//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Call of a Raven // by Autum Breeze //------------------------------// Chapter 10 ___________________________________________________________ I blink, looking around, seeing only darkness. Though, I honestly wish it stayed that way as, several seconds later, my vision clears up and my heart leaps into my chest. The sky is red and black, with small islands of rock scattered around, several of them floating in the sky. “No”, I gasp, glancing around. “Not here. I can’t be here. I can’t be asleep. I can’t let Luna see this!” A deep chuckle causes me to freeze in place. “Oh, you’ve far bigger things to worry about now.” I whirl around, my panic rising by the second. Rising from the edge of the stone plateau I’m on is a huge humanoid shape, with a powerful build. It’s completely black, as if in shadow, but I can see its red eyes looking down at me, all four of them. “No,” I gasp, taking several steps back. “No, no, no, no-no-no. Not here. You can’t be here! You can’t!” “Oh, my dear Raven,” the shadow being chuckles. “You cannot escape what you are. Nor, what you must do...” He lifts a giant arm and starts reaching for me. I cry out in fear and leap into the air and try to fly away, only for a giant black hand to wrap around me. He pulls me over until I’m looking right up into his eyes. “You cannot escape your fate and you know what that fate is.” “NO!” I shout, trying desperately to free myself, my heart hammering in my chest. He can’t be here! This has been be some kind of illusion within this world. “I’m not that Raven! I’m me! I won’t bring you out!” He gives a mocking, chilling laugh. “Raven, you have no say in the matter. Soon, everything will be as it is meant to be...” I scream as images start flashing before my eyes. Equestrians running from fire raining down from the sky, the princesses being blasted out of the air as they fight a beast they never could’ve expected, everypony turned to stone with expressions of fear, some in the motion of running or mares holding their foals. “This is what you have wrote, Raven,” Trigon’s voice reaches through the visions, which continue on in an endless loop. “You will embrace your destiny and bring this world to its doom—” “BE SILENT, MONSTER!” The visions suddenly halt as I hear Trigon screaming in agony. Before I can properly process that whilst still reeling from the horrible visions that were forced into my mind, I feel myself falling, only to plop down on something soft and furry. “We came as soon as we could, dear Raven.” I turn to look over my shoulder to see I’m sitting backwards on Princess Luna’s back. “Princess Luna?” I gasp, very confused. “What—?” “RAVEN!” “I think we have more urgent matters to attend to for now,” the Alicorn states firmly, heading down to one of the many larger plateaus of rock. I slide off of her back and we both turn to see a fuming Trigon looking around, clearly having lost sight of us. His body is still completely shadow, but I know it’s him. That voice matches just like the show. And with this character, it turns my blood cold. “What is this monster?” Luna asks, glaring up at the shadowy figure. “T-T-Trigon,” I stuttered, hugging myself tightly, my body shivering. I can still see the images he forced into my mind. “Remember that fictional thingI said my body comes from?” Luna glances at me, an eyebrow raised. “This has bearing on that beast’s origins how?” I look down, tears of absolute terror running down my face. “He’s a villain from it... and Raven’s father.” That causes a shocked look to warp the Night Princess’s face. “That creature is your father?!” “What?” I cry, turning to her, before shaking my head. “No! He’s Raven’s father. I may be stuck in her body, but he’s not my father!” “Then why do you fear him?” she asks, after teleporting us behind a large mass of rocks to avoid Trigon’s eyes. “I can imagine from how you speak of him the Raven from the fiction was terrified of him, likely due to him being an abusive father.” Ha! Abusive father? That’s an understatement. “So, why does he cause you such terror?” Why the hell not, now that he's real?! “He’ll bring about the end of the world,” I murmur, sliding down until I’m sitting against the rock and curl up into a ball, shivering. “He’ll end the world and there’s nothing I can do. I don’t have the skills the real Raven did to beat him.” Luna remains silent for a moment, before a smacking sound echoes throughout the area. I slowly turn back to look at her, my hand reaching up to the cheek she slapped. “Do not allow your fears to control you!” she glares down at me, before thrusting a hoof in the direction of Trigon. “That is not the real Trigon. If it were and he is as horrible a being as you say, would the world not be ended already.” I just shake my head, my eyes wide with panic. “B-but those visions—” “Illusions,” Luna states firmly. “You have not slept since you first came to our world. Am I to understand it is because you were afraid of encountering this Trigon?” I nod, looking down pathetically. Luna snorts, before shaking her head. “You have been worrying all this time. Clearly you fear that by becoming Raven, you inherited her past. Am I correct?” I don’t answer. I just keep curled up. Well, why not? If Trigon can get into my dreams the moment I’m asleep, it’s clear he’s real. Luna scowls, before turning and peaking from our heading place. “I will show you this being is nothing to be feared.” Before I can cry out a warning, she unfurls her wings and leaps over the rock, flying right towards Trigon, who currently has his back turned. “Trigon!” he turns at the mention of his name, to have Luna blast him in the face with magic. “You have no place here! Be gone!” Trigon’s shadowy form growls, before lashing a hand out and grabbing Luna. She cries out in pain as he starts squeezing. I know I should be helping. I know I have to save her from him, but what can I do? How can I stop Trigon? Suddenly, as I look out at the sky, notice the world flicker, the red of it going purple for a moment. I stare for several long moments, before my eyes narrow. “I will enjoy ending your life, pitiful equine,” he jeers, tightening his grip. “With your body empty, your magic will be most useful to me, even if you are dead.” “NO!” Trigon pauses and glances up, only to get a face-full of black energy. I stand atop the rocks we’d been hiding behind, my eyes narrowed. “I won’t let you harm Princess Luna!” He leers down at me, increasing his grip on the mare. “Oh? And what will you do, Raven? You cannot hope to defeat me. You fear me.” I close my eyes and bit my lip. “I do fear you.” I open my eyes and fix him with a determined stare. “But I won’t let you hurt the princess, either!” He laughs in amusement. “So, I hurt the pretty pony and you grow a spine. You really are a fool, child!” He opens his free hand, a blast of fire coming forth and rushing towards me. I just narrow my eyes and stand there. The fire washes over me, but it isn’t hurting me. “What?” he cries, shock and anger clear in his voice. “Luna said something,” I mutter, before glaring up at him. “She told me you’re an illusion.” I glow, before I’m suddenly white Raven and fire off several black energy blasts. They make contact and he stumbles back, losing his grip on Luna, who rights herself and flies over to me. “I let my fear cloud that idea. I let my fear that you could be real blind me. This is a dream and you are not really here!” “NO!” he snarls, lunging for me. “You will suffer for—” “Azarath Metrion... ZINTHOS!” I yelled, cutting him off and sending a wave of magic flying from my hands. The blast slams into Trigon, him being unable to dodge it due to moving towards me at the time. He screams in pain, before seeming to break apart within the blast, until there’s nothing left. After the dust settles, I stumble forward, returning to my previous look, only for Luna to catch me with a wing, giving me a smirk. “Well done.” I smile back, slowly pushing myself up and getting into a stable position, before sighing. “So...” I look up at the sky, which, though still red, isn’t as menacing as before, “what’s going on?” I give her a raised eyebrow. “I was petrified of him. But, soon as I saw that flicker of blue, it was like all my fear was gone.” The Alicorn sighs, sitting down. “Then it would seem Twilight Sparkle and Zecora were successful.” I cock an eyebrow. “Uh... come again?” She pats the ground next to her with a wing, so I sit down next to her and indicate for her to go on. “After Twilight Sparkle outwitted some unicorn named Trixie, who was foolish enough to put on the Alicorn Amulet, an item of great, but dangerous power,” she says, frowning at the mention of Trixie, though I can understand why, “the mare led us to you. she had placed you in the mayor’s office, with the intent to study you. However, when they arrived, your body was glowing with your magic and they could not wake you, no matter what they tried.” “So they sent word for you to help,” I nod. “Indeed,” she replies, before her expression saddens. “However, your mind had many safe guards, barriers that made it difficult for me to enter; ones I am certain you did not even know you had.” I have to blink at that. Unless she’s talking about the safe guards I put around my emotions so I didn’t lose control of my powers, those must have been there prior. I wonder how they got there. She sighs again and I refocus. “As such, much time has passed since you were put to rest.” I can’t help feeling uncomfortable by the way she worded that, makes it sound like I’m dead or something. Then what she says catches up to me and I frown. “Just how much time has passed?” She doesn’t meet my gaze. “I honestly feared that you would not get to enjoy the Summer Sun Celebreation.” I blink, before I deadpan. “Twilight’s an Alicorn now, isn’t she?” Her eyes widen. “How could you have known—?” I sigh, shaking my head. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. Just a little annoyed she’d sing a song about everything in Ponyville being fine whilst I’m out cold.” Luna gives me an odd look. “I do not know what you mean, Raven. Unless one of her friends has been in need of her, aside from when she went o the Crystal Empire with her friends at the behest of Princess Cadance, Twilight has remained at your side since learning of your condition. She even thought Starswirl’s spell might have helped,” she mutters that last part. I blink, frowning. Huh. So the season three finale didn’t quite go the show route in how and why Twilight cast the spell, and I’m assuming the same with how she figured out the Cutie Mark switched up. “However,” the stern tone in the princess’s voice catches my attention and I look back to see her giving the same expression as her tone suggests. “I hath noticed that you are keeping much of your mind hidden. In trying to find a way in, I stumbled upon many areas that felt too strong to get into easily, so I left them be. Why do you lock such memories away?” I look away. If I’m right, the memories she’s talking about are those about the show. No way can I explain the reason for their being blocked without tipping my hand. “It’s not important,” I mutter, standing up and pulling my cloak over myself. “They’re nothing to worry about. Besides,” I give her a firm look, “I know you are hiding things, too, Princess.” She frowns, cocking an eyebrow at me. “And just how am I hiding anything?” I deadpan. “One word. Tantabis.” Her eyes widen, but I hold up a hand to stop her. “You tell me not to hide things away. Well, I will tell you thing in return. It will feed on your guilt. You do not need to keep punishing yourself. All the ponies that know you have already forgiven you and know Nightmare Moon is in the past, that you are not the same mare you were then. You are a better pony now, Luna. The ponies trust you, as do I. Forgive yourself and realize that you need to move on.” Luna gives me a shocked look, before glancing down, clearly thinking, before closing her eyes. “Very well, Raven. I shall... consider what you have said. I believe it is time for you to return to the waking world at last.” She smirks. “Be sure to get sleep every night from now on. Thanks to mine and your friends’ efforts, I feel you need not worry about encountering that being ever again upon sleeping.” ___________________________________________________________ I slowly open my eyes, seeing a white ceiling above me. Well, if anything, maybe I've been able to steer Equestria away from the very real threat of Luna guilt and she'll be able to move on “Oh, my gosh! You’re awake!” I suddenly find it very hard to breathe due to the purple pony crushing me. “Twilight—” I gasp out. “Earth Pony strength— crushing me!” “Oh!” she pulls back, a sheepish grin on her face. “Sorry. It’s just... oh, I’m so glad you’re finally awake.” Strange, she acts like she was seriously worried. We barely chose to be friends not that long ago, not to mention how much of a dick I was to her when explaining the Pinkie clones thing and all, so I’m kinda confused. She’s acting like one of the Mane 6 is in my situation, not me. I push myself up in bed a bit, but notice something off. Lifting my left wrist, I see something that wasn’t there before I blacked out. It’s some kind of long bracelet, like a cufflink, only longer. It’s colours are in a pattern style that reminds me of Egypt, with blue and then a light-blue with purple underneath and to the sides. What’s confusing, however, is I’ve seen this thing before. It’s the cufflink or whatever you’d call it that Gwen Tennyson finds the Key Stone of Bezel embedded into in the embedded into in the classic Ben 10 series, only this one’s colours are different, with the yellow of it being purple and the fact it has no Key Stone. “Um, Raven?” I look up from my pondering over why something that looks like it’s from Ben 10 is here, only to see Twilight looking at me with sad eyes. “Uh, what wrong?” I ask, feeling weird. Twilight’s emotions are a confusing mess. I’m getting relief, joy, sadness, guilt and confusion, along with a few others a little too jumbled to figure out at the moment. ___________________________________________________________ Twilight looked away, not meeting Raven’s gaze. She had been so happy when Raven finally started waking up, but... now they had to talk. She hated having to remember this, but she needed to say it. “Raven, I... I really wanted to thank you” a few tears formed in her eyes, which she wiped away with a forehoof, before looking to the bedridden girl. “If... if you hadn’t intervened when you did I... I might have lost one of my closet friends and it would have all been my fault.” Raven said nothing but closed her eyes and nodded, indicating she was listening, before glancing down, then lifted her wrist, showing it and what was on it to Twilight, an eyebrow raised. “What is this thing, exactly?” Twilight’s smile return as she was happy to talk about this instead. “Well, remember when you asked me before if I could make something to help you with your powers?” Raven nodded. “Well, Zecora suggested that finishing what you asked for might help you, so, combining our resources, we were able to create a device based on the principle of magic inhibitor rings. Well, Discord helped a bit too. It wasn’t just the two of us” Twilight indicated to the thing on Raven’s wrist, which she looked down at, her eyes widening slightly. “Unlike an inhibitor ring, however, you’ll still be able to use your magic whenever you call on it. The only real difference is that you won’t have to hold back your emotions while you wear it.” Raven stared down at the piece of metal. She then looked to Twilight, her eyes wide. “Y-you mean... I don’t have to fear losing control like before.” A look suddenly entered her eyes, as if she’d realized something. “Now, it’s not perfect, mind you,” Twilight continued, not noticing the look in Raven’s eyes. “You’ll still need to be sure not to let your emotions run away with you, but, for the most part, you should be able to express yourself like a regular—” Twilight was cut off and her eyes widened she was pull into a hug by Raven. It took a moment before Twilight realized she could feel tears dripping onto her fur. Raven was... crying. “Raven?” she asked uncertainly. Why was she crying? Had she done something wrong with the device? Was Raven not happy with it? “Thank you,” the biped murmured softly, before pulling back, her eyes showing more emotion than Twilight had ever seen and, whilst nowhere near as expressive as she or any of her friends would’ve been, Raven was giving a genuine smile. “Raven?” Twilight asked, uncertain about the way she was looking the metal object bound to her wrist. Raven closed her eyes. “You have no idea how wonderful this is.” She looked back to Twilight, before bowing slightly. “I can never repay you enough for this, Twilight. I will be forever in your debt.” Twilight looked down, shame etched on her face, instead of pride, like one might expect. “No, Raven. I owe you... more than you know. I was horrible to you when we first met and now... you helped stop me from doing something horrible. And how do I repay that, by leaving you unaware of what was happening in Ponyville and getting you caught by Trixie.” She was silenced by Raven pulling her into another hug. “Never mind that. You couldn’t have known I’d head there while she was still here. It was my own fault for getting caught and... if I hadn’t been avoiding sleep since I first got here, maybe things would’ve gone differently.” Twilight pulled back, giving the girl a smile. As they settled down, Raven smirked. “So, Princess, huh?”