//------------------------------// // Chapter 57: The Hearts of Maidens, Part Five // Story: Princess Essenta // by Pone_Heap //------------------------------// Antecedence Arc If Cassia had taken the time and the initiative to press Orni about Wilka she would’ve known about the hyper-storm of resistance and raw emotion that greeted Orni and Noach when the two of them ventured to the "Wilka side" of the shared Orni/Wilka mindscape. Totally ignorant to such a phenomenon, it was also the thing farthest from Cassia’s mind. Wika’s mind provided no such resistance, offering neither a corporeal plane or any direction. On top of being in a more deeply induced state of sleep, Wilka was having a dreamless sleep. Cassia was a bit surprised; probing a mind almost always sparked activity. In Wilka’s case it hadn’t in this instance. It wasn’t alarming though; Cassia saw it occasionally, about as often as she met a pony capable of a corporeal mindscape. She was actually unsure of where to go… she was lazily floating about in an apparent void. But concentrating alerted her to some commotion; it was very faint and there were several isolated origins. She gravitated towards the strongest one. … … … Cassia soon found herself in a place she hadn’t seen since she was a teenager… and she hadn’t “participated” in such a thing since she was a little filly. A unicorn stood on a crude stage, in some port city. Cassia, naturally invisible and otherwise unable to interact with the world, could smell the gamy sea air and hear the cries of gulls. Even an ordinary-minded pony could create something vivid… if the memory was as such. A gavel held in his magical “grip”, the unicorn slammed it on a podium in front of him, “Going… Going… and… Sold…! Sold to the stallion from Sosa for three ounces of gold!” Cassia’s jaw dropped; she could scarce believe she hadn’t noticed right away… A mare, looking quite worn-out for somepony in her 20’s, stood chained stage-center. Her hollow eyes and sunken face were all too familiar to Cassia… She’d seen it in so many ponies… She was at a slave auction. A sensation Cassia hadn’t felt in about seven decades coursed through her body. It was something she’d never been able to put a name to until she was much older… …Despair… Now the raw emotion and hopelessness pervading the mindscape were evident. Cassia had been protecting herself, on the very basest level; it was that simple. It was why she hadn’t picked up on a thing until she was inside… why she couldn’t read Wilka. Watching in familiar horror, Cassia saw the shell of a mare led away; she moved as a ghost. The crowd was bored; it had been a very lackluster day so far, culminating in some broken-down fuck-doll being sold off for the price of a decent wagon. The ponies—almost all stallions—were evidently from every walk of life: some were seasoned slavers, some rich almost beyond imagining, some were pimps… some were just small-time farmers looking to buy some cheap labor. And they were almost mutinous; the day had been such a sorry affair for anypony interested in buying, on top of being a sorry affair for the souls on the auction block. The announcing unicorn shushed the murmuring crowd and it took a moment. “Now, now… If you think that’s all we have today then you don’t know us very well, do you?” The crowd immediately perked up, some even crowing with mirth and catcalling. It seemed a normal thing, their sedition giving way to laughter. “Oh, no… We have something very special today!” Cassia saw the response in the onlookers—that specific reaction—only seen when…! Cassia would’ve vomited if she was capable of such a thing in her state. There was only one reason the potential buyers would drool the way they were... “Yes, special indeed! Fresh from our expedition north—from the coast of Tomar—we have the most beautiful little filly!” The crowd roared in that same, visceral way Cassia recollected so well. Her mind, heart, and entire being cried for her to escape but something kept her watching. “Don’t let her size fool you—she’s older than she appears!” No… Cassia felt a great pressure crushing her very heart. “Nine-years-old—a virgin, of course—she’s already flowered! A Pegasus of outstanding stock, I’m proud to present to you… Tessa!” Cassia saw why she was there… what she was looking for, or rather, simply what was waiting for her. She had already realized what was going on… even before seeing Wilka dragged onto the stage. In Wilka’s eyes she saw the same fear that had paralyzed her, all those decades ago. Wilka was beyond tears… she was beyond wetting or soiling herself… All she could do was stand there, quivering, her chains rattling. Ooh’s and ahh’s and even gasps could be heard from the spectators. Most of them had never seen such a beautiful pony… and so young. Waving his hooves, the unicorn announcer was beaming, “Yes! This is Tessa of Tomar! That’s her natural mane-color, everypony; I can assure you of that!” Wilka’s head hung, letting her golden locks fall to the side of her face, as she attempted in vain to hide herself. The crowd’s excitement only rose. The announcer simpered, “I could go on, but I don’t think that’s necessary, do you?!” Those in attendance laughed and whooped; they were in agreement. “Since we haven’t had a specimen this fine in five whole years, I think she’s worth a bit…” Guffaws could be heard. “Tessa” certainly was. “And I admit, pickings were a little slim today, so I’m sure somepony’s up to the task,” the unicorn continued to prod them. “Yer damn right! Let’s get this show on the road!” a stallion cupped his hooves to his mouth. Jeers could be heard, as well as similar statements. The announcer waved them down, “Serious bets only! We’re going to start the bidding at… 500 ounces! Cassia’s mind blanked a moment… It was obscene! She’d never seen a pony even sold that high. More than 30 pounds of gold… It was shocking. But the bidders, some with more money than most could ever dream of fully expending, were eager. And those there for a cheap find gladly egged them on. Cassia was aghast, seeing this unfold. 500 ounces… 520… 550… 575… 650… 655… 670… 800… 850… 900… It was unbelievable. 1,150… 1,200… … … … “Going… Going… Going… and… Sold!” the unicorn cried. “Sold to Master Phestos of the Adelardo Peninsula for 4,400 ounces of pure, yellow gold! Yellow as the glorious mane on this lovely little Pegasus! Cassia was better at arithmetic than many… 275 pounds of gold…! On stage, Wilka had gone to her knees; she was near-catatonic. “You’ll have to allow me a couple days to pull all that precious metal together, my dear auctioneer!” Cassia followed the voice and saw a stallion with a wardrobe worth the sugarcane harvest of Nuinhof. He had a lazy, but cruel look about him and was being congratulated and lauded by those around him. The auctioneer waved, “No problem, sir, I know you’re more than good for it! Thanks very much for your incredible generosity!” Master Phestos took on an air of superiority, addressing not only the auctioneer but the masses, “I know I haven’t paid for her yet, but would you mind if I… claim her?” Knowing laughter and hoots erupted from those around him. Claim her? Cassia’s stomach sank. No… The auctioneer waggled a hoof, “You know the policy, sir… not until she’s paid for!” The crowd booed him, eliciting mirth from Master Phestos. Master Phestos calmed them down, smiling at them; he looked back to the auctioneer, “I’ve never spent that much on ten slaves…! How about… we meet in the middle?” The auctioneer looked around, taking in the fresh cheers of those before him; he had little choice than to see what “the middle” was, “What did you have in mind?” Master Phestos called, “I can drop 1,000 ounces right now… and we all can go drink this city dry on my fortune!” The ponies roared; even the auctioneer grinned, “You got a deal! We’ll even help you out!” Cassia watched in revulsion, still unable to pull herself away, as Master Phestos led his entourage to the stage. She felt a twinge in her hoof… the marked one. Forking over sacks of gold bars, carried by a couple of slaves dressed better than most of the audience, Master Phestos gestured with his hoof. Another slave unwrapped a long rod, presenting it to Master Phestos. The slaves all backed off, staring downward; they knew their place and kept silent. Master Phestos, a unicorn, levitated the branding iron, inserting it into the bucket of hot coals supplied by the auction staff. And Cassia, powerless to pull her eyes away, watched as the bottom of Wilka’s hoof was branded. She vividly remembered the pain and the smell, two things she’d never, ever forget; her own hoof hurt now, phantom pains coursing through her entire body. The little Pegasus was totally out of it, not heeding or even noticing the auction staff holding her. But she came to her senses, shrieking in agony as the brand came down. Master Phestos held it until he was sure he had a good one, Wilka heaving against those restraining her to no avail. Wilka became faint, tears leaking from her deadened eyes, as she fell to her haunches. Master Phestos made a further exploit of it, wafting from the iron the stench of burning flesh towards his nostrils, much to the amusement of all. Cassia could just make out the brand, displayed for the watching eyes: a small pine tree. Wilka had been branded as the very lowest of slaves… yet the most desired, and Cassia knew at once what sort of future was in store for the petite Pegasus she still knew next to nothing about. And that was that. The crowd shouted in frenzy. Not only had they seen one Hell of a bidding war and a show of the power of money over life, they were about to party the night away on the gold of a very special benefactor. The scene faded out and Cassia knew Wilka had lost consciousness. Cassia couldn’t take another second. Things she hadn’t even consciously remembered came back to her in droves. Screaming, she finally pulled herself away, free of the awful gravity of the vision. The old psychic fell to her side upon returning to the waking world. She hadn’t been capable of most bodily functions in the mindscape, but she certainly was in her current situation. The old mare vomited on the rock floor, now sobbing as she curled up. Unpleasant warmth and wetness made itself known at the back of her ragged garment. She’d been so taken aback by the scene she’d begun to void her bladder and bowels upon coming out; the dreadful mess joined the blood and other foulness brought on by her rape earlier. It was beyond appalling, what she’d just experienced… Truly, the whole last couple of days had been beyond the pale. What am I doing?! Cassia’s mind was spinning. What…? The mare sobbed anew and found herself unable to move a moment. Cassia may have died, right there, on her side but her adrenaline was firing. It kept her alive and she managed to stagger to her hooves. She saw Wilka was no longer sleeping peacefully but in the throes of a fresh nightmare. It was regrettable to say the least but what going back was there? Cassia’s only thought was to look at Wilka’s hoof. Fumbling, she upturned the appendage. Nothing! The pink mare’s hoof was unadorned by anything, pine tree brand or otherwise… just pink and pretty as a flower. Cassia gasped out loud, “A dream…? A hallucination…?!” Had Wilka simply been having a nightmare? It seemed so very real, but Cassia had heard of such and had experienced such, in all the years she’d been looking into the minds of others. Even she could be fooled. Still holding Wilka’s hoof, Cassia began to notice something she’d neither been looking for or expecting from the tiny mare. A strange energy was discernable. What is this? Cassia shallowly felt out Wilka. Truly, what is this…?! It was a force she’d never felt… at least in such strength and volume. A regenerator…?! Cassia couldn’t believe it. No… She wouldn’t believe it. The tiny pink and blonde beauty fretfully sleeping before her was a regenerator?! And a powerful one? It couldn’t be right. Cassia was more than curious to learn more… but her fear of re-entering Wilka’s mind was far more commanding. Stubbornly pushing what she’d just suffered as far out of mind as possible, she left Wilka to her nightmares and went to confront Essenta and Delia. It must be restated that only a few minutes had passed in the waking realm since Cassia had “bubble-wrapped” Essenta and Delia. And most of her time in the girls’ sleeping-chamber had been spent lying in her own filth, trying to get her hooves back under her. Cassia looked upon the princess and the former maid. Essenta looked rather calm, or at least in control; she knew she was powerless. Delia, though, threw a new fit when Cassia reappeared before them. Essenta cried out as the silently roaring Delia was going bonkers behind her. Cassia grimaced at Delia; she was repelled, “That cunt of a mare…” Essenta was saved from Delia’s wrath when Cassia magicked her out of the bubble. The princess yelped as she hit the floor. Before she could move Cassia propelled her across the floor and into the wall. “There you go, Princess…” Cassia magically pressed her to the wall. Essenta struggled but was unable to move; she was stuck there. Cassia turned back to the bubble. Delia was there, viciously pounding on the offending barrier, eyes wild and spittle flying from her mouth as she screamed noiselessly. Cassia lit up her horn; she’d never been good at reading lips, “This is a waste of my energy; let’s change that…” The muffling spell was lifted, and Delia’s voice rang out in the cavern. “Let me out of this motherfucking bubble, you dried-up, fossilized cuntrag! I’m gonna slit your fucking throat, pop off your head to make sure you’re dead, and shit down your neck!” Cassia allowed it a moment and Delia went on and on, moving to more creative vulgarity; Essenta was positive she’d never even heard some of the words and Delia had taught her a few the day she’d chewed out Clovis, weeks back. Then Delia began to make no sense, her rambling rage dwarfing what Cassia had seen in Dechaa’s memory. Cassia soon tired of it, “That’s enough…” With that the bubble went opaque and the incredible profanity was replaced by muffled screaming—probably just more of the same bad language. The pounding on the sides of the bubble only increased. “No!” Essenta cried. “She’s fine,” Cassia breathed. “Listen.” Essenta did. And Delia was likely fine; she just sounded angry, rather than hurt or dying. Cassia sat down heavily; she would never stand on four legs again. It was decidedly comfortable, sitting on her haunches. “I need to talk to you, Essenta…” “But… Delia!” Essenta wasn’t struggling but in distress. Cassia shook her head, “I said she’s fine… She can’t see or hear us.” Essenta relaxed, as much as she was able; she was neither comfortable or fearless, “…What do you want?” Cassia wasn’t up for niceties and it didn’t bother her that the princess wasn’t beating around the bush. It was slightly admirable Essenta wasn’t reduced to a panicky mess. Yet. “To talk…” Cassia stated. Boooooom…! Essenta recoiled while Cassia sat stoically. Essenta found herself initiating their exchange, “…Just what are those things?” Cassia looked strangely at her, “Airships, child… You know that already.” Essenta wondered, “Did you know about them?” Cassia shook her head, “Beyond rumors something awful was being constructed, deep in the jungle, no… But seeing a second one… that shocked me as much as it did you girls.” “Are there more?!” Essenta spouted; it was a thought bothering her since before lunch. Cassia looked annoyed, “I don’t know… I’ve never seen them before today. But if they can spare two to come to a city of size with little importance other than the sugarcane then they likely have a resource of them…” Essenta considered, “It’s logical…” “Certainly… and you seem like a fairly logical mare.” Essenta could never brag herself up as such; she was a mess and she knew it, “I… can be.” Cassia smirked, “You’re not a ‘mess’, Princess… You’re young… far too young to have taken such a thing upon yourself.” Essenta gulped, “I know… I know that very well, now.” “Your father… he was a fool to offer you such a thing… I imagine he and his ilk felt rather stupid when you and the unicorns ran off that afternoon.” Essenta felt rather stupid she’d pulled seven mares into such a situation; she stewed a moment. “I know what kind of stallion your father is, Essenta… I know the things he’s done… Many do…” “…!” Essenta wished to disappear, thoughts of her father surfacing. “I’ve seen your journey, Essenta… It’s quite a thing you’ve accomplished so far.” The princess said bitterly, “The last couple of weeks should’ve never happened… None of this…” Cassia hadn’t expected the princess to give into wallowing so fast. “But it did, Essenta. It all did. And while you and the little Knollwing were sitting pretty out here, your friends destroyed my city…!” Essenta shivered at the edge in Cassia’s voice, “…” “Nothing to say?” Cassia scowled. “It’s not surprising. Things got out of hoof fast and things got desperate just the same.” Essenta dared raise her eyes, “…I don’t know what to say…” “I do…” Cassia’s eyes sparked. “You’ve assembled a group of mares, the likes of which the world’s never seen. Do you have any idea what sort of power you possess, with them following you?” Deep down, Essenta did know; she just hadn’t thought about it much. They were young, powerful, dynamic, and dangerous… and she was likely the least of them. Cassia nodded, “You’re not incorrect in your thinking, Essenta… A smart leader surrounds herself with greatness. Your oldest friends are mighty enough… I suppose you never imagined, that day you three ran away that you’d pick up such a bunch on your way here.” The princess just listened. “You have no small charisma, Princess. Your ambition has seen quite a blow but it’s not a normal mare that can bring to her side a Terran, a true-blooded Knollwing, a good fighting Pegasus, and the strongest Mazan in history.” Essenta did a take; Cassia had left out Delia… Cassia spoke again, interrupting Essenta’s thinking, “You’ve gathered the greatest band of misfits I’ve ever seen in all my decades and you’re just some foolish princess who hates what she is and took upon yourself a mantle you cannot hope to live up to. You’re not playing with fire… You’re playing with Hell on Earth!” Essenta shuddered at the emphasis; she was good and scared, alright. “You fool… Dechaa is broken.” “…What?” the innocent question came. Cassia spat, “Your best friend is ready to blow up on all of you and I don’t mean in anger; she’s ready to fall off the edge.” Essenta tensed up, “What do you mean?” “You’re a damned idiot if you haven’t seen it. All the time—all the years—you spent with her, you’ve been pushing and pushing and pushing her! And so has pretty much everypony else she's ever known! She’s blown up at you a few times in your life, but you have no idea what haunts her!” This offended Essenta; the princess wasn’t completely wrong in her feeling, “I know Dechaa! It’s you that doesn’t know her! You think that picking around in her brain gives you the right to say that?!” This was the stupidest thing Cassia had heard all day, “It does, you twit! You have no idea what she’s been burying in her heart! Your sister probably knows more than you do! Dechaa… her rage is about to consume her!” “Rage…?” “Yes, you fool, her rage! And it’s going to destroy you if you let it!” Essenta began turning this over in her mind but Cassia had other things to say. “The power Zyra has is beyond terrifying, Essenta! And Ama’s the only one among you to know the extent of it; she saw it. After the raid, if it hadn’t been for Ama… well…” “Ama?” Essenta asked, confused; she knew Ama and Zyra were close, but things were just moving fast. Cassia actually looked pleased to say what she did, “Whether you know it or not, Essenta, Ama is the most splendid mare I’ve ever encountered!” Essenta nodded, thoughtful, “Yes… she’s wonderful.” “She’s more than that, Essenta. I’ve never seen a pony as pure as she is… The fact she’s remained that way with what you’ve all seen and put her through—even with her unusual fortitude—is astonishing!” Essenta knew she was fortunate to have a friend in Ama; she’d saved her from despair. “Zyra has a strength of her own… I… When I finally escaped my old life… I… left nopony alive that got in my way. They all died for what they did to me. That Zyra was able to walk away from Aodh Radulf—a chance to kill him… even just to watch him die—she has a strength I could never hope to possess!” Cassia knew Essenta knew what she used to be… Something told the old mare Delia had enlightened her on many matters, including the fact she was a pleasure-slave the first couple decades of her life. Essenta acknowledged, “I know… Zyra’s a wonder all her own…” “But she’s not any safer than Dechaa from the edge, if things keep going as they are. She’ll need her friends, Essenta. She’ll need Ama.” Essenta nodded. Cassia relished describing mares as impressive as Ama and Zyra; but she had tougher words for another matter, “Your young ones, though, Princess… you’ve done a sorry job of protecting them!” That stung… though Essenta couldn’t deny it was true; she hung her head, remembering the trouble after Renata… the trouble in “Last Chance” City… Cassia huffed, “Orni’s fine enough… you know she’s strong, don’t you?” Essenta nodded. “Wilka though…” “Yes?” Essenta was concerned, given Cassia’s tone. Cassia took a moment; she weighed what she was about to say, “Something I wish to know, Essenta…” “What?” Essenta had little idea of what it might have been; there was so much to know. “Is Wilka a regenerator?” Essenta jarred; it was maybe the last thing on her own mind, “Why?” Cassia’s eyes narrowed, “Answer me.” Essenta, completely unsure about the situation, nodded, “…Yes… she is. She’s a master, though, her, she’ll say otherwise. She… fought Loress before joining us and broke her leg. She fixed her broken leg in a few seconds… It upset me so much I threw up.” Stricken, Cassia realized it was true: Wilka had lived the same life she had, and the one Delia had so narrowly avoided. Or maybe it was all some terrible hallucination… Cassia didn’t know, and she didn’t want to know. It hurt Cassia, either way, and she came close to tears again, the old wounds scraped raw. The old mare was pained, and it came through in her speech, “The best thing you could do is split up and go your separate ways, but you’ve already considered that… I can see you have…” “…Yes…” Booooom…! Cassia had been reduced to an emotional mess; the concussions jarred her now, in her fragility. Essenta looked over the old mare, dying and in so much pain, and felt pity… More than anything she felt pity. But something was bothering her; she wasn’t sure what made her say it, but it came out. Essenta glanced to the opaque bubble, still jostled by the occasional flare of Delia’s temper. “…What about Delia…?” Essenta breathed. Cassia twitched and looked at Essenta with venom, “What about her?” Essenta didn’t answer, “…” Cassia scowled, “Why I haven’t addressed her? I have a few things to say to her but only after you’re done…” Essenta assumed Cassia would do something to Delia but it wasn’t clear what, “You said she’d be fine!” “And she will be… Call it a… test… a test of her character.” “What the Hell are you talking about?” Essenta cried. “The biggest mistake… in all you’ve done and seen… is bringing somepony like her on this shit of a quest you’re never going to succeed in.” Essenta knew this wasn’t true, “I… don’t know what you want to hear… But she’s not evil or anything! She’s… just…” “She’s going to pay for what she’s done… or… somepony will pay.” … … … A chill filled the room. Essenta gawked. “All this… is to punish Delia?” Essenta was finally catching on. “Or… us?” Cassia’s nostrils flared, “…” “You… you just hate Delia…” Essenta slowly formulated. “You really do…” “What gave that away?” Cassia hissed, the slightest leer visible. “No, I mean… that’s all there is…!” “…” Cassia sat coolly. “It is!” A few seconds of silence sounded between them. “You’re right…” Cassia admitted. Booooooom…! The commotion outside gave all the more power to Cassia’s declaration. Essenta wilted, hearing that. In her explorations of all the girls’ mindscapes Cassia had questioned what she was doing more than once. She’d even come close to relenting, a few times. But she had finally made up her mind. Delia would suffer… if she had the heart to suffer. Cassia began, “The air force is out looking for you… You’re right in your thinking. They’ll overturn this place looking for you… They’ll swarm this land to find you… dead or alive. I can’t say if you’ll live or not… I can’t even say if you’ll wake up again.” Essenta juked, “What…?” “I came close to changing my mind, more than once… Ama’s the most splendid pony I’ve ever met… and Zyra and Wilka and even Orni have been through so much…” Essenta, having received more than mixed signals regarding their little Pegasus for weeks, inhaled, “Wilka…?” Cassia gave a miserable, crooked grin, “I know you’re curious… Maybe you’ll finally have a chance to ask her…” Essenta’s mouth worked but nothing came out, “…” “I’m putting you to bed, Essenta… as with the six other girls I’ve already ‘chatted’ with. You won’t wake up—if you do at all—until well into tomorrow, I can guarantee that, if any of you even live that long. But one of you will stay awake…” Essenta felt sick, noting the air off Cassia, “Delia…” Cassia smirked at the princess’s breathless realization, “Yes… your fate is up to her.” BOOOOOOOOOOM…! Essenta shuddered at the continuing concussions, eyes further showing awareness of the situation, “You can’t…” “Of course I can.” Essenta whimpered, “Delia never wanted to hurt anypony! None of us did! We can’t change what happened but… you’re blaming the wrong ponies!” “Am I?” The princess couldn’t help herself; now she was panicking and shrieked, “If this is Delia’s fault—if you really blame her—then don’t take it out on all of us!” Essenta recoiled, disgusted by her own words… but she was freaking out and didn’t dwell long. “You didn’t start this, but you brought this new thing upon us, Essenta,” Cassia hissed, staring into Essenta’s watering eyes. “You all took away the last bit of happiness in my life! The eight of you will reap the reward of your ‘chance’ encounter with all this. So, I’m leaving it up to chance.” “Chance…?!” Essenta was revolted; her eyes ran with terrified tears. “This isn’t chance! You’re choosing this for us!” Cassia wasn’t overly concerned with the semantics, “All the same it’s out of your hooves, Princess. Delia… she managed to drag them out of the jungle; she almost killed herself getting them out…” Essenta was appalled, preoccupied with what she now knew to be facing, “No…” “Maybe she’ll save you… Maybe she’ll die trying… Maybe she’ll just run for her own life. She’s a survivor, Essenta, first and foremost.” “B-b-b-b-but this is wrong!” Essenta bawled. “You can’t pin this on her!” Cassia knew it wasn’t a matter of faithlessness in the former maid; it was the stark understanding they had little chance, no matter what, “Have a little faith… in that cunt of a mare you were stupid enough to call your friend.” “No!” Essenta sobbed. “Please don’t do this to us!” “Sleep…!” Essenta went silent. Her swimming eyes shut and she keeled over, limp as a noodle. Cassia took care to not let her face smack the rocky floor. With that one, final act, Cassia’s magic ceased; she would never perform it again. With a whimper, she herself fell over; she would never get her hooves under her again. The spell holding Delia was consciously maintained. Within seconds of Essenta clocking out the bubble burst, dropping the former maid and ending her cussing session. “Yipe!” Delia cried, hitting the floor; she’d not seen or heard a thing other than herself for several minutes. Behind her, Delia heard labored breathing. Shaking off her surprise she rounded on it, ready to fight. But the sight that greeted her sapped her desire to kill; it fell off like syphilis. Taking in the image Delia inched over, wide-eyed. “…Cassia…” Delia breathed. The mare she’d grown to hate over the last moments lay before her, small and helpless. She was on her way out. It was strange… Delia’s anger lessened only slightly but the hate was numbed; she was dismayed by what she saw and was no longer sure of what she’d do. She could only ask, “Cassia… Why?” Cassia knew well enough what Delia meant; there was only one mare—maybe two—Cassia had a decent enough reason to kill. The old mare wheezed; “Fair question… I… wasn’t thinking much… I was blinded by anger… I wish I hadn’t put them through that…” Delia nodded slowly, a lump building in her throat, “Well… I can’t blame you…” It seemed a weak statement but was true. “They’ll be alright, Delia… after I’m gone, they’ll wake up.” Delia nodded. She didn’t think Cassia was evil. Able to clear her mind of some of her fury… Delia felt Cassia had simply done such things in her own fury. Was it forgivable? … But Delia wasn’t thinking about that; she had eyes for only one thing… one pony. Delia sat a long moment, just watching Cassia. It was her vigil… her place… to stay with Cassia. She had no intention of leaving her side. Soon, Cassia’s eyes welled up; she strangled out, “So many ponies…! So many… Delia… they’ve been through so much… They just wanted to live…!” Delia’s insides wrung, “I know…” “They just wanted to live, and you killed them…!” Cassia wailed. Delia clenched her teeth, choking on her own confused emotions, “I did…” Cassia huddled up as much as she could; she was so weak, “The world’s gone mad…” “…!” “I’ve lived too long…! I want to die…!” This was hard to listen to, and even harder to watch, for the former maid. She realized Cassia wasn’t addressing her; she was addressing Heaven… God… something else… Delia listened to Cassia’s dying cries; the old mare wept as if the world had gone mad… had lost all its senses. Perhaps it had. “Please let me die!” Cassia sobbed, weakly jerking her hooves, crying out to that unseen something. Delia’s jaw tightened further; her jaw hurt. She knew Cassia was weaving between life and death… between reality and… her own world, brought on in the end. But the cries lessened and soon lucidity returned to Cassia, though it was hard to say how long she’d remain there with it. … … … “What is it you’ll do, Delia?” Cassia’s question came like a quiet shot in the dark. Delia was exhausted mentally; she’d just realized she was so, and it took a few seconds to formulate an answer, “Get the girls to safety… or try to. We were planning on leaving at dark before you showed up.” “Don’t worry… they’ll wake up when I’m gone…” Cassia said. Delia vaguely remembered hearing that, moments earlier; she was too tired to address that fact, “Well… That’s good, I suppose…” “Delia…” Delia looked over, “Yes?” “Don’t steer the princess down a bad path. She’ll be the first to wake up and the others will linger a short while. I’m afraid you’ll have plenty to discuss, so I’m giving you the time.” Delia looked between her hooves, “Yes…” “Be careful of Dechaa. She’s on the brink and may need her friends to save her from herself.” “I’ll try…” Delia huddled up. Cassia went on, “Guide Zyra. Or see somepony worthy of the task does. She’s in need. She’s strong… but not without all of you.” “Yes…” “Be gentle with Ama. Her heart is fragile right now.” “I promise… I’ll do all I can to help her.” “Clovis told her things about his journey… his life… himself… that you’re not capable of imagining.” “That doesn’t surprise me one bit,” Delia allowed herself a little smile… and a little jealousy. “Build up Loress. She needs your support.” “I know…” Delia suddenly realized she felt more confident; not all was lost. “You already know more about Wilka than anypony on Earth other than a few… and I’m about to leave it. I saw a glimpse of her old life. Try to protect her. If we’re both right about her… she needs all of you.” Delia reached in and took Cassia’s hoof, “I promise you… I can’t understand like you but… we’ll try.” “I know…” Cassia held Delia’s hoof to her chest. Delia felt a lot of her animosity disappearing, “…” “Try to protect Orni.” “I’ll try,” Delia choked. “I may have handled things differently, knowing what your young ones had been through.” “Don’t worry about that now…” Delia assured her. Cassia coughed weakly, “Well, it’s all yours, now, whatever comes. Go on… Keep living… in this shitty world.” Delia squeezed the other’s hoof, “We’ve been dealt some shitty cards, but the world isn’t all shit… We’ll get back across the desert. We’ll tell the world.” Cassia rested her head on the floor, “I’m glad…” Delia went on sitting next to her, ready to see her off. It was moments away. … … … Cassia knew then… she’d been beaten. She knew Delia wasn’t the monster she’d envisioned… probably. And she knew the girls had faith in Delia and that her pathetically weak attempts to turn them against her had no ground. But she hated Delia. It was all she still had, and she’d already dedicated herself to following through… and hurting the young mare as much as was imaginable. At this point she cared about nothing else. Nothing... Cassia had thought about keeping quiet… letting Delia figure things out… But she would instead relish the young mare’s impending agony. But first… “Alcoholism’s a Helluva thing, isn’t it, Delia?” Cassia broke the moments of silence. Delia started, legitimately off-guard to hear such a thing at a time like that, “Where did that come from…?” “The princess suffers from it… in a way. Even I had a few problems with the creature, here and there.” Delia’s confusion deepened; she forgot a moment that Cassia was dying, it was so strange, “Really… what are you on about?” “Oh, I think you know… The real reason you’re afraid to touch alcohol… Such things run in the family… and you’re terrified you’d have the same demons…” Delia felt a chill; yes… “My mother…” Cassia smirked, “She drank from the day she turned 14 until the day she died… It’s a wonder you weren’t born retarded, if at all.” Delia was upset to the point she felt ill, thinking of this. “Your father really had to keep her away from it. Did he really lock her up in a sanitarium when she was carrying you?” Delia knew that to be fact… it haunted her thoughts; she didn’t respond to the antagonism, but her dismay was clear, even to a pony without psychic powers. “What an embarrassment… and what a shame… for her to die that way… It reduced her to skin and bones… rendered her blind before you even grasped reading.” Delia tried to push the image out of her mind… her mother… and watching her deteriorate throughout the first years of her life. “Oh, a daughter… who longed to read with her mother… And of course, she never quit drinking. It didn’t take long for her to die, once she’d reached that point.” Goddamn it… Delia tried to shake away the memories conjured up. “Your father fell apart after that. He was so mortified he couldn’t save her that he pretty much gave up on medicine. But it can be difficult when a pony puts such a thing above her own blood; he shouldn’t have blamed himself. Why your father turned to what he did… even you don’t know! Perhaps he didn’t know himself!” “Stop…” Delia said weakly. “It was easy to hate him… A little filly pulled onto the road… never knowing what the day would hold… what you’d have to eat, if anything… And you hate yourself for it; you feel you wasted your life hating him! How many years did you waste hating him?” Delia sat miserably… Five… six? “Not a whole lot to say, Delia…?” Delia had little to say… What was there to say? “It eats you up inside… those years, wasted. All that precious time...” “…” “Still, after all that you came to love your father, Delia. It wasn’t easy but you again managed it.” Delia’s stomach was in knots. “He became an open book with his friends of the orchard… and he never touched a drop of liquor in his life! He’d tell them anything.” “…?” “You went to say ‘good-night’… on your birthday… your thirteenth… You recall what you heard?” Delia’s gaze darkened; this was enough to pull her out of her quiet, “What did you say?” “That night, years before… just before Nuinhof…” Cassia looked at her strangely. “Those soldiers… asking to see your father’s wares at the checkpoint…?” Delia’s sight inverted, “No… How…?” “It’s all in your head, Delia; obviously, I saw it, once I chose to, the night you stayed with me… Don’t be so stupid… Your father… he knew he could’ve been arrested for those stolen goods… killed… So, your petty thief of a father offered the only thing he figured might’ve been of any value to them…” Delia’s blood ran cold; few things hurt more than this recollection. “They told him ‘no’ and took another bribe… something worth a lot less. A couple tarnished silver coins, barely enough to buy a bag of apples… That’s all your father had in his pockets. They felt that much pity for you…” Delia felt her eyes heat up; she wanted to scream. Cassia looked almost sorry, but the relish in her voice was clear, “It must’ve hurt… when you found out your father almost sold an eight-year-old you out for a night… even that he was willing… all those years later. Oh, to be a teenager! He became a good stallion but a stain like that is hard to wash away; it almost had you turn away from him again.” The former maid jilted, feeling as if she’d been shocked. She was tearing up. "Was it really that shocking, Delia...? He soon sold you to pay for his debts... and was foolish enough to condemn himself in the same place, not months later. Truly... a disgusting fellow..." "...!" Delia shut her eyes. “And just a year later, when you were 14, he died on you.” Delia finally choked up, “…” “And then, after all that, selling yourself to some noblestallion for chump-change!” Cassia choked laughter. “After being spared such a life you willingly ran to a bastardization of it.” “…” Delia’s eyes began to run. “You were so very stupid… jumping into that. And who saved you? Who was willing to free you, with his own life? How many times did he put his life on the line for you?” “Please…” Delia breathed. “Yes, that’s how much he loved you, Delia… How much he still does.” “Goddamn it…” Delia's vision was blurred with tears. “What a friend you weaseled your way into making! Clovis… he’s one in a million, Delia, not that you can appreciate that.” No… Delia wanted to crawl into a hole and die. “But somehow… even with all that's wrong in you, you love him so much you don’t even know what to do about it.” Delia recoiled; the truth of it stung. “It amazes me you’re capable of loving much of anything." "..." "You cunt of a mare… You’re not worthy of the love of your friends… And you’re not worthy of Clovis’s love… and you never will be.” Delia sat mute, taking the abuse as she had with it all. “He isn’t perfect but what a fellow! You, though… you have a rotten soul…” “…” “Oh, so many things you hide, Delia…” the old mare gave a lopsided, broken smile. “It’s my doing, true, but it disgusts me to no end that these seven young, dynamic, and dangerous mares are tied to—and that they’re to be entrusted to—the likes of you…” “What are you saying?” Delia wavered; she sensed something more. “They won’t wake up until tomorrow, Delia… You’re on your own… with all that dead weight…” “But you said…!” Delia couldn’t finish. “I lied,” Cassia gasped. “My magic will outlast me; I’ve seen to that. Let’s see what happens… What you’ll do…” “Oh… God…” Delia’s eyes fell to the floor; she was flabbergasted. “I did tell the truth about one thing… The princess will still wake up first…” Cassia gave a throaty cackle. “…” Barely audible, Cassia muttered, “Goddamn you to Hell… Goddamn you…” Delia had to further avert her gaze; she fumbled for something to say and never found it. Fully expecting more, she managed to turn back to Cassia. Delia deserved all this, after all. But there was nothing more to be said. Cassia was dead. … … … Dazedly mustering, Delia finished packing their wagon. She piled on her seven friends and was grateful for Zyra’s still-intact lightening charm. With little to no appetite Delia ate a few pieces of fruit and a biscuit. And in the dusk, Delia dug a hole and buried Cassia. She just did it… feeling numb. Taking a moment, Delia found a nice stone, imbedding it at the head of the burial mound. She etched a brief statement upon it: Here rests Cassia A mare of Nuinhof Grandmother to many Perhaps somepony would find it… somepony that loved Cassia or knew of her… or maybe the projectiles from the sky would leave nothing around the area intact. Perhaps nopony would ever see it. There was now a third airship bombing the jungle’s edge, a bit north of the other. It had appeared around the time Delia forced herself to take her small meal. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM…! Delia momentarily wondered about the stolen wagon she’d left, falling apart in the vestibule with their soiled clothing and other refuse. If anypony saw it all… they’d know the girls were probably alive. But destroying any of it was overly risky; fire or anything else would certainly attract the attention of the airships. The former maid just had to hope nopony would find the mess until the girls were far off and “safe” in the desert. Hitching up, Delia began pulling the wagon west. The ground was a swamp, but the wagon’s charm was a good one and other than muddy hooves, she was fine. The sun was setting… Soon it would be dark. BOOOOOOOM…! Delia cringed at the noise; there was bo getting used to it. She looked back once more, seeing the smoke still rising from Nuinhof. She had to look away. Swallowing the great lump of fear and regret obstructing her very breathing, she kept her eyes forward and broke into a trot.