I was moved from the bed to a cot strapped down so I wouldn’t fall off. I could feel one of the unicorns using a bag attached to the tube helping me breathe still. I could only watch as we walked past the torches on the wall along with a few guards saluting us. I could see a black spot moving along the castle with multiple eyes staring before disappearing. This made me worry as I can’t be here to help them. Or he just waiting for something.
“The train is ready” I turned my head to notice the empress standing in front of us. I could only glance up at her as she had a smile on her face.
“You return when you can okay?”
“You…won’t still my heart like the last few times?”
“What! and spoil the fun. Nah I already got my answer plus after what I saw in the village. I don’t think I want to make you that angry” she chuckled as I smiled nodding. I felt the cot being moved again but my mind was still uneasy at this time. I wanted to keep my head to the side and watch but I was stuck looking at the sky for now. I will say this hurt a lot as I could feel every bump we walked over.
“I don’t know why I can’t just fly here there!” I could hear Discord fighting with somepony.
“Discord he is still alive. If he attacks you while in the air that could spell for disaster” Celestia pipped up as I rolled my eyes.
“There is my darling niece let's ask her” he huffed causing me to chuckle “So would you like to fly”
“Discord…I think the train…will be better” I let out a whine as my shoulder was being compressed in.
“fine” his face dropped as he flew away.
“The medical team will be waiting for you at the train station in Canterlot. We are going to stay here and see if we can’t stop him” she narrowed her eyes in the direction of the mountains. “I am going to say sorry Silver but we will need to destroy the tree and many items.”
“I wouldn’t lie hearing that isn’t going to hurt”
“I know but we can’t leave anything to chance”
“Take the cherry tree…out first its the one he cares for the most” I was panting as this was getting pain full to stay like this. I started to move in the cot making the ponies quickly getting me to the train.
“You all are early?”
“She started moving trying to get off the cot”
“It's painful lying here” I whined out as I tried shifting again.
“It will be. From what Luna told me you the wound on your back came from you being skewered on a sword” I groaned as I moved my eyes over at him “Don’t give me that grandmother you know it's true” I did not want to admit it but yes he was right. I closed my eyes as I felt myself being placed on a large bench and I can tell it was a bench as it was hard and painful.
“Okay, Midnight just use your magic and count to three while helping her” my eyes shot open as I looked over noticing Midnight looking down at me. I felt my ears fold back as I let out a low groan. I heard Red chuckling before walking off the train.
“What did he do to get you here?”
“Nothing, I saw what you looked like after that fight. Besides I am the one who saw him in the shadows hanging around your room”
“You were in the shadows again moving”
“It's been the easiest way to get supplies from Canterlot to the Empire. It was also easier to get family members around while we played matchmaker” she had a sly grin on her muzzle.
“Let me guess you finally found Red a stallion he will actually date?”
“Yes”
“About time”
“Jr been crushing crystals he knows you brought from the village. He said your study is safe since nothing was brought back. and” my eyes widen as that boy didn’t know. certain pieces of my armor sets had gems from the village. I had a few gems from the village that was in my trunk hidden in Ponyvile.
“Midnight they're not safe!” I rolled off the bench and whined. I pushed myself up causing Midnight to get to my side.
“Grandmother!”
“Certain Armor pieces in Canterlot hold gems filled with his magic. I have a trunk in Ponyvile that holds gems of the magic he gave me. It also holds”
“Feathers I have given you” I looked up and noticed he was standing in front of us. I glanced around and noticed the train had already taken off. I could see he was wearing a few pieces of armor as he was chuckling with a grin on his face.
“I thought I killed you”
“I told you I wasn’t done, my granddaughter. You forget and so did I that the village’s magic kept you alive. I forgot that I designed it like that so I needed you away. Thanks to the Crystal Heart it did the same but since your away” he gave us a sheepish grin looking down at me.
“You set this up?” I spoke softly as I pulled the feeding tube out coughing.
“I was so busy planning on how to kill you to keep you away from those who wanted me dead. I was so busy thinking about how to kill you so my secrets would stay hidden. I was so busy I overlooked a few items that I had set up to keep you safe” he chuckled as I heard Midnight growling.
“Midnight stop. I will need your help” I sighed as I gulped a bit. I took one step forward as I felt the liquid night wrapping around my legs and chest. I pulled the airbag off as I stood in the middle of the aisle.
“Grandmother”
“Midnight I need you to run”
“But you said you need my help and”
“Get back to the moon Midnight. Go and be burnt in the sun!” I snapped watching her eyes widen. She disappeared as I created a sword making sure my body was covered in armor. I could hear him chuckle as he pulled his sword out. I glanced him over and noticed he was missing pieces of flesh showing his bone as black ooze dripped on the floor. his eyes were hollow at this point as he kept his grin up. I kept my cool as I took a deep and painful breath before pulling out my magic. I fortified the armor around my body while creating a few creatures standing on the seats. I watched as he swung his sword down but I blocked up with my own sword.
“Your horn is damaged how” he growled as I stuck my tongue out.
“You really wouldn’t…think I wouldn’t stop studying magic now” I grinned as I spun around kicking him with my right back hoof sending him into the door. I jumped a bit as I was weak on that hoof. I could hear him chuckle.
“That was weak. I guess pulling your stronger hooves from you helped a lot” I glared in front of me cursing. Shit, I need to find something. I looked toward my sword and swung my sword around smiling. giving it a good tap on the hilt I watched as the blade lit up with fire. his expression turned sour as he growled.
“Just like you forgot the village…I forgot about those damn weaknesses” I hissed as I walked toward him. I felt him jumping towards me causing me to block. I was pushed back grunting as I could feel the pain in my hooves. This liquid night was helping hold me together but it didn’t take the pain away. I shoved him off as I swung my sword catching one of his ears as he ducted. he let out a loud howl of pain. I gave him a chuckle as I swung my sword but missed as the train hit a bump causing me to fall backward.
I was stalling when I heard the whistle causing me to glance towards a window. We were pulling into Canterlot causing me to smile. I started to back up to the door at the end of the train allowing me to quickly escape. I jumped onto the platform falling to the ground panting as I stared at the train. I gulped as I quickly moved from the platform to the nearby garden of the castle. I kept low to the ground as I was panting feeling the pain in my joints. I stayed hidden in the shadows watching as I felt a pair of hooves wrapping around me.
I pulled into the shadows looking at the eyes of Midnight. I gripped onto her as she moved along the shadows till I was ripped from the shadows. I was squirming in his magic as I noticed we were in public with others watching. I heard him chuckle before feeling myself being bounced off the ground. I slowly got up looking at him.
“Oh give it up, or should I pull more hooves from your body.”
“I should give it up! you need to give it up as well!”
“Why should I?”
“You wanted to keep me from your siblings. you want to keep me from them! Tell me have you seen your siblings around!! Last I checked Celestia and Luna are not your siblings! Your sister Faust is gone! Gaia is gone! Aqua is gone! your siblings are no longer around!” I shouted as I sat on my flank panting heavily.
“I will not give you back to your mother or father! I will not allow Selene or Solis to take you back from me! you are my star!” he growled as I noticed the rest of his fur fluffing up.
“Do you think I would be this angry at you if you just had told me in the first place? Yes I would have wanted to see them but you don’t know if I wanted to go and stay with them!” it just became a shouting match. I forced myself up as I grabbed the sword in my magic. I kept my sword up just trying to keep up some sort of distance between us. I lost my sword as I couldn’t keep it up anymore. I heard the sound of metal as I looked up panting. I noticed he was coughing as his hoof lifted up and hit himself. I could see the triplets standing nearby.
“Run you fools” I was huffing as I could see his anger building. I pushed myself up and walked between him and them.
“Your fight is with me” I could see him breaking the spell as he walked over and hitting me in the head.
“Your right this is with you” I found myself looking up with his hoof on my heart. he was putting his full weight on it as I let out a whine. I could have already felt the stitches popping along my hip and shoulder.
“HEY GET OFF OF HER!” I watched as he turned taking pressure off of my chest. I was able to move from the spot noticing the elements. Poor Midnight was behind them panting heavily. I could see the elements standing together ready for battle. I gulped as I watched him snear as I started to laugh.
“What is so funny?”
“We’re no longer on our grounds grandfather. This land belongs to them along with their magic” I could see the family watching from behind as I hung my head panting heavily. I felt myself being picked up in his magic. I started to squirm as he held me close with a grin on his muzzle. I looked over to the elements who looked hesitant.
“Just do it already!” I shouted as I closed my eyes shut. I was breathing heavily as I heard him whisper one last thing.
“Imi pare rau steaua mea (I’m sorry my star)”