Verona's (Hi)story

Verona dragged herself slowly over the edge of the terra, leaving a trail of red behind her in the grass. She half-heartedly attempted to heave herself to her hooves, but fell back almost immediately. She could see the waterfall ahead of her, and the roar of its waters blocked out all other sounds. She slowly rose, focusing on everything but the terrible pain. Her legs wobbled, threatening to buckle. 'No!' she thought fiercely. She steadied herself and barely managed to move forward. She finally reached the edge of the pool. She began to slowly let herself sink to the ground, but her legs couldn't stand it. They buckled and she fell hard onto her side. A soft groan escaped her and she closed her eyes against the burning pain.

A myriad scars and open, bleeding cuts marred her once gleaming buckskin coat. She was a beautiful Shire once, but that seemed long ago. She had a mate once, and friends. A loving father and mother, too... Why had she left all that and become a Dark? She laid her head down, staring at the water as it fell down to the pool below. Inching forward, she looked into the pool and saw her face. She almost cried out in despair at the reflection. She jerked her head, destroying the picture and sending small ripples across the surface. She tried desperately to block the horrid vision from her mind, trying to remember herself as she was before. And somehow, she managed to…

She remembered a quiet summer's day. She had been running and playing tag with her younger sister, Beauty. A small smile appeared on her muzzle for a moment, but it disappeared as she struggled for another breath. Another memory burst into her mind, harsh and painful. She remembered a Friesian stallion coming and attacking their little herd. He had a massive army of mares behind him, all of them ruthless, merciless killers. She stared in horror as she saw her mother falling to the ground, dead. Her father fought valiantly, but he was no match for three of the Shires in the attacking army. Danika, Arista, and Magnum were their names, as she learned later once they became her friends after she forgot her past.

And she remembered standing before the Friesian, bowing her head and swearing allegiance to him. "Just don't hurt my sister," she had said, sobbing as she looked down at the smaller form beside her. Belleza was crying pitifully, frightened at the cruelty of the war lord. The stallion, Nightmare, had laughed cruelly, kicking the black filly viciously.
"Get up," he snarled to her. "If you cooperate, you won’t get hurt… much." And so they did. They followed him without another word. And slowly, they became like him. They were Darks – brutal and cold-blooded. Her younger sister, now called Belleza, was the more savage of the two. She threw herself with eagerness into her training. Because of her rather sadistic mind-set, she rose quickly within the ranks. As soon as she turned four, she became Beta Mare, answering only to Nightmare and whoever his current Alphess was.

Verona gasped as another shot of pain coursed through her ragged body. She closed her eyes, waiting for it to subside. When it did, the memories returned. She watched as she was separated from her sister when Nightmare's son destroyed the Empire. She remembered wandering for years, looking for her. She figured Belleza was doing the same thing at the time, but she could never be sure. And she remembered coming to Forever Free, still a Dark, and still searching for her sister. And she found her… in the lands of the Eleandi Caves.

Now the memories sped up, flashing through her mind like a broken slideshow. There was Belleza, teasing the first Alpha. And there was Belleza, smashing against her, Verona's, body and throwing her to the floor. She remembered staring up into Belleza's hate-filled eyes again as the black mare threatened to kill her if she told of Belleza’s true name. And then, there was Belleza, though she hadn't been able to see her at the time. There she was lying on the floor. Verona felt herself kick out cruelly at her head in spite and anger. She felt her hoof connect with her sister’s head with a sickening thud. She heard Belleza slump to the ground, unconscious. Then she heard more footsteps and found herself shoved up against the wall by the stallion, Skyscraper. He had been furious with her for what she did, but she had remained calm and sneered at him, taunting him and saying that he loved her sister. Somehow, Skyscraper hadn’t killed her and she’d survived the meeting.

Then, finally, there came her last memory. She had been in a dimly-lit cave, thinking about a few things, when she heard footsteps. She looked up to see her sister. "What do you want?" she said innocently.
"Revenge," Belleza growled. Verona was mildly surprised at the venom in her sister’s voice. Then again, it was to be expected after what she, Verona, had done. "Do you have any idea what you did to me?"
"I got my own revenge," Verona hissed. "Nothing more."
"You have taken away my SIGHT!" Belleza bellowed. "Now I have to go through my life blind! I don't even know if Nightmare will let me stay in the herd!" Verona stared at her dumbly, unbelieving. How could a kick to the head cause blindness? And yet, it was true, she knew it now. Belleza wasn't looking directly at her, though her eyes were filled with hate. And they were whiter than usual...
"Well, sorry sister, but it's what you get," she replied, smirking.
"And here's what you get," Belleza snarled. She lunged at Verona with amazing accuracy, knocking them both to the ground. The black mare jumped up almost immediately, placing a large hoof on Verona's throat, just below her jaw line. Verona snorted and jerked her head and neck to the side, throwing Belleza off balance - but not for long. She regained her stasis and leapt forward, rearing and slashing at Verona's sides with her forehooves. But this wasn’t near enough for the blood-thirsty femme. Whirling, she kicked out as hard as she could with her powerful hind legs. Unprepared for any of this, Verona felt her sister’s hooves hit her and stumbled sideways, hearing quite a few ribs crack. She gasped as one of the splinters jabbed her lungs. Fortunately, it didn't pierce through. Belleza took advantage of Verona's pause and bounded forward again. Verona did her best to ward off the ferocious attacks, but she was too weak now. She crumpled to the ground and Belleza laughed triumphantly, setting her hoof on Verona’s neck once more. "And now for my final revenge," she hissed. Slowly, very slowly, she applied pressure on the smaller mare’s neck, crushing her windpipe and blocking all air out. She lowered her head, leaning closer to Verona’s ear, and whispered. "Goodbye, Violet, for that is your true name. You have never been a Dark. You are a true Light."

Verona's eyes widened and she opened her mouth, gasping for air. Darkness was clouding her eyes and mind as she slipped away to death. She drew one last, ragged breath, and just managed to say: "Good-bye... Beauty. You are my one and only beloved sister. I'm sorry for all I've done to you..." And with that, she fell limp, her head resting at the edge of the water and a small, peaceful smile on her face.


Thus ends the life of Verona, a.k.a. Violet. Alone and unloved she may be, but a Dark she is not.