//------------------------------// // A Promise Unforgotten // Story: Pinkamena's Awakening: A Promise Unforgotten // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Final Chapter: A Promise Unforgotten Eternal Sleep stood and watched as she saw her friends being taken away in opposite directions. The sky lost its' color and became darkened from Pinkamena's aura. Eternal Sleep looked at Pinkamena, who had enveloped herself in a protective barrier to protect her weak and fading body. "I've think we've all had just about enough of you Pinkamena!" Eternal Sleep said, materializing her scythe in between her teeth. "I'm going to end this here and now!" Eternal Sleep leap't towards Pinkamena with fleeting power. But as she was about to swing her scythe, she was interrupted by Applejack, who seemed to be the only pony who remained behind. Eternal Sleep backed up and adjusted her weapon, while keeping her eyes on Applejack. "What's the matter? Can't fight me yourself?" Eternal Sleep boasted. "Are you just gonna hide behind that little barrier you put yourself in?" "Of course that's what I'm going to do." Pinkamena said weakly. "You tore me from that filly's mind, and without a host body I'm destabilizing... I'm so weak right now I could lose to anypony..." "Well then, I would say let me put you out of your misery, but I still think death is too good for someone like you." Eternal Sleep said. "Staying in this barrier is keeping me from destabilizing... as of now my power is split to each of the five ponies I've assumed control of." Pinkamena said. "So basically, I can't do anything but watch..." Eternal Sleep looked up at Applejack, readied her scythe, and ran towards her swiftly. Applejack stuck both her hooves out, cuffs materialized on her hooves and one long chain connected the two of them. Eternal Sleep jumped and brought her scythe slicing downwards, while Applejack used her chain to catch the blade. Eternal Sleep struggled to remove it, but Applejack constricted the blade with her chain, and ripped it from Eternal Sleeps mouth, sending it flying down next to Pinkamena's barrier. Completely stunned by the outcome, Applejack took the advantage of the opening and brought her chain slashing across Eternal Sleeps face, causing her to spiral backwards on the ground. "How... is she so strong?" Eternal Sleep questioned, while recovering from the blow. "Did I mention I poured most of my power into this one right here? You're technically fighting a slightly lesser version of me." Pinkamena said. Applejack ran and was suddenly next to Eternal Sleep in mere seconds, lifting her hoof up and crushing Eternal Sleep's chest. Eternal Sleep started to cry tears of pain, rather than expressing screams. "It's a shame, you were so much more challenging when I fought you in the Castle." Pinkamena said. "Was that power of yours just a fluke then?... Well it doesn't matter anymore... I'm afraid this is where the road ends for you..." Applejack lifted her chain up and readied to bring them crashing down on Eternal Sleep's head, but as she was about to deliver the final blow, a splitting pain rushed through Applejack's and Pinkamena's head. Applejack screamed as she backed off of Eternal Sleep and cradled her own head tightly. "Wha... What is this? Where is this coming from!?" Pinkamena said painfully, as her barrier started to show cracks in it. "W-What!?" Eternal Sleep got up and pulled herself together, she had to endure the pain in order to win. Without her scythe, she instead used her magic to pull Applejack towards her. Her horn glowed a bright white, and as Applejack got pulled into Eternal Sleep's face, she released the purifying light dead center at Applejack. Applejack writhed on the ground from the light, as it burned the impurities from her body. But as she started to recover, a second ear piercing screech radiated through their heads again. "GAHHHH! WHAT IS THIS!? WHERE IS IT COMING FROM!?" Pinkamena screamed, noticing her barrier cracking even more. "I don't know what's happening, or why it's happening." Eternal Sleep said. "But you can be sure I'm glad it is." Applejack started to get angry, the pain still ringing through her head. She ignored it and charged towards Eternal Sleep, which surprised her greatly, she reacted just in time, and both were caught in a hoof lock, staring at each other dead in the face. A third screech rushed through their heads, Pinkamena's barrier continued to crack, yet Applejack used the pain as fuel to push harder. Eternal Sleep was brought down to her knees, struggling to push Applejack back upwards. The fourth and final screech pierced their heads, and Applejack was pushing down as hard as she could. Pinkamena screamed even more, as her barrier looked as if it began to crumble. "No... t-this can't be happening!" Pinkamena cried. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?" Eternal Sleep's horn started to glow a bright white to the point where it became blinding. She released her grip from Applejack's, and Applejack fell down on top of her. Using all her power, she released her magic from under Applejack and sent her flying upwards. "I don't think it matters anymore correct?" Eternal Sleep said, running towards her and grabbing her scythe with her teeth. Eternal Sleep ran back to where Applejack was launched and readied her scythe, looking at Pinkamena's crumbling barrier. "Regardless of all your efforts... everything you've done has been all for naught..." Eternal Sleep said, adjusting her scythe to the descending pony. She pulled it back and swung it forward with immense power, hitting the amulet with the blunt of her scythe and sending her flying towards Pinkamena's barrier. Applejack flew and shattered Pinkamena's barrier, causing them both to tumble backwards, Applejack more than Pinkamena though however. Eternal Sleep adjusted the scythe in her mouth again, and slowly walked towards Pinkamena, who was trying to crawl away. "P-Please don't do this to me..." Pinkamena cried, as she laid on her back looking at Eternal Sleep. "I never wanted it to turn out like this..." "...Neither did I." Eternal Sleep said, materializing the Black Book in front of her. "But I'm afraid there isn't anything else I can do." Pinkamena's eye swelled up in tears, she cried and continued to try to crawl away. "I can't! I can't be trapped again! I just can't!" "I'm sorry... I wish things... were different." Eternal Sleep said, opening the book and revealing the grotesque black tentacles that seeped out, moving to entangle Pinkamena's body. "PLEASE DON'T! I'M BEGGING YOU DON'T!" Pinkamena cried, as the tentacles latched on to her limbs one by one. "I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE AGAIN!" Eternal Sleep was silent. The tentacles pulled Pinkamena closer and closer into the book until she was soon engulfed by it. "I'M SORRY!" Pinkamena cried, as the book shut tightly and fell to the floor. "...I'm sorry too..." Eternal Sleep said, with a single tear rushing down her face. "I am too..." Eternal Sleep picked up the book and de-materialized it. She turned around to notice the four ponies that were taken by the possessed, standing there. "Pinkie I'm..." Eternal Sleep said, stopped by Pinkie's hoof on her mouth. "You don't have to say anything... I know it had to be done..." Pinkie said sadly. "I just wish... there was another way y'know?" "I know... but like she said herself... not everyone can have a happy ending." Eternal Sleep said. "Yea... I guess you're right." Pinkie said. "...Can we ever visit her inside sometime?" "I don't think that would be a good idea." Eternal Sleep said. "I'm sure I don't need to explain why that is right?" "No... it's fine I understand." Pinkie said sadly. "I'm just really depressed right now... not just because we had to re-imprison her again but..." "What is it?" Eternal Sleep said. "...I promised her I'd help her lead a normal life, to help her make friends, to help her... be happy." Pinkie said. "I never forgot my promise to her... and I just hate breaking promises..." THE END