//------------------------------// // Assaulted // Story: Broken Armor // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Shining Armor angrily trotted out of the house, his blood boiling. Spike narrowly avoided the door as it slammed against the wall. "Shining, wait--" "No, Twi'. I'm going. They don't want me or need me here right." "But you're doing so much for them. It was just a few--" "There was at least a dozen of them angry! I'm not going to let them to sit there berate me like that! Now please, leave me alone." He turned from her, trotting into a crowd of ponies. Twilight Sparkle quickly follow behind. She turned to the left, exiting the crowd as she noticed the palace in the distance. "Horseapples." Twilight huffed. "Did you see where he went Spike?" "No... maybe back there?" Spike pointed down the street. "The crowd went over there, maybe he's in it?" "Okay. Let's hope that's where he went." "What happened in there?" "It went... really badly. Almost everypony in the room was against him. Even when he tried to apologize, they wouldn't listen. They just kept shouting at him until he snapped." She rubbed her forehead. "He's taking it really hard." "I can tell." They turned the corner. The crowd had dispelled, leaving the streets empty. "Nothing." "Yep..." Twilight sighed. "We'll just have to look for him again. Make sue he's all right. Can't be out here for too long with his horn like that." --- My eyes burned from the sunlight, assaulting my vision. "It's okay, it's okay... don't worry." Lance Force's voice took on a gentle tone. There was a noise coming from the opposite wall... weeping? "But th-they'll come g-get us. Li-like that back home!" I forced my left eye open, the left side of my face laying atop of left fore-hoof. Lance was cradling Blooming Lily in her fore-hooves. Blooming's cheeks were stained with tears, and her eyes were red from crying. Lance shushed her with a calm, firm voice. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Blooming. Not as long as I'm here. Besides, you're brave." "N-no I'm not..." Blooming sniffled pitifully, wiping her eyes. "Of course you are. Probably more than me. You've been such a soldier through all this. I promise you won't have to deal with this for much longer." "How?" "Rocky, you, and I'll get you out of here the first chance we get. Then we'll be able to get back home to mom and dad." "I-I miss th-them." "I do too. Just hold out a little longer and we'll be back to the Crystal Empire." "Okay..." She said in a quiet voice, crawling out of Lance's hooves and trotting to the corner, sitting and resting her chin atop her fore-hooves, closing her eyes. Poor mare... this can't be easy on her, especially after that first night. Lance sighed. I sat up, looking around the room to make sure everything was as I left it. The sunlight, instead of creeping through the cracks of the boards, it shined through directly, brightening the room. "About time you woke up." Lance stood, trotting to the bars and looking out. The hall was empty, per usual, aside from a few changeling soldiers passing by. "What were you two talking about before? When they invaded?" Lance and Blooming both directed their attention, with Lance shooting daggers at me. "None of your--" She stopped suddenly, holding her tongue. "Y-yes..." Blooming said, turning away from them. Lance glanced back to her, sighing. She trotted to my left, sitting down beside me. "Do you mind if I ask what happened?" I whispered to Lance, making sure I was quiet enough to where Blooming wouldn't hear us. She sighed, frustrated. "No. We were out getting some food to eat for lunch when those bugs came along. Those overgrown bugs grabbed me while Blooming and I were separated. She tried to help me get away, but they got her too. She's getting homesick." "I see." "Where were you when it happened?" "I was taking a cart of crystals and gems back up to ground level when it all happened. Guess I'd be better up in open ground than in a close, cramped mine that was near-flooded. Used my pickaxe to take out a couple of them before I got overwhelmed" "Nice. Wish I could've seen it for myself." "Wish I'd have gotten more of them. They'll regret locking us in here." "Damn right they will!" --- "Shining? What the hay's wrong? Where are you at?" Twilight asked as she trotted down the snow-covered streets of the Crystal Empire as she looked for her brother. She had been at it for almost a half an hour now. "I wonder where he went..." "I do to. It isn't like him to just run off without a word. We need to find him." --- Shining let out a small curse under his breath as he trotted down the halls of the castle. I'm trying to make up for it... I've went up to everypony that was hurt or lost somepony or something in that attack and promised them food and supplies, but it's still not enough. He sighed, letting his head hang. They have a right to be angry. They're cold, hungry, and hurt. We need to get things under control. Shining turned the corner, trotting towards the throne room. Might as well get some desk-work done while I can. Isn't going to finish itself. He pushed the door open. Cadance was at the middle of the room, sitting atop her throne. The room was empty aside from them. The throne room had been hastily repaired after the invasion, showing some uneven fillings in the walls and cuts in the crystal pillars that led up to the two thrones. Scuff marks lined the crystal tiles, surrounding the tethered, blue carpet that led up to their thrones. The Crystal Banners were pulled down, to the side, but the Crystal Heart was still intact(thankfully). "Hey Shining. Thought you were outside." "Just got back. Wanted to come in and see if you were feeling well. You looked sickly this morning." "Yes, I'm fine. I feel much better than I did this morning." Cadance's coat had become lighter, and her mane was in place. "Thank goodness." "Yes--" She unraveled a small paper at her side. "Oh-- can you help me organize the supplies that're coming in tonnight? Princess Celestia said they should be here tonight or tomorrow, depending on how this snow front is going to act." "Of course. Let's just go ahead and go over it." --- Twilight and Spike sat down on the side of the street, sitting down in front of a destroyed house. She sighed, frustrated. "Maybe he just went back to the castle?" "Yeah, probably. We probably should've checked there first." Twilight chuckled. "Thanks." "You're welcome." "C'mon, lets head back. We need to speak with him." Twilight lifted Spike onto her back, and stepped back up onto the street. She trotted down. "Somepony help!" Twilight stopped. She looked over her shoulder, and saw that a colt was standing at the alleyway, frantically looking around for somepony to help him. "Stay here, Spike." Twilight's horn glowed with her raspberry magical aura as she lifted Spike off of her back, gently sitting him on the ground. She turned and trotted towards him. "What's the matter?" Twilight asked as she approached the colt. She quickly glanced at the colt; he had a dark yellow coat and a white gray mane that had been grown out for some time. While looking over the colt, she noticed something a bit strange about him. His eyes were a unusual yet familiar shade of blue and he had minuscule, almost horn-like points on the top of his help that was barely noticeable because of his mane. "My mama's in trouble! Please, come with me!" The colt said as he gently grabbed Twilight and pulled her into the alley. His voice was panicked, yet gentle. "All right. Lead me to her." Twilight said as she entered the alleyway, following the colt. He was a few inches taller than her. "Twilight, wait up!" The colt lead her into different alleys and streets, leading her farther and farther away from Spike and confusing her as to where she really was. If his mom's in trouble, then why did he come to me? I mean we've passed by four or five blocks now. Why didn't just he stop at the first one? "Uh... where are we going? Why are you leading me so far away?" Twilight asked as she continued to follow the obviously worried colt. "Because, all the other streets were empty! You were the only pony I could find!" "Well, why didn't you go to the shelter? I don't mind helping you, it's just seems a bit strange." "She's up here!" The colt said. Twilight could sense something suspicious was about. Twilight and the colt turned the corner, and was greeted with a mare. Her coat was a dark green and her mane was black. She had a sickly look on her face. "Hello, dear. I presume you found somepony?" The mare asked, immediately coughing afterwords. Her voice was scratchy and hoarse. "Yes, mother." "What's the matter?" "She's really sick. Can you help her?" "I can try." Twilight said as she slowly trotted towards the mother. She began to feel uneasy as she. Almost like somepony was watching her. Something isn't right... "My chest is really tight and I can barely breath half the time." "All right... I'll be back in a moment with some medicine." Twilight said, trying to end the situation. She was going to return with some medicine, but she needed to get out of the uneasy situation. "Wait... please stay. You-you're Princess Twilight, yes?" "Yes." "S-sure you know... some spells to help make a poor, sick crystal healthy." "Well... there's a few I know. But it'd be safer if I-" Twilight turned, beginning to trot back down the alleyway. The colt grabbed her, holding her by her mane. "You're staying." The mare harshly said as she stood and slowly began to trot towards Twilight. "Look, if you want my help, then you need to let me leave get some medicine from the infirmary. I-I can apply the medicine then." Twilight pulled his hoof away, but his grip was iron. "You're coming with us, princess." The colt's voice was cold, and callused. His hoof traced down from her mane to her neck, wrapping both fore-hooves around her neck. "Gah! G-get off!" Twilight called out as she pulled against his hooves, but his grip would not falter. The mare trotted up to her and punched her in the snout. Twilight pulled her head up, her snout bleeding and tears quickly filling her eyes. "We're bringing you to Queen Chrysalis." The mare punched her in the chest hardly, knocking any air out of her lungs. She kept hitting her. My lungs are burning--! I-I have to get them off of me! She kicked, punched, clawed-- even shot a bolt of magic into the building above trying to get debris to land on them. Her primal instincts and pure adrenaline kept her fighting. I-I can't... breath! Twilight pulled against the changeling's hooves one more time, using all her might. Her head fell as she coughed. "Stop... ah..." Twilight said as she could feel herself slipping from consciousness. Her grip on the colt's hooves become weaker as she felt herself delve farther and farther away from consciousness. "Feeling tired, princess? Don't worry. You'll be right at home at the Changeling Kingdom in a few hours." The colt tightened his grip on her throat. "Please-ah-- l-let me go..." Twilight said as she weakly tried to pull away his hooves away from her throat to no avail. The changeling in front of her, still as the mare, hit her snout again. Twilight felt blood trail down her snout, over her lips as it dripped off her chin. Twilight out a final breath before her fore-hooves fell to her side. "Twilight!" "Gah!" The colt let go of Twilight. Twilight dropped to her knees, shaking with fear. She turned back, staring at him, before her fear turned to fury. She fired a large magical bolt at him, landing directly on his chest, knocking him away from her. Spike was standing beside her, scared. "Are all right?!" "Idiot! Grab her!" "Yeah! Run!" Twilight quickly lifted Spike up onto her back and galloped out of the alley and down the street. ---