//------------------------------// // A Cursed Mare // Story: Soren The Alicorn Part 4: The Rift // by KingNyroc15 //------------------------------// 'She lives in this dump?' Once morning came, Soren ate breakfast with Robin and Ruby then decided to head out to the mother's house. Robin directed Soren outside of town to a wooden shack at the edge of a thick forest. The sky appeared bleak near the forest even though the midday sun was shining. Soren stood a considerable distance away from the shack as he looked at it. It didn't seem reliably sturdy, nor did it look like it was comprised of more than one big room. 'I would assume the entire town, or at least most of them, drove this mare away if she is living in this dump,' Soren thought to himself. Taking a deep breath, he slowly walked towards the wooden 'house.' Stepping up towards the front door, he reached out a hoof to knock, however the door was flung open before contact was made. Soren stiffened and took a step back. He peered into the darkness of the shack for awhile before moving. He edged his way inside and let his eyes adjust before glancing around. He was almost correct in his assumption that the house was only one room. It actually had two that he could see: one giant living room and a small bedroom. There was an oven and a ruined sink in the corner of the living room by the bedroom entrance. To his right, Soren saw a television, which had static on the screen, and a ruined couch that could fit two ponies on it. A lamp was situated in the corner near the TV and couch. In the middle of the room was a tattered, swamp green rug with a table on top of it. Only two chairs were positioned at the table, along with the only source of light in the house besides the light from outside: an interesting candle. Soren stepped up to the candle, which burned with a blue flame. He found it curious how this little flame interested him so much. He stared into the heart of the fire and focused on it. It flickered at his gaze and began swaying. The flame jumped up a few feet and landed back on the candlestick. Soren backed up, and the flame increased in size. By the time it almost reached the ceiling, the fire flowed onto the floor, opposite the table from Soren's position. Soren was about ready to run out of the door when he saw something else. The fire shifted into another object; it began to take physical form. Soren has seen enough tricks to know where this is going. He wasn't surprised to see a pony materialize from the fire. 'Cliché much?' he thought as he rolled his eyes. The pony, or more accurately the mare, stood up and looked at Soren. Her piercing eyes seeming to look into his soul. The unicorn mare had deep blue eyes, a beige coat, tan mane and tail, and no cutie mark! 'Blank flank, huh? That's curious.' "Yes it is. Now will you please stop staring at my 'blank flank,'" the mare commented. "Sorry abou—Wait a second!" Soren yelled. "You read my mind!" "Problem? As I recall, you're the alicorn with special powers here." "Magic by using a horn is considering having special powers? That's a first. My friend can perform better feats of magic than me. I'm just lucky." "Magic isn't about luck...It's about imagination, commitment, and devotion. You don't necessarily need training, you just need the right mind set." "I've already read books preaching the same thing." "Yes, Soren, I figured as much." 'Great, she knows my name. Wait...crap.' "Indeed I do know your name. Or do you prefer 'alicorn?'" "Soren is fine," he replied irritably. "I take it you know why I'm here." "To investigate my magic." "If by 'your magic' you mean 'your curse,' then yes. I want to know why everypony thinks you are cursed." "You don't believe them?" "Should I?" "Possibly. A curse to one pony can be a gift in the eyes of another." 'You're already lying...' Soren thought. He continued speaking aloud. "...and I can prove it. Someone told me that one day you suddenly became different." "May I ask who this pony was?" "You already know." The mare giggled with slight wickedness. "You are correct. Am I not the first pony you have met who has knowledge like mine?" "No you aren't, and the other has great knowledge as well. Let's see how much knowledge you actually have. How much do you know about why I'm here?" "I know you were sent by that traitor, Robin, to try to 'fix me.'" "Not necessarily. I just want to—" "...see what makes me tick. I know. That jealous fool will do anything to make sure Ruby and I stay apart." "Jealous? Robin doesn't seem like the jealous type." "Oh but she is. She was always jealous that I had a child and she didn't. When I fell ill, she was right there to snatch sweet Ruby from me." "And you expect me to believe that?" "Have you conversed with my child yet?" "Yes, and she is very eager to meet you, which leads me to wonder if she has ever seen you since the accident." "Am I not worthy enough to see my own offspring?" "Now that is the reason I am here." "How does it feel, Guardian? To know that you can be manipulated like a puppet to do the string master's bidding?" "As long as the right thing is done, I can be played like a piano and I wouldn't care." "Such confidence. Where was that when Nyra died?" "...Look me in the eyes and say that," Soren threatened while putting his hooves on the table. Both ponies leaned closer to each other. The mare grinned. "Where was—? *gasp*" The mare stared into Soren's deep green eyes and saw something shocking. Within those eyes, she saw the very mare she was talking about. We both know you shouldn't anger him. the bat pony in Soren's conscience said to the mare. "Now then..." Soren continued. "Anything else you want to insult me with?" "I never meant to insult, merely to learn." "Let's stop beating around the bush and cut to the chase. How did you become cursed and what were the side effects?" "But you don't even know my name, and you're asking such a personal question." "Enlighten me then. What is your name?" "Nightingale." "I was going to think to myself again but there's no point. It now makes a little more sense how Robin is your sister; you both having bird names. She mentioned something that peaked my interest: how could Ruby's power be used for evil? It is another thing that is cliché and you know it." "Only unicorns could even hope to manipulate her powers. As you know, her magic has not been tampered with, at least not by ponies other than me." "That's another thing: how exactly did this magical surge of yours happen?" "So Robin told you the whole story, eh? You listen to me, alicorn—" "No, you listen to me, Nightingale. I'm sick of ponies referring to me as simple 'alicorn' when they easily know my name. Either call me Soren or you might get on my bad side." "Do you think that scares me? Hmm, alicorn~?" Soren gritted his teeth. "You will never be able to scare me like you have with everypony else. They call me cursed. Do you know why?" "Why?" "Cuz I'm insane. At least that's what they all think. What does it truly mean to be insane or sane? Just because one places a label on you, like hero or insane, does not make it true. Don't you agree?" Soren remained silent. "So now you decide to be quiet? Typical. Once faced with knowledge beyond your schemas, you find yourself unable to respond." "You're quite insightful for a secluded mare who is considered insane. What was your line of work?" Nightingale gives a perturbed look to Soren. "Really? You decide to ask that of all questions? Seriously?" Soren was taken aback. He was going to respond but was interrupted. "Just...get out. You're no longer worthy of my time." "I'm not going to leave that easily." "You might want to rethink that. Look up." Soren obliged and saw something shocking. Eyes widening, Soren looked at the couch and TV on the ceiling. He also saw the oven and sink up there as well. "W-Wha...?" Soren stuttered. "Goodbye," replied Nightingale with a grin. Soren suddenly fell upward (or rather downward) towards the floor. He landed with a hard thud and heard the mare's wicked laughter overhead. Sitting up and rubbing his head, Soren looked up at the table attached to the ceiling. Nightingale was gone. The front door creaked open; he knew what she was trying to say. After taking one last look around the rundown house, Soren walked through the front door. He noticed something on the ground right in front of the doorway. It was a rock with a piece of paper attached to it. See you next time, Soren. -Nightingale "Why do I always get the crazys?"