Year 13 – Day 92
Mystic stirred in her sleep.
She twitched and groaned as it got worse.
Sweat poured down her face as she laid covered in a cold sweat.
“No! No! No!” she said within her sleep.
She screamed, sitting straight up.
Immediately, she felt as if somepony drilled into her head. The unicorn felt her legs tingling. Horrified, she removed her blanket to see them glowing red.
She let out a loud yelp and saw she’d awoken her friend. Sunshine’s eyes were wide and full of concern.
“It’s happening again!” Mystic cried.
Sunshine immediately got up from her mattress as Mystic held her horn in pain. She gritted her teeth as her head pulsed and her legs glowed brighter.
“Here!” said Sunshine.
Mystic immediately levitated a syringe and jammed it into her side. As she injected its contents into her side, her migraine subsided, the red glow faded, and her breathing slowing to normal.
She didn’t bother looking at Sunshine right away, feeling the gaze that told her...
“Mystic, we really need to talk about this,” said the filly, pointing at her horn.
“No! We don’t!” Mystic yelped, shutting her eyes and hugged her sheets close.
Due to opening up to Sunshine last night, Mystic felt like a bit of a hypocrite as she tried to make herself as small as possible.
Mystic finished putting on her brown long-sleeved shirt and tightened the belt around her pants that had been made from a sack.
The unicorn gazed at the ponies cuddled together in their tarps, trying to keep warm. The weather was getting colder.
If we’re going to move, we need to move fast, Mystic thought.
But at the same time, she needed to speak with multiple Liberators about what’s been going on.
Her horn lit up as she levitated an apple to her mouth and took a bite. As her gaze went to the ground, she saw her reflection in a puddle. The unicorn looked at it and saw a glimpse of red magic within her regular blue.
No, she thought. I won’t use it.
She chomped the rest of the apple down and began thinking about who she needed to speak to about the situation.
After a couple of hours of trying to talk to ponies, Mystic hadn’t been very successful. Most had either told her to leave or just weren’t listening.
The unicorn approached another part of the Liberators’ camp and several ponies were playing cards around a table.
“Hello,” said Mystic, trying to speak softly.
They all turned to face her.
“Anything we need to worry about?” one of them asked.
“Well, not really, but I wanted to speak with you,” Mystic lightly rubbed her foreleg.
“What is it?” another asked.
“Well, I love helping ponies and I want the best for all of us,” Mystic began, “I’ve been one of the quick thinkers of the gang.”
“Get on with it and don’t boast,” the first said.
Mystic mentally slapped herself. “Okay. Well, Cierra just hasn’t been on her best behavior and I’ve been trying to reason with ponies to help them see the situation before us.”
“The situation is bad, ponies’ behaviors change a little,” said a third as she looked at her cards again.
“Yeah, Cierra means well,” added the fourth, trying to sneak a peek at the third’s cards.
“I don’t know,” Mystic shook her head. “You were there up north. You saw how it went down.”
“Come on, Mystic, you know better than this,” the third warned.
“You’ve been loyal to Cierra longer than most of us!” the first complained.
“Who else do we have to lead us out of the darkness?!” another added.
“Somepony who can help you at least see things clearly!” Mystic shouted, having run out of patience.
“Well, it’s not working, little missy!” a burly earth pony stood up from nearby.
Mystic’s heart leaped as she got flashbacks to working in the iron mine.
“You’re one of the most powerful and loyal ponies in this group,” he went on, “And if you’re doubting, unlike us, then maybe you think you’ve been living a lie!”
Mystic’s words died on her lips. Not because she was afraid to speak, but wondered if she has been living a lie with this gang.
That can’t be true! Mystic tried to assure herself, Cierra did so much for all of us!
She felt like a fool. How was she going to convince ponies if she’s wrong?
“That’s what I thought,” said the stallion. “You’re entitled to this life, Mystic. It’s not a lie, and you know it.”
The unicorn realized that there was no convincing these ponies. There’s nopony else to cling to for leadership.
No! Mystic thought, I won’t give up! There must be a way to save the situation!
Before she could say anything else, the camp began rumbling again.
Everypony began to slightly panic as the trees shook.
“Everypony, stay calm!” Song ordered from nearby.
Mystic immediately left and pushed past several ponies before finding Song in the middle of the camp.
“Come on, stay strong!” she ordered.
“Song!” Mystic called.
Song turned around. “Mystic!”
“What’s going on?” Mystic asked.
Suddenly, the earthquake stopped, causing Mystic to be relieved yet confused.
That was the second earthquake in two days! she thought.
“It’s okay everypony!” Song shouted. Mystic looked at her.
“Song, was that an earthquake?” Mystic asked, concerned.
Song looked at her. “I doubt it. There have been no earthquakes recorded here in the past few hundred years.”
“It sure seemed a lot like it.”
“Maybe it was a group of enemies looking for us,” Song hissed. “Look, I don’t have time to talk about this.”
After she’d finished saying that, some snow and branches fell on top of a large tarp, causing it to collapse. Ponies screamed.
“Dang it!” Song cried, “Why did it have to be that one?!”
Song went over to help as Mystic pondered on Song’s unusual response to her.
Year 13 – Day 95
Outside of the camp, Mystic flinched as Juan threw her shield to the ground.
“I’m telling you, Mystic! You’re just doubtful!” Juan scolded.
“I’m just trying to help ponies!” Mystic reasoned. “This situation with us, ponies going hungry, and the government is really messed up right now!”
“Cierra will find a way! You’re growing nervy in your age!”
“I’m thirteen! And Cierra hasn’t been at her best for quite some time!”
“Agh!” Juan groaned, “You’re just losing it, Mystic! I’m done having this conversation with you!”
She leaned forward with a growl and held up a pen. “Have some respect or I’ll stick this pen into your windpipe and nail your tongue to the roof of your mouth!”
Mystic froze as her eyes widened. She was speechless.
Juan left with a deep glare on her face.
She wished she knew where Cierra went because she hasn’t been seen much since Kang’s death. Probably making more plans. That part made sense, but...
Mystic sighed.
I’m glad I dealt with the newer ponies, she thought. There’re only two more ponies to speak with. Song and Cierra.
As she began walking over to where Song’s stationed, Mystic remembered trying to convince the foals out of the campsite but they didn’t want to leave. She closed her eyes, blinking the tears back.
She came upon the western part of the campsite where she saw Song keeping an eye out with a sword in her grasp.
“Hey Song,” said Mystic.
“Did you want to try to convince me?” Song asked with a hard look.
Mystic froze.
“That’s what I thought,” said Song.
A slight blush broke out onto Mystic’s face. “I... guess you’ve been hearing about it?”
“Indeed,” Song looked back into the woods. “I know what you’re saying.”
“Then can you--”
“You want my opinion?” Song suddenly asked, “Maybe ponies should stop looking to Cierra and start looking at themselves to see how they could’ve done better.”
“I suppose you’re right about that but...”
“Come on, Mystic,” Song reasoned. “What happened to loyalty?”
“Yeah,” Mystic spoke, “What did?”
Song just rolled her eyes and walked off.
Mystic facehoofed.
“Mystic! Come here!” Cierra called.
Speak of the devil, Mystic thought.
She turned to see Cierra trotting over with a group of about twenty ponies.
“What’s going on?” Mystic asked.
“We’re going on a mission to retrieve those ponies captured by the government,” Cierra explained. “I got word they’re transferring them to a more secure prison on the city’s south side.”
“A more secure prison?” Mystic asked eyes widened. “Should we bring Song and Juan?”
“We can handle it,” Cierra reasoned. “Come on.”
She began leaving with the herd. Mystic followed and caught up with her.
“Cierra, can we talk?” Mystic asked.
“Not the time, Mystic,” replied Cierra, “We have to get those ponies back.”
“I’ve not been properly informed about what we’ll be doing.”
“We’re just going to stop a transfer and get ponies back. That plain and simple. All you need to do is your part.”
“Can you tell me what that is?”
“Disabling the lead of the transfer so we can strike them down.”
Mystic shook her head. “Will we be able to get out quick and easy?”
Cierra looked at the ground.
“You’re sounding a lot like Meng,” she murmured with a shaky tone. “I miss... her...”
“I miss her, too,” Mystic breathed. “But look at what’s happened to you.” She motioned to the camp. “Look at them. Would she want this?”
“Do you want her death to be in vain?” Cierra hissed.
“What?” Mystic blinked. “No!”
“She saved your life! She knew you’d be of use!”
“Cierra, she saved me because she knows I have a life that I could live!”
“Exactly!” Cierra prodded Mystic in the chest. “You can still live that life! What would happen if we don’t succeed?!”
Mystic trailed off, unsure of how to respond to that.
“Mystic,” Cierra growled. “There just simply isn’t a world where we do nothing and get everything.”
“I know, but...”
“Enough!”
Mystic shut up. She cringed when she felt her horn ache again.
Mystic, Cierra and their allies hid behind some barrels. Across the street are houses that had worn down concrete and chipped roofs. Further to the street’s right, some apartment buildings didn’t look in much better shape.
“Okay,” said Cierra, “The transportation should come any minute now.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Mystic murmured.
“Either we do this and free our allies or we don’t,” Cierra reproached.
Mystic sighed in defeat.
“Here they come,” said a Liberator.
Mystic pulled out her machete as a surge of dark magic emerged from her horn.
In front of four wagons were two ponies with spears surging with ice blue magic. On the wagons’ sides were unicorn soldiers with shields and swords in their sheaths. Mystic’s eyes widened when she saw pegasi flying above with ice blue ropes. Magic.
“Cierra...” Mystic whispered, she looked at her, “I think we’re going to need a bigger rescue party.”
Cierra facehoofed, “I can’t believe this!”
“Should we get the bolas ready?” another Liberator asked, “We’re ready to fight on your command.”
“Just let me think for a second here,” replied Cierra.
She turned to Mystic, “Any ideas? Can you use your dark magic?”
“What?” Mystic gasped as the transport got closer, “I don’t want to have to use it too much!”
“It can be used for the best!” Cierra insisted.
Mystic gulped as Cierra turned back to their objective.
“How am I going to free them without my dark magic?!” Mystic desperately asked.
“Figure something out!” Cierra hissed. “We don’t have all day!”
“All right, give me a second!”
Mystic began thinking about how she can free them. Nothing nearby she could use as a distraction or--
The ground rumbled. Mystic and the patrol froze in place.
“Huh?” Mystic wondered.
Suddenly, a column of the earth shot up from under the street, sending the front of the patrol flying into the air and crashing onto the soldiers behind them.
“What in the?!” a pony and Mystic cried in unison.
Knowing her mistake, Mystic clapped her hooves over her mouth.
“Who was that?!” a very familiar voice rang out, causing the unicorn’s blood to run cold.
Out from behind the last wagon, stepped out a very familiar orange unicorn. He had on white and red shiny armor that had a silver shimmer to it. It looked impenetrable.
Hong, Mystic thought, horrified.
“Move!” Cierra ordered.
“It’s the Liberators! Destroy them!” Hong ordered, pulling out a long, curved sword.
Several Liberators jumped out with their enchanted swords at the ready.
“No! Wait!” Mystic cried.
“Stop!” Cierra ordered.
But it was too late.
The bolas fired at the pegasi. Some of them dodge but at least three were taken out.
All of their allies had rushed out to save the prisoners. Mystic looked at a horrified Cierra before they both jumped out to try to save them.
Mystic fired several beams of magic as the soldiers but they held up their shields, deflecting them.
“You!” Hong roared at Mystic.
“Drat!” Mystic cried.
The unicorn saw her allies trying to hold back the soldiers but they were getting overrun.
She shot a blast of magic at a wagon, knocking it over.
“Kill them all!” Mystic heard Hong shout, “I’ll get Mystic!”
“Cierra!” Mystic cried as Hong charged.
“Run Mystic!” Cierra cried as she opened broke the lock to the first wagon.
Mystic broke into a gallop, trying to escape. But she came to a screeching stop.
Hong stabbed and then sliced through a couple of Liberators as he barreled towards her.
Her anger grew.
No! she thought as she gritted her teeth.
She looked at Cierra.
The Liberators.
This cannot happen! She thought.
With a great bellow, Mystic charged her dark magic.
I am so going to regret this! she thought as her horn ignited red.
Mystic saw Hong had stopped with wide eyes.
The unicorn grunted as she focused. Most of the Liberators were dead.
Cierra and four prisoners freed from the wagon are cornered.
Mystic screamed as she let out a surge of magic.
Her allies turned and saw the surge.
They ducked as Hong held up his shield and crouched behind it.
The dark magic struck the soldiers both in the air and on the ground, sending a magical surge through their bodies.
Mystic let out another scream as another surge came from her horn.
Then it blew the soldiers away, causing them to crash into various buildings along the street.
After she finished casting her spell, Hong emerged from behind his shield.
Time seemed to slow as Mystic gulped at his aghast look.
“Demon!” Hong suddenly bellowed. “Dark magic wielder!”
Mystic tensed up.
“Bring her head to me!” Hong roared.
Suddenly, a lot more soldiers came charging down the street. Mystic looked at the nervous Cierra.
“Fall back!” Cierra ordered, “Move it!”
“There are still some prisoners!” a freed prisoner cried.
Cierra and Mystic began galloping off with the other three prisoners.
“There’s nothing we can do!” Cierra cried.
Mystic stopped galloping and motioned for the others to follow. Four of them were ahead of the other two, but a unicorn levitated them up.
“No!” Mystic cried, she shot a beam of magic, but it narrowly missed them.
“Mystic! Come on!” Cierra called.
The unicorn cringed and shouted an apology before galloping off.
In no time at all, Mystic caught up with Cierra as they ran up the street.
“Help me look for a hiding place or an escape route!” Cierra ordered.
“I’ve been on it!” replied Mystic.
“After them!” Hong’s voice echoed, “Bring them to me dead or alive!”
He knows! He knows! He knows! Mystic thought frantically.
Adrenaline kept her going as everypony made a sharp left.
They crossed a bridge. Mystic immediately turned and shot it, obliterating it.
“Find another way around!” Hong ordered.
Mystic looked back to see him standing on the other side of the bridge and his soldiers running in either direction to get to her.
“This way!” Cierra cried.
Mystic pushed as hard as she could. Her legs ached and muscles were getting sore.
They came to a four-way intersection and Cierra took a right and then another left towards the clustered neighborhoods.
“Not that way!” Cierra declared.
Mystic saw soldiers patrolling that area. They saw them and charged.
Cierra took a right and then another left.
“Over here!” Cierra shouted.
She led them over to a large grate that led to the city’s drainage system. Mystic grabbed one side and Cierra the other. It easily came off.
“Get in,” Cierra whispered.
Mystic allowed the four former prisoners to get in. It would be a tight squeeze.
Mystic went in next, followed by Cierra. The unicorn placed the grate back in place.
Mystic pressed herself against the slimy wall as hoofsteps clattered along the pavement outside.
“They’ve disappeared, sir!” the lieutenant shouted.
“For now!” Hong stated.
Mystic shifted in her position as the four Liberators struggled to stay hidden.
“Good ponies of Imperial City and all who uphold the law it’s time to take our city back!” Hong announced. “We’ll save our city! Expunge these Liberators! Before we’re overrun, we must attack!!”
“Yeeaaahhhh!!” everypony cheered.
“Expunge them!” “Take them out!” “Bring down the demon!” everypony cried.
The soldiers and Hong’s footsteps faded until they were gone.
But the alarms began blaring throughout the city. Everypony in the drainage looked at each other with uncertainty.
“Wh-what are we going to do?” one of the Liberators asked nervously.
Mystic saw the drainage was too narrow for them to squeeze through.
“I’ve got something,” said a Liberator.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” Cierra asked as Mystic looked outside.
“We could make our way over to those alleys over there,” she pointed to the other side of the street, “There could be a ladder or something if we can’t escape through the streets.”
“And if there isn’t? Cierra asked.
“We have to try,” said Mystic. “Either we are eventually found here or we’re not.”
Cierra nodded.
Mystic watched as she examined the streets. The unicorn felt sick because of her nervousness. Things have only gotten worse.
“Let’s go. But quietly,” said Cierra, slightly startling Mystic.
The four prisoners went first, followed by Cierra, then Mystic.
Cierra began leading them again and soon they reached the edge of their destination.
“Check over there!” a voice shouted.
“Crap!” Cierra whispered.
She looked around vigorously as Mystic caught a glimpse of some soldiers.
“Quick! Up to the rooftops!” she said.
Mystic saw her and the other Liberators began climbing a ladder to the roofs. With a final shot of magic, Mystic climbed up and joined them on the roof. They galloped and Mystic allowed the others to go ahead of her.
She and the others leaped onto another rooftop and then across another.
Shouts of soldiers echoed through the streets as the atmosphere caused Mystic to shudder.
The final roof they reached had metal slants that were flat between them. Cierra crouched and everypony followed suit.
“All right,” she said in a dire tone, “We’ve got to keep quiet and keep moving or we’ll be dead in the next few minutes.”
She climbed the slanted the roof, “Mystic, you follow me. The rest will follow.”
Mystic did so and stayed crouch as she snuck across a long stretch of the roof. Soon, she jumped to a lower one and kept moving.
A glance behind her, and she saw the others close by.
“Mystic! You will not hide from me! I will find and kill you!! Hong’s voice echoed.
That was her cue to move fast. Looking ahead, she saw a part of a building that seemed abandoned. Motioning the others to follow, using her skilled hooves, Mystic climbed up next to a boarded window and everypony joined her side.
“Everypony, get in,” Cierra whispered as she lifted one of the boards slightly.
Mystic was the first to squeeze in. She saw that the room has been abandoned and the walls were cracked, exposing some insulation. Mystic walked over to a window and looked out to only be met with a brick building.
“What’re we going to do now?” a panicked Liberator asked.
Mystic turned around and saw the prisoners they’d freed have entered and Cierra followed suit.
“We’re going to try and calm down,” said Cierra. “We don’t need to lose any more lives.” She frowned deeply.
Mystic frowned in response, feeling bad for her and her allies.
“We’re just glad you got us out,” said a second.
“I wish it could be said about...”
“Enough,” Mystic spoke up. “We don’t need to panic right now.” She sat down on the floor. “Either we stay here, or die out there right now.”
“Exactly!” Cierra nodded, sitting in a chair, “So, please. Remain calm, everypony.”
Mystic saw the moon barely breaking through the clouds.
“They’re all still looking for us,” said Cierra.
“Of course, they are,” said the first Liberator.
“I was hoping we’d be able to find a way through,” said Cierra, “But it appears they have patrols everywhere.”
“You’re out of ideas?” the second asked, slightly panicked.
“No. I’m working to figure it out.”
“Uh, guys?” said the third Liberator, “You... might want to come to see this.”
Mystic looked to the right and saw that her comrade was looking out of the window that gave a better view of the streets below. Trepidation built in her chest as she and Cierra walked over.
The purple pony moved the board aside and peered out.
She lightly gasped.
“Oh... my...”
“What? What is it?” Mystic asked.
“I’ve never seen so many...” Cierra turned to Mystic with wide eyes, “Take a look.”
Mystic carefully looked out the window. Her eyes nearly flew out of her sockets.
On the streets below, she could see soldiers marching down the perpendicular street. There seemed to be a countless amount of them.
In the street heading to where she and the others are situated, there were even more waiting for the others to pass. The line seemed to go on beyond the horizon.
Mystic nearly froze when she saw pegasi patrol flying around the skyscrapers and flew low among the suburbs.
“I even saw some of them holding reinforced weapons like Hong did,” Cierra whispered.
“Gee, thanks for the info...” Mystic whispered, unable to take her eyes off the soldiers.
A few seconds passed before she backed away from the window and Cierra put the board back in place.
Mystic sat down on the floor, processing what she had seen.
“I have an idea,” said Cierra.
“Oh, thank the stars above!” the first said.
Cierra turned to Mystic with a frown.
“I hate to ask you, Mystic,” she said. Mystic’s eyes widened, knowing where this is going.
“I must ask you to use your new magic so you can get us all out,” she said, kneeling with a soft look. “I know you can also fly with it. Can you try to use it?”
Mystic shook her head vigorously. “It took a lot out of me to even pull off that trick. I don’t know if I can fly and hold all of you at the same time.
“Mystic, if we don’t get out of here, they will find us. What will everything we’ve been through mean then?” Cierra asked.
For a moment, it felt as if Mystic were listening to the old Cierra who didn’t seem so... out of it.
“Remember your training,” Cierra advised. “Focus on what you need to. It doesn’t matter the size or how many ponies you have.”
Mystic let out a long exhale from her nostrils. “Okay.”
“You’d better have a great plan for all of this,” Mystic grunted as she charged her magic.
“It’s the best!” Cierra asserted.
Whatever, Mystic thought, and she wondered what exactly she has planned.
Mystic grunted and focused on her anger and determination.
Come on, come on, she thought.
The unicorn strained and her muscles clenched. She grit her teeth as a red glow formed around her body. The glow got brighter and Mystic swore she saw some wisps of purple magic.
“Almost there!” she grunted.
Then, she levitated, the red glow still around her body. Her horn glowed brightly, and she levitated the others by her side.
“This is freaky!” one of the Liberators said, amazed.
“Freaky indeed!” said Mystic, facing the left barricaded window.
Then, she flew across the room and crashed through it.
Mystic almost immediately saw more patrols. Instead of flying across, she flew straight up into the clouds.
“Got to keep them from seeing me!” she grunted as she strained to keep the others held in her grasp.
Soon, Mystic broke into the clouds, almost soaking her to the bone. She heard the others yelp because of the coldness, but she kept going.
Then, she managed to get above them and immediately saw the stars and glowing moon very clearly.
But she had no time to take in the beauty. Her time was limited with this power.
The unicorn began flying northeast to keep Hong from finding their camp.
“Hold on!” Mystic cried.
“Obviously!” Cierra shouted, obviously nervous.
“The rest of us aren’t pegasi or flying unicorns!”
Mystic ignored them as she flew faster, hoping that she wouldn’t be seen by the pegasi patrol.
Get to the woods and wait for the heat to die down a bit, she thought
Soon, she descended back down into the clouds as one more thought crossed her mind.
I hope my dark magic doesn’t consume me.
About an hour later, Mystic and the others emerged from the woods.
“Do you think that was a trap?” Mystic asked as she took the syringe out of her side.
“Obviously it was!” Cierra stomped a hoof. “They think they can make a fool out of me?!”
“Did you double-check your intel?”
“Yes! They assured me that it was a transfer!”
Mystic ran a hoof down her face. “It seems maybe some info got mishandled.”
Cierra growled.
“Now Hong knows about my dark magic!”
“I didn’t tell you to use your dark magic! I told you to figure something out!”
Mystic didn’t believe her but she had another question on her mind. “I would have if the earth didn’t rip apart! What was that?”
“The hay if I know!”
Cierra walked off in a huff.
Mystic’s legs felt like jelly before she collapsed onto her stomach, exhausted.
Year 13 – Day 101
Just outside of the woods leading to the camp, Mystic levitated up a small lantern and wiped the blood off her blade with a disgruntled look.
Yet another failed rescue mission. It was ridiculous out there. She had never seen the city in such chaos before. Her mind flashed back to the soldiers at about every corner. The civilians being shoved around and mistreated.
She put out her lantern and shoved it into her bag. As she made her way into the woods, she looked around for any torches illuminating the night, and prayed that her dark magic was maintained.
They’re closing in hard and fast, she thought as her heart throbbed.
She didn’t know what would happen to the Liberators. But she’s scared to think about that.
That is it! Mystic thought, anger replacing her fer, I am going to talk to Cierra if she wants to or not!
She had already asked Song, Juan, and other Liberators where Cierra goes every day, all day but nopony could give her an answer. The searches for her always turned up nothing.
As she came upon the pathetic campsite, she came up with the idea to wait for Cierra at her tent no matter how long it took.
She glanced around at ponies practicing with their weapons nearby, some were exercising, and some were simply talking.
Tears threatened to well up.
I tried to help them see reason, Sunshine, she thought disdainfully, I just don’t have what you have.
If only Meng were still here.
But, knowing she cannot let her emotions cloud her judgment to reason with Cierra, Mystic broke into a trot.
Play it cool, Mystic she thought as she approached Cierra’s “tent.”
She ducked under the tarp, sat down on the ground and levitated one of Cierra’s books to read as she waited for the purple pony.
Then, the earth began to rumble.
Mystic shot to her hooves as ponies panicked.
What is with these earthquakes?! Mystic thought, almost shouting.
Branches came tumbling down from the trees. Mystic lit her horn and stopped several from hitting a few ponies.
“Song! Juan!” Mystic cried, “Is everypony okay?!”
Nopony immediately replied to her as the ground continued to rumble.
Then, as soon as it began, it stopped.
A growl escaped Mystic’s throat.
“Mystic!” Song called, “Are you all right?”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Mystic called, “I’m fine! Are you?”
“I am! I’ll make sure we’re all okay!”
Mystic looked around the camp at the fallen branches. At the edge of it, she saw that several trees were cracked. She rolled her eyes and began walking over to remove them.
Then she swore she saw movement within the trees. Immediately, she stooped and pulled out her machete.
Her eyes narrowed, trying to make out if she had seen anything.
With a few hesitant steps forward, Mystic focused on the blackened woods.
That’s when she saw it.
She swore she saw the top of an outline of a bi-pedal animalistic creature.
Her blood ran cold.
She could make out its pointy ears and its fur.
“Hostile in the area!” Mystic roared.
She kept her eyes trained on the creature as Song and Juan joined her side, weapons drawn.
“Where is it?!” Song demanded.
“Twelve o clock!” Mystic pointed ahead. She could still see it. “Look closely!”
Juan and Song stepped forward with their weapons but they stopped. Mystic could barely see the figure now.
“I don’t see anything!” said Juan.
“It’s there!” Mystic cried.
Song stepped into the woods until she went in far enough that Mystic saw her standing right in front of it.
“It’s in front of you!” Mystic cried, very nervous.
Instead of attacking, Song looked around, turned back and came out of the woods with a confused look.
“I didn’t see anything,” she said.
Mystic’s eyes flew open. “What?”
“There wasn’t anything there.”
“I think she might be seeing things,” said Juan.
Mystic looked at the ground, slightly embarrassed. She was sure she saw something. When she looked up, it was gone.
“Just try and get some sleep, Mystic,” said Juan. “Don’t do anything foolish, okay?”
Song gave Mystic a hard, disappointed look before they both left her.
Mystic made her way back to Cierra’s tarp and sat down again. As if it were a nightmare, she tried to forget about it.
Year 13 – Day 102
Mystic opened her droopy eyes. Then she snapped them open.
Oh, nuts! She thought.
The unicorn took in her surroundings, finding herself leaned up against the tree under Cierra’s tarp.
She hadn’t returned.
Is it morning? She thought.
The sky was still dark. If it were, it was very early.
She decided to eat something as she waited for Cierra. Her horn lit up and pulled out a couple of pears from her satchel.
Almost an hour passed and the sky was turning a light grey color.
Mystic slowly exhaled from her nostrils.
“I guess I could read the book for the third time,” she said.
She grabbed it from the nearby table and brought opened it to the first chapter.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw four hooves walking over.
She perked up and saw it was Cierra in her beaten brown robe. Mystic’s heart leaped for joy.
“Mystic?” Cierra asked, “What’re you doing in my tent?”
As much as of a tent it could be, Mystic thought.
“I was waiting for you,” she said aloud.
“Well, I’m here,” Cierra sat down on blankets formed into some kind of mattress.
Mystic took in Cierra. She looked tired, yet determined. Stressed, but happy about making progress.
“Where have you been?” Mystic asked, “I’ve been wondering that for days and Song acted strange when I asked.”
“I’ve been arranging the final plan, Mystic,” Cierra gave a weak smile. “It’s tough and lengthy, but I’ve been managing.”
“Without us?” Mystic asked curiously.
“It’s a long story and only I could do it,” Cierra explained. “Juan and Song didn’t question me.”
“I’m just concerned about you and how far you’re pushing yourself.”
Cierra let out an annoyed grunt. “Just don’t get into that kind of talk, Mystic. I’m tired.”
“Can we please have a little chat?” Mystic asked.
Cierra rubbed her tired eyelids.
“Are you sure this can’t wait until tomorrow?” she asked.
“No offense or disrespect, but I’ve been wanting to talk to you for days about this,” replied Mystic.
Cierra groaned. “Fine. No way I can talk you out of it.”
“Exactly.”
Both ponies faced each other.
“Cierra,” Mystic said, trying to sound soft, “You’ve done so much for me and everypony here. You sheltered, provided, and treated us fairly.” Mystic frowned, “But what happened up North and what’s happening now in the city... it’s just not the way we used to do things and you know that.”
Cierra narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t want to discredit any of the work you’d done--”
“Any of the work?” Cierra asked incredulously, “What do you call what I’m trying to do now?”
“Plans that needed better coordination and a pony who’s being reckless,” Mystic stated.
Cierra looked at her as if she’d been slapped.
“Not just for us, but what happened up north--”
“What happened up north was about surviving Mystic,” Cierra asserted.
“Then why did you use their problems instead of helping them?” Mystic asked, “You went out of your league up there.”
“I was trying to make sure we defeated the General and his army!”
“That got a lot of ponies and Northerners killed and for what?”
SLAP!
Mystic was suddenly looking away and felt her cheek beginning to burn. Her eyes went wide as she held it.
“Did you just hit me?” she asked with a shaky voice, trying to blink her tears back.
“You need to learn not to question my motives!” Cierra leaned forward, “This is our moment! We will rebuild the society from the ground up!”
Despite being upset, Mystic knew she had to continue.
“Cierra,” she said, holding back tears. “I don’t know about myself. But if things are going to go wrong, everypony else here should leave and live their own lives.”
“Nopony can live their lives right now,” Cierra growled. “They’ll hunt us down one by one.”
“They’re after me and you!” Mystic reasoned, “They tried making a couple of deals with us!”
“Deals are nothing to them!”
Mystic could tell this wasn’t getting anywhere.
“Okay, Cierra,” Mystic sighed, “Maybe you’re right about that. We just need to try and be reasonable while thinking of the outcome.”
“That’s what she said...” Cierra murmured.
“Who?”
“Don’t you dare talk about Meng!” Cierra shouted.
Mystic almost flew backward, aghast, “I wasn’t! I wasn’t even trying to bring her up!”
“Why exactly are you still talking about her?!”
“Gah!”
“Their deaths will not be in vain!” Cierra cried, “I will make sure of that!”
Mystic nearly froze at those last words.
Is she still helping herself? she thought, horrified if that’s the case.
“Cierra, I love you but you’re just not listening to me!” Mystic cried desperately.
“Because you’re not talking any real common sense!” Cierra barked.
“I’m not talking common sense?!”
“Enough!” Cierra bellowed, “This talk has gone on for long enough!”
She stood up.
“I need to get out of here and later assure our plans will go on tomorrow.”
“What?” Mystic asked, wide-eyed.
“You heard me you fool!” Cierra glared. “Tomorrow is our big day to win!”
“R-Really?”
Cierra nodded. “You will stay at the camp. When we begin our mission, you will do everything I say. Understand?”
Mystic couldn’t help but still be worried about the other Liberators. How can they win? She has dark magic she doesn’t want to use and Cierra has no magic.
What is this plan? Mystic thought.
“What do you mean about assuring our plans going on tomorrow?”
“That I’ll continue with the final phase as some teams deal with the army!”
“What are you talking about?” Mystic asked.
“Several parties went out to ward the army off for me to carry out our plans.”
“What?! When did this happen?!” Mystic gasped.
“They volunteered!” Cierra threw up a hoof. “I tried to make them see differently!”
“Did you though?” came Sunshine’s voice.
Mystic and Cierra turned to see the filly had entered.
“Oh, what do you want?” Cierra demanded.
“I want to help both of you,” Sunshine answered, “But Cierra, Mystic is just trying to help you see reason. And I heard enough to know--”
“Were you listening in?!” Cierra cried.
Sunshine didn’t flinch as she glared. “You were yelling for half of the camp to hear.”
“Cierra, just listen!” Mystic pleaded, growing upset.
“I don’t need to hear any more from you two!”
How could this be happening?! Mystic thought, I tried reasoning like Sunshine does with me!
“No, I think you do,” Sunshine pointed at Cierra.
“Oh?” Cierra growled.
“Your plans have gone off the rails, Cierra!” Sunshine cried. “What has happened to the honorable pony I once respected?”
“You watch your mouth, little missy!” Cierra scolded.
“I have a right to speak out on behalf of my friend! Ponies have lost their lives and now you’re probably pushing a reckless plan!”
“The plan will succeed! I made sure of that!”
“Is this about winning the fight for everypony? Or is it for you?”
Cierra stepped up to Sunshine, towering over her.
“I don’t want to hurt you or disrespect your spirit, Sunshine,” she said. “But just stay out of this.”
“I think we should just all calm down and reason!”
“Oh, you think you’re so high and mighty?! Well--”
“Stop it! Just stop it!” Mystic cried.
Both ponies turned to face her.
“Mystic! Tell your friend that you’ve done so much! For us!” Cierra cried.
“Mystic! Please tell Cierra that we cannot afford to fight and possibly lose more lives! We need to leave!” Sunshine pleaded.
She looked between Cierra and Sunshine’s both pleading looks. The unicorn squeezed her eyes shut and let some tears fall.
“This cannot be happening to me!” she shouted, pushed over her limit.
The distraught pony stood up and bolted, ignoring the calls from the two ponies that meant so much to her.
Another rock hit the pool. Mystic took around at the cyan glowing edges of the water that were accompanied by trees. It was quiet. Peaceful. Unlike everything else. Mystic examined her reflection, and by the look on her face, she noticed that the last eleven months haven’t been much better for her. The unicorn looked at her red cheek and sniffed.
The feeling of dark energy briefly returned to her horn that caused her to inwardly curse herself.
“If only they hadn’t known about my dark magic...” she said. “I should’ve...” She wiped her eyes. “I should’ve kept it better hidden...”
What is life? What is she meant to do? The conflict within her raged on.
She hates it. She is angry at herself for being at a loss. Angry that she failed to get ponies to see clearly. Angry for being caught between two ponies she loves.
Love? What is that anymore? She has ponies... had ponies in the Liberators that loved her and each other. But...
“It’s starting to feel like a lie...” she muttered.
She slapped herself.
“No! It cannot be a lie!” she told herself. “We almost have this!” She sulked again. “Don’t we?”
She felt her eyes beginning to well up. Her thoughts continued to run.
The relationships with the Liberators came to her mind. The good times. The awkward times. Even the embarrassing ones.
If all of this... all of these relationships and the love were a lie... is love a lie? She thought. No...it can’t be...Sunshine showed me love.
She choked and buried her face into her hooves.
One last thought came to her.
If this is all a lie... then what did we truly accomplish?
Year 13 - Day 103
This is it. The big day for the all mighty Cierra’s plan to fall through.
Cierra arranged a meeting for her in a few minutes. Maybe she’ll get a bit of sense into her. As futile as that might be at this point.
The camp surrounding her was mostly empty aside from ponies too weak to fight. She assured them they had enough food, but she still felt awful for them. She saw the spark in their eyes. The spark of rebellion. A small sense of pride couldn’t help but make its way to Mystic’s chest.
Darn mixed feelings, she thought.
She turned and began walking to where she needed to be. The thought of wondering where everypony was never left her mind. Sure, she’s bound to get answers.
As continued on her way, the pathway seemed to stretch. Her hooves felt weighty as she felt a surge of dark magic within her horn. The unicorn cursed herself until she remembered a conversation she and Meng had.
“I know you’re wanting to remain loyal. But I’ve begun to see things differently when you first came in.”
How so? Mystic thought as if talking to her.
“Things in this gang weren’t as they seemed when you first joined it. You, Sunshine, and even Song and Juan began to show me that there’s more to just moral codes.”
Mystic wanted to ask her what she had meant. But it wasn’t before... Meng was lost.
The unicorn heard hoofsteps approaching. She turned and her eyes widened when she saw it was Sunshine dressed up in her winter clothes.
“Sunshine?!” Mystic cried. “Aren’t you supposed to be on the escort?!”
Sunshine nodded. “They agreed to let me come speak with you for a few minutes.”
“Does Cierra know?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
Mystic noticed a slight waver in Sunshine’s voice. She raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“I wanted to say something to you,” the filly stepped forward.
“All right, what is it?” Mystic asked.
“First,” Sunshine said, levitating a small box. “I wanted to give you this.”
She placed it into Mystic’s hoof.
“You don’t have to open it now. Just hear me out, please.”
Mystic nodded for her to continue.
“Despite what may happen,” Sunshine took another step forward.
“Is that I’ve always loved you.” Sunshine smiled. “Even after everything.”
“What?” Mystic asked.
“Yes,” Sunshine smiled, placing a gentle hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “I’ve always forgiven you even when you weren’t there or had broken your promises.”
“B-But why?” Mystic asked, a slight choke in her throat.
“Because I love you, my friend,” replied Sunshine. “I know, deep down you still love me too. You’ve just been sidetracked.”
Mystic couldn’t reply, she just stood there, amazed at Sunshine’s being able to forgive and be strong for her.
“I know you have to go on this mission, Mystic,” Sunshine said softly, “But just know that you can make your own choices rather than let somepony else rule over your life. Just follow what you believe is truly right and not be pressured about the choices you make.”
She felt Sunshine’s hoof stroke her shoulder, “You taught me how to stand up for myself and never give up. I just want you to know when there’s a time to fight and a time where you know you can’t win.”
Mystic didn’t reply as Sunshine paused, almost waiting for a reaction of some kind. She looked at the ground, almost wanting to go with her.
“I love you, Mystic. You’re the most wonderful pony I’ve ever met. I just have one more piece of advice to give you.”
Out of habit, or by guilt, Mystic’s blue eyes met Sunshine’s yellow eyes.
“You do what you think is right. Is what you’re doing truly right? Ask yourself.”
Mystic almost sulked but found no other way forward. Before she could even think to say anything, Sunshine stood up and gave her a solemn smile.
“I wish you the best. Come back to me, my sister,” she whispered. Mystic could’ve sworn she saw a glisten in her eyes.
She departed from her and Mystic’s mind and heart began racing. Mystic looked down at the box Sunshine had given her. With a curious eyebrow, she opened it to find...
The golden necklace she’d woken up with. Mystic’s eyes widened. She hadn’t seen this in a couple of years.
I remember... she thought. I gave this to Sunshine...
To give a piece of herself to a friend. She narrowed her eyes and began thinking again.
As Mystic walked to Cierra’s tarp, the unicorn looked down at the medallion of the necklace again.
Where and how did I get this? she thought.
She shivered, not from the cold, but the thought. Once she’d been thrust into the lifestyles she’d had, she didn’t have time to think of finding her memories. But...
Mystic shook her head, disregarding the thoughts.
No matter what happens, she thought, I’ll need to come up with my own destiny of who I am.
The unicorn placed the medallion within her shirt and saw Cierra reading a book on the opposite end of her shelter.
She sat down across from her.
“Mystic,” said Cierra.
“Yes, Cierra?” Mystic asked, feeling her ears beginning to droop.
“I believe it’s time I told you something about something I had you retrieve in your early days.”
Without a word, Cierra revealed the ominous black book.
Mystic’s eyes widened, recognizing it.
“Is that...” she asked, taken aback.
“Yes,” Cierra nodded as she sat down and placed the book between the two of them.
“It’s a spell book. One that contains ancient magic and forbidden spells.”
“F-Forbidden?” Mystic gulped.
“Yes, but I have no interest in those spells. Just spells that will help us out,” Cierra explained and opened the book to a page she’d marked, “I’ve learned that there are spells ponies like me can do if we channel our earth pony magic right.”
Mystic gazed at the contents, spotting one page with a magical detonator and another page that has an earth pony channeling her magic into containers and sprinkling it along chains and various equipment.
“Whoa...” Mystic marveled, “Earth ponies can do this?”
“It’s very rare any earth pony throughout history knows these kinds of spells for them,” Cierra explained, closing the book.
“There are other spells like helping us being able to bend the earth, being able to stand firm in an avalanche, and much more.”
“What’re you going to do with these spells?”
“Like I said, to help us. I’ve been studying the spells during my free time and skimming what else could be in the book, and let me tell you, it’s a real treasure trove,” Cierra broke out into a smile and looked down at the book, pawing it, “Who knows what could be done if we had more unicorns and pegasi in our gang?”
Mystic looked at Cierra eying her book. Her nerves pulsed through her body as her throat tightened. She mentally cursed herself as she tried to keep an interested look on her features.
Meng’s concerns and wisdom began running through her mind as did questions. What are that book’s spells truly capable of? Will Cierra go mad with power? How many ponies would be hurt if that did happen?
“It’s time to start thinking, Mystic,” Meng’s voice echoed again. “About all of this and where it all ends.”
I need to speak up! I need to speak up! Mystic thought, but her tongue was tied.
Cierra looked up at Mystic with a smile. “My sister, thank you for being the strongest among us even when there is so much doubt around me.”
I haven’t been the strongest or faithful recently... Mystic thought. Why is she telling me this?
Cierra placed a gentle hoof on Mystic’s shoulder, “It means the world to me and that you’ve become perhaps my greatest asset.”
Mystic eyed the ominous spell book once again. The way Cierra was talking didn’t seem like her anymore. It was almost as if she were a stranger.
“The soldiers should be here any minute now,” Cierra smiled determinedly.
“What?!” Mystic cried. “How would they know we’re here?!”
“I revealed where we were.”
Mystic gasped and her eyes flew wide open.
“You did what?!” she screamed.
“You heard me!”
“What about everypony else?! Sunshine?! Your sisters?!”
“Everypony has gone down to where I assigned them to! They have been in the tunnels I made since this morning! And your precious friend is down in a bunker hidden where nopony will find her!”
“This is insane, Cierra!”
Cierra laughed spitefully. “Hong is the insane one! Besides...”
Suddenly, there was an eerie green glow.
“Where’s that coming from?” Mystic asked nervously.
“Only from the pony who’s been practicing her techniques,” Cierra snickered.
Chills ran up Mystic’s spine as her blood turned to ice. She looked up and down Cierra.
The earth pony’s hooves were glowing green with rings circling her lower legs.
“Wh-what in the...” Mystic whispered. It was otherworldly. Alien.
“I might have inadvertently caused some small earthquakes as I practiced. But...” Cierra chuckled. “I have gotten full control over the spells.”
“The earthquakes were because of you?!” Mystic cried.
To Mystic’s horror, Cierra laughed.
“Busted!” Cierra giggled. “Well, nopony was hurt. Plus, I’ve made the plans we need to succeed.”
Mystic gazed at the glowing green rings around Cierra’s forelegs. She couldn’t believe that things have gone this far.
“I have you to thank for this,” Cierra added.
Mystic’s eyes widened. “M-Me?”
“Yes. You, Mystic,” Cierra beamed. “That spell book helped me gain a power that I thought I wouldn’t need. Only a few ponies could learn and apply it. But now we have the chance to win once and for all!”
“Cierra... this is...”
“Amazing! I know!” she laughed. “And thanks to your new magic, you and I will reform this city into the way it was always meant to be!” She grasped Mystic’s shoulders, “Oh, this is a glorious day! We’re nearly there, Mystic!”
The unicorn shook her head, “You’ve gone insane...”
“Enough with the doubting, Mystic!” Cierra scolded with a fierce glare.
But then she became cheerful again, “This is our moment! Our time has arrived!”
“Cierra!”
“No more talk!” Cierra cried as she stood up. “The fools are beginning to approach!”
As Mystic felt goosebumps rise underneath her coat, Cierra put on her belt and placed her double blades into their sheaths.
“Move! Now!” she ordered.
She leaped out their shelter. Mystic stood up and went after her.
The ominous picture of torches and the sound of ponies’ hooves clattering along the ground emerged from the wilderness.
“Get your dark magic ready,” Cierra ordered.
Mystic gulped, she wanted to tell her off but the soldiers got closer.
Then she heard cracking sounds.
Nervous, Mystic looked around and saw that trees were rising out of the ground.
She nearly squeaked.
“There’s the camp!” one soldier in the front cried.
“Seize them! Bring’em back dead or alive!” cried a second.
“The only ones who’ll be dead or alive after I’m done,” Cierra pulled up more trees, causing the soldiers to freeze.
“Is you!”
Mystic watched in amazement and horror as columns of the earth rose. She saw the devious spark in her leader’s eyes and then she chucked the earth directly at their enemies.
They tried to scatter but they were almost immediately buried under dirt and rock.
“Take that, you corrupt scum!” Cierra cried. Then she tossed the second and buried the others underneath the rock.
She turned to Mystic. “Let’s move it out!”
Almost as if she were on a leash, she followed the mare.
Cierra looked back at the Liberators in the camp, “Kill all of them who are alive!”
“Yes ma’am!” everypony saluted as they tried to get up.
“Cierra, they can barely fight!” Mystic reasoned.
“They have the spirit. That’s their real strength!” Cierra stated.
Mystic noticed that trees were following them as they galloped through the forest.
Before she could ask Cierra, the earth pony jumped into the air.
She landed with a shockwave of magic going out from underneath her hooves.
The magic traveled throughout the woods and ended in an explosion, destroying the trees to reveal the open space.
Whoa... Mystic thought with a gulp.
“Come on, my sister!” Cierra said with a smile, “This is the endgame for the army!”
“A-All right!” Mystic stammered.
Suddenly, Cierra came to a stop in the opening.
Then, the ground underneath them began to rumble.
Mystic saw that a ring of green magic had formed around them. Before she could say anything, the earth lifted and began carrying them towards the city.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Mystic cried, trying to keep her footing.
“As I’ve said, I’ve been practicing!” Cierra said proudly. She looked at Mystic with a determined look.
“This is incredible, Cierra!” she admitted.
Cierra nodded, “Indeed! Get your magic focused as I focus on the army below!”
“Okay! And-and then what?”
“We just need to ravage the army and get to the plunger!” Cierra cried.
“What?!” Mystic cried, surprised about that last part.
“There are magical charges set up throughout the city and once we get to the plunger and set it off, it’ll set off a chain reaction that will disable the entire city and destroy the governments' ways!”
Wait, the entire city?! Mystic thought, taken aback once again.
“You didn’t tell me about this!” she cried.
“Because I wanted to surprise you, my sister!”
“But there will be a lot of civilians caught in the crossfires! Children! Babies!”
“Civilians?! What civilians?! All of them are supporters of the corrupt government! And they all will see true justice reign!”
Mystic nearly vomited.
“We’ll be blowing the city to kingdom come!” she cried desperately.
“We will see the old ways die but the new ways will rise from the ashes! All of the civilians will become Liberators and we’ll keep things from getting so bad again!”
“Cierra! This sounds too dangerous and--”
“Have you gone soft, my sister?!” Cierra bellowed. “What happened to the old Mystic who was all ready to go at a moment’s notice?! After all, I did for you and all you did for these ponies?!”
“I didn’t think we’d come to this!”
“Hong has brought us to this! He is the reason why we have to do this!”
“Do we really?!”
“You don’t like the plan?! This is the plan!!” Cierra roared. “This will be the end of him and his corrupting ways and the Liberators shall rule!”
“Cierra!” Mystic tried to reason with her.
“You owe me, Mystic! We all owe each other something! I saved your neck and you saved my neck! This is how it’s going to end!”
“I just...”
“Just?! Just?! But?! But?! But?! I am tired of all the doubting and the skepticism from all sides! Move your sorry flank and get moving to do justice to all those who did you wrong!!”
Once again, Cierra used her guilt and how much she’d owned her. Out of instinct, Mystic kept going.
Cierra... Mystic thought, Why?
Mystic saw that they were along the edges of the slums.
Cierra growled when she saw the soldiers.
They went down lower to the slums and Cierra threw the first tree.
It crashed onto the soldiers and damaged a couple of tin houses.
Cierra let out a yell and then threw another. It hit its target.
Mystic saw that they were beginning to aim enchanted spears at them.
“Shoot them, Mystic!” Cierra ordered.
Mystic shot a blast of regular magic. It stunned them, but the spear still fired the icy blue magic.
“With your new magic!”
Cierra threw another tree and took out the target Mystic had only stunned.
The unicorn knew she had to try and save Cierra’s life regardless of what she may do.
I think I can use it sparingly, Mystic thought. She glanced at Cierra. But I need to try to save the other Liberators out of this mess.
With her plan in motion, she focused. Her horn ached and felt as if she had to strain herself even more to get it going.
You know what you really are, she thought.
She nearly paused.
Where had that come from? It almost came out of nowhere.
She shook her head and saw red sparks emerge from her horn.
The unicorn spotted several pegasi flying right towards them.
She took the shot and they immediately fell.
The platform was nearly hit, almost knocking Mystic off her hooves.
“Get them, Mystic!” Cierra ordered as she threw another tree.
She spotted several unicorn soldiers who had fired the icy blue magic. Mystic let out another blast and they were knocked off their hooves.
What about the others? How bad is it in the city? She thought desperately.
Mystic shot at another posse and took them out.
“Good! We’re getting close to the suburbs!” said Cierra.
Mystic slightly ducked as she threw another tree at soldiers on top of the damaged wall.
“We’re going to go through the streets!” Cierra announced.
“Seriously?!”
As an answer to her question, the platform took a nosedive towards the suburbs.
Mystic held onto the piece of earth as Cierra stood tall and focused.
“Jump!” Cierra ordered.
Mystic immediately sprang to her hooves and jumped. When she did, the platform exploded and both ponies galloped through the street.
Mystic’s nerves pulsed as she galloped faster.
Down at the end of the road, there was a whole line of soldiers with shields and magic enchanted swords.
“Not on my watch!” Cierra cried. “Both of us! Together!”
The earth pony’s hooves glowed brightly once again and chunks of the earth rose from beside her.
Mystic leaped over some debris and felt the dark magic surge within her horn again. She nearly cried out in pain.
“Focus Mystic!” she told herself.
The magic within her horn charged again.
“Now!” Cierra ordered.
On cue, Mystic fired her dark magic and the earth Cierra threw went right at the soldiers.
KER-BOOM!
They destroyed the whole line of defense. Mystic felt a little satisfaction, but not for long.
Cierra let out a grunt and let another shockwave of magic surge beneath the street.
Before Mystic knew it, they were both riding on a wave made of rock and dirt.
She didn’t have much time to be impressed as they went through the suburbs fast.
Mystic saw the skyscrapers growing ever closer.
“Where is this detonator?!” she asked over the noise.
“Near midtown! It’s at the heart of the city!” replied Cierra.
Oh, snap! Mystic thought.
She looked to her right to see pegasi approaching.
“Look out!” Mystic cried.
Cierra ducked and Mystic fired before they could use their enchanted whips.
The wave of earth seemed to get faster, and Mystic noticed behind her that it has completely uprooted the earth and heavily damaged the suburbs.
She could barely breathe.
“Mystic! Ahead!” Cierra cried.
A group of about twenty pegasi were approaching and ahead were unicorns on the rooftops.
“Oh, no they don’t!” Cierra shouted.
Mystic saw more chunks of the earth uprooted and Cierra moved them in front of her and “clapped” the chunks, squishing the unicorns.
Mystic took out the pegasi as they got closer to the heart of the city.
“We’re nearly there!” said Cierra.
Get ready, Mystic, the unicorn thought.
The wave slowed down.
Mystic saw more blocks of earth rise.
Then, a beam of icy blue magic shot right by her head.
Cierra groaned and pulled up a wall of earth to act as a shield.
“Take this!” she roared.
The chunks of earth went sailing again and Mystic heard them crash on top of the buildings.
“All right! Hop off!” Cierra ordered.
Mystic felt a larger surge within her horn.
She jumped off and landed firmly on her hooves. With a glance at her satchel and machete, she nearly grabbed them, but soldiers began running right at them.
“Take them out!” Cierra ordered again.
Almost on instinct, Mystic let out a surge of red magic. It sent the soldiers in front flying. Another surge escaped from Mystic’s horn and took out more.
She wanted to stop, but then a third surge went out.
“What in the?!” she cried as it took out the final few soldiers.
“Woo hoo!” Cierra cheered, “Darn, you’re getting much more powerful!”
Mystic didn’t reply but she couldn’t dwell on it. Cierra jumped off the wave and began galloping. Mystic joined her side.
“You go on straight ahead!” Cierra ordered, “I’ll join you soon!”
“Where’re you going?!” Mystic asked.
Cierra veered off to the right, “To make a statement!”
Mystic shuddered as she continued. Her aching legs and muscles were wearing on her, but she had to keep moving.
Then, when she saw the city fountain with the road circling it, she knew she’d reached...
Mystic’s eyes widened when she saw the heart of the city.
Liberators and soldiers were scattered all across the streets. Scorch marks scarred the ground as small fires burned on top of oil. Blasts of magic came from the soldiers’ spears as the Liberators continued to fight their way through.
Oh my... she thought as her face fell.
Mystic saw cannons coming down from the north road. Immediately, she recognized that the Northerners had reinforced them.
“Oh, no they don’t!” she cried.
Then she heard a vicious scream.
Mystic gasped and let out a surge of dark magic.
She whirled around to see Hong behind his shield.
The unicorn thought she’d had a mini heart attack.
“Your life is at an end, Mystic!” Hong shouted, revealing himself in his reinforced armor.
“Not before I save lives!” Mystic stated before doing a backward somersault and a side flip in the air.
She shot another beam of dark magic at the cannons, taking them out.
“You’re only delaying the destruction of the Liberators!” Hong cried.
“We shall see!” Mystic landed on her hooves.
Suddenly the earth rumbled greatly beneath Mystic’s hooves.
She and Hong did their best to stay on their hooves but Mystic ended up falling flat on her face.
“Oh no!” Hong cried.
Mystic stood up and saw he was looking to his right. Mystic looked in the direction he’s looking and she gasped.
The city’s tallest skyscraper is leaning.
It began to fall.
Mystic’s eyes widened in horror the magnificent building fell over like a domino and onto the next skyscraper.
The next three fell over and all of them collapsed into a massive pile of dust and debris.
“Cierra, what have you done?!” she cried.
Hong turned and let out a roar at Mystic.
The general charged with his sword at the ready.
Mystic let out a surge of dark magic, but he held up his shield. The magic deflected off.
“Huh?!” she gasped.
Hong leaped into the air. Mystic did a backflip as Hong landed with a loud boom.
The general let out a blast of magic, but Mystic fired back and both collided, sending both flying backward a considerable distance.
Mystic sat up and saw the general picking himself back up.
Before she could do anything, Cierra jumped down from another floating platform.
“It’s the end for your pristine corrupted city, General!” Cierra stated.
“Two demons?!” Hong shouted.
“The only demon here is you!”
With a loud bellow, Cierra lifted another chunk of the earth and shoved it right at Hong, sending him and it skidding along the ground.
“Cierra!” Mystic shrilled, “What the hay?!”
Cierra didn’t answer, but she approached Song and Juan.
“Why isn’t everypony below ground?” Cierra demanded.
“We did follow the tunnels but the earth shifted and we got caught by the soldiers!” Juan explained.
“Gah! More complications as always!”
“We need to get there and stop the army!” said Song.
Cierra nodded and bolted off. She stopped about twenty feet away.
“How’re we going to get down there?” Mystic asked.
Cierra began looking at the pavement and hopped along it.
“I’m figuring something out! We’re on the edge of the area right now!”
Mystic heard soldiers shouting and approaching them.
“Hurry!” she cried.
BOOM!
Mystic turned to see that Cierra’s hoof was shining bright with green, and beside her was a hole she had punched through the ground.
“Are you going to join me?” Cierra asked, glancing at her.
She jumped down the hole. Mystic turned back to the soldiers, fired a beam of red magic and jumped down after her.
When she landed, she heard Song shouting orders above.
Then, they came upon a large cavern underneath the city. It’s about one hundred yards from one end to the other.
The ceilings and the walls seemed to have a shimmer along their smooth surfaces.
Within the cavern, soldiers and Liberators were fighting and, in the middle, on a sleek hill with a flat top, there is the plunger glowing icy blue.
“The thing finally warmed up!” Cierra cried, “Let’s go!”
The earth pony planted her hooves on the ground as she sent magic surging through it.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mystic saw a soldier charging.
“Cierra! Look out!” she cried as she pulled out her machete.
Fortunately, Mystic’s machete clashed with the sword before it could do any harm to Cierra.
“Good job, Mystic!” Cierra cried, “Now to...”
She paused. Mystic blasted the soldier point-blank with her dark magic, sending him flying.
“No!!” Cierra shrieked.
Mystic saw that the green glow and its rings have begun to fade from her hooves.
“This is so not fair!” Cierra roared.
Mystic’s eyes widened as the magic around her hooves faded completely.
“I guess I’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way!” Cierra took off towards the plungers, “Keep the others safe, Mystic!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Mystic fully agreed with that order.
She heard somepony crash behind her.
Mystic turned to see Song picking herself up and some of the Liberators from above ground joined them.
“Song!” Mystic cried, “You help me protect as many Liberators from the soldiers!”
“On it!” replied Song.
She charged into the cavern and Mystic followed suit.
With a great shout, Mystic tossed her machete and sliced a couple of soldiers’ throats before bringing it back.
Nearby, Mystic spotted several Liberators pinned behind a boulder as soldiers fired from their spears.
The unicorn snarled.
But then, suddenly, a beam of red magic shot from her horn.
She gasped as it hit between the Liberators and soldiers.
“What in the world?” she asked.
Suddenly her chest ached, causing her to clutch it. The unicorn nearly collapsed.
“What’s happening?” she cried.
Detecting a presence behind her, Mystic whirled around and ended up stabbing a soldier through the chest.
After kicking him away, Mystic went over to help the Liberators and let out a small surge of dark magic. It knocked the soldiers away and they crashed against the wall.
“Thank you, Mystic!” one of the Liberators said.
“No matter what happens, just be ready to run if things go wrong!” Mystic warned.
She bolted and took in the battlefield again.
Her heart sank.
They’re piling in, she thought, horrified.
The unicorn looked to see Cierra struggling against a couple of soldiers as Juan came to her aid.
Mystic’s eyes began to sting.
“Agh!” she grunted, nearly shielding them.
Her chest throbbed in pain again. Dark magic spilled from her horn.
I can’t give up! She thought desperately.
She picked up speed and went from soldier to soldier attacking them with a machete and giving them a blast of magic for good measure.
A quad towards her, but she jumped over them, levitated a small boulder and chucked it at them.
She ran before she could see what happened.
Another surge of dark magic escaped her horn, sending both soldiers and Liberators crashing into the wall.
Mystic gasped, horrified.
What in the?! She thought.
“I’m so sorry!” she cried to the downed Liberators.
Before she could go help them, she felt another presence behind her.
It was Hong.
Mystic immediately threw up a red shield and the general’s sword impacted it.
The general’s pupils were dilated and his eyes were full of fury.
Mystic focused her magic and made the shield stronger.
Hong took several swings at it.
Mystic kept it up.
Her horn ached.
The sides of her eyes burned.
Her chest continued to throb in pain as her legs glowed a deep red.
With a great yell, Mystic allowed the shield to explode outwards. Hong threw up his shield as the energy surged throughout the cave.
Behind the general, she saw Cierra and Song about to be struck down with a sword.
“No!” Mystic bellowed.
On instinct, she let herself fly over and crash right into the soldiers. Mystic looked back and saw that they were okay.
“They’re keeping us from the plunger!” Cierra cried, “None of us have gotten to it and they might disable it!”
Mystic saw Juan and about ten Liberators fighting around the plunger, but they were so preoccupied with the soldiers they couldn’t detonate it.
“Oh, no you don’t!” Hong yelled.
Suddenly, a blast from his magic hit near the detonator, sending the soldiers and Liberators flying off.
“Juan!” Mystic bellowed as Cierra screamed disdainfully.
Mystic felt her legs beginning to tingle as her legs glowed deeper. The stinging around her eyes felt worse.
“Come on stupid magic!” Cierra beat her hooves together, producing only a spark. “Work! Darn you!”
Mystic pushed past her pain and saw Cierra looked drained.
“The detonator’s still there!” Song cried.
Before Mystic could say anything, Song had begun climbing the hill.
Mystic turned to see Hong ready to fire again.
She let out a yell and immediately galloped over to him.
“Hong!” she roared.
Another surge of magic flew at the general, but he held up his shield and he stood firm.
Mystic’s aching got worse as she continued to use her dark magic.
The general swiped his sword, but Mystic grabbed it with her glowing red hooves.
“What?!” Hong grunted.
He tried to get it loose, but Mystic held firm.
Hong raised his shield to swipe Mystic, but she immediately put a small shield, blocking it.
But Hong began hitting at her repeatedly with the shield.
As the barrage attacks continued, Mystic’s aching body began to weaken.
She felt as if she were having a heart attack.
Her body felt as if it were on fire.
What is happening to me?! she thought, panicking.
“Cierra! Are you okay?!” a Liberator cried.
“You will fail!” Hong shouted at Mystic.
He jumped and his sword got loose from her grip.
Mystic tried to go after him, but she collapsed onto her stomach.
Hong began blasting the Liberators, levitated a couple of them and struck them down with his sword.
Mystic’s anger burned against the general but felt horrible for her fallen allies.
Shakily, Mystic pulled herself up and charged after the general.
Hong turned to face her with his sword raised and shield up.
A great surge of magic escaped from Mystic’s horn.
To her astonishment, it turned from red to purple.
KA-BOOM!
Hong’s shield broke right in two.
The general roared and lunged at Mystic. The unicorn grabbed an enchanted sword and clashed against Hong.
Both ponies glared hatefully at each other
“The devil dwells within you!” Hong hissed as he struggled against Mystic.
“You’re nothing but a yapping dog, General!” Mystic spat, ignoring the growing pain.
“Mystic! We need you!” Song shouted.
Out of the corner of her eye, Song was barely holding up against the lieutenant.
“This is where your story ends!” Hong declared.
Mystic caught glimpse of a dagger.
She pulled her neck and head back, but he struck her in the side.
The unicorn let out a scream of anger and pain.
With one final surge of magic, Hong was thrown up onto the ceiling, shattering parts of his armor.
Mystic watched as he fell with a crash, bits and pieces of metal went everywhere.
“Mystic!”
The unicorn turned back to where the detonator is.
She practically lunged and began climbing up the hill to help Song.
Her legs ached even more.
She reached what was left of the top of the hill. The detonator was still barely connected to what seemed like magical wires.
“Mystic! Help!” Song cried.
Almost instantly, Mystic shot a beam of dark magic, saving Song from the soldier.
Song stood up, but her right foreleg had been injured. Mystic’s eyes widened.
“Song!” she cried, “You need to run!”
“What?” Song asked.
“Just run!”
She collapsed onto her stomach again.
As she picked herself up, she saw something golden around her neck.
Mystic looked at the necklace Sunshine had returned to her. She remembered her words and frowned.
Mystic looked back at the detonator and more soldiers had managed to climb onto the hill.
They had magical whips.
With a great bellow, Mystic lunged and let out a surge of dark magic, knocking them down.
The detonator began to fall.
Mystic lunged for it.
She managed to grab it but she only held onto the top of the hill with the detonator.
With a massive grunt, Mystic placed the device back on stable ground.
“Detonate the charges!” Cierra cried from below as she kicked a soldier away. “Come on, Mystic, detonate the charges and bring the city to salvation!”
More soldiers came charging at her. On instinct, she shot a beam of magic under their hooves, causing them to tumble down back down the hill!
Her horn felt as if it were going to let out even more shots of now purple magic.
It feels as if I’m being consumed and possessed by the dark magic! Mystic thought, horrified.
“Come on, Mystic! Detonate the charges!!” Cierra screeched.
The good times with the Liberators, Meng and the decline of the hospitality and morals of the Liberators flashed through her mind.
Is this what my life has been leading to? She thought.
Mystic looked around at the soldiers desperately fighting towards her. These ponies are just trying to protect their home, aren’t they? Loved ones? She thought of the thousands of lives that will be ruined if she does this.
“You do what you think is right,” Sunshine’s voice echoed, “Is this what is truly right? Ask yourself.”
Is this truly right? Mystic thought, looking at the necklace again. What cost would our victory have on the environment?
“Dang it to heck, Mystic! Detonate!”
Is it?
“Detonate!”
With a massive choice made, Mystic painfully reached into her satchel and pulled three glowing syringes.
Her grip loosened.
Her movements seemed to protest against her.
Then she stabbed and injected all of their contents into her chest. She lost her grip as she fell onto the floor.
“Nooooooooooooo!” Cierra roared disdainfully.
“Oomph!” Mystic landed hard on her back.
Her body twitched, pulsed, and ached as the syringe worked its magic. Her mind returned. The dark aura around her faded as her painful body returned to normal.
“You fool!” Cierra roared again.
“Disarm that detonator!” came a voice.
Dazed, Mystic sat up to see several soldiers disabling it and the wires that spread across the city.
Some relief came to Mystic knowing that ponies’ lives would be spared, but horror knowing that the dictatorship of Hong will continue.
Would it have been worth countless lives killed? Mystic thought, her mind about numb.
Suddenly, she felt a hoof pull her up.
It was Song and she had a soldier’s enchanted sword.
“Come with me!” she cried.
Mystic galloped with her.
“I told you to run, Song!” Mystic cried.
“And not save your flank?!” replied Song.
The earth pony charged at a soldier, jumped over his spear and sliced his throat.
“Cierra!” Song waved her over.
Mystic saw the horrified look on Cierra’s face. She looked at Mystic and it contorted into anger.
“We need to leave now!” Song cried.
Mystic broke into a trot as Song shoved her forward. Cierra joined them and the trio headed to the entrance Cierra had made.
“Stop them!” Hong’s voice roared.
“Move!” Song ordered.
All three ponies made it to the exit and climbed up the debris.
All of them emerged onto the street.
There weren’t as many soldiers out there. But some spotted the trio.
Mystic tried to use her regular magic, but it fizzled out.
She gulped.
“Run!” Song ordered, “I’ll hold them off!”
“No Song!” Mystic cried, tears coming to her eyes, “I won’t lose you too!”
“Don’t get sappy now! Just go!”
The earth pony shoved Mystic. She turned to face a few soldiers running right at her.
Mystic groaned loudly before she galloped off.
She heard somepony right beside her and saw it was Cierra.
“Why did you disobey me?!” Cierra bellowed.
“I couldn’t do that to those ponies!” Mystic cried.
“This is all your fault, Mystic!” Cierra shouted. “All of this for nothing!”
“The dark magic was consuming me! You know what I told you about myself!”
Before Mystic could say anything else, more soldiers met them around the corner.
Cierra and Mystic took a hard left and took off down the street. Mystic could see soldiers trying to make their way to them.
However, due to the debris, they could not get to them so fast.
“You honestly didn’t think I knew exactly where to put the charges so they wouldn’t hurt as many ponies as possible?!” Cierra shouted.
“You haven’t been clear on things lately, Cierra!” Mystic spitefully shot back, “That could’ve been a magical nuke for all I knew!”
“A magical nuke?! What has happened to you?!”
“I could ask you the same thing!”
“What?!” Cierra shrieked.
“Maybe I should have handled things differently!” Mystic cried.
“Oh, what so we could run away and not do anything?”
“Well, regardless, this whole thing is over!” Mystic cried, tears rolling down her face, “The Liberators...” She choked. “Are over!”
“Not as long as I’m alive!” Cierra declared as they jumped over some debris. “I’ll rebuild and...”
“Cierra look out!” Mystic cried, seeing a damaged building beginning to collapse.
“What?!” Cierra demanded.
Mystic screeched to a stop and Cierra kept going.
“Cierra! No!” Mystic wailed, tears rolling down her face.
She tried lighting her horn but to no avail.
Cierra screeched to a stop, seeing the building beginning to collapse.
“Nooooooo!” Mystic ran forward but ended up tripping.
She looked up.
The building collapsed and crashed onto the ground.
Time slowed down for Mystic.
Her jaw dropped as her horrified eyes widened.
No! No! No! No! No! Mystic thought disdainfully.
Mystic wept as she reached out for where she had been.
“Cieeerrrraaaaaaaa!” she shrieked, unable to see because of the tears.
Heartbroken, Mystic allowed her head to hit the pavement, silently weeping.
I had failed to help her... she thought.
She didn’t know how long she had stayed there, but it felt like hours.
The world seemed to fade around her into a blur.
Cierra... Meng... Song... Juan... everypony else...
Gone.
Why do I have to be alive? Mystic thought.
She laid there for what seemed like an eternity.
Until she heard the city alarms again.
Immediately, she stood up and bolted off.
She didn’t know where she was going but wherever it was, she didn’t have any hope of escape.