Loved and Hated
The Grand Imperial Palace was the most beautiful building in the whole world at the time it was built and it kept its title for thousands of years. The palace overlooked the Equine Empire's capital from a high hill. It was built by Betelgeuse the Magnificent. The great unicorn emperor got his name by uniting the various equine tribes and establishing the empire. He created a prosperous state for all his subjects. He managed to make a peaceful and growing land throughout his long lifetime.
His legacy lasted long. His son Eridanus the Wise kept the empire together against all odds. The neighboring feline and canine tribes invaded the empire every couple of hundred years, but he played them against each other, by bribing one side to rather attack the other one. He always told his advisors that the brain was the most lethal weapon. When a two decade long drought caused unimaginable famine he established trade routes to the borders and beyond to unknown regions to feed his people. Meanwhile he ordered construction of countless canals throughout the empire to let water freely flow from the rivers and lakes to the lands to grow crops. Thank to him, most survived until the drought ended and a new golden age ensued, which lasted thousands of years as he reigned.
After Eridanus died, Arcturus took the Immortal Throne from his father. Some whispered that he had a hand in his father's untimely death, although those foolish equines vanished soon after. Arcturus was just a little over three thousand years old when he took the throne which was considered young by unicorn standards. His policies changed the empire and sadly not for the better. He always thought that greatness lies in conquest. That the Empire must grow beyond its current borders and they must conquer the neighboring lands one by one. His relatively short and turbulent reign ended in total disaster after his enemies turned the table on him. Today history knows him as Arcturus the Last, the Fool, the Arrogant and he has many other not desired names. But let's not ride ahead that much.
As our story starts, Arcturus still rules over his massive and strong Empire with an iron fist from the Immortal Throne. He is a proud, confident and hasty ruler who demands absolute loyalty from his subjects. Saying no to him is considered high treason. He had two children, two beautiful mares whom most furs adored, and many stallions were willing to die just to catch their glance.
The older daughter and heiress to the throne, Cassandra was just 600 years old when she made a mistake that changed hers and so many others lives. She was a humble and generous mare. She loved to travel the Empire disguised as a simple noble unicorn lady. She loved to escape from the imperial palace and meet her subjects. She always tried to help them in some way. And there was always need for help. Since her father's newly implemented aggressive conquering policies the borderlands were regularly raider by the neighboring tribes and kingdoms as retaliation. And while his father had the most comfortable life imaginable, the average folks who lived at the countryside suffered on a daily basis. The Empire lost its former glory.
Once after a raid Cassandra visited the affected area where she travelled for weeks to see the damages herself. She was escorted by the local militia as a precaution. There she met her only love in life. He was called Nestor. He was a zebra stallion, a young scout whose job was to infiltrate the enemy territories and gather intelligence. When Cassandra saw him for the first time she immediately fell in love. The stud was standing next to a well, cleaning himself with fresh water after a long day. He took a bucket of water and poured it all on himself. As the water ran through his body Cassandra saw as the mud and dirt washed away and his beautiful striped and muscled body became truly visible. She didn't think much before she made her move.
On that night Cassandra gave away her royalty, her upbringing and all the decency a princess should have had. She took the stallion as her lover and mate, when she let pleasure and lust take over her mind. Cora was conceived on that night in a barn among feral horses, in a borderland fortress. After a few days Cassandra wanted to go home, to talk to her father so she could live with Nestor as a mated pair. She didn't tell Nestor that their foal was already growing in her belly, it will be a present when she comes back.
When she got home and told her father about her plans he became so angry that she did not recognize him anymore. Arcturus took the royal whip and beat her daughter in front of his closest advisors. When the Emperor asked about the stallion Cassandra remained silent, so she was confined to her quarters with strict orders that she cannot leave her rooms. Little did Arcurus know about his grandchild slowly growing in his daughter's belly.
Months later when Cassandra's pregnancy started to show her father finally realized what really happened to his daughter, he lost his temper and threw his daughter into a cold cell in the dungeons, deep beneath the palace. No one was allowed to visit her. Her only company was one of the guards, a pegasus, who took pity on her and he was willing to help her when no one else was around. After a few days he even started to smuggle in some extra food and he brought a couple of blankets to the cell. He wasn't talkative, but he seemed to truly care about the princess.
As the months passed one afternoon Cassandra felt that the time has come and her foal is ready to born. She remembered when her mother gave birth to her little sister and she knew what will happen. She took one of the blankets and laid it into the corner, she put the other one behind her back so she doesn't have to touch the cold wall with her back. She took off her dress, ripped down a piece and she put between her teeth. The rest will be enough to cover her foal. She sat down and braced herself.
When the pain came in wave after wave she tried to push as hard as she could. She felt when her foal's head came out of her. She started to cry, she never felt so alone and abandoned before in her whole life. The pain was severe, but she kept pushing. When her foal finally came out with her last push she reached out for her and the little newborn immediately started to cry. Cassandra hugged her then licked her clean and covered her in her torn dress. She showed her foal one of her breasts. Her little mare found her nipple and started to suck on it. Cassandra looked at her and tears of joy started to flow from her eyes as she felt a level of happiness she did not know existed. She would never give up this feeling for anything. She just kept looking at her foal and smiled.
Cassandra's little foal looked so beautiful, so perfect. Her grayish-black body was covered with white stripes. She was so unique even compared to the unicorns. She had red mane and tail like her mother, but she had no horn. Cassandra didn't understand that. All pure-bred unicorns were born with a small horn which grew slowly as they matured, but her foal is just a half-bred. She had no clue what is normal in this case. No half-bred foal born for many millennia, not since her great-grandfather outlawed crossbreeding.
A day after the birth Arcturus visited his disgraced daughter. He was disgusted when he saw her daughter breastfeeding that ugly half-bred creature. The young filly had stripes all over her body, like some sort of common cross-bred horse. Not only that, but there was no unicorn horn to be seen which stunned the doctors. Her fate was sealed.
After consulting with his advisors and watching his daughter for a few minutes Arcturus ordered the imperial guards to get rid of the newborn filly. Cassandra screamed, kicked and fought as hard as she could, but her daughter was taken away from her by one of the Emperor's personal guards. When the guard reached the sewers which led outside from the palace he was stopped by one of the prison guards.
- Give that to me, I know how to do it.
The personal guard didn't care much and gave the crying baby to the other guard, a pegasus. The tall and heavy winged equine took the small filly gently into his big hands and waited until the other equine left.
He was always loyal to his emperor. But now, looking at the little innocent creature he had second thoughts, the first in his life. He looked around and he saw no one. He gently put her under his shield making sure that she doesn't get crushed accidentally. He went back to the cells and waited after the shouting emperor stopped humiliating his daughter and left the cell with his personal guards.
When it was all clear he entered the cell. The princess still cried and now she was chained to the wall by her neck. When he approached her she curled up suspecting some evil motives. When he pulled out her baby from beneath his shield she jumped up and embraced her filly. Just then she recognized the pegasus, the one who helped her for months. The stallion knelt down and bowed his head.
Princess... she can't stay here. If your fa... If the Emperor finds out he will make sure that his order will be carried out to the letter.
- I can't let her go... she is my daughter.
- Princess, you must. Is there anyone who can take care of her? Where is the father?
- He... he is a scout. His name is Nestor. He is stationed in the fortress under the red mountain.
- I will take her to him. I give you my word.
Cassandra looked at the Pegasus, then her daughter. She knew that the pegasus was right. Her daughter can't stay here. Not now, not ever. She gently hugged her daughter.
- I am so sorry. I love you so much, my sweet little Cora. I promise you that one day we will be together. And no one will take you away from me. I love you my dear little foal.
She gave her foal to the stallion, then she gave him her two diamond earrings.
One is for Nestor, the other is for your service. I wish I could give you more.
Princess, I do this because it is the right thing to do and not for riches. I will give both of these along with your foal to your stallion, I swear on my honor.
- After all this time I don't even know your name.
Zaurak princess, at your service.
Thank you Zaurak, you are an honorable stallion. Please take care of my foal.
I will princess, good bye.
Zaurak put the baby back under his shield and left the cell. When Cassandra was alone again she started to cry. This time her tears of pain were accompanied by tears of happiness. She lost her filly, but she is still alive and well. And maybe one day? she will be able to see her daughter again. Little did she know that that was the last time she saw her baby, her beautiful Cora.
The Pegasus went to the kitchens and asked for a flask of warm milk. The cook gave him a strange look, but at the end he did as the guard asked. Then he went to the armory and took a crossbow and a quiver of arrows along with his sword. He used the staircase to go to a rooftop then checked the little mare beneath his shield. She was sleeping, so he made sure that she is strapped in well. Then he stepped over the edge and flew away to the distance.
Zaurak could fly almost two days straight before he had to take a longer brake, but he stopped every few hours to check on his little passenger. The little filly slept through most of the flights, she woke up only when she demanded some milk. Along the way the pegasus found many farms where the locals helped him out with fresh milk, especially when he showed them the precious package he carried. Once he was lucky enough to find a mother with newborns, she was nice enough to take care of the little filly while he had a few hours of undisturbed deep sleep.
Flying is faster than walking, but even this way it took him a little over two weeks to reach the fortress. By the time he landed in front of the gates he was tired beyond imagination. His heavy shield with the imperial seal opened the gates in a matter of seconds. The fortress' captain himself came to ask the reason for his arrival. When he told him that he is looking for one of the scouts the big draft stallion was disappointed, but told the imperial guard where he can find the scout.
When he entered the said common room he saw six stallions, including two zebras playing card games around a big table. They all stopped playing when they noticed him and gave him curious looks.
I am looking for Nestor.
Why are you looking for Nestor?
He unhooked his sword and crossbow and put them onto the ground.
- If Nestor has honor, he will meet me privately outside.
With that he left the room and went outside. He sat down onto a pile of rocks and shook his wings. He was tired. He better finds the right zebra fast. He reached beneath his shield and took out the little mare. She was awake and giggling at him. The tired pegasus tried his best to smile at her and he even gave one of his fingers for her to play with.
- Is that... is that mine?
Zaurak just realized that a zebra was standing a few feet away from him. He felt uneasy for not realizing that someone approached him without him noticing. He must sleep, before someone with less friendly intentions surprise him. He tried to focus his eyes on the zebra. He was a handsome stud.
Are you Nestor?
- Yes, I am Nestor. His Imperial Majesty's loyal scout.
The pegasus chuckled, when the zebra slauted him.
- Well... let me introduce you to your foal. She is Cora. Princess Cassandra gave birth to her about two weeks ago. From now on she is YOUR responsibility. Now, I will go and have a long sleep. We will talk tomorrow.
With that he gave the foal to his father then the tired pegasus went back to the room where the stallions still played their games. He took his weapons and looked for the captain. He asked for some food and a private room. A young colt squire rushed to grab something from the kitchen then showed him to an empty room. He thanked him then he shut the door. He put the food on the table and his weapons next to the bed. He looked at the bed, it wasn't much but far better than the forests where he slept in the past two weeks.
He unbuckled his heavy shield which fell to the floor with a loud metallic bang. At that point he took a deep breath and looked at the rest of his armor still strapped onto him tight. He was not in the mood to bother himself with the lighter loads. He extended his wings then he stepped to the bed and he let himself fall onto it. By the time his head hit the hay under the thorn old sheets he was already asleep.
Zaurak woke when he felt the sun on his feathers. He looked around and he started to remember where he was. He was still in the bed, just like he fell into it. He slowly stood up. He felt soreness throughout his body, but the nice long sleep certainly had its perks. He was more alert. He heard steps outside his room coming and going. He looked out the small window and he noticed that it's already late afternoon.
He went back to the table and ate the food. When he was finished he finally got rid of the rest of his armor. He just grabbed his sword and buckled it up then he left the room to look for the zebra. He went to the room where he found him yesterday. He was there sitting at the table with two other stallions from yesterday. He was glad when he saw the little filly on the table giggling. The three stallions played with her while smiling like young colts. He went to the table and put her hand onto the zebra's shoulder.
We need to talk, would you come with me?
You can talk here, we are among friends.
Zaurak looked at the two other stallions and tried to asses them. A black stallion and a white percheron. Both of them were older than the zebra with plenty battle scars on them. The black stallion looked deep into Zaurak's eyes and stood up to speak.
- I am Tureus and this is Seg. With Nestor, we are brothers in arms, until death.
Zaurak accepted the situation with a silent nod, then he sat down into an empty chair and he told the whole story. As the events progressed the confident zebra became more and more concerned. He held his foal in his hands and looked at her for long. He was thinking about what could have happened to Cassandra after the pegasus left? Is she still alive? He returned to reality when the pegasus poked him with a fork.
Are you listening to me? You must leave this place.
What? Why?
Well first of all this is no place for your foal. And even if it'd be, when the captain's report of my arrival reaches the capital they'd surely send someone to investigate.
Why would they want to investigate?
This time Tureus answered the question.
Because he left his post without orders or any proper reason. As an imperial guard that is treason which is punishable by death.
Precisely. I can't go back, so they will surely send someone to bring me back. My only option is to get as far from here as possible before that happens. And you must do the same with your foal. If they ever find you they will kill you both.
The zebra looked at his foal. The little one smiled at him and tried to grab his mouth. He weighted his options for a minute.
How much time do I have?
Well it took me two weeks of nonstop flight to get here. Let's say that the captain sent a messenger the moment I arrived... he will arrive to the capital city in little over a month on horseback, then another two weeks for the imperial guard to fly here. Let's say that they can be here in 5 weeks at the earliest.
Then why the hurry? We have plenty of time to prepare.
Seg chuckled.
Well you forget the small fact that you don't have wings and we can't get feral horses from the stables without paper from the captain. You need weeks of head start if you want to get as far from here as possible, before they catch up to you.
- We! We are brothers in arms or what? We go with you. We help you. - said Tureus.
I can't ask you to do that for me.
Kid, it's not just about you, but that little fella in your hand! She does not deserve what that pathetic prick on that fancy throne wants to do to her. And you guard? Won?t you come with us and help? What is your name anyway?
The pegasus just sat there silently for almost a minute. He had conflicting thoughts, but at the end she remembered the princess and his promise. His honor is all what is left for him.
I am Zaurak and I'll go with you gladly. But we must go tomorrow. I'll tell the captain about a secret mission over the border, so we can get out of here without any problem. We will need supplies, arms and warm clothes.
Sounds like a plan. Where will we head? I guess going over the border is not our true goal, right? - asked Seg.
While Zaurak and the two stallions kept talking about their plans Nestor kept looking at his foal. So far his life was quite simple. Following orders, scout enemy territories, just fight and survive. All this time he wasn't responsible for anyone else, but himself. And now, he has a filly. He is a father. He must do his best to protect and take care of her. He wondered if he is ready for this task.