Wicked World Arc
While Ama and Wilka lounged about on the far side of a boulder off the trail, Loress put a cold, damp cloth on Zyra’s forehead; the Terran hummed to the unicorn, “There you go… It’s wet enough in the disgusting jungle but the cold should help.”
Zyra was feeling quite a bit better, especially since she wasn’t riding on the back of another pony, bouncing about, anymore, “It’s just nice to lie down too… But the cold is nice… It’s funny; I can freeze a wet rag with magic, but I can’t make myself feel better with it.”
Loress let out a little giggle, “I’m pretty sure there must be some ‘deeply engrained magical rule’ to keep such things in check.”
“Sure…” Zyra lamented. “I can’t do it… That’s ‘rules’ enough. Not even Dechaa can do it and she knows more about healing magic than just about anypony back in the valley…”
“And Wilka’s ability is a whole other thing…” Loress offered.
“And it only works if she knows exactly what’s wrong,” Zyra pulled the rag over her eyes.
Wilka piped up, actually feeling a little bored, “It’s mightily frustrating, let me tell you. I could break half the bones in my body—fix myself up in a couple miserable hours—but I can’t relieve a simple cold.”
Ama was enjoying the morning more than she might; it was humid, sure, but not too hot yet, “If what Dechaa says is true there is nothing simple about the common cold.”
Loress kindly explained, “She means it seems like such a small thing… compared to such a severe injury.”
The Mazan’s eyes lit up, “Oh… another meaning of ‘simple’. Continental Standard is a most interesting language!”
The girls chuckled in turn.
Wilka looked to Ama, “How far off are they now?”
Ama wasn’t really keeping track of the time but Delia had been in contact very recently, “The path is rather straightforward, I know. And with a local guiding them I imagine we will see them momentarily, their chance of losing the path further reduced.”
“Don’t expect them as quickly as you might think,” Zyra muttered from her resting spot. “They’re dragging along a granny…”
Ama didn’t take kindly to Zyra’s statement, “Zyra! Show respect for your elders! For a pony to have lived so long… the things she has seen! The life she has lived! I look forward to meeting this Cassia.”
Wilka sat up, staring down the path, “Well, you’re gonna get your wish. I see them.”
Ama and Loress bolted up as well; they’d have gladly called out to their friends but were attempting to keep some silence.
Leaving Zyra, the three went to meet the two coming out of the now-clearing fog.
Dechaa and Delia didn’t mean to leave Cassia behind, but they trotted quickly to join Ama, Loress, and Wilka.
Loress and Wilka made no attempt to stifle the sob that escaped each of them and neither did Dechaa, the blubbering mess she quickly became. The three mares embraced, making quite the spectacle.
Delia approached Ama, returning her big smile, “I’m so glad to see you.”
Ama nodded, a hint of emotion in her voice, “And I, you, Delia. It has only been a day, but it seems to have been much longer.”
Delia kneaded the tall mare’s shoulder, “It’s been trying…”
“Indeed…” Ama agreed.
The two young mares were brought out of their own little world by an aged voice, “So, Delia… this must be Ama.”
Ama beamed at the old one, “Honored Cassia! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“‘Honored’?” Cassia simpered, shaking Ama’s offered hoof. “I knew I’d like this one!”
Ama looked down—only because of her height—with admiration and obvious respect at Cassia, “For helping my friends… I cannot thank you enough! I am forever in your debt!”
Cassia joked, “Well, at least you won’t be for long. The walk out here’s likely taken a few years off whatever remains of my life!”
Ama got the joke, “Most amusing but I am still in your debt. I am sure you did this at no small risk.”
The mares began to paddle towards the rest of the group. Delia knew the three carrying on so meant her no ill, watching Zyra join in, the others having gone to her; Delia was still new.
Cassia chuckled in response to Ama’s thought, “It was little trouble. And it was certainly worth what trouble it might’ve been; your Delia makes a mighty fine curry!”
Delia said with great sarcasm, “Ponies have told me in the past my cooking was worth dying for, but it’s never been put to the test…”
Ama laughed, “It is worth at least fighting for.”
Delia and Cassia joined in Ama’s laughter, uniting with the rest.
The mares, including Zyra, looked warmly upon Delia.
Delia felt her eyes heat up; she addressed her friends, “Everypony… I have somepony I’d like to introduce.”
The seven mares were laughing rather hard at the antics of Cassia, especially the old mare herself.
“How do you know if a mare is too fat to fuck?” the old mare waxed.
Out of breath from laughing so hard, none would be able to answer even if they knew why.
Cassia delivered the line, “When you pull her dress down her ass is still in it!”
Ama gasped and coughed hard, bringing more mirth to the group. It wasn’t that her choking was funny, but the fact she coughed up the half of a cashew she’d inhaled and hit Dechaa in the forehead, stuck there with Ama’s saliva.
The young unicorn looked to her friends, unsure of what was so funny… until the morsel dropped into her lap.
“EEEEEWWW! Yuck!” she scrambled backwards, brushing herself as if she’d been covered in something unspeakable.
The other girls just laughed harder. It felt good to laugh after a day of worrying.
Cassia said to the howling mares, “And what’s even funnier, is one of my grandfoals told me that joke! He said he’d learned it at school! We didn’t even have the heart to wash his mouth out with soap!”
Yes… it was good to laugh.
It was still rather early in the morning and learning of Cassia’s ploy to get Dechaa and Delia out of the city the mares had quickly gathered a few supplies in the jungle to support her story.
Now they were all sitting under a soundproof bubble, maintained by Cassia, having brunch. The morning had been full of fun and sharing. They’d exchanged names and stories and “good” humor, obviously.
Cassia leaned back against the boulder they’d set up at, “How about a song?”
This was met with ascent.
Delia raised a hoof, “I got one.”
Cassia nodded, “Let’s have it.”
Delia stated, “The refrain’s easy; it goes like this…”
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the lollipop trees
The soda-water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
It was easy enough.
“Got it?” Delia asked.
The mares responded with ascent.
Cassia chuckled, “I remember that one… though not all the verses. I sang it when I was a foal.”
Delia felt a twinge. She tried to push the unpleasant thoughts out of her mind… Little Cassia… having fun… whether it was before or after her enslavement had begun.
But the others were ignorant of that part of Cassia’s past; the old mare had only shared the good things.
“Okay,” Delia nodded her head, trying to perk up. “This is an old one but a fun one!”
They all sang the refrain and Delia supplied the verses.
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the lollipop trees
The soda-water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
On a summer day, a-swingin’ his mane
A burly bum came hiking
Down a shady lane through the sugar cane
He was looking for his liking
As he strolled along, he sang a song
Of the land of milk and honey
Where a bum can stay
For many a day
And he won't need any money
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the lollipop trees
The soda-water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The cops have wooden legs
The timber-wolves have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers' trees are full of fruit
The barns are full of hay
I want to go where there ain't no snow
Where the sleet don’t fall, and the wind don’t blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the lollipop trees
The soda-water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
There’s giant ice cream cones
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the stones
The royals have to tip their crowns
And the soldiers, they are blind
There's a lake of stew and of whiskey, too
You can paddle all around 'em in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the lollipop trees
The soda-water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again
As soon as you are in
There ain't no spades or shovels
No axes, saws, or picks
I'm a-goin' to stay where you sleep all day
Where they hung the jerk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The girls felt their spirits continue to lift with the fun little tune, laughing and buffeting one another.
Ama giggled, “To think a song about a fellow so worthless could be such a pleasure…”
The others laughed; that wasn’t really the point but not untrue…
Zyra guffawed, “Delia! Let’s improvise a verse!”
“The two of us?” Delia chortled.
“Yeah! I think I got the scheme down.”
The others liked the idea; it sounded fun.
Delia grinned, “Okay, everypony… let’s have the refrain!”
So, all the mares sang the refrain, before the two “soloists” went back and forth, with Zyra giving the first line.
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The trots are all downhill
Where a mare can get sloshed everyday
And the drink, it isn’t swill
I’m going there tomorrow; I’m going there to stay
Where the jokes are always funny
And your nose is never runny
And you got your honey
And you screw like bunnies
Under skies so sunny
And you never find cheese in your little horse cunny!
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The company and Cassia cracked up as Zyra and Delia sang the last line together. They’d gone a little overboard but got caught up in the rhyme. Zyra was reliable for turning the end of a song into something obscene… for better or worse.
But the fun could only last so long.
Delia knew their time was petering out; they’d have to go soon, leaving Cassia to return home. So far, the old mare had encouraged merriment and the young mares were so wrapped up in enjoying their reunion they didn’t seem to be thinking about the things they’d heard—true and less believable—about the situation inside the magical bubble that covered most of the country.
It was stupid, Delia knew, but she was relying on the idea they’d “forget” about what might be going on and want to split. She knew they were playing a dangerous game; she thought about the border being guarded and knew it was a small miracle they never encountered any soldiers in their foraging. She thought of their own difficulties coming up and about Essenta and Orni… ignorant to so many things. She hoped Cassia would help convince those with her to just leave and not ask questions.
She was also concerned about the others if they ran into trouble. Looking to Ama and Loress, Cassia felt somewhat reassured. She was unsure about Dechaa and not counting much on Zyra, as off-kilter as she seemed. And Wilka… Delia wasn’t sure… but the little mare could fight, she’d heard. Regarding herself, Delia knew she could fight. That’s what worried her the most at the moment… a confrontation with soldiers.
Still, with Ama and Loress, she was confident nothing could stop them for long. This had Delia confident they’d be able to fight their way out, if the worst happened.
With the gaiety quieting down, the girls were finishing brunch.
Delia’s fears, though, regarding Ama, soon came up. She knew Ama could change direction quickly but even she wasn’t ready for the abruptness.
“Friend Cassia…” the Mazan chewed her cashew-cake. “Again, I thank you for watching over our friends in your difficult time. That such trouble has befallen your land is regrettable.”
Cassia played it cool, “It’s just a little instability with the new leadership.”
Delia realized this understatement wasn’t untrue but Ama was having none of it.
Ama looked scandalized, “‘Instability’? The world has feared Salvatrix obliterated by plague! We come down her to find nopony has left the country in months, that a barrier has been erected, and that there is no plague…!”
The others halted their eating then and there. Ama had worked herself up into a righteous indignation and it had them shaking in their tunics.
“Not all countries see a peaceful transition of power, Ama Waterfall…” Cassia said with great coolness. “When a pony-”
“The rest of the continent must know!” Ama stood up suddenly. “It is clear as crystal you have no intention of explaining the complexities of the situation! I have seen through your game this entire time! Your jokes—though highly amusing—are a means to distract us! You mean to protect us, but we are not just any mares…!”
To many such a statement would sound most arrogant, but Cassia knew it to be true: a more formidable group of eight mares (six at the moment) didn’t likely exist at any place or time.
Ama may have not said this in arrogance but she said it with pride.
Cassia advised, “You’d do well to relax, Ama…”
Delia looked around and saw that all she’d predicted was coming true before her eyes: Dechaa, Zyra, and Loress knew something big was up but knew better than to ask; Wilka looked as young as she was, confused and afraid; Ama was ready to go crusading. It wasn’t that Ama was stupid… she was just a different mare than the rest. The rest were willing to hide whatever unpleasantness they knew to exist from themselves and just leave.
Loress tried to reason with the incensed Mazan, “Ama… I don’t know just what you’re thinking but we need to go.”
Ama was the only one among the girls capable of really scaring Loress on a regular basis—though she knew them all to be formidable—and her delivery didn’t hide this fact. Then again, Ama was capable of unnerving all of them on a regular basis.
Delia hadn’t been afraid Ama would abuse the authority given to her but now she feared she might; she prepared herself mentally for the potential overthrowing of the maiden of Clan Waterfall.
Ama quelled some of these thoughts, seeing the fear in her friends, “I apologize… I have no intention of doing anything foolish, girls… and I do not mean to mistreat the station Essenta has temporarily seen fit to bestow upon me! If Cassia will not share with us what is going on, then it is our duty as mares—as ponies!—to learn the truth and alert the rest of the continent!”
Delia couldn’t believe how awkward this was; Ama was sincere but it was like inept theatre playing out! The other mares began to look thoughtful.
Great…
Before Delia could even begin to contemplate if the others would buy into Ama’s idea—they were all passionate mares, wanted to do good, and some of them were obscenely powerful—everything ground to a halt.
It was unexpected—but perhaps it wasn’t—that Cassia would intervene the way she did.
Ama knelt down, not regretting her harsh words but humbling herself before an admired elder, “Honored Cassia… please-!”
“Ama Waterfall!” Cassia almost shouted.
The rest of them jumped, including Delia; the former maid hadn’t heard Cassia even raise her voice.
What was actually happening, perhaps only Delia noticed at first.
Ama had made eye-contact with Cassia. It was obvious they were communicating telepathically, enabled by Cassia. And Ama’s face grew more concerned and alarmed by the second—and it only took a few seconds. Finally, Ama’s body jilted as if she’d been zapped.
Oh, fuck… Delia fretted. What are you telling her?!
But the former maid should’ve known Cassia wouldn’t be sharing anything Ama wasn’t ready to process. Ama’s resolve and nature shown to Cassia as a beacon and she told the Mazan the plain truth as she had with Delia herself. What was more shocking was Cassia communicated all she did in those few seconds; Delia figured it must’ve been quite the mind-fuck.
It was no secret to anypony that Cassia was a psychic; they’d dealt with such and almost immediately recognized what she’d done to Ama.
They saw the Mazan deflate but she took a few seconds to compose herself, forcing the shock from her face… especially her eyes.
Ama spoke and when she did Delia had no intention of “taking over command”; the Mazan choked out, “We go… now…”
Ama’s proclamation had the others floored. They knew then and there… things were beyond them… and they would accept that. Even Wilka appeared to have finally caught on.
Delia, just as shocked by the honorable Mazan’s strangled statement, was immensely relieved she’d reacted as she did to the news Cassia shared.
It was unfortunate to see Ama hang her head and begin to weep. It was jarring to the girls.
Cassia put a kind hoof on her shoulder.
“Dearie… I’m sorry…” the old one forced out; she looked wrecked over what she’d done.
Ama, sniffling, shook her head, “No… I was being foolish…”
They all looked on as Ama wiped her eyes.
After a moment, their leader-at-present looked up, “Girls… clean up and be ready in five minutes. We travel fast and quietly.”
Nopony needed telling twice; they set to the task.
Ama did her share but looked far-off in her eyes. It worried Delia.
“Cassia…” the former maid approached the old mare, busy with her own impending departure. “You couldn’t have been a little gentler about that?”
The ancient pony turned tired eyes to Delia, “I was… What seemed like a few seconds to you was an hour to the two of us. Something tells me that you girls—perhaps not you—have experience with such.”
Delia knew this. Ama herself—that brave, brave mare—had spent weeks in Zyra’s mind when the mage pulled into herself… her only wish to understand and help the pony that had become her best friend.
Turning her eyes from the Mazan, Delia gulped, “How much did you tell her?”
“All you know… and no more” Cassia sighed.
Delia felt her throat tighten but now wasn’t the time; she hugged Cassia, “Thanks for everything. Without you… we’d have been lost.”
Cassia returned the embrace as best she could, “Just go. Things are dangerous. Be wary crossing the barrier.”
“I wish there was something we could do for you.”
“Get somewhere safe… and don’t concern yourself with me or this. That may be all you can do. Tell the world what’s going on here, but… don’t hold out for hope.”
Delia felt further hurt but knew even before they discussed the matter that money made the world go around and the pursuit of it and goods would likely keep the status quo in Salvatrix.
Cassia cleared her throat and getting their attention addressed the group, “Girls… It’s regrettable you all had to become involved in such a thing but there’s nothing you can do. You need to just go.”
Most of the girls had resigned to this and it was visible in their demeanor. Loress put a reassuring hoof on Wilka’s shoulder, the Pegasus hanging her head.
Dechaa spoke, “Cassia… thanks…”
There wasn’t much else that needed saying from the healer.
Cassia marshaled a smile, “I’m glad I found you… be well.”
Ama, sniffling a little, approached the old one and took her hoof, “Honored Cassia… thank you for aiding my friends. Again… I am in your debt.”
Cassia patted the tall mare’s hoof, “Get your girls—your wonderful friends—to safety and consider it repaid.”
Ama would accept this, “Very well.”
The elder shouldered the little bag, laden with assorted pickings, “I really need to get back.”
The six others nodded.
“Stay vigilant… and stay quiet,” Cassia advised. “Farewell.”
“Good-bye…” Delia tried to smile as the old mare paddled away into the disappearing mist.
The farewell may have been fonder but considering all things, there wasn’t much bittersweetness to be had… just bitterness, mostly. The girls all heaved a sigh; it was time to go.
This brought them back, though, to their uneasiness.
Ama knew she had to say something, “Friends. As you have gathered… Cassia has shared with me the secrets of this land. It is no pretty tale… Please… do not dwell on it now. We must move now; I will explain later.”
The others got the message.
Delia noticed the Mazan’s watery eyes contact hers. The eyes were pleading and very sad, only for her.
“And I’ll help her,” Delia groaned; she wouldn’t leave it to Ama alone. “Cassia told me everything… last night. But Ama’s right… We move for now.”
Delia was not displeased to see Ama swell a little at that.
Ama knew she wasn’t suffering alone, though it brought rather little comfort.
That settled things. The six mares began to move west.
The temperature was rising rapidly, causing discomfort for the girls on their latest schlep through the jungle. But at least they were moving away from trouble.
It was a joyless time, quiet not only out of necessity but because their spirits were about as low as they’d been in recent times.
Delia consulted the latest landmark on the trail; her memories of Cassia’s maps were not only fresh but engraved in her mind, “Thank goodness… only half-a-mile to the barrier.”
The rest didn’t show it, but they were glad to hear it.
They weren’t just walking but picking the occasional fruit along the way.
Ama munched on part of a mango, “I hope Essenta and Orni are prepared… Even if we elect to remain in the savanna for the day…”
Delia responded to Ama’s trailing off, “Don’t fret… I’m sure they took the advice. With the time, perhaps they’ve even finished the flour preparations.”
Delia knew as well as everypony else this wasn’t likely; neither mare back at camp had magic. She just felt she had to say something.
Loress blinked at a fly pestering her, “Gotta refresh our rags soon… Whatever’s going on, we’ll be able to contact them soon.”
That was a relief; they’d heard nothing from camp since the night before. But with Essenta’s and Orni’s skills the girls were sure they were at least safe, waiting for them.
But their track record with troubling encounters wouldn’t improve that day.
Dechaa was the first to respond. She shocked and repelled Ama and Wilka by puking violently between her front hooves. The other mares yipped and jumped clear.
Delia had been taking point with Loress right behind her. Turning around she saw Loress’s eyes widen.
Oh… shit… Delia noticed the Terran quaking.
Looking back, she saw Zyra shuddering; the little mage fell over with a cry.
Ama’s composure fell like a rock, seeing this all happening again, “No, no, no, no, NO!”
Delia’s mind began to move faster, “Now what?!”
Loress peered around, looking lost, “It’s that filly…”
Witnessing Zyra doubling over on herself and Dechaa begin to buck again—both crying—Delia’s mind began to race, “But she died! Cassia told me so!”
Loress twitched, her blue eyes swimming and her cream-colored face having lost its minuscule color, “Not yet… She was… unconscious…”
Ama began to back away from Dechaa, pulling Wilka along—the little Pegasus was at a loss, barely able to move her own legs.
But the filly died! How could she survive another night…?! Dechaa… Dechaa… Zyra… Delia’s thoughts were all over the place.
The thought had been so frightful Delia hadn’t entertained it for a time, but she noticed Dechaa. It was clear why Ama had moved clear.
The unicorn’s eyes had rolled back, and she was jerking; before their eyes the healer began to shift across the ground, this time with an audible cracking sound.
The former maid then felt what may have been the greatest experience of fear she’d ever known; it was as if everything around her was turning black, as she watched the scene unfold.
Eyes darting before settling on their healer, Delia’s eyes widened, taking in the visible sparks emanating from Dechaa’s entire body, as she began to “micro-teleport”.
Delia dove towards Dechaa, desperate to make contact… to suppress her magic, “NO! No, no, no! Not again!”
“NO!” Ama, moving fast, roughly stopped Delia in her tracks.
Delia struggled, “Let go of me!”
The former maid heaved against the Mazan’s control, nearly hard enough to free herself. She stopped—for some reason—when she turned to the other hooves just set upon her… They were… gentler.
Loress stared back into her eyes… and Delia hoped to never see such hopelessness in a set of eyes again; the Terran said, “Don’t touch her… We can’t risk it.”
Delia’s mind was racing, “Zyra! She can subdue her!”
Ama’s voiced choked, “She cannot.”
Delia was able to turn her head enough to see Zyra; the little unicorn was in worse shape than ever, feebly kicking the ground, her eyes rolling. It was as sickening as it was heartbreaking.
Turning her eyes another way, she saw Wilka cowering against a tree, sobbing.
Delia realized there wasn’t a thing she could do.
The little Earth pony went limp and began to cry. Ama knew she’d given up the fight and released her. While Loress gathered up her newest friend in an embrace—Delia had no legs to stand upon at that point—Ama sank to her haunches, taking on that same horrifying look of bleakness Loress had just displayed.
The mares, keeping their distance, watched their healer writhe in the throes of another seizure.
Then something awful happened, terrifying in its power: a visible field began to exude from Dechaa’s being. The others saw it but were too put-off at first to react as it enveloped them. Their faces betrayed an indescribable fear… By the time they’d realized something new was happening, none of them could move; they were trapped in the aura.
Delia realized, in absolute horror, the same feeling that had preceded every terrible jump made—to which she’d clung to the healer—as she was teleported around the physical confines of the barrier surrounding Salvatrix.
Delia fell with a flump to the ground.
Her eyes shut tightly, she didn’t want to open them. Feeling around she knew she was on grass… familiar grass.
Delia’s eyes snapped open and, on her side, she realized she was facing Nuinhof; she recognized some of the taller buildings but didn’t recognize the location, otherwise.
Cautiously she sat up; she looked around. Her five friends—and quite of bit of debris and detritus—were all there.
Dechaa had not only pulled the five mares through, but all that had been within the field she’d generated. A rotten log, a shrub, and quite a bit of wet earth had come along; the earthy smell was quite powerful.
Too bewildered to be frightened Delia further looked around. No ponies appeared to be in the streets and she wasn’t at all sure what to make of it, considering it was now late in the morning.
Turning around at a noise, Dechaa saw Ama and Loress stirring. Even Wilka was beginning to sit up. The unicorns were no longer writhing but appeared unconscious.
Without thinking about it at the time, Delia noticed the thing—hearing another noise—that may very well have had ponies keeping shy of the area.
What Delia saw floored her and she knew at once what they’d stumbled across, at the edge of town.
Close by—to the east, Delia figured, noting the sun—a large, crude metal altar had been set up. Upon it were the horribly charred bodies of five unicorn ponies: a stallion, a mare, and three colts, all with horns broken. They were chained—neck, trunk, and legs—to the metal frame, bodies adhering to the grates upon which they lay. Delia realized quickly the altar was a grill. Below it was the long burnt-out pile of cinders of the bonfire that had cooked the family alive.
And not far from the base, on the city-side of the altar, was a little unicorn filly.
She was emaciated, burned, and chained to a post by the neck; her horn was also broken.
And she was still alive, her wide eyes glassy.
Delia felt as if she’d been punched in the throat. She felt a strange flow of energy coursing through her body; it felt as electricity.
Not noticing her three conscious friends regaining their wits, seeing the same horrific sight she was taking in, Delia’s body seemed to move on its own, bringing her to the filly.
Still on autopilot, Delia knelt next to the filly. Her eyes and brain still not quite making the connection, she reached out and touched the filly’s broken body.
The little one’s ribs stuck out at odd angles; she’d been beaten... and broken.
Patchy flesh shown and cuts covered her neck; she’d been struggling against the chain, trying to reach her family as they burned, already long past.
Her lips were raw; judging by the dried-up puddles she hadn’t had a drink in a couple days.
The rain and elements had washed away the blood and semen, but Delia recognized the signs easily enough; the little one had been violated… brutally raped.
Finally, more aware of what she was doing, Delia worked a hoof under the little one’s head and lifted it, carefully propping her up; her body was already stiffening up, as close to death as she was. Delia stared into the eyes of the little one, not even convinced she was actually alive anymore.
Behind Delia, Ama, Loress, and Wilka had realized the situation. Loress stared at Delia, holding the filly, slack-jawed in horror, as Wilka clung to her and sobbed into her shoulder. Ama’s eyes widened and she fell to her knees, unable to support herself; she let out a single gasping sob, before hanging her head and covering her sounds with her hooves, quaking.
But Delia didn’t notice; her eyes were on the filly alone. Reaching for her canteen, she opened it and trickled a bit of water into the filly’s face.
The filly’s eyes, sticky and glazed over, cleared; after a few seconds she blinked. Delia saw awareness creep back into them. Delia gave her a drink of the water and the filly licked her chapped lips.
For the rest of her life, Delia wouldn’t be sure if she’d made the right decision. The little filly had been on the way out of this life and Delia brought alertness to her final moments.
The filly’s eyes widened again, and she returned Dechaa’s stare.
And in her eyes, Delia saw a brokenness she’d never see again, nor would she ever forget it.
The filly whimpered, too weak to move, and she cried.
Delia held her close, her own eyes beginning to stream; she’d felt little more than shock until that point and had had no tears to shed.
Loress felt faint, her own eyes heating up, taking in the sight of Delia and the filly. Ama and Wilka had turned away, unable to take anymore.
It only took another moment. The whimpers came more quietly, and the breathing slowed. Delia saw the filly’s tears—her final tears—leak from the corners of her eyes; she had no idea if they were tears… it may have simply been the water Delia had introduced.
And Delia was sure—surer than she’d ever been of anything—that the filly was finally at peace.
Barely able to keep her hooves steady, she closed the filly’s eyes. Setting her down, Delia backed away. Her body felt heavy and she fell to her rump, still staring at the dead filly.
For more than a few seconds the four mares were silent, their two unicorn friends catatonic behind them.
Loress was the one to break the silence; she looked about nervously, “Girls… we have to go…”
The words didn’t really register but the next thing they heard certainly did.
“You’re not going anywhere…” a voice came from somewhere behind them.
The girls looked back and saw quite a few ponies emerging from the city’s edge.
As cockroaches coming out of woodwork, more and more ponies began to appear. They came from doorways, alleyways, and even rooftops.
The sudden attendance alarmed the portion of the company more than anything and the four mares backed up, perhaps closer than they wished to the gruesome display. Their unicorn companions now lay directly in front of them.
Delia looked around; they were surrounded on three sides. In the eyes of the townsponies she saw a desperation… and she could surmise why. Here were six outsiders… outsiders that had seen the ugly thing at the edge of their town. And what happened across the entire country the last time outsiders appeared?
The former maid knew the answer: they were detained… all but one… all but Hagano. And that wound up being rather Hellish for Salvatrix.
Yes, it was easy to figure out why the ponies coming out from the edge of the city looked so resolute. None of them would tolerate to see anypony unfamiliar running free… or escaping.
Ama was broken up—worse than Delia thought possible, Loress appeared petrified despite her power—she was shaken, and Wilka was all but worthless.
Delia knew it was on her, seeing her friends crumbling—not that she blamed them; she bristled and addressed the growing crowd, moving between them and the unicorns on the ground, “Move…!”
There was no discussion to be had, no reasoning, and no compromise; Delia knew this, but she’d wait to actually issue a threat. Her friends weren’t at 100% that moment.
A stallion—Delia was unsure if he was the one whose voice they’d heard—sparked his horn, “Outsiders… surrender or die.”