Genievra was a normal enough young filly, energetic, happy and playful. She enjoyed music and art, and generally enjoyed her life. She was a bay colored centaur, with large brown eyes and a simple sunburst tattoo on her belly. She kept her hair loose, hanging around her face. She lived near her parents, but in her own little house, where she and her various friends could hang out. She seemed likely to live a normal, happy life.
At least, at first. Then one day, she met Melchior. He was a handsome, and mysterious stallion. He stood out in the crowd, even as he stayed in the shadows. Genievra was, at first, simply curious about this aloof man, and tried to get to know him, but he thrust all who came close away. This served to intrigue the girl more, and she started watching him, seeing what he did, who he spoke to, where he went. She devoted all of her time to this, and her friends missed her, and tried to draw her out. Genievra, however, was not interested.
After weeks, Genievra noticed a pattern emerge. Late at night, once a week, Melchior would go out, and take a walk down the beach. She'd never followed him all the way, she just made a note of it. This time, she decided to follow him. She spent hours getting ready. She took a long nap, to be fully awake. She got her darkest shirt out and put it on, and she tied her hair up under a black kerchief. She even tied cloths to her hooves, to muffle their sounds. Finally, she went and waited in a spot she knew he'd pass on his way to the beach.
She waited, and waited. She nearly fell asleep, waiting. Finally, later then she expected him, he came softly clip clopping down the path. She waited til he passed, and til he was a good 20 feet away, then slipped out and followed him as quietly as she could. It worked, well enough, and she managed to stay behind him. He walked... and walked. And walked more. She began to wonder if he just liked a late night walk, when out of the trees to the left, a large armless Naga emerged. There was something odd about this one, her eyes looked insane, and it hissed at Melchior "Well? Have you finally given in?"
Melchior stopped and stared, then said "No, Malefica, I have not. I will not be your toy, not now, not ever. I don't care what my parents said. I am my own being." Malefica snarled out "Let's DANCE, then..." She then hissed a few words, and music began to play. Malefica slithers around Melchior, who reared up. They were obviously fighting, and yet it was also a dance. They both scored on each other, Melchior kicking, Malefica using her tail and some of her magics. It ended with a kick that nearly took Malefica's head off, and she screeched out "Again you win but next time.. Next time!" She tossed a spell at him.
"Be back in a week. You will be my slave." then slithered out of sight. Melchior arches and winced, unable to avoid the powder, then turned, head low, to go back home.
Genievra waited there, thinking, for hours, before she headed home. She spent days in the library, studying, and watching Melchior. The next three weeks, she followed him, and watched. Each time, they go similarly, but she noticed that Melchior seemed to be getting closer to losing each time. She finally, based on her observations and her studies, comes to a conclusion. She goes home, and began to prepare. She packed a bow and arrow, a knife, and then wrote a note, telling her family that if she did not return, to give her things to her little sister when she was old enough.
She headed out, and found her hiding spot, then waited. She was silent, in deep thought, the whole time she waited. Finally, she looked up as she heard Melchior approaching. She waited through Malefica's questioning, his reply, and on the "Let's DANCE, then..." She dived out, between the two, taking poor, confused Melchior's place. "I'll dance with you, you horrid beast. We're not meant to be slaves, and I wont let you take him as one." She reared up, and began to fight. What she had discovered in her studies made it clear that if she fought this battle for him, she would take his place... and if she won, or died, he would be free.
Melchior stared, shocked, and cried out "NO!" but it was too late, Genievra had locked herself into the battle. As it progressed, it became clear that even with bow and arrow, and knife, she was not as good a fighter as Melchior. Malefica laughs, evilly, hissing out "I will claim you both for this, stupid girl!" And Genievra whispered "No, you wont." She dived forwards, suddenly, and a cloud of sand obscured them from sight. When it cleared... Malefica was hissing in rage, for Genievra had died, sacrificing herself to free Melchior. She glares, and says "I will be..." But Melchior snarls "No. You lost. You know that, and you know that means I am free. Go. I will never be yours."
When she left, he began to softly weep, gathering the girl's form into his arms. "Why? Why did you save me, Genievra? I don't understand, I kept you all away..." He carried her to a spot under the trees, and then noticed a note sticking up out of her belt. He took it, and read.
"Melchior, I know you did not want us to know. I know you tried to protect us from your horrible secret. I also know that you couldn't free yourself. If you read this, it is because I am dead. I made a choice. I knew I could do this. Live your life, and remember to protect our home from vile beasts like her. Live well, handsome Melchior."
Melchior wept, freely now, and begun to dig her a grave. After burying her, he went home and told the village of her great bravery. Over the next few years, he built a beautiful memorial to her on her grave, and eventually, when he died, he was buried there as well.
It is said, that late at night, if you take a walk on that beach, you will hear sweet music, and maybe even see a pair of Centaurs dancing happily, rejoicing in the freedom that makes all of life seem worthwhile.
At least, at first. Then one day, she met Melchior. He was a handsome, and mysterious stallion. He stood out in the crowd, even as he stayed in the shadows. Genievra was, at first, simply curious about this aloof man, and tried to get to know him, but he thrust all who came close away. This served to intrigue the girl more, and she started watching him, seeing what he did, who he spoke to, where he went. She devoted all of her time to this, and her friends missed her, and tried to draw her out. Genievra, however, was not interested.
After weeks, Genievra noticed a pattern emerge. Late at night, once a week, Melchior would go out, and take a walk down the beach. She'd never followed him all the way, she just made a note of it. This time, she decided to follow him. She spent hours getting ready. She took a long nap, to be fully awake. She got her darkest shirt out and put it on, and she tied her hair up under a black kerchief. She even tied cloths to her hooves, to muffle their sounds. Finally, she went and waited in a spot she knew he'd pass on his way to the beach.
She waited, and waited. She nearly fell asleep, waiting. Finally, later then she expected him, he came softly clip clopping down the path. She waited til he passed, and til he was a good 20 feet away, then slipped out and followed him as quietly as she could. It worked, well enough, and she managed to stay behind him. He walked... and walked. And walked more. She began to wonder if he just liked a late night walk, when out of the trees to the left, a large armless Naga emerged. There was something odd about this one, her eyes looked insane, and it hissed at Melchior "Well? Have you finally given in?"
Melchior stopped and stared, then said "No, Malefica, I have not. I will not be your toy, not now, not ever. I don't care what my parents said. I am my own being." Malefica snarled out "Let's DANCE, then..." She then hissed a few words, and music began to play. Malefica slithers around Melchior, who reared up. They were obviously fighting, and yet it was also a dance. They both scored on each other, Melchior kicking, Malefica using her tail and some of her magics. It ended with a kick that nearly took Malefica's head off, and she screeched out "Again you win but next time.. Next time!" She tossed a spell at him.
"Be back in a week. You will be my slave." then slithered out of sight. Melchior arches and winced, unable to avoid the powder, then turned, head low, to go back home.
Genievra waited there, thinking, for hours, before she headed home. She spent days in the library, studying, and watching Melchior. The next three weeks, she followed him, and watched. Each time, they go similarly, but she noticed that Melchior seemed to be getting closer to losing each time. She finally, based on her observations and her studies, comes to a conclusion. She goes home, and began to prepare. She packed a bow and arrow, a knife, and then wrote a note, telling her family that if she did not return, to give her things to her little sister when she was old enough.
She headed out, and found her hiding spot, then waited. She was silent, in deep thought, the whole time she waited. Finally, she looked up as she heard Melchior approaching. She waited through Malefica's questioning, his reply, and on the "Let's DANCE, then..." She dived out, between the two, taking poor, confused Melchior's place. "I'll dance with you, you horrid beast. We're not meant to be slaves, and I wont let you take him as one." She reared up, and began to fight. What she had discovered in her studies made it clear that if she fought this battle for him, she would take his place... and if she won, or died, he would be free.
Melchior stared, shocked, and cried out "NO!" but it was too late, Genievra had locked herself into the battle. As it progressed, it became clear that even with bow and arrow, and knife, she was not as good a fighter as Melchior. Malefica laughs, evilly, hissing out "I will claim you both for this, stupid girl!" And Genievra whispered "No, you wont." She dived forwards, suddenly, and a cloud of sand obscured them from sight. When it cleared... Malefica was hissing in rage, for Genievra had died, sacrificing herself to free Melchior. She glares, and says "I will be..." But Melchior snarls "No. You lost. You know that, and you know that means I am free. Go. I will never be yours."
When she left, he began to softly weep, gathering the girl's form into his arms. "Why? Why did you save me, Genievra? I don't understand, I kept you all away..." He carried her to a spot under the trees, and then noticed a note sticking up out of her belt. He took it, and read.
"Melchior, I know you did not want us to know. I know you tried to protect us from your horrible secret. I also know that you couldn't free yourself. If you read this, it is because I am dead. I made a choice. I knew I could do this. Live your life, and remember to protect our home from vile beasts like her. Live well, handsome Melchior."
Melchior wept, freely now, and begun to dig her a grave. After burying her, he went home and told the village of her great bravery. Over the next few years, he built a beautiful memorial to her on her grave, and eventually, when he died, he was buried there as well.
It is said, that late at night, if you take a walk on that beach, you will hear sweet music, and maybe even see a pair of Centaurs dancing happily, rejoicing in the freedom that makes all of life seem worthwhile.
