We're Trapped in Stone, and We Must Scream

by King of Madness


A Forgotten Child

I see it happening. I watch in horror as my body is turned to granite. My hooves reach for my face as a scream builds in my throat, but in a blinding flash, I am rendered immobile. I quickly find my eyes set in one direction and my limbs locked in place; every muscle in my body is rendered obsolete. I am trapped here.

I watch as the other ponies celebrate their victory. I watch as that monster gloats over our fate. He knew this would happen. He knew we would see and hear everything. I catch his gaze. Monster. I try to scream out, but I can't.

They all leave soon and we are left here. I stare out into the distance, unable to blink. My hooves grasp at my face, but I cannot feel anything. Surely, they won't just leave us here. What about the Power of Friendship? What about forgiveness? What about mercy? Even if they don't give it to Chrysalis or Tirek, they'll give it to me, right? I mean, I'm just a kid; I deserve another chance, right? Though they did send me to Tartarus before. Were they going to leave me there? What did Luna see in my mind? I don't really know, myself. Was it too dark? No, they can't just leave me here. They will come.

They have to come.


They left me here. For so long, they have left me here. As days turn to weeks and weeks turn to months and months turn to years, I stay here. I stand here, watching as the seasons change, unable to feel it. Unable to feel the bite of the cold air of winter nor the burn of the summer sun. I watch as rain runs down my face while I am unable to feel or taste it. I watch birds fly in the distance and I yearn to be able to stretch my wings once more.

Is this to be my eternal punishment? To stand here, forced to watch the world as it passes by; to listen as it moves around us, while I am unable to feel a thing? Unable to move even an inch of my excruciatingly stagnate muscles? Is this what I deserve? I would've done anything to avoid this. I would've been the good little filly they wanted me to be. I would've behaved. I would've taken a thousand beatings to spare myself this unending agony.

But then, I have to wonder, would I? The truth is, I don't know. I never understood friendship beyond a way to use others; to gain power through trust. I never understood things like love and empathy; no one ever taught me. No one ever showed me. And now, it is too late. I am stuck here; abandoned to my fate. I wonder if they even remember us. I wonder what Chrysalis and Tirek are thinking; surely, they are as awake as me. Of course, I can't exactly ask them. In any case, we're stuck together; a living monument to our greatest blunder.

I keep trying to scream out. That last sound from my throat that never came. I don't even know what I would be screaming for; pain, fear, anger, relief? I just want something. I just want the air to pass through my lungs once again. Something. Anything. I would do anything.


So much time has passed. I dare not even guess how long we've been here. The entire world seems to have changed. The once flat, grassy field has fallen and formed into a desolate cave. Walled up in the rocky growth on the Earth as it shifts around us; a house for the damned. Now, I have not even the luxury of light for so little of it comes down this way. Hidden from the sun; I feel this is somehow fitting, though I can't quite remember how.

I have not seen a living thing for so long. There may be some rodents or other small things below us, but I cannot see nor hear them. I do not know how deep we are hidden within the Earth, but I fail to see how that matters. No one is coming; pony or not. They never did. They never will.

...

Wait. What's that noise?

There is something coming near us. I can't see them. Two voices.

I see them now. An Earth Pony and a Unicorn. Great Creator above, it's an Earth Pony and a Unicorn!

They're talking to each other. They seem to be on some sort of expedition. Will they see us? They do!

The unicorn, an excitable, mangy-maned filly, trots up to us and out of my view. "Woah, who are these guys?"

The Earth Pony, a much calmer mare, followed. "I... I have no idea." She passes from sight under me. "It seems to be some kind of statue. It's very... lifelike."

"Ooh, is that a centaur? I've only heard a couple of stories about centaurs! And that is the creepiest looking Alicorn I have ever seen. Then again, I've never seen another Alicorn. Well, aside from you. Kinda. Sorta."

"I'm not so sure that's an Alicorn."

"Oh? And what's with the little Pegasus filly? She seems kinda outta place here."

"I don't know, Izzy."

I feel a sense of urgency. I have no idea who these ponies are, but I feel something inside me. Something that tells me that these two could be my chance. I try so hard to say something. Nothing. I have to keep trying. I have to. I have to escape.

"There's something really strange about this statue. It feels... alive."

"Looks pretty stoney to me."

"I... I'm getting a weird feeling."

Does she sense my pleas? Can she somehow understand? Please understand! Please do something!

"...I'm gonna try something. Izzy, stand back."

A great, golden light appears in front of me. The Earth Pony floats up within my sight; an ethereal horn and set of wings is upon her giving her the appearance of an Alicorn. A magic that I have not felt since long before in a time long forgotten envelops me and with a startling realization, I realize that I feel it! A warmth flows over my body and there is a tremendous crack as a blinding light flashes within us.

I fall onto the ground. I don't even realize this until the Earth Pony, now without her ethereal Alicorn attributes, comes up to me.

"Uh, are-are you okay?"

I look up in a daze; every muscle in my body cracking as I find myself moving for the first time in ages. Dumbfounded, I look to my sides and find Tirek and Chrysalis also free and in a similar daze. I look back to the Earth Pony as she repeats her question.

"Um, sweetie, are you okay?"

I have no answer, but I open my mouth regardless.

I open my mouth and I finally scream.