//------------------------------// // Escape // Story: Conspiracy of the Heavens // by observer of dimensions //------------------------------// Running! Running is good especially when you have just under ten minutes to escape a doomed compound. A new alarm could be heard across the entire compound. The alarm had gone off just moments after Twilight discovered what the corpse had done. The one good thing that came from the blaring alarm was that all the fighting had stop since both sides were now running for their lives. Twilight galloped past dead bodies of both Griffin an pony. Every now and then she looked back at to she if the Alicorn was behind her. The Alicorn was always present thought the distance between them was increasing slightly every time she looked. It didn't take long to reach the lobby. The doors were closed but instead of slowing down to open it Twilight fired a strong magic bolt. The magic bolt made contact with the door and the door exploded in reply. Through the smoke and debris Twilight ran. Her ears sprayed back to listen for any sign of the Alicorn. After a few seconds she heard another set of hooves conforming that she was still being followed. She never had to run so much before in her life and it was taking it's toll on her body. Twilight did not pay any attention to the world around her. She, instead focused her sight on the tree line. With muscles burning, adrenaline coursing and heart pumping she soon reached the her goal. It was at this moment she turned her head back to find that the Alicorn was not behind her. Thankfully the clearing allowed Twilight to spot her easily. The Alicorn had fallen to the ground a few yards away and was not getting up. An aggravated sigh left Twilights lips as she ran back to the Alicorn. "What are you doing we have to go NOW" Twilight yelled at the downed pony. The Alicorn opened her once closed eyes to look at the incoming mare. Breathing heavily she spoke." I...I can't, I...haven't had enough time to recover...go...go my little pony escape from this place...I am graceful that you freed me but I can not go any farther...and I don't want to be the cause of your death...so please go..." "Oh shut up if you have the strength to talk then you have the strength to get up. Yes I did free you and I'm not about to let my efforts go to waste. I absolutely hate it when my efforts go to waste...NOW GET UP." Twilight started to nudge the Alicorn to get up. Twilight went from left to right and from front to back pushing the Alicorn to get up. Her efforts were rewarded as the Alicorn slowly rose to her hooves for a second time. Twilight placed a hoof on the Alicorn's front right leg. her horn lit up and then the duo was instantly teleported to the tree line. Twilight let out a small laugh "Stupid. I should have done that from the start. Without wasting another second The two of them began walking farther into the forest. Suddenly the ground began to rumble and trees started to shake. Twilight turned her head back to look at the compound while the Alicorn turned her head slightly to look at Twilight. "Damn we aren't far enough away." Twilight head jerked to the Alicorn's direction "Get down on the ground, get as flat as you can." Twilight ordered. The Alicorn followed the instruction without comment or complaint for it was much easier to lay down then to get up. Twilight laid down beside her and cast a shield spell. This shield spell however was not like a normal one. instead of a regular wall the magical shield curved over the unicorn and the Alicorn yet it did not incase their bodies. Just as the spell was complete a shockwave fell upon the duo. Twilight clinched her teeth and closed her eyes. The Alicorn copied the latter. The shockwave lifted rocks, dirt and shrubbery into the air. The following explosion sent them hurdling in every direction The full force of the explosion hammered at Twilight's shield. Pain shot from her horn to the rest of her body as she struggled to keep the shield up. No longer able to hold it in Twilight screamed. The pain was so much she couldn't tell if her shield was still up or if it had broken. The pain continued on for what felt like hours an then there was nothing. The last thing Twilight heard before she blacking out was somepony saying a name. "Nexus." A slight headache told Twilight that she was still alive. Her senses slowly returned along with awareness of her surroundings. Her eyes were still closed but she could feel the ground pressing against her back. Somehow she had been tossed on to her back from her original position. A cool breezed passed over her body making her shiver a little. Unable to prolong the enviable Twilight opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry at first preventing her from making out details of what she was looking at besides the fact that it was big and white. After blinking a few times her eyes adjusted and focused. Twilight's eyes shrink as she relied what the big white thing was. It was the Alicorn staring down at her. A expression similar to that of a worried mother was plastered on her face. "Are you ok my little pony?" The Alicorn asked softly. Twilight's first response was a groan as she lifted herself off of the ground. "I...I'm fine just a headache from magic overuse. . . and don't call me your little pony." Twilight waited for a response but was surprised by the one she got. "What is the last thing you remember?" Mentally agreeing that it was a good idea Twilight search her mind for whatever memories she could find. "There was an attack. I found you...then the corpse of one of my subordinates overloaded the pressure systems. we ran and then I placed a shield up to protect us." Once she was done Twilight looked around to see the aftermath. The ground underneath her an in the immediate area was untouched due to her shield. The land around the duo wasn't so lucky. The ground was barren, the grass torn away it's roots. Trees littered he ground laying in each and every direction. The trees that hadn't been torn from their location were now bent and broken. There was no signs of any buildings having ever been built. In the distance Twilight could see where the explosion's imprint on the land lessened till all signs of what happened disappeared into the still bountiful part of the forest. "How long have I been out?" Twilight asked rubbing her forehead. "Three hours since the sun rose." the Alicorn replied. Sure enough the Alicorn was right. Twilight made sure by checking the location of the sun. A skill that she had to learn to become chief engineer. Though the land was destroyed Twilight felt a sense of calmness wash over her. For the first time that day she was able to relax...and realized the gravity of her situation. "Great just great." The Alicorn shot Twilight a concerned gaze at her sudden outburst. Twilight ignored the Alicorn and continued on. "First day, My first day working a job of a lifetime and guess what happens...Griffins attack, not only that but I found a Alicorn who just so happens to be the actual one who rises the sun..." Twilight stopped her rant and stared into the Alicorn's eyes. "Your still going to raise and lower the sun, right?" The Alicorn nodded. "Oh...ok...that's good then, we won't be in eternal darkness. Of course that also mean that they will know that you are still alive which means they will find out who helped you which will cause them to come after me and kill me to keep this all a secret...MY LIFE IS RUINED." With that Twilight dove her head into her hooves sobbing hysterically. The concerned expression of the Alicorn morphed into one of pity and sorrow. She lifted a hoof to place on the crying mare shoulder. Things did not play out that way however. The instant the white hoof touched Twilight she shot up. A angry glare was present on her face. "You...it's your fault that this happened...if you hadn't needed to be free then none of this would have had happened." Twilight said pointing a hoof at the pony before her. Not wanting this to go any farther The Alicorn spoke. "It's nopony's fault this happened...Tell me m- young one, what would have happened if events hadn't played out the way they did?" Somehow the soothing voice of the Alicorn was able to calm Twilight down. "Most likely the Griffins would have entered the room again and I would have been killed. I...I don't know what they would do to you...maybe capture you or kill you...though I don't know what would happen with the corpse. Griffins don't use magic and even if they did it's against their beliefs to use any form of necromancy. The Alicorn nodded, satisfied with Twilight's answer. "See, through your actions you have just saved two lives where they may have been lost if another path had been chosen. Now I think it's way past due for introductions...may I ask for your name. Twilight nodded "I'm Twilight Sparkle, and you are?" "I am Pr-... call me Celestia"