//------------------------------// // Minion Report // Story: Worlds Apart: The Chosen of the Prognosticus // by GMBlackjack //------------------------------// Nastasia and Count Bleck sat alone in the central chamber. Nastasia adjusted her glasses, trying not to think about the pain she felt across her neck. “Yeah, so, just got a quick ping from Dimentio. We’ve had a little insubordination.” The Count made no response. “Yeah, according to his report, Mr. L and Lulu took on a hero-fighting initiative and… only Lulu came back. I accept full responsibility. It was m—” “You were occupied.” “I believe they left before th—” “Do not chasten yourself, remarked Count Bleck. What is done is done. The prophecy will not be fulfilled without sacrifice.” “So, ‘K…. Um, and just another quick update on Mimi. Yeah… she, um, also left the castle.” “Did she now? ...Well, Count Bleck will leave you to dispense the minion discipline.” “Count… um… did Rarity, um…” “What that unicorn said is of no consequence. Count Bleck feels fine.” Nastasia swallowed hard. “It’s just, well, uh, that, um…” “Leave me.” “Oh, um, of course, yeah… please excuse me.” Shaking slightly, she left the central chamber. Count Bleck sighed. “I should have taken her in an instant. That whole encounter was a mistake. A terrible mistake.” He folded his hands together. “It almost…” He looked at one of the spirograph designs on the wall, grimacing. “Could… could that really have been you? In that fluttering…” Turning away, he pulled his cloak closer to himself. “No, no. Completely impossible. I should know that better than anyone. Besides…” He summoned the Chaos Heart to his hands, looking into it with a forlorn expression. “It’s far too late to do anything now. The prophecy has been set in motion and no one, not even I, can stop it. No one can stop this now...” ~~~ “Timpani! What did you do with her? I must see her!” “Still your tongue, Blumiere… Can’t you see you’ve been duped by a dirty human? You have brought shame to my name… and to the entire Tribe of Darkness!” “And so what if I did? That doesn’t matter to me! She’s my entire world!” “Well, then it will interest you to know… that she no longer resides in this world.” “What… What do you mean by that?!” “This is the price those who resist their own fate must pay, my son.” “She… No… It can’t be so!” “Someday you will see, son. Our kind and humans must never mix.” ~~~ The woman wept. She wept for all who suffered. All who were pained. Just because it was necessary did not mean it was pleasant to think about. So many suffering, dying, lamenting… But it couldn’t be otherwise. It had to be. So she gripped the pen once more, allowing a few tears to fall to the page. She let them dry before continuing.