//------------------------------// // Chapter 19.5: A Guide to Anger Management // Story: Fallout Equestria: Our Will (rewrite) // by AngryPenguin //------------------------------// "I was imprisoned in the moon for so long..." Black. The orb of levitating magic was simply empty. No picture came into view. The sound of faint yelling was audible, but it was too muffled. I put my ear to the "crystal ball" and listened. Rarity pursed her lips. As my ear got closer, I started to fall through the orb. My face smacked into the floor. Note to self: The orb is not a real, solid object. "Are you alright, darling?" Rarity helped me up. I'm an idiot. "Y-yes. Sorry, I just can't make out what they're saying." I furrowed my brow. "Why can't I see anything?" She examined the window to the outside. With all the grace of a high-society unicorn, she tip-toed around it, concentrating. With a frown, she gave a disappointed sigh. "The necklace is lying, gem-side down. Whatever has your body really has taken it off." I groaned. "Great. Now, I can't even see what's going on." My ears perked at the muffled voices. I strained them, again. I managed to pick out my voice over the others. It was my voice, but it wasn't my voice. What I was saying was still unclear. My rump hit the floor. "What the hell am I going to do? There must be a way out, right?" I looked to her for a glimmer of hope. "Right?" I could almost see the wheels turning in her brain. "Maybe..." She trailed off. I waited, impatiently, for her to finish that statement. "If somepony were to get the necklace around your neck, your soul could reunite with your body." She thought some more, then shook her head. "But we have to find a way to communicate with the outside." She pointed to the ball of magic. I sighed. "That sounds like an impossible feat." I wanted to cry. Who would have thought I'd be imprisoned in a gem stone for the rest of eternity? I wondered if Onion Ring felt the similar hopelessness I was feeling. It was safer in there, probably, but I still couldn't imagine what forever must feel like. The ex-fashionista sat next to me and placed a hoof on my shoulder. "Not all is lost. There must be a way. You still have your friends, after all. We just have to get their attention." "How? We are ghosts inside of a rock!" I threw my hooves up, frustrated. She looked away, wincing at my stupid remark. I instantly regretted my words. "Rarity, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that, I'm just so... scared..." She held her composure, but I still saw that hurt behind that elegant mask. "No, you're absolutely right. I am a ghost. My skeleton is probably still rotting the MoP building in Canterlot, forgotten." She sighed. "I helped create this blasted wasteland. I deserve to be nothing more than a ghost. My dear friends are gone. I let them down." She looked at me, half smiling. "But, I will not let you down. I am a changed mare. Whatever it takes, we will get you through this, Sienna." I hugged her. "No, you are not a ghost, Rarity. You don't deserve this. Nopony deserves to be alone for so long. I promise, after all this is over, I'm going to see if I can set you free from this curse." She smiled, sadly. "Thank you, my friend." It was all she said before her horn ignited and an extremely bright glow illuminated around us. It was so blinding, I had to close my eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nico's hooves pounded on the floor as he tried to reach Sienna. She hovered over them, screaming in pain as her eyes shot open. His pupils shrank when he noticed her irises were changing color in the pattern of a rainbow. A breeze flowed around the factory, almost knocking him off balance. He grit his teeth, stopping just under her. Mixer followed him. "What the hell is going on?!" Mixer yelled. The unicorn ignored him, focusing on his horn. Sweat beaded his forehead as he tried to reach to her. As soon as his magic went near, it sent a shock wave back to him, making him rear back in pain. He didn't care, though. He tried, again, but his horn popped and died. Damn it! It's a fucking force field! He thought. "Look!" Mixer pointed a wing to the necklace. Nico always thought the jewelry looked beautiful on her. This time, though it was a terrifying sight. Where the glistening gem used to be, was a small black hole. It levitated off of her chest, forcing her to still. The thin, wispy aura made its way into her heart. She had stopped screaming, but she now just stared. The world was dead to her. Her eyes switched back to their green color, but quickly seeped into the gem, leaving only a dull gray in its place. The transformation happened so fast. The pegasus' once bright mane and tail were duller, too. Her white coat, was less white. The burns she had were completely healed. Her fur and feathers had suddenly grown back, as well. She flapped her wings once, twice. Hovering on her own accord, she finally glanced down. "S-Sienna?" Mixer called to her. She smiled, grabbed the necklace, and threw it. It clinked as it landed, sliding to a stop near Pepper's unconscious body. Both Nico and Mixer simultaneously stared back up at her. Something wasn't right. She would have never tossed Fleece's gift like trash. They watched as she cracked her neck and admired herself. She eyed the Pipbuck before nodding, satisfied. The chuckle she gave didn't sound normal. She had a sweet, shy laugh. This one was cold. "That's better." She purred, grinning down at the two stallions. "Nico! Dad! What shall we do ne-" "You're not her." Nico growled. Mixer drilled him. "What do you mean? She's right there!" He pointed up at his daughter. Nico lowered his head, dangerously. "Whatever that is, it's not Sia, anymore, Mixer. The necklace took her. The real Sia." He knew something wasn't right with that necklace. The entity first acted surprised, but then she laughed. "Fine, fine. You caught me. But, you must admit I am a better version, right? The gemstone helped me more than it helped her, for sure." She held her hooves in front of her face, her grin growing wider. "I can feel the power of the pearls. I'll get to them so much faster, now." "You must be working with Hope." Nico glared. Her smile faded, a deadly stare digging into the unicorn. Like a lightning bolt, she zoomed towards him. "How dare you insult me! I would never allow myself to be equal to one of these wretched creatures! I am above you all!" "What are you, then? Some crazy witch trying to be the new 'queen'?" The unicorn stood his ground. She smirked. "You know me, sweetheart. I am inside all of you. Even the princesses held a part of me. Raiders, slavers, gun-wielding thugs. I am all of them. Your rage, hate, greed and everything else you pathetic ponies find 'immoral'. What you fail to understand, is that without all of that, you are nothing." She poked his chest, hard. "Of course, your poor friend held a lot of resentment. With the help of the ministry mare's dark magic, it was quite easy to take her body. I'm just a pony, now, but I will reign over the universe once I have the pearls in my possession! The darkness inside all living things will finally be free!" "You're wrong! Equestria never lost its true virtues! There are good ponies who show true compassion towards each other. Evil can't rule over all of it!" He argued. She waved a hoof behind her towards the empty wasteland beyond the broken window. The rain poured down, again. "And yet..." She grinned. "Look at what you all have accomplished for me, already." She cackled. Nico charged at her. He planned to restrain her until he could figure out how to get Sienna back. His Sia. As he galloped, a slurry of emotions hit him. The feelings were so overwhelming he could hardly focus on his path. I let her down. She easily dodged, sending him skidding into a large conveyor belt. "You did, unicorn. You caused her strife. I see your guilt. I see it all!" A wave of magic rippled from her forehead. Though she had no horn, she managed to harness energy as if she did. The flow of energy swept the factory floor like flood waters. Nico held his head, grunting at the pressure. Sadness, anger, and overwhelming guilt clouded his thoughts. He couldn't think straight. He just wanted to die. He wanted to kill himself for being so worthless. He let Pepper down. He suddenly knew everything she had said about him. She hated him. He made others hate him. He was an alcoholic, worthless, lonely excuse for a stallion. His mother never even wanted him. She abandoned him. His father always reminded him to be strong for the both of them. It was his fault his father died. He always worried him, being the rebellious colt he was. Nico had worried his father to death. He wasn't even there when he died. He tightened his jaw at the memory. A night of drinking, only to come back to find his sickly father, dead at their camp. There were two spots at their makeshift table, made up. He let his father down. "I'm so sorry, Pops..." He whispered He never told anyone about that. He didn't want their pity. After Pepper, he had planned to just leave. Until he found Sia. She kept him in one place. I hurt her. The only other pony besides his dad who truly believed in him. He played with her feelings. Lead her on. She resented him for it, he knew. Nico pushed her to the side through all of this. When Pepper came back, he took his attention away in an instant, only to be hurt, again. Now, she was gone. He couldn't do anything about it, just like when that raider hurt her. He could only watch, useless. He'd never forget the look in her eyes. She was so scared. He couldn't protect her from that fear. Couldn't save her. His feelings were usually well hidden, but this time, his tears streamed down his face. The cold floor met his stare as the drops stained the dirty metal. Nico hardly ever cried. The dam had broken. I'm nothing... Chuckles broke through to him. He slowly glanced over to see that awful entity in Sia's body. Without the pearls, she was weakened, but still crippled them by overwhelming them with emotions. Her power could undoubtedly control an average pony. Nico's ear swiveled to soft sobbing. Mixer. "M-my family... I... I left them. They're gone. I couldn't stop anything. I ruined everything! I'm fucking stupid!" He was lying a few hooves away from Pepper, who also whimpered, even in unconsciousness. "As much as I'd love to watch you writhe in your poignant wreckage of a life, I have too much to do." She sang. "Y-you... bitch..." Nico spat, his throat sore. Her hoof tapped the wall as she stared at the horizon. "Nah. That name is too primitive. I think... Blight would be fitting. At least until I have my title as queen." She craned her neck with a smile. "Yes, I like that name." She giggled like a madmare as she zoomed out the window into the distance. Turning his head back towards the floor, he squeezed his eyes shut. His heart was breaking and he deserved it. All the broken hearts he left in his wake at the bars. They were paying him back. Guilt. Guilt hurts. Suicide, he thought, was the only answer. The thoughts in his head were foggy. Happiness, joy. It had all disappeared. But, why? Mixer still wept. Nico looked back, studying him. The more he tried to think, the worse the depression became. He stood, but was shaking through sobs. The way his brain jumbled his thoughts, magnifying his heart ache, was almost enough to make him lie back down. An invisible force tried to pull him back to the cold floor. "Mixer..." He called, voice breaking. "Blight is doing this..." He grunted. "Her magic is manipulating our emotions, to control us." A glow caught his attention. Dim at first, but it brightened. Nico and Mixer turned to the light. The necklace. Its gemstone beamed even though its face was against the floor. It was still enough to light the murky interior. I don't deserve the light! Nico's thoughts forced him to look back down. He couldn't bear to look back. Suddenly, the feelings were swept away. He opened his eyes as the necklace glowed. It drew him in like a moth to light. Mixer looked up, too, wiping his eyes. Their emotions were dulled down enough to get it together. Nico stepped towards the glow. Finally, Mixer spoke up. "I know I ask a lot of questions, but... What the fuck is going on? Why did I change my mind about killing myself? Why is that necklace glowing?" Nico wiped his own face, inching towards the light. "I... don't know." "Careful." The large pegasus told him. "We probably shouldn't touch it." The unicorn stopped, keeping a little distance between him and the gem. His eyes were glued to it. Strange as it seemed, it was like it was calling to him. He realized his hoof was reaching for it, without knowing. Snatching it back, he continued his attempt to decipher what was happening. The longer he stared, the more it whispered to him. "I'm here..." "What?" "Nico, help! It's me!" "Sia..." Mixer jumped. "What did you say?" "It's her! She's trapped in there!" Nico threw himself at the ground next to the necklace. Fighting back the urge to pick it up, he scooted as close as he could to it. "Can you hear me?" He asked, trying to be as clear as possible. No answer. "Sia, I know you're in there!" He called, louder. Quiet. "Sweetheart?!" Mixer yelled. Next to them, Pepper stirred. She looked around, then rubbed her throat. "I feel like horse shit." Her eyes widened and she frantically looked left and right. "Where is she?! That bitch almost killed me!" "Do not call my daughter that!" Mixer stomped. He shrunk back. "She was just..." Nico finished for him. "It wasn't her, Pepper." He gazed back at the jewelry. "Something else has control of her." Pepper scoffed. "Right. Like some god-like entity just so happened to snatch her soul and her zombified body just attacked me." She snorted at that last part. Nico flattened his ears as his jaw tightened. Pepper's eyes grew. "You can't be serious." "We think she's inside that..." He pointed to the necklace, that still glowed. She looked at the pulsating gem. Her laughter echoed off the walls. Mixer and Nico jumped at her snorts. She rolled onto her side before going into a coughing fit and grabbing at her throat. When she was done, she grimaced. "There is no fucking way she was sucked into that thing. It's probably not even a real gem." "And a fake gem would glow like that?" Mixer crossed his hooves. She shook her head and picked it up, despite Nico's attempt to stop her. "It's a reflection, obviously. Look at it! It's not hot to the touch or anything." "Put it down." Nico commanded. Pepper narrowed her gaze at him. "Why? Don't want your marefriend's jewels to get dirty? You think I'm destructive?" Her demeanor changed, again. "My sweet Nico. I would never do such a thing. Don't you still love me?" He folded his ears, remembering his previous thoughts while he was under Blight's spell. "Y-yes, but we don't know how it works. It's probably best to not mess with it until-" "Oh, shush." She waved him off. "It's fine. It's pretty, actually. Maybe I can borrow it until she comes back. Or her 'body' comes back." She snorted a laugh, again. Nico worriedly bit his bottom lip as he watched her clasp the chain around her neck with her magic. She smiled. He waited a moment to see if she reacted any different. Her lips curved wider as she admired the piece. The gift from Fleece hadn't been scuffed or anything despite being thrown onto the concrete. Pepper touched the gem, gently. "See? Nothing to worry ab-" A sudden flash of light from her chest sent the stallions moving. They scurried over to her, but was blown back. Her eyes were glowing, but they weren't rainbow colors. They were only green. Nico tried to use his magic, again, but it was useless. The magical barrier around her was too strong. The glow from the necklace had gotten even brighter than before as it lit up her chest. Pepper twitched and grunted, making Nico worry even more. Why does this always happen?! He thought. This time, the stone wasn't a black hole. It was almost white as the magic poured from it and into her heart. It happened fast, though. With a final pulse of illumination, the glow died down back to its normal state. Pepper fell to the floor, unconscious again. Nico rushed back to her, picking her head up in his hooves. "Pepper." He shook her, gently. She groaned, slowly lifting a hoof to her chest and rubbed it. He sighed in relief. "Thank Celestia. I told you not to touch it." "Nico?" She whispered, hoarsely. He stiffened. Her voice had changed. It could have been from the earlier trauma, but he swore it was different. When her lashes fluttered open, he swallowed hard. Pepper had two almost cyan eyes, and it was still that way. For one of them. A green iris replaced the blue on her left eye. He focused on it. Something was familiar about it. The Wild Formal flashed through his mind as he thought about where he's seen that color. "Pepper?" She looked around, then at him, confused. His suspicions were correct. "S-Sia..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The light had blinded me, making me wonder how I could even see, anymore. It was like being asleep, then waking up from a lucid dream. My throat was hurting, too. There was no telling what that thing had done to me. I picked my hoof up, feeling for the necklace. Nico must have gotten it back to me. I exhaled, trying not to move too quickly. "-you not to touch it." I heard his voice. Relief replaced all my worry. "Nico?" I said, weakly. I opened my eyes to see him staring at me. There was a mix of worry and bewilderment on his face. "Pepper?" Oh, no. I twisted to see if I could see her. My stomach turned at the thought. I hoped I hadn't... "S-Sia." I felt his hooves tighten. Putting aside my worries, I smiled and wrapped my hooves around his neck. "N-Nico... I-I thought I was going to be stuck in there forever! Rarity... She helped me get your attention." I dug my muzzle into his neck. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry for hurting Pepper. For hurting you... I don't... I don't know what happened! I couldn't stop it! It wasn't me! Something else took over me!" I cried. "B-But I'm back! I'm back and I'm sorry! Please, don't hate me..." Quickly letting go, I fell back onto my haunches. I let the tears go, then. He's upset. He's so angry at all the things I said. Oh, goddesses, why am I so ignorant? He didn't say a word, just stared at me. It didn't look like anger. More like bafflement. I spotted my dad slowly stepping next to me. I sobbed loudly, throwing myself around him, too. "Dad, please forgive me! I didn't mean anything I said, I swear! None of what I said was true! I know I let you down... I-I'm..." He didn't say anything, either. I stepped back, shooting looks between them. "W-why are you looking at me that way?" I looked around. "Where's Pepper?" My heart stopped. "I-I... Did I...?" My legs trembled. I did... I sobbed some more, not noticing Nico cautiously lifting a hoof to me. "Pe-Sia. Do you realize... uhm..." "Realize what?" I wiped my eyes. "Sweetheart, you're not... you." Dad spoke up. I looked down, wincing. "I-I know... I don't know what's gotten into me, lately." The tears, again. "No, Sia. What he means is... Pepper is alive, she's just... you." Nico rubbed the back of his neck. I wiped my eyes, again. Now, I was confused. "What are you talking about?" Nico looked around. He trotted to a dusty, broken piece of glass and waved me over. I slowly followed, afraid of what I might see. He rubbed the grime off the glass with his elbow. With one more reassuring glance, I hung my head over the reflective surface. My hide was not white. It was magenta. My mane and tail were not orange with yellow streaks. They were brown and white. I had one green eye and one bright blue eye. I had also gained a new appendage. There, on my forehead sat a horn. I raised my hoof to touch it. It more I focused on it, the more it began to glow. I shook my head. No. Way. A realization made me twist my neck. My wings! "M-my wings are gone... I have a horn! I'm... I'm Pepper!" I began to hyperventilate. "Where. Is. ME?!" My grammar was the last thing on my mind. Mostly, because that's all I had besides one of my eyes. That, and a boatload of questions. "How? When? Why? What the fuck?" Were just a few. I finally felt a panic attack coming on. I managed to fight it off, though. Either Pepper's body was stronger than mine or I was just getting used to them. Nico sighed. "I told her not to touch that necklace." I looked at my chest where it sat. "She put it on?!" Mixer swallowed. "Well, it was glowing. Did... you do that?" "No! I mean, I didn't. Rarity must have. She must have figured out a way to get your attention." "Rarity, as in... the dead ministry mare?" My father said, worried. He definitely thinks I'm insane. "It's a long story, but yes. A part of her soul is in this gem." I gestured to it. "I'll tell it, later, but for now I have to figure out where my body is." "Well we know some 'embodiment of rage and sadness' took over you." Nico mentioned. "She named herself 'Blight'." I rubbed the horn on my head. It was freaking weird. "Sienna, are you listening?" He scowled. I snapped my attention back to him. "Yes, sorry. This horn... It's hard to concentrate." He sighed, gesturing to his forehead. "They're not uncommon, you know. Now, can you tell me how you think this happened?" I thought for a moment. "Rarity said the entity, or Blight, weakened my emotional state and then used the necklace to trap my soul so she could take over my body. It was a terrifying experience, for sure." I shivered. "Blight mentioned the pearls, too." He said. "She needs them to gain her power. Even if she is already pretty powerful." He folded his ears. "The necklace is connected to the pearls, somehow. Rarity said so. She must have somehow gained some sort of magic from the pearls indirectly." I touched the gem. "I've got to destroy those damned things. Now we have to stop Hope and whatever that thing was." "Nice plan. How are we gonna do that?" Nico said, sarcastically. Asshole. "I need to talk to Rarity, again." I said. "So, do it. You've done it several times, right?" He asked. "Yeah, but not by choice. It just sort of... happens. When I'm asleep or knocked out." He looked at Pepper's horn. "I really hate to suggest this, but maybe you should try magic. Not much, because you might be stuck in there, again, but maybe just a spark will be enough." I stared. "Are you crazy? I can barely keep my sanity in check, much less use magic." "It's not hard. Just focus on the gem. Imagine you're picking it up." He made it sound so easy. With another "are you kidding me" glance, I finally decided to try it. I closed my eyes, focusing my thoughts on the emerald. What it looked like, how it felt. I imagined my hoof touching the smooth surface and lifting it up. When nothing happened, I tried harder. Sweat started to form as I bit my tongue. It felt like pushing a boulder from my forehead. "Why isn't it working?" Mixer whispered to Nico. I was getting frustrated. The strain was giving me another headache. I forced my concentration on my horn. Finally, a tiny spark came from it. I stopped, breathing heavily. All that effort for barely a spark? I shook it off and closed my eyes, again. This time, I focused on both the necklace and my horn. I felt another spark, followed by another. "I'm doing it!" "Like hell you are!" *ERROR*ERROR*ERROR* USER NOT REGISTERED!!