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Lunar New Year Exchanges: Fire Horse 2026
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Published:
2026-02-28
Words:
377
Chapters:
1/1
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2
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2
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A Bright Flame in the New Year (and always in my heart)

Summary:

The General and her Sun Steed, Bright Flame, were as close to One as it was possible for human and horse 🐎 to be.

This doesn't stop them from having differences in opinion and outlook, however.

But they are still herd-kin, no matter what the New Year brings.

Notes:

Work Text:

The General and her Sun Steed, Bright Flame, were as close to One as it was possible for human and horse 🐎 to be. They rode together night and day, in battle and in peace, until neither of them could remember what it was like to be partnered with someone else.

New Year's was, in some ways, the hardest. The stark realization that their work was not yet completed, that there was still evil in this world to fight, somehow came even closer at this time of year.

What had been a joyous New Year's Eve celebration yesterday, ended up as a New Year's Day spent in Bright Flame's stall, shaking.

“Bright Flame,” the General whispered brokenly. Had she ever had a name outside of her rank?? If so, she couldn't recall. “How can I go on??”

“What do you mean, my herd-kin??” Bright Flame’s voice echoed in her mind. That had been a sign of how well they were matched as human and horse 🐎 , that they had bonded closely enough that they could speak to each other with more than hands and heels.

“The fighting, it never ends. We will always be here, on one battlefield or another. There will never be peace, not for the likes of us.” She clutched at Bright Flame's mane. “How can I… how can we…” she trailed off in frustration, leaning against Bright Flame's neck, feeling the warmth of her horse trickle through her, providing a calm strength to ground herself against.

There was silence for a time, and then Bright Flame's voice came quietly into her mind. “We go on by taking it one stride at a time. One moment at a time. This is our work. What we have come here to do. The fact that it is neverending simply means that we will always be lucky enough to know our purpose in life.”

“You really know how to comfort a human,” the General groused. “But… it did help. Even if that fact is a little bit disturbing.”

Bright Flame whickered acknowledgement, while saying, “Anything for my herd-kin.”

“Thank you, Bright Flame,” the General said, scratching behind the Sun Steed’s ears. “and… Happy New Year!!”

“Happy New Year, herd-kin,”Bright Flame replied. “And many successful battles to us both.”