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Description
Nary-Mercy stirred, her small white furred body sallow and a bit sunken from the lack of sunlight for days. It seemed to the filly as though she had not been outside for years, when it may have only been weeks. The light sound of her horn scraping against the wooden floor caused her to open her eyes. She simply could not sleep.

She raised her head from the palette of thin blankets she'd made into her bed and scanned the darkness. There her mother sat before the hearth, the fire barely a whisper on the little kindling they had left. The filly rose, gingerly trotted to her mother's side, settling a little ways from the older pony's side. After a few moment of them both staring at the dying embers of the flame, Nary spoke up.

"Momma? Tell me a story, please."

The old earth pony made no movement, her wide eyes flicking open once, glimmering jelly-like in the dim light. Then, she moved her dry lips softly, one, twice, until words formed.

"... The Death Mare, they call her that. Her coat is the color of a heron's back; that smoky blue that Granma used to paint her cups and pots. Her mane and tail match the darkness of storm clouds; her face is white as bone. Her body is starved and bony, so you can see her entire skeleton. Her wings are falling apart, the feathers brittle and dusty... And her eyes are empty sockets of yellow light."

The filly's heart squeezed in on itself in fear. Why couldn't Momma tell stories about rabbits or something nice?

"She was a mercenary.... Traveling all of Equestria with her mates. They would let other creatures buy them to fight, making themselves powerful within the ranks of the battlefield. All went well for such a long time. And then...." She grinned. "The day came when the mare's greatest friend disappeared on the battlefield. She was so distraught that she dropped right out of the sky, falling down.... Down..... Down....."

The wind fluttered down the chimney, licking at the flames and causing the light to flash. Nary whimpered quietly.

"But she rose again. Out of the smoke, the blood... she flew high over the butchered lands, searching for her companions. Anypony or creature she found below... Well, seeing as they weren't hers, she had no reason for them to live, did she? That's why... When you are on the field, my child, you must never let the Death Mare see you. If she does, you will never see me again."

Nary-Mercy shivered. "... Thank you for the story, Momma.. I-I'll go back to bed now..."

Momma said nothing, just kept staring. At least she wasn't looking at her anymore...

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Description
Nary-Mercy stirred, her small white furred body sallow and a bit sunken from the lack of sunlight for days. It seemed to the filly as though she had not been outside for years, when it may have only been weeks. The light sound of her horn scraping against the wooden floor caused her to open her eyes. She simply could not sleep.

She raised her head from the palette of thin blankets she'd made into her bed and scanned the darkness. There her mother sat before the hearth, the fire barely a whisper on the little kindling they had left. The filly rose, gingerly trotted to her mother's side, settling a little ways from the older pony's side. After a few moment of them both staring at the dying embers of the flame, Nary spoke up.

"Momma? Tell me a story, please."

The old earth pony made no movement, her wide eyes flicking open once, glimmering jelly-like in the dim light. Then, she moved her dry lips softly, one, twice, until words formed.

"... The Death Mare, they call her that. Her coat is the color of a heron's back; that smoky blue that Granma used to paint her cups and pots. Her mane and tail match the darkness of storm clouds; her face is white as bone. Her body is starved and bony, so you can see her entire skeleton. Her wings are falling apart, the feathers brittle and dusty... And her eyes are empty sockets of yellow light."

The filly's heart squeezed in on itself in fear. Why couldn't Momma tell stories about rabbits or something nice?

"She was a mercenary.... Traveling all of Equestria with her mates. They would let other creatures buy them to fight, making themselves powerful within the ranks of the battlefield. All went well for such a long time. And then...." She grinned. "The day came when the mare's greatest friend disappeared on the battlefield. She was so distraught that she dropped right out of the sky, falling down.... Down..... Down....."

The wind fluttered down the chimney, licking at the flames and causing the light to flash. Nary whimpered quietly.

"But she rose again. Out of the smoke, the blood... she flew high over the butchered lands, searching for her companions. Anypony or creature she found below... Well, seeing as they weren't hers, she had no reason for them to live, did she? That's why... When you are on the field, my child, you must never let the Death Mare see you. If she does, you will never see me again."

Nary-Mercy shivered. "... Thank you for the story, Momma.. I-I'll go back to bed now..."

Momma said nothing, just kept staring. At least she wasn't looking at her anymore...

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