//------------------------------// // Chapter Forty one // Story: Mare In The Everfree Forest // by MoonLily //------------------------------// I opened my eyes feeling a small tube running down my nose as my mouth was free. Moving my lips I could taste plastic causing me to look around. I felt something tugging in my neck. Just as I tried to move my head I could feel the air filling my lungs as I placed my head down on the pillow. It was painful to move as I felt my right front hoof tied down and still while my back left hoof was the same. as my eyes adjusted to the light, I noticed the room I was in was mine. the walls were covered in shelves and books with other shattered crystals hanging from the walls. I could tell they were taking precautions and shattering them. The room was empty causing me to panic a bit. I tried sitting up but I couldn’t as I was tied to the bed causing me to whine as I wanted to move. I could see something going off as Ilaid backed down on the bed. I could hear voices shouting as I looked at the door. I am shocked the empress told them of this room. This room was supposed to be private and secretive as it contained books from hidden libraries. watching the door I noticed Red and some of the other medical team walking in. “Your…not grumbling” I spoke up softly causing them to stop. “She awake. we need to get her an alarm” I looked over at Red noticing he was looking like death. I noticed he pulled out a clipboard glaring down at him grumbling. “Ripped off the right front hoof. back left leg detached” I took a breath “Punctured lung, shattered horn, broken ribs” I looked at him as he sighed. “You also have a bruised back since you were wearing thick metal armor and a thick fabric dress. Other than that any organ that was not protected by metal is perfectly fine and is protected by a spell. your hooves even protected by metal are damaged.” he sighed “You been awake this whole time?” “The pale mare told me.” “I will let the princesses know who you were with” “Tell Luna. This is from an old love… If you miss me go kiss that damn painting you made of me and the water” I huffed as it was hard to talk. I licked my lips feeling a rag on them. “I will tell her the news. Also the worry you've been freaking out about. your magic protected it” I could see a smile tugging at his lips. I calmed down as I heard the other medical ponies walking around me talking. I closed my eyes a bit listening to the crystal around me. the crystals that were lights may have been broken but the walls and floors were still crystal themselves. “Doctor Red have any news on the alarm?” “Yes princess Celestia. She was awake and trying to figure out where she was. Apparently, she knew what was wrong with her” “So she was awake. That’s why we couldn’t locate her” “No, grandmother said she was with the pale mare” “If she was in Limbo why couldn’t Discord find her?” “I don’t know sister” “Princess Luna she did have a message for you. She said it was from an old love” “What message?” “If you miss me that much you can go kiss that painting of me in front of the water” Silence as I had a smile on my lips. “I am going to be the one to kill that mare” I heard hooves and more silence from the crystal. I had to stop listening as it was giving me a headache. I waited till I heard the door opening. the pony at the door was panting heavily. “Out” she growled causing the sound of hooves before the sound of a door closing. “You saw him” “He…still waiting” I opened my eyes and smiled over at her “He…always going to wait he said” I watched as she walked over to the side of the bed where I held my left hoof up to her. I felt her place my hoof down. I felt her kiss me as I kissed her back softly. “I bet he couldn’t do that” “Luna…he kissed me and bit me…because I wouldn’t tell him the reason for the painting” “And did you?” “He called you a sneaky sexy mare” I watched as she cursed herself. I looked at her noticing her wings were down. I placed my hoof on her leg as I looked up at her. I could see her eyes were full of pain and tired. “That damn stallion” I could see her eyes had tears sitting in them. “Luna…I’m done fighting. I am done running and hiding. I just want a normal and quiet life” I looked up at her noticing her eyes were wide. her wings were fluffed up as she moved closer. “What do you mean your done fighting?” “I mean I am done with going into wars or fighting. I don’t want you to see me like this anymore. it's hurting me looking at you like that. I am already…in a long haul with this recovery and pregnancy” I was huffing at this was taking a lot out of me. “Your still” “Red said I was. once my stitches are healed then maybe we can make it stick” I started to chuckle but turned into coughing. I fell into my pillow huffing as I felt her move my mane. I kept my head turned to the left since my right hoof had a lot of wrapping and some parts were stiff rubbing up against the tubing in my neck. I felt her lean down and kissed me softly. “When you say you are done fighting you mean it?” “I will only pick my sword up if you are our child are in danger or taken hostage. same with jr, but other than that no I will not fight” she chuckled as she nuzzled me softly. “I will never be in danger to the point you have to pick your sword up again” “Doesn’t mean our kids won’t be” “Who will try to steal a child of an alicorn with a temper and one deadly star” my muzzle turned into a smile as I settled into the bed. “How long am I stuck here?” “Until Red says your able to be transported. I would stay here as a large portion of your family knows” a groan escaped my lips as I looked up at her. she had a smug look on her face causing me to huff. “go kiss that painting” I grumble as she let out a loud laugh. I watched as she made a cot next to the bed stretching out on it. “So why were you hiding up in the tree?” “He had me on his sword. I saw one of the crystals Jr forgot to smash. I see that you all smashed my crystals in here” I lifted my hoof before placing it down. “We didn’t want to take chances. as far as Jr knows he got all the crystals he knows you brought from the village to Canterlot.” “What about my trunk?” “Which trunk?” I let out a yawn as I was fighting sleep as it was suddenly hitting me. “Steaua mea nu spune nimic ca e timpul pentrun somn (My star do not say a thing as its time for sleep) this voice rang in my ears. I felt myself growing quiet as I fell back to sleep. I was standing in a large field of lavender looking around. I was confused about what was going on as I was just up and talking. Then I heard his voice and I fell asleep. Rubbing my head I sat down listening to the wind blowing. I heard the crunching of flowers behind me causing me to stand up and notice Luna. “Silver I am sorry that i kept you up” “You didn’t keep me up. I heard my grandfather’s voice telling me it was time to sleep and I fell asleep” I looked up at her as I could see her muzzle turning into a smile. I gulped as I noticed the ground turning into snow. I was staring at a black oozing mess with sharp white teeth smiling. all I could see were bones now and no more flesh. “Your supposed to be dead” “I said I wasn’t done” I gulped as I backed away from him. I heard him chuckle as he moved closer to me. “You can’t escape me Silver” I watched as he stood in front of me laughing. Watching the area I could see the village forming around us. I watched as he disappeared being replaced with the roots of the tree. My eyes widen it wasn’t the crystals it was the tree. I was panting heavily as I ran from the tree branches. I didn’t stop till I crashed into something hard. falling on my flank I looked up and saw Luna. “Silver are you okay! you passed out and now I find you having a nightmare.” “I heard his voice Luna it was telling me to sleep. he was here and the tree was chasing me. It's the large tree in the village I think it needs to come down. I don’t know” I was shaking as I felt her pull me into a tight hug. “Look my sister is in the village going over everything to make sure nothing is left with his magic in it.” I felt her hoof messing with my mane. that made me feel a bit better as I looked up at her. “That makes me feel a bit better.” “Your still shaking” “I think It will be better when I am away from crystals while I heal” I chuckled looking at her” “I think that would be for the best” I looked up at her chuckling a bit as I was sitting next to her watching the wind blow the lavender around. I opened my eyes as I was trying to keep myself calm. I grumbled to myself as I noticed some voices coming from the hallway. I looked over at the door listening. “Empress we got every crystal that we can think of.” “Then why is he still alive!” “Empress! mother is still asleep! mom said she was having a nightmare where he was tormenting her” “I need to know why is he here!” “Maybe we need to move mother. He still after her and she still in the empire” “Tell the doctor we are moving her to Canterlot.” I watched as the door opened up revealing the Empress and she looked worse for ware. I gave her a weak wave as I started to cough a bit. her hooves were heavy as she was filled with rage at the moment. “Your grandfather is still around” “I told…them that he was not done. I don’t know what he has planned” I looked up at her feeling some pain in my side. I was breathing hard as this was something that I didn’t want to come to the empire. I was trying to sit up but I was pushed back down. “Cleric calm down” “How can…I when this is happening here. You don’t need this” I groaned as I looked up at her. I could see her eyes changing from hard to soft. “Silver, calm down you need to heal” “But you are…” I was stopped as I felt her hoof on my shoulder. “Look you helped us. let us help you now” “You…and others did already” “Yes, but how many ponies do the unthinkable? How many ponies will put their own life in danger to keep the rest of us alive?” she smiled as I blinked softly. I nodded as I leaned into the pillows. I watched as she walked out of the room in a huff. This is not going to end well. If he is here then not all the crystals are smashed or he has more magic than what I thought he had.