//------------------------------//
// Unicorns Underhoof 
// Story: Tear the Sky Asunder 
// by Ice Star 
//------------------------------//

small and fragile are the ponies burdened by so much silk
and jewels
with hearts like they very gemstones that they wear

in the castle the door is barred, wood held shut with all the might and aura
that thirty unicorn soldiers can muster
which is barely a film of light to coat the wood

their numbed, dead hearts beat in unison
cryingwantingbegging not to be caught
but there are the thunderous hoofsteps
of Tirek with the peasant's sparks 
barely withholding him turned to true fire

in the stone hall now dark of candles
the nobles scream and wail
more than infant Platinum in her nurse's hooves
King Tantalum upon the throne, he is the legacy of Titanium
who is said to have fought the savage monster-sisters when they first arrived
in this desolate land
King Tantalum, the bravest of all unicorns
frets and cowers under the crown
eyes darting for a way to weasel himself out
his arranged bride, the consort Queen Vitalis
huddles nearby, mind consumed by fear
as she ignores Platinum's shrieks
which are drowned to all but her parents
who pretend not to hear
as the door is ripped as if it was less than paper

there stands — in full view 
the barrel of Tirek, full of magic
his hands like two halves of a cage
and his fingers thicker than any bar
rip away the roof
and the door's frame
so his face might sneer upon his prey
and Scorpan might fly through
using his magic to levitate the nobles
faint and limp with terror
to Tirek
where his maw drains their feeble energy
and tosses the dolls to the side in the direction of the soldiers
who are unfit to protect even themselves
and the next to suffer Tirek's wrath
thrown to the floor 
and like the nobles broken beside them
bowing 
for they have exchanged one tyrant for another

none stand between usurper and the crown-rest that is
Tantalum's fear-eaten skull
only one sound escapes his lips
as he turns to the nearest mare
his glassy eyes not seeing Platinum
held in another's hooves
(as she has always been)
for what could be his last sight of her
through his sputtering squeak
the nursemare hears the cry of 'run'
and does so
with the heir to all unicorns within the faintest wisp of magic

the queen's scream rips through the hall
as she watches the mare with the filly
she had never thought of as a mere princess until then
running at the monster to reach the doors he tore
and dashing out before she could be seen

only

only...

Tirek heard the queen's scream
and saw her
dash and try to follow
but he sees not where she is going
or what the dress-laden mare is seeing
just where she is
so he raises his giant hoof
while Scorpan hassles the already beaten ponies
and Tirek waits
for the right moment
to bring it down
and watch the king scream too

unicornia

conquered