//------------------------------// // You Don't Have the Heart // Story: Human Nature // by Dragonfire2lm //------------------------------// Manaquire looked up from his work in surprise as he heard the double doors of the main entrance slam open and was equally stunned to find Sunset standing at the entrance. "Manaquire!" she yelled. "This ends now!" He simply smirked at her boldness. "Let me guess, you have realised what may happen to me if I continue, and being the bleeding heart you are, have come to try to 'save me' am I right?" he asked. "of course! You'll end up doing something-" "Been there heard that, anything else?" he interrupted with a smirk. "W-well than I'll just have to stop you myself!" the alicorn declared. "You stop me and all by yourself no less...how interesting" he replied. "What you think I can't do it?" she asked, her temper flaring slightly. He looked at her and saw all her frustrations, all her worries and fears and shook his head in disbelief. "I know you can't, you are not only imcomplete as a pony, but you lack the heart the finish me, face it" he sneered "You are weak". Manaquire could see the gears turning in her head as she not only interpreted his statement, but tried to work her next step. "I-I'll.." Sunset tried to come up with something, but words failed her. "You lack the willpower, firepower and allies to take me down my dear, your best hope is regain what you lost and start pushing your weight around a bit. So as a last bit of advice before I go to break those little ponies, ignore your rules and do what any other human would do in your situation then hm?" he stated. "No I won't I.....I have no choice do I?" she asked. "Embrace the darkness my dear, Time knows you'll need to in order to defend yourself against Celestia" -------------------------------------------------------- Sunset just watched Manaquire as he teleported back to Equestria, her plans, her hopes and her dreams crumbled around her as the sun began to sink downwards, signalling the end of the day. Her heroes were either unaccessable or too busy facing their own demons, Manaquire would most likely destroy the very souls of the element bearers and as far as she knew the princesses and Discord were pretty much useless. She had started this journey with the hope of helping everyone she cared for, she had believed she could pull it off and save the day. But any shred of hope she still had was snuffed out by the truth, she lacked any total control over her powers, she had no cutie mark to define just what exactly she could do to help and to top it off her friends were all in danger with no way for her to help them. Her throat felt tight as she tried to push back the tears pricking at her eyes. She sucked in a breath to try to stop herself from crying as the spiral of depressing thoughts around defeat and letting down her friends engulfed her mind. She sniffed and felt the pit of self loathing within her as silent sobs racked her body, she willed herslef to stop, to calm down but it was of no use the tears kept coming and it was only through her irrational fear of being reprimanded for shedding those tears did she cry quietly into the night. Manaquire is right...just look at me I'm not fit to be a hero or even a freaking Alicorn... It was these thoughts and many more that plauged her throughout the night while she trudged through the dimly lit plains into the eastern forest. Her hoof would catch a branch she couldn't see and she would tumble to the ground, only to continue her depressing monologue as she shakily got to her hooves and walked on. She payed no heed to the sounds and disturbances in the night, her purpose was to simply walk, she wasn't sure where all she knew was that she had to go somewhere, anywhere where she could be left in peace to sort out her jumbled mind. And as her mouth registered the salty taste of her tears once more, her hoof slipped again and this time it sent her tumbling down a small slope into a rather large forest clearing. She didn't bother pulling herself up this time, tired and weary she curled up into a ball and slowly sleep began to ovetake her and with her cheeks and muzzle still wet with her tears she feel asleep and slilently hoped that things would be better in the morning. Ok another chapter done, why aren't you guys commenting? i wanna know if you like it/hate it or don't really care. Come on people! Comments means more motivation to write!