, but I cannot succumb. I will not falter. And so I walk.
I’ve lost track of how far I’ve gone already. Nothing seems familiar anymore, not that I could tell at this point. I can’t move my eyes too fast. The images seem to drag, as if in slow motion. My head is pounding now. I have to find water soon, or I won’t make it much farther. I must be getting close by now. I can feel it in my bones.
Hours pass by, or maybe just minutes. It’s hard to tell. The sun set at some point, but I hadn’t noticed. A cool breeze caresses my body, bringing me back from my half sleeping state. I hear something. Running water. I try to focus my one good eye, searching for the source of the sound. There. Just to my right a small stream. Maybe I will make it after all.
I drink deep of the cool waters, until my gut feels fit to burst. I drink until I feel I will be sick, but I don’t care. The liquid is sweet to my lips, cooling the fire inside me. For now I feel full. I can carry on a bit longer now. Can’t stay here long. Have to keep walking.
Can’t keep them waiting.
My legs feel a bit stronger. The water helped, but I still haven’t eaten in days. Something to look forward to when I get there, I suppose. I find myself at the top of a hill; a meadow stretches out past it, the sun beginning to rise. I have to be close. I begin down the slope, but lose my footing again. Pain wracks my body as I tumble down. Ribs scream out, flesh wounds rend, bringing forth new tears of crimson to stain my white coat. Slowly I rise to my hooves and begin to move again.
No time to bleed now. I have a promise to keep.
The sun is high as I reach the end of the meadow. I’m close. A dirt path shows the way now, proof that my journey is not in vain. It will be good to walk on an even surface again. I’ve seen no signs of the search party, but given how far I’ve travelled now, I’m not surprised.
There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. The path before me is empty. Only the calls of nearby songbirds break the silence. The wind is at my back now, as if to urge me forward. I’ll be there soon. I always keep my promises.
Hours pass by, my legs beginning to lock up from overuse. The muscle feels as if it will tear at any moment, putting an end to my trek. I focus on the road ahead, fighting through the pain. My back has joined in the chorus at this point, my neck creaking like an old floorboard. My mouth has run dry again, the water I had greedily drunk now all but gone from me.
I look out ahead, something catching my eye. The end to my journey is nearly in sight. The sun is setting now, casting long shadows over the road. It’s been nearly five days, but at long last I’m almost there. I’ll be right on time.
The town comes into view. The streetlights are lit, a few ponies still mulling about. I come out of the darkness, a purpose in my stride. They stop to stare. A few ask if I’m alright. I pay them no mind. I’ve come too far to be stopped here. I’m so close now. My heart beats faster, adrenaline pumping through me, giving me new strength.
I open the door, staggering inside. There she is. She’s sitting in the corner, crying. She looks up, her eyes open wide at the sight of me, still red and ringed with tears.
“Happy birthday. I’d never break a Pinkie promise.”