I stirred awake to hushed whispers. Pain echoed throughout my stiff carapace, pulling a hiss and groan out of me. Somebody tied up my legs, forelegs pinned to my chest and hind legs bound together. My only comfort was the pillowy cushions I laid on.
Ugh, feels like I got hit by a house.
My eyes fluttered open. No doubt I was at home base, though with some key differences. The window was roughly repaired with an overabundance of duct tape. I ended up on the patient's couch tied up with impressively tight knots. Panic flickered in my chest until I witnessed the culprits behind my capture.
Behind my swivel chair were three familiar fillies shaking in their hooves. Scootaloo was huddled underneath the chair with her eyes covered while Sweetie Belle and Applebloom peaked out from around the chair from opposite sides, gawking at me as if I was going to try and gobble them up. Not that I was in any position to do such a thing.
Admittedly confused, I stared back at them blankly. Then I looked down at my hooves again. Black. Cracked chitin.
“...Well, shit.”
The girls gasped, somehow more offended by my words than race.
I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”
They visibly calmed down. At least Scootaloo moved her hoof enough to peek out with one eye. I was half tempted to shout ‘Boo!’, held back only by the likely mess on the floor I would probably have to clean up later. “A-are you sure you’re not gonna gobble us up?” Scootaloo asked.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I reassured. I need to gain their trust and get them talking first. Then figure out my next move to find Elly, save Spike, and pray I haven’t been too exposed.
“W-w-we need answers from you, Miss C-Changeling!” Sweetie demanded. She would’ve been more threatening if she actually poked her head out from behind the chair.
Play along for now. They’re just scared of the big bad bug in their town. “As you wish, Sweetie Belle. Are any of you hurt?”
The poor thing recoiled at first, then cautiously stepped out from her safety chair, legs shaking slightly less than before. “No, we’re fine. But that’s what we want to know; why did you save us?”
“Now hold on a sec,” Applebloom stepped out of the chair’s shadow, placing a hoof on Sweetie’s shoulder. “Now, ah reckon we need some answers, but we cain’t forget to show respect. She saved our hides back there.”
“I know, but she’s a changeling! And she’s been pretending to be Sassy!”
“O-or maybe she gobbled up the real one!” Scootaloo added, eyes covered again. Would’ve rolled my eyes if I weren’t so amused.
“How long have I been out?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Ya’ll were out like a light fer about two hours.”
I paled. Two hours?! That gives Elytra far too much time to recover. The trail will be long cold at this point.
But what about Spike? Who knows what she could’ve done to him during that time. He could be dead!
My eyes started to sting. Oh no… Spike could be dead…!
“Miss Changeling?” Sweetie called out softly. Whatever face I’d made caused them to give me a sympathetic look. “Please tell us what’s going on and what you’re doing in Ponyville, as well as what happened to Sassy.”
I don't have time to play twenty questions with them! A scowl set on my face as I tried to struggle out of my bindings. I need to get out of here and—
And do what exactly? The rational side of my brain asked. I stopped to force myself to breathe slowly. You lost Elly’s trail, got exposed to a bunch of fillies, and don’t have anywhere near the fighting strength to deal with her. I need to recover my strength and heal. I need…
My eyes glazed over as I looked at the fillies. I licked my lips.
Sustenance.
The girls recoiled.
I… I have to get a hold of myself. I’ll only make my life more difficult if I scare them to death.
I took a few deep breaths through my nose, quelling whatever feelings of despair that tried to constrict my lungs.
“Sorry. Mouth is dry.” I lied. They calmed down slightly, still sitting on pins and needles. “Before I clear the air, there’s something I must know. Does anypony else know about me being a changeling?”
The girls exchanged a look with each other. When Scootaloo and Applebloom nodded to Sweetie, she finally answered. “No. After you saved us, we decided together to keep you safe and secret until we figured out if you’re dangerous or not.”
“I see. That is really smart,” I complimented. Majority of ponies would’ve exposed me on the spot and made a big spectacle of capturing the big scary bug. Then again, the young ones are never to be underestimated. Easy to manipulate, but far more observant and intelligent than most adults give them credit for.
“Thank you for your secrecy. I’ll tell you the truth about what I’m doing here, but you must keep this a secret, okay? It is very important that nopony knows what I’m about to tell you.”
They nodded rapidly, their attention rapt. I continued. “You’re right about Sassy Love. She’s not a real pony; just an alias I took to protect my true identity.”
I took a dramatic breath.
“I’m a Niponese ninja that’s on a secret mission to protect Princess Twilight from the forces of evil. My true name is Kawaii Mushi.”
The girls gasped, torn with shock and disbelief.
“My clan has been working from the shadows for thousands of years, fighting together with Princess Luna to protect Equestria. We’ve long mastered the art of ninjutsu to create illusion so we can stay secret.” I sighed. “But alas, you’ve found me out, just as I was trying to save Spike from the clutches of my sister, Baka Mushi.”
“Spike’s in trouble?!” Sweetie gasped.
I nodded. “Yes. He’s been a student of mine for awhile now, helping me and Flash Sentry protect Twilight from our greatest nemesis; Megatron.”
“I dunno,” Applebloom’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, “this sounds mighty fishy to me. Wasn’t Chrysalis a queen of ya’ll or somethin’?”
“She went rogue,” I answered smoothly. “Chrysalis took many of my clan and separated, joining Megatron on his quest to rule the world. He even forced my sister to do terrible things, like kidnap Spike to turn him against me. I must save him.” I closed my eyes, forcing a tear to slide out. “But in saving you, honoring the promise of my dear friend Flash to protect the innocent, I’ve injured myself. I… need your help.”
“Hmm…” The crusaders took a collective pause. This was shortly followed by a huddle, talking amongst themselves in hushed tones. It might’ve been effective if I wasn’t a meter away in an otherwise quiet building.
“Should we really trust her? That story sounds weird.”
“But she saved us, Scootaloo. Changelings are supposed to be bad guys, and bad guys wouldn’t go around saving fillies. Twice if you count the cart thing.”
“Maybe she could help us figure out what's goin’ on with Twilight and the others actin’ all weird.”
My ear twitched. “Pardon my interruption, but what was that about Twilight and everyone else?”
The three jumped back. “Whoa, how in the world did you hear us?” Scootaloo asked.
“Must be some sort of super ninja hearin’,” Applebloom added.
Were my hooves not tied, I would’ve facehooved so hard.
Sweetie was the one to answer me. “A little bit before we ran into you a second time, we saw my sister and the others heading into Everfree. They outright ignored us and looked a little off, like they weren’t themselves. It was really weird.”
“That does sound strange,” I agreed. Now that I think about it, didn’t Elytra say something to Zecora about 'she’ll join the others' when she was about to—
The proverbial hammer dropped in my head.
So that’s it! With the element bearers enthralled and taken out of the picture, that’s some of Ponyville’s most problematic defenders taking out of the equation. No doubt the Cold One will rob them of all information and will power. But if that’s the case, why did she foalnap Spike rather than send him in as well?
What in the world are you up to, Elly?
“Alright, we’ve made a decision!” Sweetie announced. “We’re going to give you a chance, only because you saved us twice and are going to save Spike.”
“And talking about Spike reminded me of somethin’ I noticed, but wasn’t quite sure until now,” said Applebloom. “I couldn’t right tell what was zippin’ by us because I was so surprised, but ah coulda sworn it was headin’ to the hospital.”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes at this. “I already told you that doesn’t make sense. You saw how full that hospital was. No one in their right mind would go there with all the craziness of that random blizzard that came out of nowhere!”
The hospital…
A wide grin burst out of my cheeks.
I think I found my first location to scout out. And with the crusaders giving me a pass, all I gotta do is lose them and make them swear to silence. The last thing I need is a changeling hunt to get thrown into this mess.
“I see. Well, thank you all for giving me a chance to set things right. Now, if you could untie me and swear that everything you saw today never leaves this room—”
“Not so fast, Kawaii!”
I stared dumbly at Sweetie Belle. “Huh?”
“I said we were going to give you a chance, but it comes with one condition.”
A bead of sweat rolled down my cheek. “And that would be…?”
“You must become an honorary member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” They cheered.
“And teach us ninja stuff like that exploding cart technique!” Scootaloo added.
So the fate of my secrecy as a changeling hinges on joining a their silly little group? Eh, I’ve done worse to keep a secret.
“Sure, it’s a deal. After this whole situation calms down will I start teaching you the sacred arts of the Niponese Ninjutsu.”
“Alright!” The girls hoofbumped each other with glee. They soon untied my bindings, giving me some much needed freedom. That still left me with one issue.
“Alright, fellow crusaders, I need your help to save Spike. And with this, I shall teach you a secret about my kind.”
“Of course! Whatever we can do to help save Spike, we’ll do it!” Applebloom declared heatedly.
“You see, changelings such as myself draw upon the strength of love and friendship to give us power. If you can help give me strength by showering me with love, I can gain enough power to save Spike and stop Megatron.”
The girls looked at each other, then looked at me.
“Uh, how do we do that? Do we just hug you or something?” Scootaloo asked.
“There’s stuff like the magic of friendship, but we don’t have powers like that,” said Applebloom.
Drawing love from fillies and colts in a harmless manner was somewhere between ridiculously easy and ludicrously hard since they had to willingly offer it. The wrong move would make it near impossible to draw on the energy I needed to heal up.
I suppose getting ideas wouldn’t hurt.
“What if I transformed into something you really like?” I offered.
The moment I saw the grin on their faces, I realized I might have made a poor decision.
The things I do for love...
“Why did you do it, Spike?”
Flash’s voice echoed all over the empty tundra, tone as unforgiving and cold as the wind cutting into my bones. I searched left and right for him. For anyone.
“I… I had no choice!” I cried out into the drowning gale. “You were going to kill everyone!”
“There’s always a choice. You took the easy way out!” Flash barked. “You killed me!”
My shaking legs gave way and dropped me to my knees. I clutched my head. “I didn’t want to do it! I-it’s not my fault!”
“Let me guess, the knife just so happened to fall in your hand. You just so happened to trick me into believing you were my best friend, and you just so happened to stab me? You were supposed to be my friend! My teammate! You didn’t even try to defend me when Trojan was clearly making a fool out of all of us!”
The excuse I had on the tip of my tongue died. My stomach churned, sick to my core.
“You were supposed to be my friend. I trusted you!" The harsh wind picked up speed and whipped around me. "You were like a brother to me! But now I’m dead! Face it, kid, this is all your fault!”
“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” I apologized over and over, blubbering like a inconsolable foal. Arms crossed over my stomach, I curled over, the pain in my chest unceasing.
I wish I could take it back. I would’ve done anything to take back what I did. But now he was gone. All because of me.
The thick flurry of snow swirled around me faster and faster, drowning out my words and thoughts. I couldn’t even hear myself anymore, let alone feel anything but the freezing air drilling down into the bone.
Then all at once, everything stopped.
My screams echoed into the silence. The pure white surroundings, even the air itself dispersed. I was still shaking, only just out of feeling raw like my throat rather than cold. I didn’t dare to look up at first, still reeling from the crippling ache worming through my gut.
“I warned you, Spike.”
A shadow, tall as Canterlot Castle itself, fell over me. I slowly looked up, petrified of the giant version of Trojan towering me.
“You can’t save everyone, Spike. I tried to warn you, but nooo~, you’re just too smart to take me seriously,” Trojan sneered. “Now look at you. A pathetic mess who can’t take responsibility.”
“I…” I swallowed hard. “I-I did save everyone! Rarity, Pinkie, Rain—”
“How about Twilight?”
I stopped.
“Well? Did you save her?”
“U-uh...k-k-kind of…”
“Uh huh. You saved her as well as you saved the rest of the town. How many ponies do you think died in that blizzard? What if Twilight is actually in a coma, never to wake up? Are they saved, Spike?”
The tears returned in force. I didn’t have an answer for that.
“Twilight nearly died because you failed to act. Failed to do what was necessary. Maybe if you were stronger, smarter, braver, you might’ve been able to stop Flash and protect Twilight. Instead, you had to kill your best friend. Who knows what will happen with your next screw up. Maybe you will have to kill Twilight too.”
“Shut up!” I screamed.
“Awww, the poor wittle drake can’t handle some criticism?” Trojan cooed condescendingly. “Too scared to face the real world? Or maybe you’re finally realizing why Twilight always makes you play bass while everyone else saves the day.”
“I said shut up!” I pushed myself to my feet, glaring up at the condescending Trojan. “I’m not scared to face the world! I’m not useless, and I am going to help save everyone!”
Trojan flashed a toothy grin.
“Prove it. Spike?”
The sudden tone shift to distant and echoing threw me off. I blinked in confusion. “Huh?”
“Spike, can you hear me? Spike? Spi—”
“—ke, please respond!”
My eyes snapped open as I shot up and placed a claw on my chest. Training kicked in and I stopped myself from using the Dragon Whisper. As much as I wanted to talk to Trojan, I had no idea where I was or if I was even alone. I craned my neck to look around first.
I thanked my night-vision for allowing me to survey what otherwise would’ve been a pitch black room. Piles of boxes, gurneys, and various exercise equipment were stacked all over the place. There were no windows, dust settled all over what probably had been pearly white tiled flooring and tan walls. I was just about to consider myself safe when I barely noticed the presence on the other side of the room, nestled between two tall boxes. My heart sank.
Crouched in a meditative position was Elytra, eyes closed. Had I scanned the room too quickly I would’ve easily mistaken her for a statue.
“Spike, please respond if you can hear me! If you can’t talk, just do something to let me know you’re alive,” Trojan pleaded through the whisper.
I dwelled on my options. Whatever noise I made would catch Elytra’s attention. As much as I wanted to talk to Trojan, it didn’t take a genius to realize having an open conversation in front of a sleeping threat was a bad idea.
Perhaps I could sneak out of here? That thought reminded me of my recent stealth attempt at the castle.
Waking up from a nightmare. Finding none of my friends in the castle. Stumbling upon ‘Nurse Redheart’ pouring white energy into Flash. Tripping on a metal wire. Elytra dropping her disguise and chasing me. I ran. A lot. Might’ve screamed like a little filly at some point. I barely got a few words out to Trojan before Elytra caught up and… everything went fuzzy after that.
Note to self: Invisible wires are a thing. But why would Elytra bring me here? Why does she even want to keep me around?
An idea sprung to mind. She wouldn’t have gone into meditation if she didn’t feel secured about me or the room. Probably assumed I would still be asleep. Perhaps a little sleep talking could mask my words to Trojan.
I shifted slowly to lay on my side, back turned to Elytra. Once I was ready, I put on my best drowsy voice and channeled the Dragon Whisper.
“Hey sexy. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” I murmured.
“What the fu… oh. Oh! Spike! Thank Mother you’re still alive! Is Elytra nearby? Are you at the hospital?”
I smiled to myself, playing extra attention to the subtle shift from Elytra’s position. “Mmm, yes and yes, baby.”
There was a pause. “I can’t tell if you’re brilliant or an idiot, but either way you can stop talking now. Just listen and act natural.” I allowed myself to relax. That is, until soft hoofsteps made me clinch all of my muscles. “Stall for as long as you can and watch what you say. The Cold One will be keeping his eyes and ears to everything. I will reach you soon.”
“Wake up, Reptile!”
Stars exploded before my eyes when a kick to the spine sent me rolling into the wall. I hissed through my teeth and scrambled onto my feet. I knew it was Elytra, yet having her hover over me with a glare that could melt icebergs shook me like nothing else.
“W-what do you want with me?” I asked, unable to keep the trembling out of my voice.
“You’re a slippery little runt, you know that?” Elyra snarled. “It was one thing to sneak up on me while I’m working, but another to make it difficult to catch you. I think we both know why I kept you to myself while I had my slaves escort the princess to her rightful place.”
Anger beat back the fear in my throat. “Where did you take Twilight and the others?”
“You got bigger things to worry about, Reptile.”
As if on cue, her horn lit up. Razor thin wires tightened around my wrists, ankles, waist and neck, yanking me off my feet and flatten onto the wall. Any amount of struggling just led to the wires biting deeper into my scales.
I really hate these damn things.
“My master wants nothing more than for me to kill you and be done with it. But if you tell me what I want to know, I might be able to keep you alive.” Elytra narrowed her gaze. “And don’t even try to think you can lie to me. The minute I catch you lying,” magic ignited in her horn. The wires coiled further, pulling a yelp out of me as they bit into my skin, “you’re going to regret it. Get me?”
I nodded slowly, staying silent out of fear of giving anything away.
“Let’s pick up where my subordinate left off. You know some information I want. Answer my questions precisely and you may keep some of your limbs.” She moved closer, cleverly staying out of biting range. “You had something that doesn’t belong to you. How did you get it?”
Something that doesn’t belong to me? It’s gotta be the daggers. I can still feel them on me, so she must have no idea about Trojan’s invisibility enchantment, or rather, that she would use it on me. But she knows I got them, and changelings are natural lie detectors. No point in lying.
“You mean the dag—”
I caught a panicked look from Elytra half a second before her punch to the gut left me winded.
“What part of answer precisely did not reach your puny brain? Do it right!” She snapped.
What was that about? She looked scared for a second.
My mind raced for something. Anything to buy time.
I thought back to Trojan’s teachings, specifically the path of the Noble Heart. The way she charmed me to lower my defenses. Perhaps, I began to realize, there’s a way I could use that to play to her senses. After all, it’s all too obvious why she’s asking about the daggers. That was my ticket to not get stabbed or lose a limb.
I put on the best thoughtful look I could muster. “Before I tell you, hear me out. You know you don’t have to go through this ‘bad cop’ routine, right?” I gulped at seeing her muscles tighten up to strike me again. “I can’t lie to you, and we both know your cold-blooded master is a jerkface that can’t be trusted. The real question here is why you care what happens to the owner of that dagger?”
I gasped as the wires coiled even tighter everywhere except my throat, cutting my skin. Elytra growled. “I don’t have time for games. Answer the question, whelp!”
“Even knowing what your master would do to the owner if I do?”
Elytra stiffened as if I’d slapped her in the face. Doubt played in her eyes, glaring hard into mine. I stared back, daring her to answer.
The wires loosened. Slightly.
“...Let’s come back to that question,” Elytra said after a long beat. “Where did you learn the code?”
Pieces clicked together in my mind. She would know her mother better than anyone. Know who those daggers belonged to.
“Not from Thorax,” I answered smoothly.
Elytra threw me an odd look like I just told her I was from outer space. She studied my face for what felt like minutes, gears churning behind her gaze. I’d bet my treasure hoard she started putting two and two together.
“...Sassy Love?”
I nodded.
“T-that is…!” Elytra gasped, dumbfounded. She moved away from me, pacing about the room. The emotion in her face flickered between several emotions. Anger. Hope. confusion. Concern. After a minute of active pacing she ended on terror. “No. No, no, no. That… but it couldn’t be. Why would… how… oh. Oh no.” She continued muttering and fussing to herself like Twilight seconds before a meltdown.
Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
“So, uh, isn’t that supposed to be good news?” I asked, knowing full well she got my hint.
Elytra stopped, looked at me, then looked away with a grim look on her face.
“I just dropped a house on her a few hours ago.”
I waited a bit, ready for the punchline. After a few seconds of realizing there wasn’t one coming, I tilted my head and gave her a bugged out stare. “A… house?”
“Did I stutter, Reptile? Yes, a bloody building fell on her!” She screeched, then calmed down after taking a moment to sigh. “Oddly enough, this is actually good news. Sort of.”
“In what universe is that good news?!” I bellowed. The look she gave reminded me I was on thin ice.
“Most ponies would be dead or crippled from such a crash. If she is who I think she is, such an event would only slow her down. I’ve had my suspicions about her from the start. Enchanted security of her home. Expertly controlled emotions. Fighting style. Dodging my garrote traps. I couldn’t make heads or tails of Sassy. At least, not until the disturbing yabberings you sputtered moments ago.”
“Yabberings?” I feigned surprise. “O-oh, was I talking in my sleep—”
“Fool!” She cracked her hoof across my face. I could taste blood in my gums. “It’s all too obvious you were only pretending to sleep talk!”
I was unable to hold back my shock. “W-what?”
Elytra rolled her eyes. “The pitch in your breathing shifted seconds before you began talking to yourself. Sleep talking isn’t a string of coherent words, but a broken mess of thoughts given voice. You froze up the moment you heard my steps, shoulders and back muscles tense as I drew close. With the way you keep that palm to your chest, I imagine you’re using that Dragon Whisper spell you developed about… hm, was it about three years ago? Right after your sixteenth birthday?”
My jaw slackened, then closed with a clack. Sweat rained down my forehead. “H-how did you…”
Elytra grinned, pleased with herself. “Please, do you suspect me to be an amateur in the art of deception and espionage? You are a mere duckling trying to blend in a pride of lions! The only thing stopping me from slitting your throat for your audacity is your connection to ‘Sassy’ and your adorable effort to uphold this pathetic farce.”
It took a bit to work my vocal chords to form words. “W-well… good thing I’m adorable then, huh?” I laughed nervously.
Elytra mocked my laughter for all of two seconds before exploding with rage. “Fool!” A punch to the gut knocked the wind out of me again. “You dare mock our talents with such a paltry performance? Mock me by believing I would fall for it?”
I gasped for air, wrenching from the pain echoing in my abs. “U-um… uh… s-sorry?”
“Damn right you’re sorry! You worthless, incompetent charlatan! You dishonor your teacher—no, the entire hive by not giving it your all. Why I have half a mind to—”
“Why is this drake still alive, Overlord?” Hissed a deep, echoing voice.
Elytra suddenly spun her head towards the right wall, gaping in terror. I was about to ask what she saw when a ghostly creature easily twice my height materialized out of thin air. It reminded me of the windigo the legends talked about, except draped in full plate armor covering everything except its flaming white eyes and jaw. The air around its fiery energy was hazy and charged, sapping all heat from the area. Ice dropped in my veins.
What in the world is that thing? No way that huge thing can be a normal windigo.
“When did you… I have this under control, so get off my back!” Elytra snapped.
“Mind your tongue, Overlord. Do not dare to address me like your underlings.” The windigo floated towards us, slithering through the air and staring at her like a hungry python. “Unless you require us to make another example of your brood?”
Elytra’s teeth gnashed together with effort, as did mine. “That... is not necessary. I know my place.” Each word was punctuated as if she tried to kill the windigo with them.
“The Cold One has spawned me to provide support to cover the loss of your squad,” its eyes swiveled to me and narrowed, “and ensure that all loose ends are severed.”
I gulped. That ghost looked ready to have me served on a silver platter.
Elytra grew suspicious. “You could’ve did all of that while still remaining invisible. Why reveal yourself now?”
The windigo tilted its head at her. “I can feel your fear, Overlord. Such weaknesses risks compromising your judgment and the mission. I wish to grant you focus by any means necessary.” His emphasis on ‘focus’ carried a chilling undertone which sounded more like a threat than promised comfort.
I shifted my attention to Elytra, unable to see anything more than an irritated changeling. She certainly wasn’t kidding about being good at deception if not even an ounce of fear could show on her face. Then again, that windigo being able to read her emotions spoke volumes.
“I’ll do my part as commanded by him. I fear nothing.” Elytra spat.
“Lying is pointless, Overlord. There’s something about this drake’s words that inspires paranoia and concern out of you.” The windigo floated closer to me, examining me with a disdainful stare like I was dirt. “I see no purpose in keeping him alive. A fleeting distraction. I would be more than happy to end his life.”
“Leave the dragon alone. He has information about somepony I want.”
“As I’ve overheard. Why not rip the answer out of his mind? Has the loss of your forces dulled your logic?”
Anger cracked through Elytra’s stony expression. “That’s none of your concern!”
The windigo snapped its icy gaze to her, growling. He encircled the suddenly nervous Elytra like a vulture. “All you do is our concern, Overlord. Allow me a moment to remind you why. Hmm…” It’s eyes flared with power. “This one will do.”
Elytra sparked her horn. Suddenly her eyes shot wide open. “Wait! Don’t do it! H-he’s just a hatchling! I’ll whatever you ask! I—” Her breathing hitched. She sunk onto her haunches, tears threatening to fall as she stared emptily into the floor.
“Do we have an understanding, Overlord?” The windigo glowered.
“Y… yes. Yes we do.” Whatever fight had been in her vanished, a mouse pleading mercy from the cat.
I tried to piece together what I was seeing. Elytra looked as if part of her soul just got ripped from her. The mention of a hatchling, and then—
Did… did that windigo just kill a hatchling? All just because he was sassed just a little bit?
I thought back to what we’d learned about the Cold One’s “disciplinary” practices. Keeping them in line by killing others. Making examples of those that wouldn’t follow him.
Elytra had already lost so many changelings thanks to Flash. Now she had to lose even more for such a selfish reason…?!
My fist curled, blood boiling with fury.
“Hey you! Look at me you worthless bastard!”
The windigo turned to throw me a merciless glare.
I said nothing at first, glaring hard at this bastard. After holding his attention for a moment I finally spoke, pouring every ounce of conviction into my voice.
“I’m going to kill you. No matter what I have to do or go through, I will do whatever it takes to end your miserable life.”
The windigo tilted its head, unimpressed. “Overlord, alert me when you are done with him. I shall dine on drake tonight after securing the area.” It faded out of sight. An icy sensation crawled up my spine and through my veins.
“Spike,” Trojan’s voice rang in my head, “I’ve infiltrated the hospital and found one of Elytra’s wires leading into the basement level. I’ll be there a minute or two tops. Stall for just a bit longer.”
Knowing Trojan would be here to rescue me soon was overshadowed by the dark mood on Elytra’s face. I opened my mouth to say something when Elytra beat me to it.
“That was foolish,” she said somberly. “Any chance you had to live is gone. That vassal wants you dead.”
“I don’t care.”
Elytra looked up at me, surprised.
“I’ve… done a very bad thing today. I probably deserve whatever that thing has planned for me. But I can’t die here. Not until I stab that son-of-a-bitch in the face and stop the Cold One from hurting anyone else, changelings or otherwise.”
“Why do you care?” Elytra asked sincerely. “After everything that’s happened to you, mercy should be the last thing on your mind.”
“She taught me a thing or two about what you all had to go through. No creature should have to go through such a thing, and I decided to stop being a bystander and do something about it. I know what I’m fighting for and why.” I stared into Elytra’s eyes. “What about you? Is this Cold One really what you want to fight for?”
“Of course not!” Elytra shot. “I don’t have a choice. If I had another option I would take it in a heartbeat.”
“But you do have a choice!”
“Not while the rest of my brood is at knife point. He can kill any of us, myself included, with just a thought. There’s no happy ending for us. No hope in being anything more than a slave of his will.”
“There is hope. Living proof that hope exists if you just ask for it,” I gave her the best smile I could muster. “You don’t have to take my word for it. You can just ask her yourself.”
Panic started to show on Elytra’s face. “Ask her for… wait, are you saying she’s already on her way here?”
The door lock clicked. Elytra looked ready to have a heart attack.
Elytra’s magic worked the wires on me to tighten even further and add a layer around my mouth to seal it shut just before the door creaked open. Like a professional performer, panic was wiped from Elytra’s face as she transformed into Nurse Redheart. Trojan, disguised as Sassy, emerged through the door as if she didn’t have a care in the world, flicking on the lights in the room.
Trojan stopped in the middle of the room, facing down Elytra. I couldn’t help getting teary-eyed. “Sit tight, Shortcake. I’ll have this whole thing sorted out in no time.” She promised.
“Those are big words, Sassy.” Elytra flashed a confident grin. “But you better not come too close. One wrong step and I’ll—”
“Kill him, right?” Trojan cut her off with a yawn. “Eh, go ahead.”
Wait, what?!
Elytra looked just as surprised as I was.
“He’s an annoying little twerp to be honest. Always sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong and, quite frankly, being a pain in the flank. Besides, Twilight isn’t paying me overtime for him, so… yeah, sorry Spike. I’m just here for the street cred.”
I was half-thankful for the wires keeping my screaming and cursing muffled.
“Do you think I’m joking? I really will kill him if you try anything.” As if to prove true on her threat, she worked her magic on my wires and tightened them even further. I winced, unable to fully cry out from the wires slicing my skin. Trojan apparently found the keratin on her forehooves to be more interesting.
“For a hospital, this place is really dusty. Think it might cause a health hazard?” Trojan moved to dust off her forelegs. I couldn’t read Trojan’s motives at all. Moments ago she reassured she was going to save me, and now she’s claiming to be here just for bragging rights?
What kind of rescue is this? With friends like her, who needs… wait a minute, doesn’t she carry dagg—
A frightened gasp left me as something silvery whistled by and stabbed the wall beside my head and left wrist. My heart leapt into my throat, wide eyes staring back at me from the knife’s reflection. It wasn’t until the wires on my neck and wrist fell off that I realized what happened.
Trojan threw another dagger at my bindings, only for Elytra to snatch it out of the air and rush at her.
While Elytra was engaged in a blinding clash of knives against Trojan, I busied myself with the blades hurled at me to free the rest of my bindings. It took a second to realize these were regular combat knives and not Niekinis daggers. I tried to keep my eye on the fight while cutting at the bindings on my legs, waist, and mouth.
My training allowed me to keep up with the movements. Elytra pressed the attack, slashing twice before stepping back. Trojan followed up with a quick slash at the blade before darting back.
I blinked rapidly, not sure if I was seeing things. Their movements were fast, both of them slashing and blocking at breakneck speed. What bothered me was how familiar it was. Elytra would dash forward, strike, then bounce back. Trojan would do the same, each of them perfectly parrying and blocking the attacks. Step. Slash. Step. Block. Rinse and repeat.
Hold on…
Elytra’s stony expression started to crumble as the fight pressed on, teeth gnashed and brow creased. Whatever emotion she tried to hold back started to come out through small tears. Trojan was the opposite: total control and focus. Neither received a single cut in their exchanges. The longer I stared, the more I realized their movements were perfectly synchronized and choreographed.
They’re… communicating. They both know who the other is. Why are they still fighting then?
Several cuts later I was finally free of the wires. I’d thought to run over and stop them for a moment, then rejected the idea. I would only get in the way.
After a few more exchanged their blades clashed, locked in struggle.
“So, where did you learn to fight like that, huh?” Elytra asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Trojan leaned in close and smirked. “Your mom.”
Trojan ducked and swept Elytra’s hooves. Elytra was thrown onto her back. Trojan rolled forward and pressed her blade against Elytra’s neck. Neither moved an inch, exchanging hard stares. Then they looked around themselves.
“Think we’re clear?” Trojan whispered out of breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
“I… I think so. You would’ve been dogpiled by vassals by now,” Elytra was just as breathless, paranoia written all over her face.
They waited some more. Then, a snort from Elytra.
“I just… I can’t with you. You’re such a dork,” Elytra laughed.
“And you’ve been slacking on your training. Even Spike could’ve seen that trip coming.”
I grumbled inwardly. I’m right here, y’know!
Trojan dropped on her haunches and scooped Elytra up and into a hug.
“But I still love you anyway. Slacker.”
Elytra caved.
She collapsed into Trojan, sobbing like an inconsolable foal. After everything that’s happened tonight: the lives lost and the drama caused by the Cold One, seeing those two finally reuniting and being happy warmed my heart.
“Everyling said you were either dead or abandoned us,” Elytra rambled through hiccups. “I never believed any of it. I've missed you so much, Mum.”
“I’m sorry I had to put you through that. It was hard being away from you, Elly.” Trojan nuzzled Elytra, glowing with happiness. I smiled, a wave of warmth flooding my chest. “...Spike, what do you think you’re doing?”
I nearly jumped, thrown off by Trojan’s dead serious tone. I worked quickly at the final bindings around my snout and freed my jaw. “Huh?”
“Get that tail over here. You’re not getting out of this hug, Mister.”
“Wha-but-I don’t…” I shuffled in place, suddenly uncomfortable with the attention. Couldn’t help being reminded of how our last meeting was less than pleasant. “T-this is your moment. I don’t want to ruin in.”
Trojan sighed, then shifted her attention to Elytra. “Hey, give me a moment to take care of something.”
“Yes, of course,” Elytra scooted away to give space. Trojan’s expression turned stern as she walked over to me, staring down with a hard look that brought back memories of my recent nightmare. I don’t know why or how it happened, only that all of the guilt and stress I’d gone through until now bubbled to the surface and out as hot tears.
“You… you were right. About needing to take responsibility. That I can’t save everyone.” I sniffled, avoiding her gaze, “I didn’t want to believe—ow!” I winced as Trojan gave me a light punch on the arm.
“Read the room, Spike. That’s the last thing on my mind right now. I just got back after a house was dropped on me!” Elytra looked away from Trojan's pointed glare until she returned her gaze on me.
“I-I thought it was a good idea at the time…” Elytra muttered to myself. Now I knew how the crusaders felt whenever they were called to the teacher’s office.
“We’ve all had a rough day, Spike,” Trojan continued. “It’s not going to get any better from here. We’ll talk more when we get back to the castle, but for now, I’m going to count to three. If I don’t get my motherbucking hug from a certain motherbucking dragon, I will start stabbing things until I get my motherbucking hug. One—”
I nearly tackled her with my hug. Never before had I needed something as simple as a hug so badly. And warmth. Much needed warmth.
...Had the room always been this cold? Why did my muscles suddenly grow tight and rigid?
I tried warn Trojan that something was wrong, only to realize I lost control of my mouth. In fact, I couldn’t control my body at all.
“Your resistance is stronger than I anticipated. You must have those infuriating blades on you somewhere,” a familiar voice echoed in my mind.
“What the—who are you?!”
The voice laughed. “Your new master.”
At that moment I recognized the voice; the windigo I threatened earlier.
...Oh no.
“I hoped to devour your mind, but control of your body will suffice.” My muscles tightened, rippling waves of ice flooding me.
“We can’t stay here for too long,” Elytra warned. “The Cold One created a Warlord vassal. Whatever he’s been planning these last few months is about to pop off soon.”
Concern crossed Trojan’s furrowed brow as she broke the hug and walked back to Elytra. “Figured. This mess probably gave him pathos fuel for days. First thing’s first, we have to break your connection to the hive before the Cold One uses his kill switch.” Breaking her disguise, Trojan channeled her horn. Elytra did the same and cross horns with her.
“What pathetic mindsets they have to believe we hadn’t accounted for this. Well, if they wish to play games...”
My arm trembled with feeble resistance as ‘I’ flashed my palm at Trojan. Energy swirled at its center. A sickening grin was plastered on my face.
“Who am I to deny their last wish?”
After a moment, the two split apart. “Thanks, Mum. That's one problem off my mind. Let’s—Move!”
Elytra pushed Trojan to the side just before getting struck in the chest by a ball of black energy.
On contact, the detonation unleashed a concussive blast that rocked the room. Elytra and Trojan were sent flying in opposite corners of the room, boxes and equipment crushed into the walls and floor. Trojan crashed into a pile of boxes while Elytra smashed into the now cracked wall.
Trojan sprang back into the fight instantly like she didn’t just fly through the air like a ragdoll. “Shit! Spike, fight it!” She rushed towards me.
I’m trying, Trojan. Damn it, I’m trying! All motion control seemed to be just out of reach as the windigo piloted me to charge at Trojan. Black hooves flew at me in blurs. ‘I’ blocked each strike just as fast, both of us dancing around piles of broken equipment and open boxes.
I stepped to the side and kicked an empty box at her. The moment the box blocked my line of sight, she was gone. For some reason ‘I’ turned to the left, realizing too late the windigo anticipated her flanking dash. My palm flashed in her direction.
Trojan vanished just before the flash of energy rushed out, turning a pile of equipment into shrapnel. Black hooves wrapped around my throat and shoulder in a hoof-lock.
“Impressive,” the windigo grumbled. Whatever Trojan was up to sapped at the cold energy and a bit of my own. “Trying to drain me out? Looks like I need to remind her where she belongs!”
The cold energy coiled in my stomach like a block of ice. A moment later, a wave of magic rushed out in all direction and ripped Trojan off my back. Her gossamer wings fluttered to help her recover in midair, but not before a hail of magic blast rained from my palms towards her.
Without much height to properly maneuver in the air, Trojan could only go so far until the explosive force clipped one of her wings and sent her crashing to the ground. Or at least would have if she didn’t drop into a front flip. Her momentum stabilized, she darted after me.
‘I’ grabbed at her hoof when she drew close. Just when I thought he had her, she flicked her hoof to break the grab and went for a gut strike. The windigo took the blow and followed up with a headbutt, stunning her. He grabbed her chest with an iron grip. An icy sensation flowed down the arm.
“You should’ve ran when you had the chance, insect!”
No! I won’t let you! Stop it!
In that split second I forced the grip loose. Trojan parried the arm just in time to dodge another magical blast that exploded on the ground. The force nearly sent her flying again, except ‘I’ managed to grasp her hoof. I spun once. Twice. Then flung her at the just now recovering and smoking Elytra. Trojan crashed into her, the two toppling over and battered from the impact.
“I believe my point has been made. Thank you for your cooperation, Spike.”
The windigo’s drafty presence shifted forward until he slithered out of me, releasing me from his grip. I flexed my fingers and waggled my tail just to make sure I was truly free. Good, because he was going to regret turning his back to me.
I drew the niekinis dagger and rushed him. Somehow he predicted my moves and twisted around my backstab. My follow up slash was countered by his ghostly hoof smashing my face. I staggered back from the explosive pain, stunned. A cold grip caught my throat.
“I’d hoped you would volunteer to participate in our little game. It’d be a shame to leave you out!” With a grunt he hurled me into the pile of equipment next to Trojan. I gasped and cried out from my limbs and back colliding with broken piles of metal. My Niekinis blade had fallen from my hands when thrown, lost in the mess of mangled equipment and supplies.
“Of all the victims in this room, I’d expected the overlord to have enough intelligence not to defy me. Were I in a less than stellar mood, I would kill you all just to quell the population of idiotic beings.”
“Well aren’t you just full of mercy and sun shine this evening,” Trojan snarked. “So what’s got you in such a forgiving mood? Did the Cold One give you doggie treats?”
The windigo thrust his hoof forward. A pulse of powerful energy knocked us all back and onto the floor. “And thus the leader of bad decisions continues to run her mouth. I’d be more upset if you hadn’t hoof delivered yourself back to us, Noble Heart.”
“That’s Shadow Noble Heart to you, asshole!” Trojan hissed.
Noble Heart? As in, the Noble Heart from the Shadow’s Code?! Shocking as it was, revelation of Trojan’s true name was slightly overshadowed by the terrifying monstrosity that was this windigo.
“You say that, but sources would say you prefer your slave name, Trojan,” the windigo chuckled. “The memories privileged to me speak highly of your cleverness and caution. I’ve yet to be impressed.”
Noble’s eyes narrowed, glaring daggers. “Tell you what, close your eyes and count to ten. I’ll give you something to be impressed about.”
“Ah, so the insect still has bite. Good. It’d be a shame if you gave up before we started to have fun.”
“If you think I’m going to just bow out and let you have your way, then you have a twisted sense of humor.” Noble staggered onto her hooves and took on a defensive stance, Elytra and I took up her sides, prepared to fight for our lives.
The windigo chuckled. “Mother, daughter, and pet, banding together in the face of insurmountable odds. Rather touching. Foolish, but touching. Let’s test those bonds, shall we?” He waved his hoof.
Heat drained from the air seconds before white flames erupted everything except us. Rather than burn or melt every object, it created thick sheets of frost and ice, transforming the dark room into a brightly lit winter wonderland. I shivered from the intense cold as if the windigo drowned the room in dry ice. A column of thick ice formed in front of the door, sealing us in the room. Things only got stranger as parts of the fire wall took shape.
The left half fluctuated shapes of different changelings. Some looked small as a foal. A few eggs were displayed as well. On the right was several ponies, some lying down in pain and the others walking in place. Chatter and motions from both sides made the images feel like we were watching real ponies and changelings going about their business.
“Wha… what is this? What are you up to?” Elytra cried out in panic.
“A chance to earn my favor,” the windigo grinned. “The images you see are merely visuals of what is happening outside this room. Changelings and ponies alike, unaware of the role they are about to play tonight. The changelings just so happened to be part of Noble’s brood while these ponies are the witless citizens of Ponyville in this very hospital. Two sides with only one thing in common: you will determine who lives and who dies by proving yourself worthy of forgiveness.”
“You sneaky little bitch! You’re using everyone as a hostage!” Noble screeched.
“Hostages have value. These lives are worthless.... except for you three,” the windigo ‘corrected’. “Allow me to make the rules clear so even you all can understand. You three will fight for the survival of these creatures. The sole survivor will spare the lives of their respective species and earn a reward for their efforts.”
My breath caught in my throat. He wanted us to kill each other?! This had to be a trick. “You can’t fool me! These are just illusions to mess with us because you’re scared!”
“Spike, no!” Trojan paled.
“Oh yes, how could I have forgotten? I do owe you for that act of defiance earlier. Let’s see…” His eyes swept to the wall of pony images. An elderly mare rested on a bed, an IV drip in her arm. The windigo nodded towards the image.
Her eyes snapped open, hooves to throat. She squirmed and writhed, gasping for breath. Just as quickly as the attack happened and ended. That poor pony went still. Silent.
I trembled, feeling a rock drop in my gut. That… that was just a trick, right? He’s just messing with us. There’s no way he would just kill that poor old lady like that for no reason.
“H-hey Tro—um, Noble, he didn’t just…” The words died on my lips as I turned my head. Noble avoided my gaze, heart broken.
“Spike… he’s not lying. The Cold One usually keeps his word when it comes to this kind of thing,” Noble’s voice was hushed. “I just felt a pulse of pathos above us. That pony is dead, Spike.”
Elytra remained silent, also dodging my gaze. The words sunk in, cutting into my heart.
Dead? That pony is dead?
My chest tightened. Darkness edged at my vision.
Did another pony die because of me...? It’s what happened to Flash all over again, isn’t it?
A squeeze on my shoulder brought me back to focus. I hadn’t even realized I stopped breathing. Noble had grabbed my shoulder, eyes glued to that bastard of a ghost.
She’s right. I have to pull myself together and focus on the now. I… I’ll figure this out as I go.
“Of course, I’m a fair and just master. Noble Heart…” An ominous gleam crossed the windigo’s gaze. “You’re overdue for your lesson in humility, as well as the overlord for her newest transgression against us. Three sounds about right.”
Noble and Elytra snapped their heads to the changeling wall of fire. An egg exploded spontaneously, popped like a water balloon filled with green, viscous liquid. Two changelings, a young and older one, clutched at their throats and crumbled to the floor. Shortly after the attack they stopped moving.
Just… just like that? They’re dead. He killed them without batting an eye. That one changeling wasn’t even born yet.
This was the worst kind of nightmare. There was no waking up from this. No elements of harmony to zap away the monsters. No crazy spell or puzzle to solve that could fix this. All I could do was watch ponies and changeling die, speechless and terrified.
“No, no, no!” Elytra screamed. The glare she set upon the windigo was so fierce I wouldn’t have been surprised if he combusted. “You know what? Screw this bloody—”
“Elly, calm yourself!” Noble’s command was sharp and curt. Elytra stopped just short of rushing the windigo.
“Grr… u-understood, Mother,” Elytra gritted her teeth. Noble’s grip on me tightened as she seethed, bruising my shoulder.
“Why? What is the point of all of this?!” I cried at the windigo. “They’ve done nothing to you! Leave them alone!”
“Their lives matter little for us,” said the windigo. “Just as ponies pay little heed to the straws of hay they feed upon, all that matters for us is who is worthy to not become part of the food chain.”
“That… that is just...!”
“There’s no point in arguing with him, Spike,” Noble growled. “The Cold One only cares about those who follow his insane methods. Everyone else might as well be dead or become fuel for his pathos.”
“Now that we have an understanding,” the windigo continued, “I believe some incentive is required. Should the overlord win, her crime against the Cold One will be cleansed, reinstated as my second-in-command and the remnants of the brood will be spared and granted immunity from future punishments by death. For Spike, the lives of ponyville citizens will be spared alongside the bearer of the elements of harmony we have in our possession. Noble Heart’s reward will be the same as the overlord with an added condition that I will spare Chrysalis of further suffering.”
“Wha…” Trojan worked her jaw, gaping, “what have you done with her?!”
“As we speak, Chrysalis is at a crossroads, witnessing everything happening here through me. Her life is all but forfeit. But right now, you have a single chance to see her again. To be reunited and respected as part of the hive. This will be your only chance of redemption. Your chance to see your mother again. Maybe even save her.”
Noble’s fangs flashed as she growled. She looked sick, as if she was forced to choose which favorite puppy she had to strangle. Even Elytra was stunned by this news, at a lost.
“With the condition set, I believe you three have some killing to do.” An ice sword materialized and hovered in front of us, one per “player”. No one move to grab the weapon. “For those slower on the uptake, every thirty seconds that one of you hesitates to act, a changeling and pony will die for you. So get to it.”
With a wave of the windigo’s hoof, a pony and a changeling fell dead.
“...Clock’s ticking.”
I’d thought seeing Flash murder all those changelings was the worst thing I could’ve witnessed. Everything about this was so much worse. Every ounce of tension in my muscles was wound up like a guitar string. I felt the proverbial guillotine over my head preparing to drop.
Despite the madness thrown at us, one horrifying thought was louder than the rest.
I’m going to die.
No one moved. Seconds ticked by in stifling silence. The tension was so thick I doubted even one of those blades the windigo gave us could cut it. Noble looked at me, then Elytra. Elytra glanced between me and Noble. I already knew who I was going after.
Elytra picked up the blade and rushed at me.
I was reminded of how Trojan moved when she trained me. Crouched low. Sword tucked in her hoofs reverse-grip style. Once in front of me, she sprung to her back legs, point of blade rushing to my throat. Pure reflex saved my life as I picked up my own blade and narrowly swiped at the blade to parry her. Elytra spun on her back leg, using the momentum of the clash to follow up with a spinning slash aimed at my throat. I was too slow to block.
It was pure luck that Noble tackled her onto the floor before the blow could connect, sword knocked out of her hoof. Chest and hooves pressed down on her body and limbs, Elytra struggled against it with everything she had.
“Mother, move!” Elytra roared. “I refuse to lose anymore of us for those ponies!”
“Unless you plan on killing me too, you won’t be saving anyone!”
Elytra’s actions provided me enough focus to break me out of my frightened stupor. She had no qualms with killing me and playing along this stupid murder game. I had no intention of doing the same.
My glare lingered on Elytra as I dropped the ice sword in place of my second Niekini dagger. “Guess we all know who you really want to fight for after all,” I spat venom at Elytra. I encircled the two, knife raised.
Noble gawked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Spike, listen to me, he’s trying to use us against each other. He wants the violence! Don’t play into his hooves!”
“If he wants to play games, I’ll do just that. I know exactly what I’m fighting for!” I raised the blade into the air.
With a spin I hurled it at the windigo’s head.
Just before contact, the windigo tilted his head to dodge. My knife whistled just past his head and embedded itself on the wall behind him. A dirty smile crept into his muzzle. I paled, dreading whatever the windigo had planned.
“Interesting. I rather like your spunk, little drake. If only you were smarter about your life decisions. Let this be a lesson.” He raised his hoof and performed a grand, sweeping gesture. As his hoof moved from the pony wall, patients of various ages collapsed or went still in their beds. His hoof continued to the changeling side, eggs detonating with a disgusting sound of squishy, organic material.
Six ponies. Six eggs. Twelve deaths because of me.
“You bloody idiot!” Elytra screeched. A white haze of energy leaked off her as threw Noble off her and jumped to her hooves. I had just enough time to pick up the ice sword before she picked up her own blade and pounced at me, eyes hungry for blood.
“Elly!”
Noble darted between me and Elytra, caught in a clash of blades with her own ice sword.
“Both of you, knock it off! This is not the time to do this!” Noble cried.
Elytra sprung away from her, eyes trained on me as she skirted left and right to get a clean shot at me. “Do you got any plans then?! How many more of us do we have to lose?”
“I… I don’t know yet! I’m working on it!”
“Well I know where to start!”
“Elly, no!”
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
I gasped. It was a new voice whispering in my ear. My own, but deeper and bone-chilling. The windigo’s lips curled upward.
“Elytra is ready to kill you. She doesn’t care about you or what you’re fighting for. Noble Heart isn’t much better, stalling for answers she doesn’t have.”
I shook my head furiously. “N-no. This isn’t right.”
“Nothing about this situation is right. It wasn’t right with Flash either, but you did what you had to do to save your friends. To save Ponyville.”
My breathing labored, while my eyes moved from Elytra, to my blade, and back to her.
“The only difference here is the ones you have to kill don’t give a damn about what happens to ponies. Are you gonna just let Flash die in vain? Going to let your friends die?”
The grip on the sword tightened.
“Are you going to let Twilight die? Rarity?”
Something cold coursed through me. Whatever it was brought strength into my muscles. I set my eyes on Noble, whose back was turned to me.
You can never defeat Noble. Once she deals with Elytra and focuses on you, it’s over. There’s only one thing to do: Kill her before she kills you.”
The blade trembled. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
“You’re all that’s left. The only one who can save your friends. This is the only way.”
I took a step toward Noble, shaking like a leaf. My heart pounded in my ears so hard I thought I would go deaf.
“Oh, and Noble Heart?” The windigo called out, drawing our attention. “First thirty seconds are up.”
Two more deaths. One changeling. One pony.
“Only one chance to save everyone. This is the only way.”
This… this is the only way to save everyone.
Noble still hadn’t noticed me when I pulled my blade back. All I had to do was thrust forward while she was distracted. I could barely see through the haze of tears.
“T-the only way…”