by Bast-et » Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:35 pm
Whelp, I gave up, and decided to submit my form. I love her too much not to share her story.
Username: ~Bast~
Horse's Name: Valkyrie
Gender: Mare
Height: 16hh
Rarity: Rare
Story:
Valiant smiled as her two foals, Thalion and Valor, stumbled towards her on legs weary from play. The twins already showed signs of becoming great leaders like their father, and Valiant wanted to nurture that confidence.
"Story time!" she said cheerfully as the twins folded their long, thin limbs more comfortably.
"Every mustang knows the stories of the four horses of the apocalypse. These horses are well known, and their offspring still roam among our populace." Valiant paused to wink at her foals- grandchildren of Aries.
"Even more ancient than these powerful stallions is a mare that could have given Thanatos himself a challenge, had he been around. You know the troubles between the Rimal and Hamseen herds now?" The two foals nodded eagerly, happy to please their mother. "The wars between the herds in ancient past put our skirmishes to shame...
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Four herds staked territory surrounding the largest of oasis in the desert. Only it had clear water fit for drinking and vegetation on it's shores. The minor oasis that dotted the remaining desert were little more than mud puddles, and they shrank every day that past without rain. The diminishing water supply drove the mustang herds to escalating hysteria. Desperation toned every action and word by every stallion and mare. You can't trust someone driven by desperation. Who knows what they will do? Against all reason, one herd killed it's young and old. Another herd turned out every other herd member to wander the desert. A third sacrificed blood to the relentless sands in hope of water. The fourth turned inward, and placed their faith in a young mare named Valkyrie.
She was born on the last day of rain. Her mother claimed the dapples on her coat were spots where drops touched her pelt and blessed her. A blessing for each spot, her mother would whisper at night, A wish for each blonde hair.
"Don't you know my wishes are long gone mother? I used them all for others" she would whisper back, in her head. Outwardly, nothing separated her from her herd-mates. Nothing until she moved. All desert appaloosa mustangs moved with ease over the sands. She floated. Her friend's short manes and coats were perfectly suited for the desert heat, but the herd elders murmured tales of long manes that brought forth the rain over her flowing strands. No thirst claimed her throat, and no weariness crept into her limbs, but for her herd, things had begun to deteriorate. Once shining coats dulled and hung from brittle bones. Empty eyes held no life until she passed and a spark would flash for a moment in recognition. Other herds suffered similarly despite their murders and sacrifices; however they had no flash in their eyes, as they had no faith.
The desperation tore into these hollow horses and drove them to raging wars. Herd fought herd on the edge of the oasis, and blood seeped into the once crystal waters. Broken bodies and mangled corpses littered it's shores, and flies bred in the carnage left by war. Then they killed Valkyrie's mother. Vengeance would be swift for the murderers.
Valkyrie swept over the sands, her hooves hardly touching the soft sand as she flew towards the murderers. They had heard the stories of a mare that needed no water, that could bring the rain with a wish. The other three lead stallions called an uneasy peace and drew her forth with a death.
She came. She came with all the power of a storm that sweeps the sands before it and kills any that stands in it's way. She felt within her all the trust placed on her thin shoulders. She threw it off. In her rage it bound her, made her sane... she needed the power of the mad, the reasoning of a mindless tsunami, and the unceasing wrath of the desert.
The stallions circled her. Their bodies stood testament to their crimes. Valkyrie could see a rib for every murdered foal, a scab for every sin, a scar for every lie, and she condemned them for it. Envy was the only light in their eyes, and they lunged towards it's source with snapping jaws and flashing feet, driving the determined mare into the blood-soaked lake. Her righteous rage rushed through her veins, and she spun in the red liquid and coursed towards the closest of stallions. His hooves may have carved gouges in her side, but her blunt teeth closed on his neck and ended his movement. Wrath drove her towards the next stallion, and he too fell beneath her advances. The third stallion arched his neck as he considered the young mare. Her long mare dripped red drops on the dry hungry ground. Her coat was stained with his ally's life, but her sides moved as though tired. And she was just a mare, no match for any lead stallion of his caliber. He turned the attack on her, and her swiftness so stunned him, he never realized what slayed him before he left the dry desert.
With the ruined oasis before her, Valkyrie sent up a wish to her mother. I ended the bloodshed. Please end the drought. By my spots I wish for rain.
The sky opened.
From the arid winds came clouds.
Dark and heavy with droplets.
That fell.
That followed as Valkyrie's flying feet carried back to her broken herd, a trail of dark rain clouds in her wake. The rain fell for three days and nights. And when the clouds lifted, the oasis water was crystal clear, and lush, green grass hugged it's banks. Throughout the desert, the mud puddles blossomed into their own small havens to nurture the mustangs that needed their gifts.
Valkyrie fought three stallions driven to evil by their desperation, and returned the rain to the desert.
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Valor's eyes glowed at the end of the tale.
"Wow, Mom, can you call the rains?" she asked.
"Haha, no. It takes great strength, purity, and need before a mustang can call forth the rains. Not everyone has it in them to do it. That's why Valkyrie is so honored for her deeds. She was truly a gifted mare."
"I want to be just like her when I grow up!" Valor declared.
"I thought you wanted to be like Nightlock?"
"Well... I want to be them both." Valor decided, and the she cuddled up to her twin and closed her eyes to dream of warrior mares with the storms in her eyes.