//------------------------------// // Jury Tampering // Story: Death's Final Verdict // by Jaycren //------------------------------// Ember looked out over the Dragon Lands, a small scrap of paper clutched tightly in her hands. It was a simple message. "Spike's in the hospital." She snarled, to herself. "Thorax knew, and didn't tell me." Snarling she lashed out at her mirror, shattering it. Ever since Ember had met the Changeling King, something had blossomed between them. Little Do You Know How I'm Breaking That You've Lied To Me Slumping to the floor she felt the pain leave her mouth. "Huh, a Heartsong, never knew dragons had them." Again the words came unbidden, Ember knew from Spike not to resist, to let it happen. Little Do You Know I Wonder What You See In Me Little Do You Know I Want To Give You All Of Me She looked down at the report, Thorax knew! He Knew and Hadn't told her. Lied through not telling her, through Omission. Again her claw curled around the report, blood dripping from her hand. She ignored the pain as her Heartsong continued. Little Do You Know I Need No More Lies Underneath it all I Just Want You To Hold Me Tight I Put Up Walls For The Fear That We Are All A Lie Surrounding by the broken shards of her Mirror, Ember kneeled. She felt his arms around her, smelled him in her bed. Her tears shattered against the floor. I Could Forgive You If You Told Your Side Little Did you Know I Know You Lied. On the other side of Equestria, Thorax stood, waiting for the preperations for the trip to Canterlot. He looked to Rarity and the one that had been Spike, that was now Crucible. His thoughts went to her. He still smelled her upon him, felt her presence. Wanted nothing more to be near her. "Ember." Away, Away, I've Loved You And I'll Never Go Away, So Stay I Promise I'll Drive Those Fears Away He smiled, Heartsong. He imagined she must know what happened. Their relationship had been kept between them. The Changelings and Dragons had never been Allies, had always been at war. There where still no Changelings in the Dragon Lands, probably never would be. Both Races had long memories. He and Ember had just wanted something for themselves. His smiled failed him, as his own tears broke against the ground, turning towards the shadow of a building he leaned. Some random alley within Ponyvile. His tears fell, his Heartsong continued. My Love Is Here and It will Always Stay, So Please Just Trust In Me Little Do You Know I Hear You Crying When We're Sound Asleep Little Do You Know Our Situation Is Slowly Kill Me He reached out to the Hive Mind, nothing. Even after the peace Ponyville was, ironically, not a destination for his race. Before, for what would happen to any Changelings found, due to Twilight's and the Element's grudge, and after because they were all needed within the badlands. He Couldn't ask Spike, because although Spike had been his friend, Crucible was still an unknown. Besides, the need for secrecy had even kept the one closest to both of them unaware. Spike hadn't known, so neither did Crucible. Thorax continued to water the ground, again, his quiet Heartsong called out. Little Do You Know, I'm Trying To Get Word To You Discretely Little Do You Know, I Just Need To See Your Eyes. Two Lovers, separated only by distance, reached out, unknowingly singing the same words. Please, Just Stay I Love You, And I'll Never Go Away, Just Stay I Love You So Please Don't Be Afraid, Just Wait. This Love is Ours and Never Gone Away, Stay Ember looked to the direction of Ponyville, singing out her lament she again gave sound to her pain. Behind her, unseen, a shadow took form. Called to her pain, Called to her anger, Called to her Fear. So Please Don't Lie To Me In that random alley, as the others prepared, Thorax issued his wish, his hope, trying desperately to make her hear him. Stay, Stay Ember, called, seeking her love. Why had he done this? Had it been just to get close to a potential rival? Had he been feeding on her? Was this all some Joke to him!? The Shadow sped towards Ember, emboldened by the surge of negative emotions. Stay, Stay Again they both sang out, knowing that they called out to emptiness. Knowing that there was no way their message could get through. But, hoping, desperately that maybe just a small part would reach the other. I'll Love You Till All The Pains, Away, Stay I Promise There's No Need To Be Afraid, So Stay This Love We See Is Always Gonna Stay So Lay Down Next To Me So Lay Down Just With Me So Please, Just Come Hold Me Ember fell silent, her head bowed, tears in her eyes. In that moment the Shadow struck and gone was Ember, Queen of the Dragons, born was the Shadow Dragon. Turning her head from Ponyvile she looked in the direction of Canterlot. They where the ones that gave her these emotions. The Ponies wanted her to be more like them, time to show them a DRAGON"S HEARTBREAK! Screaming, she launched herself towards the city on the mount, growing in size and terror, her own father, failing to know her and cringing inside his cave. Unknowingly, Thorax sang his last hope, his last desperate plea to the woman of his heart. The one he missed more then anything, The one he needed, now and forever more. The one he feared he had lost. Cause Little Do You Know I Need You At My Side. Turning back to the others he dried his tears, no sense in crying now. He would have to apologize to Ember when he saw her next. He hoped she could forgive him. Slowly he rejoined his friends, to whatever his mother had planned at Canterlot. To a wedding or to a war.