//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Powerless // Story: A Hero's Choice // by Gin_the_Fox //------------------------------// Chapter 13: Powerless Lan feared what he saw. Three dragons heading his way with, what he believed, a Nameless. The enemies stopped mid flight in front of Lan and his friends. The Nameless appeared on the middle dragon. "Well if it isn't Lan and his friends! Don't worry your little heads, i'm here for one thing." He was a unicorn, Lan knew he was the one with all the power. The Nameless pointed at Lan, his magic pulled Lan towards him. He then flicked his other arm and the other two dragons shielded them from the others. "LAN!!!" Zero and Blue yelled. Root was plotting. "So, Lan. As you know, you were put on this planet to stop us, and the boss can't have that. Look here, continuing your little..." He stopped for a second. "adventure... will result in death. If I were you, I would stop this little act and submit to our demands." "And why do you t-t-t-think i'll do that." Lan gave a fake smile. He knew how much danger he was in. "As you know, my power is great. Before I was even in sight I had knocked out Celestia, and by your shuddering, you either fear me or you feel it too. Now lets just say the boss didn't want you to have your magic when you and him fight. Well he wanted me to dispose of that. And let's also say he also didn't want you to fly either." He smiled. "Guess what." Lan knew what was coming. He started the attempt of freeing himself, but to no use. "Your joking. It's impossible!" He took a moment to recollect his thoughts. "Your right. But it doesn't mean I can't disable your powers..." The Nameless grabbed one of Lan's wings. He snapped Lan's wings and tore it off. Lan screamed at the top of his lungs. Blood sprayed out of Lan's wing. Lan had no other choice but to hope for mercy, for the magic started to gush out his body. "Or maybe I could just do a little..." With that sentence, the Nameless ripped off the other wing. He wasn't bothered by Lan's screaming, nor the fact that his magic were sealing up Lan's wounds, bounding him, shaping him from his flying abilities. Lan's magic persisted by pushing out the unwanted magic from Lan, but it had no use. Soon, Lan had lost both his magical and flying abilities. "It seems like your friends are trying to rescue you... one more thing." His magic tore off Lan's horn. The horn is actually bone which has little veins that connect to the brain, so its like salt to the wound. "Tell Celestia my exact words, 'prepare for unforeseen consequences'. With that, the Nameless signaled the dragons to part, and threw Lan out. Zero caught Lan in horror as Lan was drenched in blood and sweet. His wings and horn gone, but no holes or wounds. At first glance of Lan, Root lanced forward, preparing his sword, only to be thrown back by the pegasuses magic. "I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID!!!" Root shot forward and went past the Nameless and shot forward for a counter. "Poor little Root, tsk tsk. You have never felt pain yet. Come on my little pets, lets go home." He looked at the smallest one. "Except you. Stay here and obliterate everything you see." The dragon hesitated and flew towards Ponyville. The Nameless and his pets dispersed into thin air. Lan saw the dragon, stared into its eyes. He saw what happened, as the others did not. "Guys... the dragon. Don't... kill it... it's being controlled... fly me towards it... NOW!!!" "But..." Zero started. "Root... backup... Blue... backup... Zero... fly me..." Lan could hardly speak, he was saving his energy. All three flew towards the dragon. As they caught up to it, Lan started. "WAIT!!!" The dragon froze, he looked at Lan and his friends, this caught the dragon off guard and it shot flames at the allies. Root took control and with his sword, cut the flames in half, protecting Lan, Zero and Blue. "Listen to me... you don't want to do this. I can see your being controlled. Don't let him control you. You have your rights, and what that freak is doing is wrong... don't let this happen. FIGHT IT!!!" The last two words frightened the dragon a bit, but it knew. Sadly the dragon had to obey its master. It readied its flame and started to scorch several houses. "NOT ON MY WATCH!!!" A mare said in the Royal Canterlot Voice, RCV for short. "YOU WILL NOT DESTROY MY TOWN!!! BACK DOWN OR I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!" "Luna?! Wait, it's a friendly, being mind controlled!" Root shouted out. "... I know. LISTEN TO ME, LOOK AT ME, REMEMBER ME!" Luna said, calming her voice. "Lucy, don't do this." "LUCY?! THAT DRAGON WAS LUNA'S PET?!" Blue's mouth dropped open. "Don't call Lucy a pet. She isn't a pet." Luna said sadly. 'Lucy' was in shock, she didn't know what to do. Obey her master, or help her friend. Lucy shuddered, and with her wings, blew out the fire. Not only had Lucy destroyed the village, but she had saved it. Luna curled up with Lucy. "Thank you so much Lucy. Come on, let's get..." She saw Lan's state and shuddered. With her magic she teleported Lan and his friends to Celestia. Luna had to stay with Lucy. There was a lot to catch up on. ~~~~~~~ 2 hours later Root was guarding the door to Lan's hospital room. He allowed no one to go in, not even Twilight. Twilight was sobbing quietly while Blue, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and of course Pinkie, was comforting her. Zero was pacing and the rest of the people were mixed with Royal Guards and confused doctors who demanded to be let in. "Root, please! Let me in!" Twilight shot up, tears still falling towards the floor. Root stared at Twilight, the stare mixed with fear and regret. She knew from that stare that this was more serious than she thought. Inside the room was Celestia and Lan, which had been 'out' for the last 2 hours from the mass amount of pain. Celestia had tried using her magic to fix Lan, but with no result. "What did he do to you..." Celestia said quietly. Lan's purple mane and tail had been blood red since Celestia washed him, and his coat still had a little red in it. Celestia opened the door, and with that she saw Root back up, allowing her to leave. Everyone froze for her answer. Celestia started to cry, even though her magic tried to back it up, today was a sad day. "He's going to be all right..." With that Twilight perked up, but was shot back down from the next sentence. "But..." Celestia was quiet for about 5 seconds. "He will never fly or use magic again." The crowd was shell shocked, including Twilight which took the news hard. She held Spike harder than she did, choking the poor little purple dragon. She let go when Rainbow Dash pulled Spike away from her deadly grip. "I tried everything. He put a spell on him, that made it were I, nor anyone else, can get to him. I'm sorry. He shifted his bones and blocked out the part of Lan's brain, it's just... wrong." "So is anyone aloud to see him?" Root broke the silence. "I recommend only those Lan is close too." "What if any Nameless try to kill him?" Root continued, but with his sentence made Twilight shudder. "If that... thing wanted to kill, trust me, he would of." When Celestia said thing, it made everyone wonder how bad Lan was. Everyone was speechless. If the most magical... second most magical creature in Equestria couldn't help him, no one could. The doctors hurried off, remembering that there are more patients to be healed. All the Royal Guards left, ordered by Celestia. All that remained were the main six, Lan's friends, and Celestia. "I'm so sorry Twilight... I know you..." Celestia couldn't speak. "Can I go see him..." Before Celestia had a chance to say yes, Root butted in. "Be my guest." He stepped out of the doors way and Twilight rushed in. ~~~~~~~ "Oh Lan... what did he do to you..." Twilight was in total shock. She hadn't expected for him to actually lose his wings and horn. "Twilight..." Twilight popped up and started to rub against Lan. "Oh my god... Lan! Are you all right?" "Yes... Twilight... don't worry about me..." When Lan hugged Twilight back, he felt a rib crack, which then Twilight backed off. "LAN!!!" "That hurt... Twilight... I... I..." "Lan..." "I love you." Lan didn't hear Twilight cry. All he saw was a bright light. ~~~~~~~