Some updates : MASSIVE SPOILERS WARNING · 5:29pm Jan 31st, 2013
So as of late things have been...beyond screwed up. I got cheated out of a lot of money from work by my own boss which i am still sorting out and I haven't had time to write much as life has been slamming my head into a brick wall. But I did have some time to work on some side stuff. For those of you reading Pipers Tale. I have decided to give you a better peek into the pegasi's future as well as that of his sister, Melody. THIS.IS.MASSIVE.SPOILERS PEOPLE. so if you don't like that sort of thing I strongly recommend you stop reading this and go finish your apple juice.
SPOILERS START HERE
Melody - Daughter of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, younger sister of Piper. Now the Leader of The Crusaders, a Squadron of the Rebellion.
Piper - Son of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, now a heartless and warrior of Harmony, abandoned by her upon his failure at the Battle of Canterlot.
Sunshine - Son of Fluttershy and Big Macintosh, Soldier in Melody's Squadron - The Crusaders. He possesses his fathers strength and his mothers Stare and cares deeply for Melody. He would do anything to keep her happy.
Nox - Daughter of Nyx and Riku, a powerful Alicorn who takes after her mother and a Soldier in Melody's Squadrion - The Crusaders.
Shadow Flare - Son of Nyx and Riku - An Alicorn born with the powers of darkness, protected from the corruption by the love of his sister Nox. He uses his abilities to aid his sister and The Crusaders, but does not consider himself a soldier. He is still unsure of what he is, but he will protect his friends with his life.
Somewhere in Pipers Tale, the unthinkable will happen. Ponies WILL DIE. Piper WILL FAIL. The Gryphons WILL WIN. For now. Spike is captured trying to protect his family. Amethyst is badly wounded, Emerald...- Piper is captured on the battlefield after a heavy loss and becomes the Gryphons favorite torture-toy/pasttime, his parents are used against him in order to prevent any attempts at escape by the 'immortal' heartless Pegasus. Harmony seems to have abandoned Piper, no longer appearing in his dreams, though he still holds her curse and his body continues to heal itself. In this time Melody, Nox, Shadowflare, and Sunshine have formed the new Crusaders, though they hunt for more than just cutiemarks. With Melody as their Leader they are one of the strongest groups of the Rebellion. Now you might ask - Why hasn't Celestia done anything? Why hasn't Twilight taken action? Where are the Elements of Harmony? Where is Nyx? Why hasn't the Doctor or Ditzy used the TARDIS? Well...this is a very,very,very sad story my friends. Perhaps..you should look for yourself.
"Are you sure about this Mel?" a gruff voice spoke up, shrouded in shadows.
"Of course I am. This has to be the place, we've hit every outpost and everything points to here." the unicorn replied, lowering the hood of her brown cloak. It was her most prized possession, given to her by her brother so long ago.
"I don't want you getting your hopes up for nothing, it hurts seein you upset Mel." a bright yellow pegasus colt spoke up from the unicorn's other side. The unicorn sighed, giving the colt a small smile.
"Don't worry so much. I know he's here. I can feel it." A cloud slowly took shape in front of them, taking the form of a young alicorn filly. She seemed a bit out of breath but wore a smile on her face.
"He's there!" she said excitedly, stumbling a bit. The shrouded figure caught her before she could fall, letting her lean against it.
"Take it easy Nox." the figure mumbled. She nodded, sitting down and resting her head against him.
"He's in bad shape, but he's in there. Spike is in there too. I got to talk to him a bit but I had to leave before I was noticed. He's not looking too good and the guards are talking about having him executed."
"Then we'll just have to get them both out in one go." The unicorn spoke up.
"Mel, I know you wanna see him again but...You know they can't kill him. We've gotta save Spike while we can and then come back for hi..."
"NO! I won't abandon him again. He's suffered for too long. They took my parents just to make him suffer! They killed my parents to make us both suffer!" the unicorn yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Melody, I saw them...your parents...their alive." Nox said with a small smile.
"They've kept them alive, just to hurt him. Its their favorite way of torturing him. But they are there." The Alicorn said weakly, the shadows from her brother surrounding her, lending her some of his magic.
"Their...alive?" Melody sat down, putting a hoof against her head. For so long she had thought her parents dead. Now she had a chance to save them. She lowered her head.
"Please forgive me...Piper..." she whispered. She took in a slow breath and stood, once again the commander, once again the leader.
"Alright, we'll go in Flares cover, Nox you'll open the cells and teleport Spike to the rendevous while we grab my parents and meet up with you. We'll regroup at base and come up with another plan. We'll need to change to a seperate base and we'll need a new tactic on our second entry, they will most likely be expecting us with three of their prized prisoners escaping, understood?" She asked them. They all looked back with faces of concern, even Shadowflare.
"Am I understood?!" she barked. All three nodded.
"Good, lets move out."
A bit of light shone in through the tiny cage window, waking the wounded drake within. He sat up slowly, forcing himself not to smile. It had been years of torture, years of enduring being the Gryphons little toy and now they were coming for him. He didn't know when, but he knew they would come for him. It worried him though, they were still just kids, this war had taken so much from them. He lowered his head and sighed. This war had taken much from him as well. He calmed himself and watched as a guard unlocked the bars of his cell, tossing a bowl of mush at him.
"Eat up freak." the gryphon said with a chuckle. Spike would have loved to set the gryphon aflame, but the collar around his neck barely allowed him to breath, let alone create flames. The framework of his cell had been carefully crafted to block out any attempt at Draconic Magic. Spike scooped up the bowl of mush, turning his back to the Gryphon. It was only a matter of time now, he would be free and he would have his revenge.
Nothing, thats all there was. For seven long years thats all there had been in between the never ending days and constant torture. Harmony had abandoned him.Piper was dragged from his empty sleep as a claw dug into his side, reopening a wound just as it closed.
"This is getting boring, bring out the torch!" the Gryphon called out. Piper slowly opened his eyes, watching as a massive torch was dragged by several gryphons. Oh how he hated that stupid thing. They loved hanging him above it and letting him catch on fire. The first time they had left him like that for an entire day, only for him to heal the next day and have it done again. It had become old and while he had become accustomed to pain, his body still reacted in a way that pleased the Gryphons. The one thing he hated the most about the torch, was its source of fire. A single unicorn horn tied to the edge with an orange feather wrapped around the bottom. A reminder of how badly he had failed.
"Time for another barbeque already?" Piper joked as he was lifted in the air by the chains tied to his forehooves.
"Don't you ever get tired of this?" he asked, exhausted as he hung his head, already feeling the flames licking at his body.
"Nope, it got boring tossing away all the burnt bodies, but you, heh heh. You're a real treat." the lowered the chains and Piper screamed.
Sweetie Belle felt her heart shatter once more as Pipers screams filled the air.
"The torch again..." she mumbled, tears trying to form, though none came. She had used up all of her tears long ago.
"He'll tough it out Belle." A raspy voice said, trying to cheer her up. It had been ages since Scootaloo had been given anything worthy of being called water and it was starting to show. The two were kept apart by their chains. Scootaloo's wings nailed to the wall. The sight made Belle sick everytime she saw it. Though Scootaloo didn't care when she saw the cracked stump that was the remains of Sweetie belle's horn.
"Belle..."
"I'm sorry Scoots...I just can't do it anymore..." she said, lowering her head.
"I understand..." Scootaloo said softly, closing her eyes and licking her lips. If the unicorn wouldn't sing, then she would have to, dry throat and all. She began quietly, shaking with silent sobs that soon turned into loud wailing. Sweetie Belle reached out a hoof to her wife, wishing she could hold her, just for a moment. Scootaloo hung her head for a moment and started to shake, screaming as she thrashed against her bonds, though she only succeeded in ripping her wings apart with the nails keeping them against the wall.
"STOP IT SCOOTS! JUST STOP!" Belle yelled. The unicorn began to sing softly and slowly but surely the pegasus began to calm down.
"I promise Belle...I swear on my life...we'll get out of this somehow..." Scootaloo said weakly before passing out from blood-loss. A gryphon sighed and came into their cell to dress the wounds. After all, they couldn't have their best torture tools die on them.
From almost anywhere in the camp the horrfying torture Piper experienced could at the very least heard if not seen. It broke Nox's heart, but she didn't have time to mourn her friend. She had to move or all was lost. She quickly made her way back to Spike's prison, a thin tendril of smoke slipping in between the cracks of his collar and prying it open. Slowly she lowered the collar to the ground so as to keep quiet, more tendrils working on the cuffs around his wrists.
"Is it time?" Spike asked softly. Nox gave a small nod before realizing he could not see her in this form. She tapped his claws gently and he smiled, stretching and taking in a slow breath.
"Good, stand back kid, I'm busting out." Nox quickly placed her hooves over his mouth, shaking her head as she took form. Her horn began to glow, surrounding both of them and causing them to vanish. Spike looked around and roared, throwing his head back and letting a jet of flame fill the air.
"WHY NOX?! WHY?!" he screamed at her.
"Because these were my orders. I'm sorry Spike but Mel's parents are in there and they still have Piper."
"Belle is alive?"
"Yes, Flare and the others are getting her and Scootaloo out and then we'll go back for Piper."
"No, you can't just leave him there, we have to go back now!"
"Spike I understand you are angry, I understand you want revenge, but please restrain yourself." She spoke softly, placing a hoof on his shoulder. The drake looked into the young alicorns eyes, seeing just how tired she was. He closed his eyes, smoke drifting from his nostrils as he slowly calmed himself. He had already lost too much by acting recklessly. He needed to think things through, he needed to be rational. He took a long slow breath, just as Twilight had taught him when he was just a baby dragon. The memory of his old friend brought tears to his eyes.
"H...How are they Nox?" he asked quietly, his eyes still closed. The Alicorn hugged him gently.
"They are resting now...But they want to see you again."
Shadowflare. That was the name given to him upon his birth and it was a name he took to heart. His father had constantly beaten himself over the fact that his only son had inherited his powers of darkness, but the Alicorn had made good use of such abilities and thanks to the love and care he recieved from his sister, he remained unaffected by the darkness. He did have occasional episodes, but as long as he had Nox he had nothing to fear. Now though, he was without her, on a dangerous mission that would require all of his power. His 'cloak of shadow' kept the others hidden from the eyes of the Gryphons as they made their way toward the cell of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
He didn't know the couple all that well, but they had been some of the very few who accepted what he was without question. He credited this to who their son was, but all the same it made him...happy. He had to force down the spike of warmth that filled his heart as that thought struck him.
He needed to focus on the darkness, keeping hold of the reins and keeping his friends safely hidden. He grinned slightly as they reached the cells and opened his mouth, darkness drifting from it and wrapping around the two mares inside. They both opened their mouths to scream as they were swallowed by darkness, their screams muffled as it completely engulfed them.
Melody's horn began to glow and together they vanished, a passing guard watching in shock as the two prisoners were simply gone. He rushed into the cell, thinking it to be a trick and found they that were truly gone. Outside the camp the sound of the tower bell could be heard, alerting all of the escape.
He couldn't help but smile as the sound of the bell met his ears. He chuckled a little, knowing that they weren't here for him. They wouldn't come for him, he hoped they wouldn't. It would be suicide. No, when the time was right he would find a way out, he always did. If it were Melody, she would go for their parents. They would be safe. Which meant he no longer had to keep quiet. No longer had to be the domestic pet. They had nothing to force him to stay here.
So now, it was time to escape. Piper threw his head back and roared, howling in pain as the heartless symbol slowly etched itself into his chest, hidden by the flames still licking at his coat. The Gryphons failed to notice as darkness crept its way around his waist and began to cling to his wings, changing their shape and swallowing his body. Only when the chains holding him snapped did they realize what was happening. But by then, it was too late. The torch toppled over, a blur zipping past it and snatching up its source of power as well as snatching up a gryphon by its throat. The guard found himself pinned to a wall by a nightmare. A large black beast with dark goop dripping from its maw.
Two massive yellow orbs filled its head where eyes should be, and in its claws it held a unicorns horn. It snarled and flung the gryphon away, spreading its massive wings and taking to the air. Gryphon after Gryphon attempted to attack the beast, only to be devoured by the darkness, a heartless taking the place of the gryphon and joining the beast as it flew away.
Inside the darkness, Piper could feel the power of their hearts filling his form. For a moment he regretted using this power, but the feeling was quickly forgotton as he vanished into the clouds, the heartless surrounding him. They bowed their heads and Piper held his high, his voice held a terrible echo as he spoke.
"Never again will they harm them, never again will they have them, never again will they breath so long as I stand."
In other news I began writing out a story to explain how the CMC ended up where they are today, starting WAAAAAAAAY back with them as foals. With this being a part of my 'Elements of the Heart' universe I did have to include Nyx, so her story will be told as well. But mainly the story will begin its focus with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, then shift over to Applebloom and then Nyx. I am trapped in the rut of "I know what I WANT to write but I don't know WHAT to write or HOW to write it" so this is what I have thus far
"Ugh, well THAT didn't work!" Sweetie Belle complained, tugging at a twig stuck in her mane.
"Hey, its not my fault! That freak wind came out of nowhere! And how was I suppose to know it'd blow us off the roof?!" Scootaloo argued, their latest attempt at getting their cutie marks failing miserably.
"Hey! Ya'll need t' calm down, it ain't noponies fault. We git ourselves in this mess e'ryday now. Lets jus' git clean and think o' somethin else." Applebloom said to her friends. They nodded and made their way out of the orchard toward Appleblooms house, it being the closest bath. Nyx was waiting for them on the porch, her nose buried in one of many books she had piled around her.
"Nyx! there ya are, ya missed crusadin fer books?" Applebloom asked. It didn't matter that their 'unicorn' friend had her cutie-mark already. She was still a crusader and she still did just as many stupid things as they did in their quests for Cutie Marks. Nyx merely smiled and stood.
"Nope. I had to help out at the Library this morning and I found this." she lifted the book for her friends to see.
Cutie Marks and their meanings. A guide to all things concerning Cutie marks
"I thought I might find something in here to help you get your cutie marks. but so far its just a long list of what different cutie marks mean. Though there are some good stories in here about how ponies got their own marks."
"Heh, bet none of em are as cool as your story Nyx, well except for Rainbow Dash of course." Scootaloo said with a grin. Her friend gave a small laugh and shook her head.
"Nothing quite as...exciting as what we've all done. But there are some good ones in here. Maybe some of them will help. There are lots of musical cutie marks. Maybe you'd be good at one of those Sweetie Belle." Nyx suggested.
"Yea, you wrote that really awesome song for us." Scootaloo said with a grin
"Even if we did muck it up." the pegasus muttered afterwards.
"Hey, lets not look back on it, we still won didn't we?" Sweetie Belle said with a smile to her friend. The pegasus nodded and grinned.
"So what do ya think is in there for me Nyx?" Scootaloo asked, peeking over her friends shoulder.
"Well, theres dancing, racing, extreme sports. To be honest Scoot theres tons you could do, I don't even know where to start." Nyx said, the pegasus only chuckled.
"Yup, I'm almost as awesome as Rainbow Dash. I bet when I learn to fly I can prove it." she boasted, holding her head high
"Hey, maybe yer special talent has somethin' t' do with Flyin'! Ya ain't never tried it before." Applebloom suggested with a smile. Scootaloo hung her head.
"Uh...well I have tried it..." Scootaloo mumbled, her friends looking at her.
"Well its ok if you mess up Scoots, your still just a little pegasus, your wings aren't that strong yet. My great uncle took years to learn how to fly and he was a wonderbolt" Sweetie Belle said, trying to cheer up her friend.
"Thanks Belle...I guess I could try again."
"Alright, Cutie Mark Crusaders: Uh..." Applebloom paused, putting a hoof against her chin.
"Pegasus helpers?" Nyx suggested
"Yea that!" the group high hoofed and set off for the club house to come up with a plan. A frightened pegasus trailing behind them.
The story will be called "I'll tell you a tale." chapter one being "of Scootaloo" and so on and so forth. Comments and thoughts would be much appreciated, this blog will be updated later with the current progresss of Dinky Who and Sunshine and Rainbows. I also have some 'updates' for How they Met
