//------------------------------// // Damnation // Story: Carolean // by Symphony //------------------------------// A/N: Edited by frieD195! A short chapter today as I had other things to do, and I felt like I owe you guys a chapter. Enjoy! (First part is Third-person pony perspective) The princess of the day sighed and slumped her shoulders as soon as the door closed behind her and the other ponies. She used a quick spell to relieve herself of a rapidly approaching headache. The Elements of Harmony exchanged glances with eachother and Princess Luna. Rainbow Dash snortled and pushed her chest out. ’‘I’unno if what the princesses and you guys said about that dude out there was true or not. I think he looks kind of lame...’’ A hum of agreement came from the white unicorn, who pursed her lips before replying. ’‘Did you girls see his outfit? It was just so daft and boring! How can he walk around like that and not feel bad?’’ She flicked her head, making the curls in her hair bounce. Princess Luna scowled and turned to the young mares, who noticed the glare coming from the princess. ’‘Rainbow Dash, that lame human blinded a fully grown manticore on his own while defending Fluttershy,’’ Rainbow kicked thin air and looked down at the floor. ’‘And miss Rarity, those clothes he’s wearing are the only clothes he have here, and it’s his uniform. As he was, and still is a soldier.’’ Luna huffed and turned away from the now slack-jawed mares. The rest of the ponies just raised an eyebrow and looked at the slightly irritated lunar princess. ’’Um... I think... I think he’s just scared...’’ Fluttershy whispered. Twilight chortled and held back a laugh. ’‘Because some animals defend themselves almost like he does when they’re afraid of something around them...’’ Princess Celestia understood the logic behind Fluttershy’s reasoning immediately. ’‘Fluttershy may be onto something here...’’ Princess Celestia tapped a hoof to her chin. deep in thought. She knew that if he’s afraid of something, it’s magic. But how would she be able to make him face his fears of magic? Her thoughts drifted to an old spell which allowed earth ponies to use magic temporarily. She would have to customize the spell for the human though, as she had something planned for him that would fit his personality much better. ’’I believe I know what to do with him.’’ She smiled and nodded to her student and sister. ’‘When this is finished, can we throw a huge ‘Welcome-to-Equestria- party for him? Can we? Please tell me that we can!’’ Pinkie grinned and rubbed her hooves together. She had never thrown a party for an alien before! But what would an alien want as decorations? Would he prefer muffins or cupcakes? Oh, it would be a blast! ’‘Err... Ah think we should avoid parties fo’ now...’’ Applejack pointed out, and the pink pony deflated, only to perk up immediately. The princesses ushered the younger ponies to leave the room and walk back into the throne room. Celestia recited the spell once again in her thoughts. It wasn’t a very advanced spell when cast on a pony, but Gustafv wasn’t a pony so some difficulties were bound to appear. She just hoped that she had the concentration to not break her concentration mid-spell. She took a deep breath and walked through the door, staring down at the human. The ponies walked out from the room they had entered minutes ago. Princess Celestia loooked down at me. She seemed to be determined as she stared down at me. I tried to match her stare with my own, but this time her will was stronger than mine. I turned my head away from her and looked down at the floor, only to look back up again as the princess adressed me. ’‘Gustafv. I may not understand your ways, nor the horrors you have lived through in your life and what you have seen. But still, when you are in my sister and I’s country, you are expected to live by the laws in it. I am truly sorry for all you have been forced to endure, but attempted murder is not a thing we allow to slip.’’ Her glare only hardened the longer she held it. I realized now just how powerful she truly was. I gulped and nodded. ‘Nothing is more frightening than an irritated woman.’ Oh, how that quote is true at a moment like this. I cleared my throat and stretched my back. ’’I understand, Princess. I await your decision of my fate.’’ I bowed my head toward her. This... This could really be my end. ’‘Are you ready to recieve your punishment?’’ It wasn’t a question, it was more like a statement. I nodded and her horn started glowing in a yellow aura. I braced myself and held my breath. I whispered a short prayer as I awaited my fate. ’’Fader vår som är i himmelen helgat varde ditt namn Tillkomme ditt rike ske din vilja Såsom i himmelen så ock uppå jorden ge oss bröd ock idag Och förlåt oss våran skuld’’ I looked up at the princess again with a small smile. The aura around her horn intensified, and a golden beam shot from it, aiming straight for my chest. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, expecting the hit to come at any moment now. I gasped as a burning sensation crushed into my chest. It was like taking a small piece of still warm iron from a forge and press it toward your skin. I gritted my teeth and attempted to fight the urge to fall over, but that was in vain. I dropped to my knees as the burning just increased. I could feel my chest being invaded by strange tendrils of something that never belonged to me. I threw my head back and screamed as the tendrils of her magic wormed their way into my mind and soul, changing it and adding details which should never have been there. I tried, and tried to gasp for air, but it were only futile attempts which didn’t make any difference. I even tried to roll away from the burning, but I was held firmly in place by the same magic which was changing me. My eyesight flickered, and I could feel my exhausted body starting to give up from the pressure it was being forced through. The burning didn’t actually hurt anymore, it was still there, but my body became numb after the constant abuse. My voice was becoming hoarse from all the screaming, and as the burning stopped, I fell to my side unconscious. ’‘Wake up...’’ Oh no... I opened my eyes slowly, expecting to see the same, blasted void as before. But what I saw was actually quite nice. It was a massive room, with luxurious furniture fit for royalty. The windows were massive and inviting. The walls were presumably made by marble, and on the walls were strange relics I’ve never seen before. But the bed I was lying on... I have never laid on such a perfect bed... It was soft, but not too soft and the pillow was simply fantastic. I stretched my arms and legs. As they popped, I groaned. I turned my head slightly to the right, only to see none other than Princess Celestia standing there next to the bed. ’’So, is it going to be a common occurance that I fall unconscious and that one of the princesses wake me up?’’ I asked sarcastically. The princess just rolled her magenta eyes and spoke up. ’‘Let’s hope not...’’ She smiled. That’s when I noticed that something felt wrong... Very wrong... It felt like something... Else had entered my head and was claiming some space for itself. The princess must have noticed me panicking, as she pursed her lips and coughed. ’‘You must be wondering what your punishment was...’’ I nodded furiously. I had to know what was wrong with me! ’‘Hold out your ho-.. Hand.’’ I ignored her correcting herself and did as she said. ’‘Focus on the world around you, try to grasp it.’’ She said mysteriously. I just raised an eyebrow and did as she said. To my own horror, a weak, golden aura flickered to life around my hand. I felt my heart just in the back of my throat as the aura stabilized itself into a fair, even glow. I started hyperventilating as the glow faded into nothing once more. I felt cold sweat over my body as I slumped my hand back onto the bed I was lying on. I looked back at Celestia. ’‘You...’’ ’‘Yes. I gave you magic.’’ She said matter-of-factly. My jaw dropped. This... This is preposterous! ’’It is only temporary though, and I have limited your abilities. You can only use basic levitation spells, and you can also only use it defensively, never offensively. If you attempt to do so, you will know the consequences. It will take some time for you to learn how to properly use it though. I couldn’t answer her, all I could do was to stutter incoherent words which I was sure that she didn’t understand. I rolled over so my back was toward her ’‘Leave.’’ I was tired of being polite. That... bitch had just sentenced me to an eternity of suffering in hell. The princess didn’t say anything and wordlessly left the room. I closed my eyes softly. Why does everything have to go bad for me...