Chapter 7
Fracture
Geode was sitting with Pip and Rumble underneath a nearby tree. The three sat in silence not daring to break the pregnant pause between them. Geode looked across the way field and saw the CMC doing the same. As he stared he saw the yellow filly turn her head and immediately looked away with a bright blush on his face. “What’s up Geode?” Rumble asked.
“Aye, ye been more quiet than a clam.” Pip said as he looked at the red colt.
“N-nothing.”
“Tis not wise to lie to yer captain.”
“Fine. After you left yesterday.....Applebloom.....Well.....” He said as he tried to find the right words. “She....kissed me.” The two colt’s jaws dropped in surprise.
“On the lips?” Rumble asked.
“No, on the cheek.” He said as his blush intensified.
“So what did you do?”
“I wasn’t really expecting it.” He exclaimed. The red colt let out a sigh as he looked at the two. The colt’s looked over to see Snips and snails running across the field at a breakneck pace shouting.
“MS.CHERILEE!” They yelled as they ran up to the maroon mare.
“What is it?” She asked as she saw the shocked looks on their faces.
“We’ve got a major problem.” The colt’s cringed as they remembered the last time they used those words. Right before the Ursa Minor incident.
“Please tell me you didn’t drag an Ursa into town again.” She said as she face hoofed.
“We were just on the edge of the field getting our ball and-” The small green Unicorn colt was cut off as an enraged manticore with a baseball sized bruise on it’s head. The beast let out a massive growl.
“EVERYPONY GET INSIDE AND STAY TOGETHER!” Cherilee yelled as the foals quickly ran inside and locked the door. The foals crowded together and watched in fear as the door started to budge and crack. “Okay everypony, stay still and let me get a head count.” The mare said in a hushed tone. Geode felt the yellow filly grab his hoof in fear as tears flowed down her face. Geode looked beside him and saw the same looks of fear and doom strewn across their faces.
The beast banged against the door again causing some of the frame to splinter and crack. The red colt got to his hooves and trotted over to the maroon mare who was trying to comfort a crying foal. “Hey Cherilee, is there a back door to this place?” He asked in a stagnant tone.
“Yes, why?”
“Take it.” He said as he trotted over to the window. “I’ll buy you guys enough time so you can escape and get help.” He said as he opened a window. The mare instantly got to her hooves.
“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” She yelled in a commanding tone. “I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!”
“I’m not asking, I’m telling you to run!” He said as he faced the window. Applebloom trotted over to him and grabbed his tail.
“Are you insane? Tat thing will tear you apart.” She said with tears in her eyes.
“Somepony has to lead that thing away.”
“I’ll-”
“Get the others out of here. You all still have a purpose to find and fulfill.” He said in a flat tone. The filly looked at him with tears flowing down her face. The colt looked at the filly and gave a heavy sigh.
“What about you?”
“I don’t have one. Not anymore.” He said as he saw the door frame crack. “Get going!” He barked as he jumped out the window and landed on his hooves.
The manticore raised it’s right claw, to crush the door. As the beast got ready to attack it felt a massive pain form on it’s back. The beast looked back to see a small red Unicorn colt with it’s horn glowing. The manticore growled and turned it’s attention back to Geode who quickly levitated a few rocks and fired them at the beast who let out a cry of pain. The beast charged at the colt with it’s tail aiming for his chest.
Geode dodged as the poison tipped tail jabbed at him. The colt backed away leading the beast away from the school house. The mare looked in amazement as the colt led the beast away as they quietly snuck out of the back. The CMC and Pirates watched in amazement as the colt dodged blow after blow. The red colt looked over to see the foals making their way out of the school house. He mouthed ‘run.’ The colt looked up to see the manticores tail slam into his chest, cutting the purple crystal necklace off his body. The colt was launched back into a nearby tree. “Geode!” The yellow filly yelled. The beast turned around and saw the other foals.
The light reflecting off the pink filly’s tiara hit the manticore in the eye, enraging it. The beast charged towards the group of fleeing foals. As the beast closed in on the pack a large object sprang up from the ground. The manticores jaws clamped around something small and incredibly hard. The foals looked to see that the red colt’s right hoof was inside the manticores mouth.
“What’s wrong? Can’t get a good taste?” Geode said as the beast released it’s grip in pain. The foals looked and saw that the manticores teeth were all but broken. Applebloom looked in amazement as she saw the panting red colt. She looked closer and saw that there were cracks all across his body. “GO!” He barked. The foals nodded as the manticore set it’s sights back on the red colt. The beast swung it’s claw and connected with the cult who was flung a good thirty feet away from the beast. Geode felt his strength leaving his body as he struggled to get to his hooves. His vision started to blur and he tasted blood in his mouth. A blazing pain in his neck started to form and he collapsed to the ground. His eyes snapped open as he heard a scream come from the filly.
Applebloom started to run as the manticore’s gaze fell upon her. As the manticore lunged to bite down on the filly it’s jaw was met with a rock that seemed to grow from the ground. The beast was repelled onto it’s hind legs in time for the red colt to follow up with a quick kick to the beasts gut with his rock encased back hoof. Geode started to stagger as the beasts tail lashed out at the red Unicorn. The tail hit it’s mark, dead center of the colt’s chest. Geode cried out in pain as he felt the tail make contact with his body.
Geode felt darkness slowly taking him. NOT YET! The colt’s horn flared and he rose to his hooves. The pain in his right shoulder was back, stronger than ever. He ignored it and focused what ever magic he had left into his horn.
“APPLEBLOOM!” The filly looked over to see her older sister along with her friends being led by Cherilee. The magic surrounding the colt’s horn changed from it’s normal red color to pitch black. The white’s of his eyes turned green as his purple pupils became spliced. A single bolt erupted from his horn that collided with the beats. The ponies watched in surprise as the manticore was encased in a massive black crystal. Twilight looked at the colt who had turned to look at them. The mare noticed an odd type of rash coming from the colt’s right shoulder that spread over his face.
As the colt took a step forward he felt a wave of pain engulf his body. Out of the corner of her eye the lavender mare saw the shining purple crystal necklace race towards the colt and wrap itself around his neck. The marks started to recede from the colt’s body. The colt’s eyes returned to normal and he collapsed. Twilight and the others rushed to his side with tears in their eyes. They watched in surprise as the colt’s coat started to crack and break away. They let out a gasp as the colt’s coat was riddled with scars and burn marks. The thing that caught Twilight’s eye was a small mark on the colt’s right shoulder.
Twilight quickly levitated him no to her back and vanished in a bright flash of purple light. The pair appeared inside the hospital lobby. "SOMEPONY PLEASE HELP HIM!" The mare yelled as a group of nurses and doctors got the colt on a stretcher.
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Back in the empire the elderly cloaked figure’s eyes grew wide and an evil grin grew on his face. “Found you.” He said with a chuckle. Another cloaked figure came to his side. “He’s in Ponyville. Go and....collect him.”
“At once sir.” The stallion said as he bowed and galloped out of the room. The elderly cloaked figure laughed as he sat alone in the darkness.
