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A large glop of blood splashed to the right of where her mother just passed with little Fortissimo in her arms. Everything around her slowed down as the scenery around her began to fade away. Her eyes were locked on the puddle as it bubbled and an arm rose out of it, blood running down it as it took form.
She went from being in her mother’s arms to standing on her own two hooves, fully adult once more. Everything was darkness around her other than the Pae thing attempting to birth itself from the red puddle. As it came forth, her heart began to pound in her chest. The form, the colors, it was all becoming familiar to her. Blood red became a sparkling yellow and feathery wings burst from his back. It couldn’t be-
“Fortissimo.” The voice came out pained and uncertain. The sound of it slapped her right across the face. The wave of emotions that threaten to bust from her chest was almost too much to handle. She went from a warmth of love and pure excitement to shame and guilt. How many moons ago had it been since she’d last seen him? Yet here he was, standing before her, calling her name. She could read the rush of emotions on his own face, uncertain about this meeting. Would she run to him? Would it be a reunion or a rejection?
She took one small step towards him, longing to feel the strength of his arms around her once more, the warmth of his body, the smell of his skin… But her steps stopped as the Great Tree formed once again behind her. She looked over her shoulder, seeing two little fillies exit the front hand in hand. They stood there, eyes dazed and empty. Though their mouths didn’t move but she could hear them clear as day.
‘Will you choose the one born of blood over your own family?’
“H-he’s family as well!”
‘No one of the tainted blood is family. You choose him, you choose to reject us. You choose the life of a traitor.’
“Traitor?”
‘Traitor.’
She looked back at him. Tainted blood? What did it mean? He was her love, the father of her children. He’d never even hinted in speech or character that there was anything wrong with him. No, this couldn’t be right. She could even see it on his face. The same confusion and longing she was feeling. Even so, she looked back at her children. How could she pick between them? Both she loved with all her being, both were her family. This wasn’t fair.
He reached a hand out to her and before she could decide she felt a pull on her soul. She had no control over her body as it began the slow trek forward. ‘Traitor’ the word kept whispering in her mind with every step forward. She tried to fight it, tried to turn back, but her body was not her own any longer. Instead her hand lifted and reached out to his. Their fingers brushed and she felt the electricity of it run up her arm and tingle down her back. Her love-
His hand snapped around her wrist as an ugly smile curled up his lips. Her eyes widened, dread flooded her as his flesh began to pool into blood once more, absorbing her body into his own. It surrounded her, warm and thick. She tried to scream for help, but the liquid filled her mouth and ran down her throat, threatening to drown her.
She was suspended. Wrapped in warmth and comfort like nothing had happened. Was this death? She would have expected to be a lot more traumatic or scary. Instead she felt great. Like she could float on forever without a care in the world.
A noise buzzed in her ear. She tried to ignore it, but soon she felt her eyes cracking open to see what was going on. She blinked back her surprise, taking in the scene around her. It was just a past memory at this point, but as she took in the bar in the back, the tables surrounding the stage she was on, it was like she’d never left. The silver, sparkling dress donned her body, a mic in hand, and her hair done up was all too familiar. It wasn’t until the initial shock wore off that she realized what was off. The usually small space went on and on with tables and chairs, each chair filled with either a Faun or a blood dripping Pae that had only semi formed. Both had ugly scowls on their faces, the dripping Pae even more frightening as some of their smiles looked to be dripping down their faces with their flesh.
Before she could move away, the band behind her began a tune. It was her favorite, the one she’d been known for by the small groups that would frequent the bar. Her heart swelled with excitement to once again be on the stage and able to perform such a beautiful piece. She nodded lightly to the beat, counting herself in. Her moment came up and she opened her mouth-
To nothing.
She tried to sing, tried to speak, but nothing. No sound, no air, nothing was coming out. She gripped her throat as something tried to crawl out of it. She felt warmth pour over her hands and she looked down at them to see blood.
‘Traitor!’ the crowd screamed.
Her head snapped up to look at them as the sound built. A chorus of ‘traitor’ began to chant as blood filled the floors. The dripping Pae became one with it, swallowing the Faun who wouldn’t stop their chanting ‘Traitor, traitor, traitor', despite a wave of blood rising up and sucking them inside. It grew so large it loomed over the stage, shooting Fortissimo to her feet.
Before she could turn to run, the blood wave crashed down onto her, slamming her body against the stage with a thunder of cracking and creaking that she couldn’t tell if it came from her bones or the stage. The screams of the Pae were so loud she couldn’t even hear her own sobbing over the roar-
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Mama Blues jolted awake in her bed, sweat pouring down her face. She sat there panting, trying to calm her racing heart down. A nightmare, and yet it had felt so real. She pressed her hand to her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut. She still felt the lingering emotions from it all, making it hard to sort through it in her sleepy state.
Was it even worth trying to go back to bed after that? She glanced towards her window, watching the twinkling stars in the sky. She hoped he was doing alright and sent up a silent wish, like she did many nights, that he was there with her or she with him. To wake up to someone to comfort you…
Was she really a traitor? The thought passed through her mind unannounced, bringing a trail of fear with it. Is that how they saw her when they saw her children?
Nevermind, she was up. She threw her sheets to the side and climbed out of bed. She might as well take a walk in the cool morning to sort through her thoughts. Perhaps she’d be able to regain her head before the work for the day started…
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