Fanfic downloaded from the site Spirit Source : https://www.animationsource.org/spirit/en/ Title : Peace Between Territories - Part One Author : Vintage Description : India, Esperanza's and Strider's daughter, is the only sibling left with The Cimarron leaders blood. Ever since Spirit and Rain left to start a new herd because of mis communication, India is the only one left to calm the horizons.. -------------------------------------------------------------------- The day when Spirit came home it was a joyous matter, everything fell together... Just as if it were a puzzle. Spirit ran everything perfectly, until Strider returned and demanded to bring control back over his herd. Spirit, on the other hand, felt as if he was a fool or as if he was misled his entire life, and he told himself ' Where was he when I was a young colt?! Now all of a sudden he comes out from nowhere and tries to steal my herd away from me?! '. This meant battle for both stallions, but most of all it brought up the question " Where was Strider when his herd and mate needed him the most?... ". However Spirit backed down, because he knew that he couldn't match up in battle to his mighty father, and left with Rain to start a new herd, but if The Cimarron Herd only knew that Spirit was planning revenge. As time went on the little cracks in Esperanza's heart started to heal, and as soon as she got her only son and child back they were torn away from each other once again. Esperanza also had the urge to have another child, one who wouldn't be taken away from her. Strider felt guilty over time, that he was never there to watch and protect his herd and he left the stallions job to his mate. Because of his guilt, Strider swore to never leave his herd again, and since Esperanza wanted another child Strider promised to stay in his newborn foals life this time. Unfortunately, Strider's reign came to an end. The night had come, the one Spirit was planning attack among his father but, by his former soldier and best friend. Sadly it was also the night Esperanza was having her foal, so Strider and Esspy traveled an hour away from the herd to give distance to their new foal. Although Strider tried his best to protect his mate and new born filly from the bay stallion, Strider was defeated and left for dead. Luckily the bay stallion ran off into the night not knowing Esperanza and her newborn foal was even there. Nobody knew who the bay stallion was, but they did know he was sent by Spirit. This whole ordeal brought India into the world. Over the years India didn't really have any friends, due to the fact that there wasn't a stallion around to breed too. So India grew up with the eagle who had befriended Spirit in his younger years, the two were close and kept many secrets. You could say India developed more of an imagination then others along with her fathers personality, but Esperanza's magnificent golden coat was passed to India. ( Few years later ) It was bright and beautiful day once again, there weren't any problems although it was a very special day. It had been the day, three years ago today, when Strider had passed down his reigning spot to his young daughter. However India never knew anything about Strider's death and didn't know anything about Spirit, and the entire herd including Esperanza planned to keep Strider's death a secret along with Spirit trying to start a war that still hasn't ended. India didn't want anything to with the herd, and kept on denying the spot. Esperanza and India were standing on top of the hill all alone when Esperanza decided to talk about leadership. " Mom... I don't want to " control " the herd " the young filly snickered off sarcastically to her mother " I don't even want anything to do with the herd! " she said still picking at the subject like a newly formed scab. Esperanza hung her head low and shook it in disbelief, aging had taken a great toll on the beautiful palomino mustang over the past few years. It caused her eye lids to bag and loss in muscle tone and definition along with weight, However her beautiful golden coat still remained as if she was still a young foal. " India.. I just don't understand. " she sighed " This herd needs you..." Esperanza said almost as if she was crying out for help. " Yeah sure, as if this herd needs me. What this herd needs is my father. You know the one who ran away like a coward just because he didn't want us anymore. " India smarted off. Esperanza's eyes started to water, and she began to shake " Hun, I need to tell you something... Your father isn't who you think he is.... He was a very noble and great stallion... ". India's eye widened " What .... what do you mean was? Really please. I want an explanation. NOW. " India demanded. Esperanza's head still hung low, but now tears were streaming down her eyes " You're father was killed the night you were born... trying to protect you... We all think your father was killed by your brother for revenge. " Esperanza mourned out. " What? Have you gone nuts finally? First you tell me my father died trying to protect me, now you're saying I have a brother? And what do you mean by 'we all'? Did everybody know about this? or is this some sick game? " India yelled at the top of her lungs. All of a sudden the sky got dark and murky, little bits of rain water started to fall from the clouds. India was in a rage, and of course just like her father, India didn't know how to control her nerves and galloped away. The farther she got the rain pelted down harder, and finally the water turned into hail and the air got thin and cold. India had to take a breather under a little rock cave hidden by trees that towered above it. She slowly walked in, breathing hard, all the running wore her out. There she seen her best friend, the eagle. " Oh hey I didn't know you were here... " India said quietly, almost too quiet. The young slender splash palomino mare shook her mane dry, and decided to lay down. Thoughts raced through her head.. ' Why is the eagle here? ' or ' Did Esperanza send him to find me...? '. " So why are you here my darling? " The eagle asked with a very sly voice. A grimace appeared across his face. India told what had happened early and the eagle seemed very intrigued with the story. " Ahh well, you must have a very heart right now. Stay here for the rest of the night and I will come for you in the morning. You are to tired and weary as of right now. Sleep child, Sleep. " He whispered almost translating his words into a lullaby. India's eyes grew tired and she finally fell asleep. When India fell asleep the eagle spread his wings and flew out of the cave. India woke up at midnight. " Did I really not sleep that long? " India whispered to herself. She dozed off for a minute, being distracted by the cracked rocks and started to slightly hum the sweetest tune. Out of nowhere a small feminine head stuck out from the side of the cave entrance, and India became alert. " Uhmm.. Uh .. Who's there?... " India was shaking and her muscles hurt her to much to jump up and gallop away. The mare started to walk more, coming towards India. She was a small buckskin mare, her coat reminded her of Esperanza. The closer the little mare got, the more the mare's eyes looked frightened. India was confused and her body went numb slightly and she couldn't move or flinch. All of a sudden huge lighting bolt hit the ground almost fifteen feet away from where they were standing. The little buckskin mare shrieked out as if she broke her leg and fell instantly to the ground. India was in shock and tried escaping but her body felt too heavy. The buckskins eyes were wide open and she just layed there, by minutes her coat became duller all the way until it grayed out. India was now scared to death, and finally her body felt release and she hopped up and galloped away from the cave. On the way back to the herd India was terrified and felt as if someone was watching her. The rain and lighting quit and the air got even colder and felt more bitter. When she arrived she seen Esperanza laying on the ground, as if she was curled up and sleeping. India ran over to nudge her, but Esperanza's body fell limp and all the life was drained out of her. Esperanza's coat went from golden to almost a light grey. India fell to the ground balling her eyes out, her head hung down between her front legs, just letting the tears stream down her face. However she felt breathing on the ridge of her neck, and quickly whipped around. A tall black paint stallion stood behind her. " Come with me.... Madame Indian... " The stallion demanded with sneer and glaring eyes. India refused and the stallion knocked her out. A few days later India woke up with the same stallion, who knocked her out, laying to the right of her and at the other side was another stallion, Instead he was a buckskin paint. Along with a pinto mare standing above her, looking right down at her. She didn't even recognize the place, it looked as if they were in the canyons.