Morning Haze
The three mares walked ahead of Snow Spike, and Salem. Ten steps ahead, the conversation between them all was never on more than one thing for a too long. A sudden crash from behind turned Snow Spikes attention as Salem fell over an old cart that the maroon stallion had squeezed by. The mare's turned around and looked to see Snow Spike walk back and lift Salem from the ground. Salem shook his head and leaned over onto his friend for support.
" You alrigh' Salem? Never seen you so... clumsy. " Snow Spike pondered, lifting his hoof to Salem's shoulder as the white unicorn stallion leaned to each side.
" I am no really sure, I think that spell might have been a bit much. " Salem's eyes turned in different directions, his hooves unable to walk him in a straight line.
" Is Salem alrigh'? " Applebloom walked back away from her friends and stopped in front of the stallions. " ... maybe we should head over to the old hospital an' try an' get him some rest. "
Salem shook his head and tried to stand up straight. " No... we need to find out about these ponies with Pinky's cutie mark painted onto themselves. " Salem's eyes still could not straighten out.
Sweetie Belle now approached with Scootaloo beside her, stopping just behind Applebloom. " Salem, you really shouldn't push yourself. What good will you be if you're all beat up and those crazy ponies attack again?! "
Salem sighed and nodded in agreement. " I suppose you're right, Sweetie Belle. "
" Well than it's settled, we need to rest up if we're gonna go an' find out what's goin' on here! " Apple Bloom nodded and turned the opposite direction down the alleyway. Everypony stared withed raised brows, the yellow earth pony stopped and looked at them. " ... wha'? "
" Apple Bloom... the old hospital is this way. " Scootaloo stated, chuckling in amusement at her friend's lack of directional skill.
Applebloom looked back into both directions, her eyes narrowed. She returned to face the other ponies with a blank stare riddled over her face, with a tint of rosy pink over her face. " Oh... righ'! Good thing I ain't the one leadin' I guess. "
Salem smiled weakly as he leaned on Snow Spike's hoof still, his horn glowed faintly before a white hoof tapped it and cut off the arcane channeling. Sweetie Belle shook her head at Salem. " No Salem! You've already strained yourself too much with your magic. Last thing we need is for you to go into Arcane Hibernus and be stuck here until you recover! "
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and snow Spike turned their heads and gave a pondering gaze at the Unicorns. Salem and Sweeite Belle's eyes widened as the other ponies stared at their ashen forms with the questioned leers they wore. Sweetie Belle cringed at Salem, Salem returned her gesture with distaste. Before Sweetie Belle could answer their pondering eyes, Salem stood up on his own four hooves and explained.
" Arcane Hibernus... it is a state that a unicorn enters when they overexert their magical abilities. Unicorns are born with a connection to the magical powers that course through Equestria, when we cast spells we call on those powers through our horns and the gathering of that magic manifests as a visible reflection of our inner selves. But when a Unicorn strains their horn, and channels too much magic through it in too short a peroid; their horn can fracture, and if they still try to cast spells in such a state than their minds will cave in and send them into a sleep like state called, Arcane Hibernus... until their horn heals and they are able to cast themselves out of their subconscious minds. " Salem nodded his head and leaned back, now on Snow Spike's shoulder.
" Why haven't we ever heard of that kind of thing? " the orange Pegasus mare questioned.
" Until the unfortunate downfall of order, all hospitals had a Unicorn that knew the spell that drew any unicorn that entered Arcane Hibernus back out from their own minds. So that they could continue their lives while their horn's healed over time... but when Canterlot library was burned, the spell was lost and all but a few of the unicorns that knew the spell had died in the chaos. "
The unicorns both frowned at the loss of the great city, their heads hung low in the alley that they stood in. The shouting of more ponies snapped them from their grief ridden stupor. Snow Spike stomped his hoof on the ground and the other ponies turned their attention to the maroon stallion.
" Alrigh' now listen here... we got more o' those crazies lookin' for us. An' I reckon they got themselves more than a few unicorns an' probably even more pegasi. I know y'all must be tired, and I know we're all just real eager to learn about magic an' all DESPITE we'll never need that knowledge; but we gotta keep movin' if we're gonna reach the hospital! "
The unicorn mare smiled as her horn glowed a gentle pink color. " Actually... we don't need to move at all. " With a flash the group of friends vanished from the alleyway in a sparkling torrent of lights.
- - - - -
The moon began to shift from over covering the sun, rays of yellow light pierced through the air as clouds drifted, unguided and wild. Chirping birds sang songs into the slightly cooler morning air and the smell of fresh cut grass seemed to whimsically invade the senses of all who found themselves near the large white building that had once been the Ponyville Hospital. Despite the desperate state that Equestria had found itself in, this particular hospital seemed as if it were being looked after and maintained, and a dull flickering light came from the left corner of the building.
With a spark of magic, an orb of light appeared over the flat roof of the hospital. Beams of light lashed out as ribbons of pink coiled about themselves before beginning to form the ponies that the spell was transporting. Ponies composed of pure light stood atop the building, shimmering brightly. An violent spark whipped through the air and the eyes of each pony became brightly visible for only a moment. Glowing streaks came from their shells, Violet, and Blue came from the stallions, as Green, Orange, and yet another violet shot up into the air in a show of acrobatics before crashing down toward the shells as a bright light blast about and the ponies reappeared in their full forms. The remnants of the spell dying down all that could be seen was a flash of color in their eyes.
Salem's eyes flashed with a warm orange and he stood onto his own hooves, shaking his head before wincing as if he'd forgotten his own injuries. Snow Spike's eyes sparked with a gentle green, he turned his head and looked around before staring at the ground below his hooves. Sweetie Belle's eyes flashed a swift shade of blue, they seemed to stared passed everything until switching to stare at the two stallion's that stood a few feet in front of her. Applebloom's eyes sparks a violent midnight purple and pulsed as the little mare's body lowered itself as if injured. Scootaloo's eyes flashed a quick purple and she simply kicked her wings up to look over the other ponies, and over the hospital that she found herself over.
" I think we're here, good work Sweetie Belle! " Scootaloo grinned as the sun behind her made her feathered wings almost glow.
The maroon stallion blinked and looked up to the pegasus " Why thank you Scootaloo, I was never very- " the stallion paused as he heard his voice. The pegasus above hovered above with a puzzled look.
Sweetie Belle's eyes shot wider as she looked over at Snow Spike. " Why the buck do I hear my voice comin' out of another pony... an' why do I have the voice of a sweet Alicorn FILLY?! " Sweetie Belle's new southern accent sounded in a mixed state of panic and anger.
Salem shook his head quickly his eyes shot open as a jolt of pain woke him from confusion once more, with a slow turn of his head he looked back at them and then up toward the jutting horn that sprung from his forehead. " Uh... please don' tell me wha' I think just happened... DID just happen! " yet again, the unicorn's new southern accent would hint at panic... but without anger, simple panic.
Applebloom cringed and sighed, she shook her head and bit at the tie holding her hair together. As she pulled it off her rosy mane flowed free of all beside the ribbon that was pinned to it at the back of her head. The rosy strands shimmered as the morning suns rays beat against them and a gentle breeze lifted. Her eyes opened with a frown and a look of apathy over her face. " It seems the teleportation isn't as easy for you when there are more than just two ponies, Sweetie Belle. "
The other ponies blinked with a hollow understanding of what had just happened, all beside Snow Spike who frowned, his pupils narrowing as he realized what'd happened now. His rear slammed against the roof of the building, mouth hanging wide, and dumbstruck. Applebloom stretched her legs out before turning around and shaking her body over, finally ending in a whip of her tail.
The yellow earth mare stood up tall now. " We've all been switched, our spirits have gone into the wrong ponies... now, I know the spell the fix it but. Unfortunately, I'm not in my own body and my horn is far from prepared to cast such a spell. Please, who is it that I am looking upon when I find myself staring into the odd mirror that this problem has created before me. " the small mare's articulation was only characteristic of the white stallion, Salem. The yellow mare's eyes turned toward the white unicorn stallion and her brow lifted.
" Tha' would be the girl who's body you've taken, Unicorn boy... I didn' know this hurt so much... " the white unicorn frowned and he looked back at the little earth mare that's released her mane. " ... wha' in tarnation are you doin' with my mane, Salem? " a faint shimmer came from the stallion's horn.
Applebloom's eyes shot wider and she snapped her hoof over Salem's horn. " DO NOT allow yourself to become stressed, Applebloom! My horn is in no condition to be channeling latent emotions into the air, Arcane Hibernus is dangerous to unicorns, but who KNOWS what it could do to an earth pony's mind! " Applebloom tapped Salem's chest with her hoof and frowned. " ... I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. "
A sudden silence swept over the ponies and all eyes drifted between the unicorn stallion, and the yellow mare. Applebloom's eyes turned about and a flush of rosy red filled her cheeks, her eyes shot back and her pupils became smaller as she chuckled nervously. " Well... I mean who wouldn't, that would of course- I mean- ... I need my own body back, and if you were stuck inside my subconscious than uh-... " Applebloom cleared her throat and stood up straight again, her face holding the apathy Salem was known for. " ... I need my body back as soon as possible, and I would very much appreciate it if you hadn't altered my subconscious while we waited for my horn to heal up! "
Salem gave a weak smile toward Applebloom, the mare trapped inside his body was not stupid. However Sweetie Belle stood between them now, with a glare in her eyes as she looked at Salem. But with a look a confusion switched over to Applebloom. " How could you say somethin' like that, Applebloo- Sale-... Applesalem? Salem Bloom? "
" Salem works... " Applebloom blinked.
" Righ'... How could you say somethin' like tha', I go' have the mind to backhoof you cross the muzzle! " Sweetie Belle shouted out.
" Yes... you do that, backhoof... your sister's... muzzle... " Applebloom rolled her eyes at the threat. " I'm SURE that couldn't possibly have repercussions when we all get out bodies back. "
Scootaloo facehoofed and landed on the ground beside a small door that was ajar on the roof. " HELLO! Paging all body swapped wierdos, step right in and let's all calm down so that SALEM BLOOM over here can explain what the buck is GOING ON!!!! "
Everypony turned at the distressed look on Scootaloo's face, with a nod they all proceeded into the darkness of the hospital. Hoofsteps were heard down the halls as they reached a second doorway that lacked a door on it's hinges. The light from the sun had begun to beam through the windows all around the hallway that they found themselves in. A large room with plenty of round tables, some turned over to their side... one however held a small candle with a ribbon of smoke twisting and turning about from it's wick. The smell of fresh daffodils gently reached their noses from a door across the room and behind a small counter. A flickering light from inside, and the voices of a deep male, and female were heard but not understood. Applebloom led the way through the room and stopped at the door before pressing her ear against it.
With a loud creek the door opened away from the yellow mare, a bright blue pegasus stallion stood with red piercing eyes, two crossed tornadoes adorned his flank. The stallion looked down at Applebloom, his towered stature matched only by the Maroon earth pony that stood beside the faltering white unicorn.
" Salem, Snow Spike?... " the blue Pegasus looked behind the two at the former crusaders behind them with a gentle smile. " ... crusaders. What are you doing back here in ponyville, and all together. "
" Hurricane?! I thought for sure you'd ended up like all the other Cloudguard pegasi! " Scootaloo jumped over and tackled the older blue stallion. He still stood exactly in the same place, from behind an earth pony mare with a tan coat and golden curled mane. A small blue ribbon wrapped around her left foreleg, her eyes shut.
" Hurricane... is that really, Scootaloo I hear? " the mare said, smiling with her eyes still shut. The mare slowly made her way around Hurricane, brushing her shoulder against the length of his body.
" Yes it is, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle are with her too... along with Salem AND Snow Spike. It's almost like a reunion. If your were all here at least. " Hurricane smiled and guided the mare beside him with his muzzle, allowing her to stand beside him.
Sweetie Belle... or at least her body stepped up behind the stallions and around to their right. " Actually, we got ourselves in a bit of a bind here, Hurricane. "
The older mare arched her brow. " Sweetie Belle, when did you develop that accent? "
Applebloom now stepped forward beside Sweetie Belle. " Actually, that is Snow Spike... and I am Salem. " Applebloom's pale yellow hoof pointed toward the two younger stallions, first to Salem, than to Snow Spike. " This is Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle. "
The older pegasus began to laugh, his wings sprawled outward and enveloped the tan mare beside him as he let out his bellowing laughter. " You've got the most interesting pranks. And here I thought Thunder Runner was the prankster! " Hurricane's laughter died down as no looks of amusements fell onto the faces of the five ponies that stood in front of him. " ... heh... wait. You're serious? "
Applebloom shook her head. " Hurricane, I know Thunder Runner has always been a prankster. And I may have joined in his hobbies at times for the sake of boredom or inspiration... admittedly, the former was more common. But have you ever known Applebloom, or Sweetie Belle to join in our pranks? "
" Well... now that you mention it, you- I mean they were always opposed to joining their- I mean, your friends. " Hurricane looked to the stallions, who nodded at him. " ... oh wow, Autumn Heart. What do you think about this? "
The mare, with her eyes still shut and lifted up her wrist to her hoof to her muzzle in thought. Her ears pinned back against her head and she sighed, her mane shifting over half of her face. " Well... such an illness is beyond my knowledge. But... perhaps Kuhani can help. "
Sweetie Belle nodded her head before lifting her horn up under the hat on Snow Spike's head and taking it for herself. " Bless you! "
Applebloom shook her head with a sigh, the blue pegasus chuckled at Snow Spike but a nudge on his shoulder once again reminded him that he was supposed to act his age. Hurricane cleared his throat. " Kuhani is a zebra that's been staying here at the hospital since everything started getting bad. "
Applebloom's ears perked up. " A zebra, PERFECT! Where can we find this Kuhani? "
Hurricane frowned at Autumn Heart. " Well... he heard some loud music playing in the middle of Ponyville and went to check it out. Unfortunately, he never came back. "
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom turned toward each other with a nod. Autumn Heart had guided Salem and Snow Spike into the table filled room and tending to Salem's wounds, bringing out a whimper from the unicorn that without knowledge of their circumstances may have appeared extremely out of character. Salem winced as Autumn Heart dabbed disinfectant over his leg.
Applebloom turned her head to Hurricane. " We're actually looking for Thunder Runner, we think he may have been taken by the same crazy ponies that took Kuhani. "
Sweetie Belle did the same. " I have a hard time believin' tha' somebody could really take Thunder Runner like tha'. Tha' pegasus is tougher than a bull with steel plates on it's head! "
Applebloom nodded, Snow Spike stepped into the conversation with heavy hooves slamming against the ground. " They must have been smart, they did manage to trick a Zebra after all, Thunder Runner is strong. But he isn't exactly the brains of the operation. "
Salem lifted his hoof as Autumn Heart bandaged the gash over his left foreleg, and tied a small bandage around his horn. Salem whined before chiming into the conversation. " But how are we gonna go help them like this? " Salem winced again as Autumn Heart tightened the bandaged over his leg. " ... I can barely move as it is, an' neither of us tha' have magic now know how to use it! "
Applebloom turned to Salem, a heavy sigh expanding and deflating her chest. " I suppose you are correct, however we cannot simply leave those who need our help, we've got two strong earth ponies, and a pegasus here that are perfectly fine. " He jabbed at the bandages on Salem's leg. " ... and you're milking out the most of this injury here. It is nowhere near as bad as you are making it out to be, I know, I was there when I first got it. "
" Ow! " Salem frowned at the sharp stinging pain.
" Heal up... " Hurricane nodded. " ... you'll all need your strength. "
- - - - -
Deep within the earth, tunnels adorned with balloons and streamers crawled with heckling ponies that all had painted themselves bright pink. The echoing sound of screams from deeper within the caverns added the the darkness that the horror covered balloons, holding other ponies' cutie marks glues to their sides. Candles flickered in the caverns and danced across iron bars as the yellow pegasus, with his wings held in metal braces at his side slammed against them. A black and white striped stallion, much smaller than Thunder sat silently with his eyes closed.
" It is of no used, you said so yourself. I would stop if I were you, you should preserve your health. " The zebra opened his eyes slightly and looked at the pegasus.
" Do you always talk like that? " Thunder Runner looked back, lowering his head to look at the Zebra's eyes. They shut before he could catch a glimpse of them.
" Indeed I do, I speak in rhymes. Do not fret, you will get used to it in time. " a large stone lifted from the ground beside the Zebra without any form of warning. Thunder Runner stumbled back with wide eyes as the stone lifted. " ... please stand aside, it is about to get bumpy... this ride. "
Thunder Runner heeded the Zebra's words and moved around the sit behind him. The large rock slammed into the lock of the prison and the entire door flew off it's hinges and into an approaching pink painted unicorn. Thunder Runner and the Zebra both stood and ran out of the cage.
" Which way do we go, Kuhani? " Thunder Runner grinned.
" There are many ways our of this caverns, 'tis true. But me I know none, I am as lost as you! "
" Great... you talk in poems, can make rocks fly, but can't get us out of a cave. "
Kuhani shrugged his shoulders and gestured down the caverns, the pegasus and the zebra ran down close to the walls. Deep laughs detered their attempts at escape each turning them around in a different direction. Lost in the caverns with no way to know their way, and capture meaning grim things for their future. The smell of rot assaulted them constantly and slowed their progress whenever it became too much for them to bare.
- - - - -
The eclipse pulled back from the sun as morning crept back over Equestria. Salem pulled a black cloak over his back and pulled the bandages from his horn, a sheen glimmered over the weapon he held on his head. Scootaloo pulled a harness over her head and tightened the straps to two recently sharpened a cleaned blades onto the tips of her wings. Snow Spike turned and slammed his hooves into a tree, splintering it and causing it to fall to it's side. Sweetie Belle's horn glowed as she pulled a white cloak over herself. The sun revealed the way, and sinister music filled the air in ponyville.
Applebloom turned her head and nodded at Sweetie Belle as they kicked open the door and all began to run down the road toward Ponyville. A thundering sound behind them stopped them in their tracks, the sound of metal plates clanking together and blade screeching against each other caught their attention. Like thunder the blue stallion appeared from the door, wearing white and gold plated armor with two barrels coming from his side, and feather like blades covered almost all of his wings. He turned as Autumn Heart appeared behind him, he gave her a light nuzzle before stretching his wings out, the shrieking metals shimmering in the glory of celestia's sun. He threw his wings down and shot into the air, soaring to join the other five who'd already made it half way down the road.
With a nod they continued down the road. As they neared the town center they saw their target, there was a large blood stained pony standing in front of the building as if she knew of their approach... at first glance she seemed almost harmless. But as they approached, Salem's eyes shot wider... the figure sprouted out two massive feathered wings, she raised her head to show the horn on her head... the long straight hair on the pony parted to show her wicked smile and pinprick pupils in her deep disturbed blue eyes. The natural pink color of her coat, hidden beneath her hair was tainted by the cuts that seemed intentionally dug into her flesh. As the wings lifted, she held the cutie marks of many different ponies, stitched into her side... her own, burnt off.
" STOP! It's an Alicorn!! " Applebloom shouted out. All six stopped as it there were a cliff in front of them, pure terror rippling through their pony as the massive form's horn began to glow a sickly pink and green. Sparks shooting from it's base and it's tip. " ... MOVE! " all six turned and dove into two different alley ways as a huge violent blast of pink and sickly green massive struck where they stood, grass and two still living bushes instantly died and decayed from existence.
" SALEM!!! " Sweetie Belle shouted from the other side of the street. " I RECKON WE JUST WALKED INTO MAJOR CLUSTERBUCK HERE! " Another blast whirred by as the demented alicorn laughed.
" Come on out, my little ponies! Join the PARTY!! " The alicorn sent blast after blast down the road.
Salem's eyes shot open...
- Tha' voice, it can't be her... she was just an earth pony! Unless... -
Salem shouted across the street to AppleBloom. " SALEM!.. ARE YOU THINKING THE SAME THING I AM RIGH' NOW?! "
Applebloom shouted back across over yet another blast from the alicorn. " I AM THINKING, IT IS VERY LIKELY. HOWEVER ODD! BUT IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING NONE THE LESS! "
Sweetie Belle and Snow Spike jumped from the Alley's suddenly, catching everypony by surprise. They ducked under a blast from the insane alicorn, weaving across the field the alicorn's eyes shot between them. Sweetie Belle eyes caught a glimmer of their target under the alicorn's right wing. As Snow Spike taunted the alicorn, Sweetie Belle came from the side and slid her horn under the alicorn's wing. Catching on stitching that broke apart and cause the wing to fall from her blood stained body. Standing opposite the alicorn as her wing fell both ponies glared... the 'alicorn' glared from underneath her straight pink mane.
" You shouldn't insult your host... " the alicorn smirked and spoke in her crazed high pitched voice. She lifted her hoof up and sent a shockwave of entropic energy to blast the two back several yards. Sweetie Belle knocked her head against a building and was knocked out cold. Snow Spike dug his hooves into the ground and remained grounded.
The maroon stallion's eyes shot open and he clamped them shut for a moment before remembering that he could not do magic in that body. Instead he backed away and shouted. " FLY! "
Without hesitation two streaks of Blue and Orange bursted up from either side of the street like darts. Both flashing in the air and redirecting the sun light into the alicorn's eyes with their shining blades. The alicorn shouted as she was blinded, Salem and Applebloom stood in the middle of the road now. Salem's horn glowed and blasted a large hole into the building he was hiding behind, he levitated a large wooden beam over to Applebloom. The yellow mare turned and bucked the beam, sending it flying at the Alicorn.
With a crash the beam landed upon the alicorn, a gruesome ripping sound and screams of agony were heard from her as the horn on her head was torn from her forehead. The stitches and bolts that kept it on ripping without mercy against her flesh and bone. The bleeding pony lay on the ground, sobbing and laughing all at once. Snow Spike rushed passed and began tending to a gash at the back of Sweetie Belle's head. The pink pony began to stand herself up, blood flowed from her forehead profusely as she glared at Applebloom and Salem. A sudden frown covered her face as her hair parted completely and her mind twitched to it's original state, her bright blue eyes peering at the ponies closely.
" Applebloom... S-Salem... " she frowned, remembering who they were and who their family was. " ... p-please tell me I didn't hurt anypony. " the blood stained pony's eyes narrowed. " ... please stop me, I don't want to hurt anypony anymore! "
Applebloom approached with Salem. Salem turned his head toward Applebloom. " Go an' check on Snow Spike, he's hurt. " Applebloom turned her gaze down to the pink blood stained pony. " ... Pinky, I'm so sorry they did this to you... t-tell Applejack tha'... Applebloom and Snow Spike miss 'er. "
The pony smiled, a mixture of blood and tears slid down her cheek. " ... Hurry, I don't know how much longer i'll be able to think clearly. " the pink pony shut her eyes. Salem lowered his head and pressed his horn against her forehead, a sudden blast of yellow magic brightened the field. The memories of the good, drowned out the bad as Salem sunk his horn into the pony's neck and heaved his neck up. An audible pop was heard, and the pink pony's eyes drift closed, a smile resting on her lips.
The others approached and stood beside each other, staring down. A glimmering light from the sun reached out with a faint glow, gold a blue ribbons of magic coiled around the pony's body. The six other ponies stepped back, cautious to the nature of the magic. Pinky Pie's body was enveloped in the magic of the sun, with glittering serenity the body vanished and the ribbons of magic returned to the sun as peacefully as they came. The other ponies watched the magic as much as they could before the light of the sun threatened their gaze.
" Was that? " Salem asked, but before he could finish Applebloom answered.
" Unmistakable... that was the princess' magic! " Applebloom was gazing in amazement at the display. " ... the final element, rests with her now. " the yellow mare smiled lightly.
A loud stampede of hooves was heard by the six ponies, coming from behind. As they turned their attention they saw dozens of pink painted ponies, chasing after a yellow coated pegasus, and a zebra who were running faster than any train Equestria had ever known.
The two reached them swiftly, the sear of pink ponies began to slow down as they reached the large field outside of Ponyville's center building. Immediately the Zebra eyed the ponies with a raised brow. " Even without magic I can see what is true, what in Celestia's named happened to you?! "
Thunder Runner landed on the ground with a loud thump. " What do you mean? They look fine to me, beside the fact Salem hasn't turned Snow Spike into a toad yet. "
Sweetie Belle lifted her brow at Thunder Runner. " Why the hell would he do a thing like that? Sure we had a figh', bu' it ain't like we wanna hurt anypony over it. "
Thunder Runner laughed as Sweetie Belle spoke. " I was talking about Salem and Sn- wait, when did you get an accent, Sweetie Belle. "
The white mare looked behind the them at the mob of pink painted ponies behind them. " We shouldn't just talk abou' this here for long, so... Salem is in Applebloom's body, Applebloom is in Salem's body, Scoot's all normal, Sweetie Belle in inside my body, and I'm Snow Spike! "
The yellow pegasus stared blankly, at Sweetie Belle. His eyes moved around to his friends, and the large Pegasus that stood by them. " Is Hurricane body swapped? "
" No Hurricane is fine. " Applebloom said, stepping back as she looked at the slowly approaching doom wave. " I do not mean to alarm anypony, but there is a large quantity of murderous mad-ponies that do not have much area to cover to get to us. I would greatly appreciate if either we take out chances trying to outrun the inevitable death that approaches OR... " she turned to Kuhani who'd already begun etching a circle in the dirt around them. " ... or Kuhani can switch us back and I can take care of it NOW! "
The zebra looked up as he finished the circle. " From where is it you have came? I never told you my name! " Kuhani shrugged quickly and dropped a small green drop he pulled out from a roughly sewn saddlebag. Green magic floated up and formed a spinning circle of magic around them, the Zebra's eyes glowed a bright green as multi-colored streaks shot out from the four body-swapped ponies. Violet into Salem, Blue into Snow Spike, Green into Sweetie Belle, Orange into Applebloom. The magic faded and Salem stomped from it, a bright sparking of magic coming from his horn.
A bright overglow of magic built on his horn, the other ponies covered their eyes as the sparks of arcane ripped out from him. " Get... down! " Salem's amplified voice echoed fiercely through the air and his friends all ducked down onto the ground. His eyes shot open and strikes of lightning ripped forward, turning two ponies into dust as they began to sprint forward now. His horn's magic continued to grow and spirals of magic began to form around it. Snow Spike looked up and noticed a small white glow forming at the midsection of Salem's horn, beginning to grow with a sickening crack.
" SALEM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! " Snow Spike yelled, his eyes becoming pinpricked as he noticed the fracturing in the unicorn's horn.
With a distorted echo, Salem ignored his friends words and he shouted at the approaching sea of pink. " YOU WILL NEVER HURT ANOTHER PONY AGAIN! " The fracture grew entirely around the unicorn's horn and the tip broke off, a screaming rip of magic began to rip forward... pink magic from Sweetie Belle horn began to be sucked from her, with a scream she shut her eyes and tried to focus on holding her magic in. Dozens of the pink painted unicorns began doing the same as their magic started to be sucked into the White stallion's.
The sea of murderous ponies shifted as they began to take notice, ribbons of yellow and blue magic had begun to slowly reach into the unicorn's and a massive build up of energy began to form into an orb right in front of him. Snow Spike and Thunder Runner stood up with a nod and stood behind Salem, placing their hooves up against his shoulders in order to hold him up. With a shriek of pure magic and spite the blast of multi-colored magic became of wide beam that soared through the air. As the magic touched the fleeing mob, one after another, they were turned to sparkling ash the instant the magic touched them...
As the blinding light faded down, the sparkling ashes ascended into the air and left nothing in their wake. Salem's eyes glowed and they dimmed down into emptiness before closing. Leaving Salem's body, leaning against Thunder Runner and Snow Spike. The remains of his horn pulsed momentarily before ceasing, leaving only silence.
- - - - - - - - - -
NOTES: This was definitely a shorter chapter, but I hope it was still at least as good or better than the last chapter. Of course assuming that my last chapter was good enough to make some of you come back to read forward into the story. I'm asking that people PLEASE leave comments on how you think I can improve, what you likes, and what you didn't like about the story... I can only get better if I know what i'm doing wrong.
Thanks for reading, hope you'll stick around for the next chapter!