“Momma!” The pink filly called happily, running through the front entrance and into the kitchen. Her mother was standing by the table, packing different foods into a small basket.

“Hello, dear” Ruby greeted her daughter, a smile on her face. “Did Ms. Heart teach you very much? Are you ready for the rest of the year?” She asked Berry, who’s eyes were sparkling.

“Yeah! She taught us all about the different animals! Even the ones that don’t live around here!” She answered gleefully. Her attention was quickly drawn to the basket. “What’s that for?”

“Well, I thought of how proud I was of you, going to school by yourself for the first time, so I decided that maybe we could have a picnic.” Berry’s eyes sparkled.

“A picnic? Yes, yes!”, she yelled out, jumping up and down on the floor with excitement.

“I’m glad you're excited.” Berry’s mother chuckled. “I found this beautiful field just outside Ponyville where we can lay out the blanket.” With that she closed the basket and picked it up by the handle in her teeth. “Let’s go.” She said, her voice somewhat distorted from the handle. She went out the door, Berry Punch following behind with a skip in her step.

After about 10 minutes the two ponies reached the field and Berry’s mom pulled a plaid red and white blanket from the basket. For a few moments Ruby walked around the blanket, adjusting the corners and edges, making sure it was perfect at all angles for a picnic with her daughter. They enjoyed their meal for a half hour before the beating of wings was heard in the distance.

“I wonder what that is?” Berry’s mother asked herself before turning around to look. Her eyes widened with fear as a small red speck got gradually bigger as it approached from the horizon. Her voice was choked in fear when she turned her head towards her daughter. “Berry! Run!” She whispered, terror spreading across her face.

“What is it momma?” Berry asked. She couldn’t tell what her mother was so afraid of. The speck was so small and far away, it looked harmless.

“Don’t ask questions, Berry! Just run!” She ordered, shoving her daughter in front of her as she tried to flee, leaving the picnic behind. As they fled, Berry had no idea what the problem was. Suddenly, a loud roar like a clap of thunder boomed from behind them. Her mother cried out, “Run! Don’t look back!” and Berry was shoved forward through some bushes, landing in a ditch. She lay dazed for a few moments before a blood- curdling scream brought her back to full conciousnus. She leapt up and climbed the ditch, peeking out from the bushes. What she saw in the field turned her blood to ice, and she felt like her heart had stopped.

“MOMMA!” Berry screamed, her eyes stretched wide in horror. Out in the field, a pale purple body was laying on the ground, its fur stained red, a large puddle of blood expanding around it. Just above the body crouched a huge, bright red dragon, its claws and teeth soaked with blood as it tore hungrily into its prey. Her gaze was blinded with tears as she held back another scream, fearful the dragon would find her as well.

Suddenly, a loud chorus of trumpets exploded from the other side of the clearing, and a swarm of white pegasi covered in gleaming gold armor swooped in from the sky. The royal army had arrived all the way from Canterlot. The soldiers held crossbows on their hooves and, on the command of the leading guard, shot the dragon down. It resisted, shaking its head savagely until one final shot hit it square in the eye, piercing into its brain. The dragon fell to one side with a loud, painful groan, and laid slain in the clearing, blood pouring from the eye that had been pierced by the arrow.

The guards landed at once, inspecting the dragon, when one let out a gasp of horror.

“Sir! The dragon has killed a civilian!” He reported, looking stunned at Berry’s mother’s bloodied corpse. The lead guard walked over and looked down with disgust on his face.

“That monster!” He spat. Another guard, standing on the other side of the dragon, called out.

“Sir? You may want to see this.” The lead guard walked over, and the other guard indicated with his hoof that the dragon’s ribs were showing quite dramatically. “It must have been very desperate to wander way out here. Dragons don’t normally come this far from the Magma Plains, and they usually don’t come after ponies-” He was interrupted by the loud cry of a stallion.

“Ruby? Ruby!” A new guard cried out, running towards the body. He immediately flung off his helmet, revealing his dark ginger mane, and collapsed by Berry’s mother, sobbing loudly. “How could this happen… I should have been here! I should have protected her…” The lead guard strutted over to the sobbing stallion, who’s hooves were now stained red from the blood.

“Did you know this mare, Silver Arrow?” He questioned. His face looked unconcerned, as the guards had been trained to look, even in horrid situations. But the sympathy was evident in his voice. With visible effort, Silver Arrow managed to lift his head and look into the eyes of his superior.

“Yes, sir,” He choked. “She was my wife.”

“I- I’m so sorry.” The leader whispered, bowing his head in respect for Silver Arrow’s loss. A rustling in the bushes made him look up. “Who goes there? Show yourself!” Out of the bushes, a tiny filly, crawled out, her eyes pink and full of tears, and her hair full of mud and leaves.

“B-Berry? You’re okay!” Silver Arrow rushed over and embraced the little mare. “Thank Celestia you’re alive…” He whispered to her, eyes shut tight and ears streaming from them. “ I promise, I’ll always be there for you.” He vowed to his daughter. He promised himself that he would never let anything happen to her. Never.