//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Flurryverse // by wildnature03 //------------------------------// Nebula opened her eyes with great difficulty. She laid in a hospital bed, with Sombra peering down at her with wide, fearful eyes that cleared when he noticed her eyes opening. “Nebby!” His voice rose, cracking with emotion as he threw himself upon his daughter. Tears streamed down his face. “Oh, you’re okay! You’re alright! My little, sweet Nebby!” “Sombra, dear, let me get to our daughter,” Twilight Sparkle had to use magic to pry her husband from their child. “Nebula, how are you feeling?” Twilight used her wings to gently guide her face to her mother, noting the bleary gaze and exhaustion rolling off her form. “Like I overcharged and took a massive hit,” Nebula mumbled. “Mama, we have to…” “Don’t worry, the others filled me in. What confuses me is that we are supposedly being kept out, how is it that you and the others managed in?” “Flurry Heart hates me,” Nebula’s voice cracked as her own eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know why but she also wanted my magic.” “Your magic… Nebula, what happened to your leg!?” Twilight Sparkle, unlike Sombra, hadn’t the chance to even notice the odd cutie mark transformation as Nebula pulled the blankets aside to start her theories. “It might have something to do with this. I had a strange dream and when I woke up, it formed on my right flank. I don’t feel particularly different or stronger, though.” Twilight looked back behind to see Sombra giving her large, puppy eyes. “Fine.” She pulled aside as Sombra launched onto his daughter once more. “Sombra, you realize she’s not a child anymore? She took initiative and…” Twilight became frustrated. “Hey, are you even listening?” Sombra was buried in his daughter’s arms, his worry having taken over his mind as finally, both Nebula and Twilight pried him off. “Sorry, sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” He was flustered and embarrassed. “No problem, Daddy. I’d be scared if I found either of you or anyone else I cared about hurt,” Nebula said soothingly. “Did you see anyone else aside from Flurry Heart?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a touch of hope. She had heard everything from everyone else but she had to persist with that tiny glimmer of hope. “No, I didn’t. She was sitting on the throne like she was ruling everything,” Nebula sat up with difficulty, shooing away her father’s help. “Her magic was too strong; I was lucky enough to flee with everyone else.” “You technically teleported everyone,” Twilight pointed out. “What do we do now?” Nebula looked up at her mother for an answer. “The Crystal Empire is being overrun in ice and snow; it was obvious that the Crystal Heart wasn’t working. And I don’t know where everyone disappeared to either.” Twilight Sparkle sighed lowly. “Flurry Heart always had a connection to the Crystal Heart, with her turning dark, the connection must have either broke or is extremely weak. I don’t know enough about the Crystal Heart as is stands. I’ll investigate the library for now and get some of my guards prepared to make a breech if necessary. For now, you rest and let the adults figure out what to do next.” “But you just said I’m not a child!” “You also said that Flurry Heart seemed to be after you,” Twilight Sparkle pointed out gently. “Sombra, keep our daughter company and make sure she rests properly.” “Of course, my love,” The parents nuzzled each other cheek to cheek. Sombra then turned his fixed gaze upon his daughter and Nebula sighed tiredly. The rest of the group had dispersed and Discord was currently discussing things with Cacophony, who seemed rather disinterested in general about the whole situation. Discord finally gave a very loud sigh. “Is there something you’d like to say?” “Why? It’s not like anyone listens to me,” Cacophony floated in the air, barely giving her father a hint of attention. “Cacophony.” She sighed just as annoyingly as he did previously and landed lightly. “I knew something was off about the Princess at least two years ago, maybe longer and no one wanted to believe me. It sucks when others decide that you’re the delusional one.” Discord sat himself upon the ground, a rare event. “I am sorry, my little one. But to be fair, no one wants to think the worst of someone that they love.” “I do not love Flurry Heart,” Cacophony growled. Discord chuckled. “Oh, my dearie. I was talking about myself. You know of my mistakes, how others still see the bad side of me despite having the nuclear family.” She rolled her eyes as her father made mini eruptions of a tiny bomb go off in his palms, all carefully curated. “My point is that Flurry Heart is a beloved Princess who the Crystal Empire adores. They cannot see the flaws that go into being who she is.” “So you’re saying she cracked?” “Pretty much,” Discord ruffled her hair lovingly. “There is still something of her in there, I’m sure. We just need to figure out what went wrong.” “Well, you just said it. She had to uphold a perfect creation. Doing that for any creature can create a delusional being. But why would she take out her family?” “One’s suffering does not differentiate emotions that well. You can love someone and hate them at the same time.” “CC? Discord?” Fluttershy arrived home, landing gracefully. She looked tired. “Nebula has awoken. We can go see her tomorrow if you’d like.” She told this to Cacophony. “I’d like that. But more than that, what is the next plan of action?” “Twilight is looking into the Crystal Heart and hoping to try to reach it so that the eternal winter doesn’t destroy the Crystal Empire. And as for the rest of us, we’re going to figure out where everyone else went. Either locked up or in hiding is what we’re thinking. But as for you and your friends, you will remain here. Going in was not the smartest and...” “But we figured out the problem!” Cacophony shouted, surprising both parents. “You shouldn’t expect us to stand on the sidelines. We can help!” “You mean you can help?” Fluttershy used a wing to try to soothe her daughter. Cacophony snorted angrily and pulled away. “You didn’t listen then, you’re not listening now.” She disappeared in a blink, startling Fluttershy. “Oh dear, she rarely shows off her chaotic magic like that.” “Discord.” “I know, my lovely. We just want to keep her safe but they did help immensely. For some odd reason, they got past a barrier that even I could not puncture.” “I know, I know. But they’re children!” “So is Flurry Heart. Perhaps they are meant to be the destiny she needs.” Fluttershy buried her face in her husband’s fluffy chest. “Oh, it’s frightening to think that we missed this so badly.” He wrapped her up in his arms tightly. “While they may be young, they are the epitome of hope. Much how you and your friends were,” Discord nuzzled her hair gently. “It will be alright, Fluttershy. Everything will be righted once more.”