//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: "They Ain't Pushovers" // Story: Sparkle // by RyanPAPP //------------------------------// The journey to Buffaloberg was long and grueling. The whole way it was a constant battle for water, shelter, and food. The heat gleamed upon Matterhorn and Twilight Sparkle mercilessly, as if it were trying to destroy their morale. But, they kept their sights on one goal: Buffaloberg. Twilight had recovered after two days and could thankfully walk again, raising what was left of their spirits. But, what they found at Buffaloberg was not peace. It was not friendship. It was not memories. It was not... The Key. All that was there was hatred. Pain. Suffering. After being mobbed for what felt like hours, the tribal herd chieftain had ordered the two ponies to death. They were thrown in ragtag huts to starve before their scalping.... -------------- "Well Miss Twilight... We made it" Coughed Matterhorn past dry lips. Twilight just continued staring at the ground, sitting. Hope was lost to her. The aura markings that once covered her body were now blue, a result of the hunger. She was too weak to fight. "I guess we could say some things... Seein' how we're on death row 'n all...." Matterhorn suggested socialization, but Twilight wouldn't budge. "Ya' know Miss Twilight... I did kind of fancy you... When were goin' through the desert..." Twilight looked up at him. Past her sweat and dried tears Matterhorn could tell that she was hurt. She was hungry, hot, and drained. Her life had drained... Her aura was gone. "I-I guess you are kind of handsome. Compared to those brutes out there..." Twilight said, her voice cracking. Matterhorn laughed and wiped sweat from his forehead, leaning back. "It's all about perspective... This whole life thing..." Matterhorn started, weakly. "We sure got it better than anypony in Saddle Arabia... You ever see one of 'dem commercials? The ones with the starvin' kids...." Twilight nodded, somewhat remembering what life was like before she woke up in the desert all those days ago. Nothing was correct... Matterhorn sat up and slowly scooted closer to Twilight. "Maybe Redlung was right... Lil' sis always was right 'bout everythin'" Twilight sighed. "Why do they have to torture us... They already have us..." "The buff'lo always were sly..." Matterhorn whimpered behind dry coughs."Must say i admire them... Their the best fighters in this territory, that's for sure." Twilight's eyes went wide a little. "B-but the books I read said they were normally d-docile..." She said, shaking. "What kinda books you been readin', bonnet? They've always been this way!" She looked up at him, but before she could question anything, he interrupted her. "You know, Miss Twilight... Us country boys are more than purty faces..." Twilight almost blushed... But she wasn't even strong enough for that. "Funny... Months ago I would've said 'Not even if you were the last colt on the planet'. But now..." Twilight scooted towards him more as the sunset crept through the holes in the wall. "It's like you are..." A solitary tear ran down Twilight's eye as the realization that she would die hit her again. Matterhorn quickly acted and embraced her. The two stayed like that, huddled, for the rest of the night. It was the last night they'd ever be together. The last night they'd ever see another pony. The last night they'd sleep. The last night they'd... live. --------------------- The sun rose high and early with the constant beat of tribal drums in the distance, waking Twilight Sparkle and Matterhorn up. The whole time was awkward and depressing. Neither had to say a word. They knew what was coming by their expressions alone. Just before noon a large, decorated, buffalo poked his head through the door flap and motioned for others to follow. Two buffaloes grabbed Matterhorn and carried him away, while the other one barked at the remaining two. "Keep her alive! The chief wants to speak with her!" The two buffaloes snorted and made sly remarks like "What's the Chief want with this slime" and "He wants to beat the little pet himself". After they left, screaming soon followed. It was no doubt Matterhorn. It was a blood curdling scream that Twilight couldn't handle. She tried covering her ears, but the sounds rang in her head. She tried drowning them out with her own cries, but they weren't enough. All she could do was listen to the last colt she'd ever loved get mutilated. She would've been mad... But she wasn't strong enough. When the screaming and chanting subsided, the three buffaloes returned to the shack to retrieve Twilight and drag her into the Chief's tent, plopping her down. "Hmmmm...." The Chief exhaled, sitting low on the ground. "You three may go... Leave the mare..." The two buffaloes grunted and grudgingly left while the Chief eyed Twilight admiringly. "A Wielder... On my lands...." Twilight shivered, wondering what this... monster... would do to her. "Most of your kind was supposed to be dead... Why are you here? Do you sense what the others did?" Twilight cleared her throat. "W-what was that...?" The Chief chuckled. "Can you feel it, Wielder? You do. You know something is off. You know this isn't right. You sense something isn't right in the world." Twilight nodded, complying with the beast. "It seems you Wielders are the only ones who can stop this... Tribal legend runs deep in this land...." The Chief got up and walked to the back of the tent, lifting up a hidden flap. "Go, Wielder. Run. Run before my warriors retrieve you." Twilight shook her head. "I don't know where to go... I don't know why you're helping me..." "Don't think... Don't question. Just do. You are the only one that remembers. The only one that can survive..." Twilight stood up weakly and shook her way towards the exit, watching her back for any buffalo looking to get the sneak attack. She left and ran as hard as she could. She had no direction, no intelligence, just thoughts and The Gift. A