//------------------------------// // (3) Loss // Story: This is War // by Script Singer //------------------------------// "CADENCE!!!" Twilight screamed. Everyone in the room froze, shock filling their mind at what they were staring at. The world suddenly felt as if it was slowing around Twilight, the faint distant explosions and attacks draining out of her mind. She finally managed to pull away from the changelings grasp and rushed over to her sister's side, holding her in her hooves. Tears streamed down her face as she stared into her sister's eyes and grabbed onto her hoof. "Cadence, wake up... wake up!" she cried. "Please..." Cadence slowly opened her eyes as she stared at her sister. "Twilight...." Cadence struggled to speak as she gripped her sister's hoof softly. "I'm right here, Cadence. I'm right here!" Twilight said, trying not to lose her. "What is it?" Cadence stared blankly at her for a moment as her chest moved up and down slowly. She gently brought a hoof to Twilight's face, smiling slightly. "Take care of Flurry for me..." Horror shocked her mind. "No, Cadence! Don't go, I need you, Flurry needs you." Twilight struggled to find her words. "I can't lose you too, please, don't go! You’re going to be alright, just… hang in there, please!" Cadence's grip grew weaker as her eyes slowly shut and she took her last breath. Twilight's eyes stung with tears as memories flashed back into her mind of her friend's death. "Somepony, help! Please!" She sunk into her sister's chest, tears pouring down her face as explosions went off around her, screaming out in agony. Many of the guards and fighters began to retreat, trying to get the others to safety as changelings swarmed around them for another attack, the numbers larger than before. Changelings began pouncing onto the ponies, pinning them to the ground as they drained them, or dragged them away into the dungeon. Many of the guards tried to help pull others away, but there were too many. Crystal Mane sprang into action, trying to get to Twilight through the crowd. "Twilight!" he yelled, struggling to fight through the crowd of changelings, being pulled away. He flapped his wings hard as he tried to fly out of their reach, but he was surrounded. He stared in horror as he watched the Queen quicken her pace toward the princess causing him to struggle more. Bright sparks ignited from Twilight's horn as she cried out in agony, but then quickly turned to pain as she felt a blast of magic hit her causing her to fall to the ground slightly. She looked up, finding Chrysalis charging toward her holding a large spear. Her face turned to one of pure terror as she watched the monster charging toward her. Suddenly, Crystal finally managed to escape and rushed in front of her, sliding onto the ground as he placed his shield on top of his hooves, another guard charging toward it. Crystal gave him a boost into the air as he bucked the changeling in the face throwing the queen off balance. Chrysalis roared out in pain and anger as she drew back slightly. She faced the helpless crystal guard in front of her, igniting her horn as Diamond jumped in front of him igniting her horn around him and the others to shield them. A few guards took this opportunity and rushed out trying to create a pathway so everyone could escape. Twilight panted hard trying to ignore the pain as she watched Chrysalis roaring in anger trying to break the shield. Her head spun slightly as her body became exhausted, causing her to collapse to the ground. She struggled to get back onto her hooves, due to the blast of magic from Chrysalis. Her eyes grew heavy. "Somepony, grab Cadence!" Diamond yelled, struggling to keep up the giant shield for much longer as Chrysalis's attacks grew. Two guards rushed over to Twilight and Cadence's side, rushing them toward the infirmary, Twilight barely to keep her eyes open. “Hang in there, Princess.” Crystal whispered. --- Some time had passed since they managed to escape from the battle, and Twilight had some time to regain her senses. Thankfully, the blast of Chrysalis’s magic wasn’t too severe. She sat in a private medical room with Crystal Mane as he pulled out a bandage from a nearby first aid kit in a small closet. He walked toward the injured princess and began to gently wrap her horn. After a moment of silence, Twilight spoke up. “What happened to the others?” she asked. “Did they get out?” Crystal paused for a moment as he finished bandaging her horn letting out a soft sigh. “Everyone is fine, but…” He struggled to find his words. “Many were severely injured…” “Can I see them?” Crystal tied the bandage up and helped the princess back onto her hooves, walking her to the medical bay. They walked slowly trying to process the events that happened from the day. Once they got to the door, Crystal let out another sigh as he looked at Twilight in the eyes with sorrow, holding back a few tears. “I do apologize, Your Majesty, we saved as many as we could but there were just too many-“ “I understand, Crystal.“ Twilight uttered. “I know the sacrifices we have to make in this war, just let me see them.” “I do warn you though, it can seem like a bit of a shock…” Crystal said as he opened the door. The princess walked in eagerly. Twilight stared in shock at how many ponies lay injured in the medic wing, groaning in pain as they lay exhausted on the beds. She scanned the room trying to find her niece, hoping she made it alright. “Where’s Flurry Heart?” Twilight asked after a moment. Crystal Mane hung his head slightly before he spoke. “She was captured, along with many others... including Diamond…” He sighed. Shock overwhelmed Twilight’s mind as her head grew slightly fuzzy once more and lost her balance for a moment. Crystal quickly caught her before she fell. Tears streamed down her face as she began to mumble to herself. “No… I… she….” she stuttered. “This is my fault, I sent her into the danger… I… I…” “Princess, you have to calm down.” Crystal said trying to remain calm. “I can’t lose her too, I promised Cadence and Shining…” her voice trailed off as she remembered her friends. “Oh, sweet Celestia, what has Equestria come to…?” Crystal just held his friend in his arms. “I sound so selfish right now, not just her has been lost… I'm sorry that you lost your sister, Crystal.” “Don't apologize, you are not selfish.” Crystal said. “I think of it as a normal reaction to this. Will you be alright?” Twilight let out a sigh as she calmed herself down a little. “Yes, I’ll be fine. We’ll find a way to get her out, and your sister. But right now-” “Princess?” Twilight turned her head, finding a local pony with his hoof in a bandage, tears in his eyes. Crystal walked over to his side, putting a hoof on his shoulder, nodding at him slightly to speak. “What is it?” Twilight asked. “Forgive my interruption, but...Princess Flurry Heart… I tried to help her, but…” The pony's voice began to shake. He bowed his head slightly as he continued. “She was flying back to get help, but there was a swarm waiting for her. I happened to be nearby and saw her struggling, so I went back to help her. I tried to save her, but I… I…” The pony fell to the ground as he bowed himself before the princess before him. “Princess, I'm sorry… I'm so so sorry… I-” Twilight hushed the pony as she put her wing around him. “You did the right thing, trying to save her. But you shouldn't feel ashamed for not being able to do anything about it, we have to make tough choices in this war.” She then lifted his chin a little looking at him with slight tears in her eyes. “Thank you for trying.” “I just feel like I’ve failed the fight, you see I had lost my wife to this war and I chose to fight for her, and bring back the life our son deserves… but I’m a fool, I allowed my son to be captured when I left him unattended for, welcoming the changelings to take him away from me… I’ll never see him again…” “You have to stay strong for him, even if they have taken your son away, you must stay strong for him. I’ll make sure you see your son again.” The pony nodded in thanks as he walked away back over to a nurse to tend his wounds. Twilight looked around at how many other ponies were injured. Many were fighters, and others were just civilians caught in the crossfire. She wished she could help them all, but she couldn't use her magic to help with a few healing spells, so she had to rely on the traditional methods and medic ponies. She decided to clear her head a bit so she walked outside of the room to think for a moment. Twilight hung her head as she began to weep for her niece. “Please be alright, Flurry…” she whispered, praying to Celestia and Luna she was not being tortured in that Tartarus. But she knew that if Diamond was there with her, she would be alright. But she must be so frightened, she’s brave but she’s still young. She can’t fight an entire army on her own. “She's strong, she'll be alright.“ Twilight thought to herself. “I hope…” --- Flurry Heart lay in a cold jail cell shivering slightly with Diamond Crystal at her side. Tears streamed down her face as she felt completely afraid. She felt like she had been here before, a very long time ago. She noticed a few other ponies who were fighting with her were captured as well, many of them young innocent foals who had nothing to do with the war. Eager to get her mind off the subject, she turned and faced toward Diamond. “What’s gonna happen to us…?” She whimpered. “I don’t know,” she whispered gently stroking her mane to keep her calm. “But we’re gonna be alright, we have to be brave.” “...I’m scared…” Flurry admitted. “What if we don’t get out of here…?” “We’re going to be alright, okay? As long as you got me, you’ll be okay.” Flurry clung onto her friend, nodding her head slightly as she trembled in fear. Suddenly, they heard the door open, Chrysalis walking in and toward the two pony’s cell. Flurry backed away in fear as Diamond stood up glaring at the queen before her. The young alicorn princess hid behind her, peeking out slightly. She had heard stories of what this monster had done and didn’t want any of it to happen to her. “What do you want from us?” Diamond uttered. Chrysalis let out a loud chuckle as she stared over at Flurry Heart. She let out a soft whimper as she turned away facing the wall behind her curling into a ball. Diamond stood in front of her, putting her hoof over her shoulder for comfort. “No!” She yelled. “Just take me instead!” Flurry quickly turned and faced her friend and objected. “Diamond, no! You can’t!” Flurry squeaked grabbing onto her hoof. Diamond turned and looked at the young princess. “My duty is to put you and the princesses safety over mine, Princess Flurry.” She turned and hugged the filly. “But promise that if something happens, you’ll get out safely.” She whispered. Flurry Heart hugged the royal guard tightly. She had almost felt like a sister to her. Chrysalis ignited her horn, lifting Diamond out of the cell and began chaining her outside. A flash of a memory from long ago in Flurry’s mind of when her father was tortured by this monster. She did know this place... “Oh, no…” Flurry whispered. She stared at the pony chained up in front of her. “You’re never going to get away with this, you monster!” Diamond spat. “We’ll find a way to stop you once and for all!” Chrysalis chuckled as she ignited her horn once more, shooting a blast of magic at the unicorn guard. “I already have, foal.” Diamond screamed out in pain as her coat color glowed brightly. Chrysalis’ laughter echoed through the cell room as she took pleasure in the creature's plea. Flurry stared horrified as she watched her friend go through the torture. The screams suddenly stopped as her coat color dimmed and Diamond fell to the ground lifeless. A few changelings walked in, some half breed, others the dying species. Shining Chitin, the new changeling guard, brought forth a lifeless body of a changeling. He dragged it in front of his queen, then backed away a few feet. Chrysalis ignited her horn once more toward the body of the dead creature. The dead changeling started to glow slightly as it slowly came back to life. Chrysalis stopped the spell and watched as her new child had come to life. The changeling stood up, slowly growing a short light blue mane, resembling the crystal guard. She looked around slightly confused at her new surroundings, not really understanding what had happened. The queen of the changelings just smiled with a smug grin and a soft chuckle. “Put her with the others, you know what to do,” she ordered. Shining gestured to another half breed, instructing him to take the new creature to the training room with the others. Chrysalis turned to face the young alicorn, smiling as she saw the look of pure terror in her eyes. Flurry wanted to speak up but struggled to find her voice so she just let out a whimper in fear. “Bring me the others, we have much to do to prepare our new army,” Chrysalis uttered as she glared a smile at Flurry Heart. “And make sure she’s not left alone in here in the risk of an escape or rescue.”