//------------------------------// // Urge // Story: Thunderous Wrath // by SweetPeachTea //------------------------------// Vigilance returned home a short while later, releasing a breath as he entered the warmth of his abode. It was a small home; with nothing terribly fancy or expensive to take note of. Yet it felt warm and welcoming, his salary allowing him a nice and safe area to raise his family. He remembered, years ago, when he had first noticed the place. It had once been old and creaking, reeking of soaked wood and decay. Now the scent of his wife’s perfume wafted freely throughout the enclosed space, the scent faint yet noticeably sweet. A salad had been left for him in the kitchen area, the green lettuce sprinkled with carrots and tomatoes. He smiled at the sight before the look vanished, a worried frown forming as he glanced toward his back area, a tiny alicorn lying limp across his back. She had shifted, mumbling incoherently to herself before she settled into a more comfortable position and became still. “Mmm... Vigilance, is that you?” A mare poked her head from their bedroom, blinking and releasing a yawn. She raised her hoof and rubbed her eyes, her dark mane ruffled from bed and sleep. It took her a mere second to notice the small shape on her husband’s back. “Oh! Oh, Vigilance, she is simply adorable!” She said, rushing forward to further examine their guest. The stallion simply grunted before transferring the alicorn to his wife’s secure grip. She beamed, cradling the young female within her hooves as if it were her own. “So beautiful. Just like our own lil’ one. Young, too. She must be about ten or eleven. She’s gonna get big soon, I bet,” she cooed. “Just look at that mane! And that coat! And... oh, she’s got a cutiemark, too.” His wife scowled, attempting to guess the meaning behind such a mark. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion before she shrugged and moved on. “Where’d you find her?” She asked. Vigilance eyed his meal. “Out in the woods. In an abandoned tool shed. Ain’t been used for a long while. I think she’s lost. But... just look at her.” “Wings and a horn. I’ve noticed,” she stated plainly. “Perhaps she’s kin to Princess Celestia?” “Probably,” Vigilance replied. “Go on an’ eat, darling. And go to bed, too. It’s nearly morning! And you must be tired. I’ll take care of her. She’s absolutely filthy and needs a bath. And some feeding won’t hurt..” Vigilance nodded before he began to dine, trusting his wife to manage the child within their care. --- I awoke in what felt like and was a warm pool of water. Confusion settled as I released a small moan of discontent, my mind attempting to recover from the initial drowsiness that encouraged my return to the world of dreams. Images were faded in my mind, reminding me that I had dreamed. But they eventually faded, my eyes blinking open as a soft hum caressed my ear. I was greeted by a smiling equine, her gaze focused on my midsection as she gently rubbed the area. It felt so warm. And so nice. I shut my eyes, sighing contentedly. “You awake, lil’ filly?” I moved, stretching out my limbs and yawning, a giggle slipping out of the mare’s mouth in response to such movement. I open my eyes, the sight of a brown pelt and ebony mane greeting me. I stared dumbly, my mouth agape as I grew stiff. Was I not in a shed before? Had I been discovered? Her hooves moved, washing my form and gently stroking my muscles that caused me to relax. My breathing remained steady, and I eventually spoke, the uncomfortable silence urging me to voice the questions that came to mind. “Wh-” I coughed, the water rippling around my midsection as my body spasmed. I nearly fell backward, but the mare reacted quickly, wrapping her hooves around me. “It’s alright,” she said. “There you go.” She smiled as I panted quietly, my mouth suddenly feeling dry. The hooves fell away, and a cup of water was pressed to my lips. “Mother’s intuition. Had a feeling you’d be thirsty!” She winked. After being watered and bathed, I was removed from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my trembling form as the home’s chill brushed past my soaked flank and seeped into my body. The mare was a nice creature, gentle and patient as she handled me. I eventually found myself on a bed, a carrot held near my mouth as she encouraged me to eat. I turned my head away from the offered meal, eyeing her warily. “Oh, c’mon, sweetheart. You have to eat,” she drawled. I remained silent, sniffing the carrot on occasion. I was aware that I required sustenance, my body begging me to devour available nutrients. But I remained stubborn and unsure. “It’s ain't poison. See!” She bit down on its end, chewing loudly. “Mmm! Very good! Go on. Give it a go.” She offered it again. I bowed my head and opened my mouth and the mare released a soft gasp as I bared my teeth. But she remained still, a quiver quaking her petite form in response to the sight of my teeth. Another equine entered, a stallion this time, who settled at the mare’s side. She leaned toward him and whispered in his ear, her voice too soft to hear properly. The stallion squinted his eyes before raising a hoof and tipping my chin upward. “Open your mouth, filly,” he commanded. I obeyed after a moment of hesitation. He hummed in acknowledgement, cocking his head to the side. “Perhaps she’s kin to Nightmare Moon, then,” he stated. “Don’t say that, Vigilance! That’s a horrible thing to say and you know it!” “Fact don’t care much for ‘horrible’. Fact is fact. And that’s that.” The mare appeared distressed, glancing at me and then her husband. I continued to chew my carrot, merely observing them as they spoke. Eventually they began argue, but before it could grow out of hand the stallion’s brow furrowed and he pressed closer to her with a snarl. The mare released a small neigh, retreating a step as she was reminded of her place. She apologized, the sound forced as she averted her gaze. Her eyes focused on me, then. She turned away from her husband and pressed closely to my small form, nuzzling into my ruffled mane. “It’s alright, darling,” she whispered. I swallowed my carrot. “Keep her in our room tonight, stay with her, and keep an eye on her. Understand? I’ll be around. We’ll place her in the Royal Guard’s custody as soon as possible. I don’t care much for her breed, after all,” Vigilance said, taking his leave. I watched him go before my gaze focused on the mare. She pitied me, I could tell. After all, my form was young, and I was presumably innocent within her eyes. She nuzzled me and I returned the gesture. It felt natural to do so, a primal instinct encouraging me to accept both her embrace and care. The mare offered me a wide smile and I offered a small one in return, the expression not reaching my eyes just as it did not reach her own. --- I slipped out of the window. It was a simple maneuver, and the only known option available to me. The kind mare was asleep, having previously curled herself around my form and encouraged rest with a few soft whispers. I feigned sleep and released myself from her embrace after an hour of lying still. She stirred once or twice, but remained ignorant of my intentions. I touched the soft grass, turning my head to determine where I should go. Houses, some crumpled and in heaps and others not surrounded me. It would be simple to hide. Darkness and shadow reigned, and someone as small as I could take advantage of this with superb ease if I made little noise and gathered a minute amount of attention to myself. I took the first step toward taking advantage of such opportunity... ... I shut my eyes before I was knocked off my hooves. I released a small yelp, temporarily dazed and managing to recover quickly. The pain that throbbed in my skull was a minor headache that eventually ebbed away as seconds passed and I stood. I stared at the stallion who approached, his cropped mane visible within the moon’s light. My eyes widened a great deal, and I mentally berated myself for allowing the memory of the mare’s husband to slip away so easily. “You ain’t going nowhere, filly,” he said, his voice deep. “It’s my duty to return you to your kind. And away from the simple folk here. They already suffered enough, and I ain’t gonna let them deal with a potential troublemaker.” “I’m leaving,” I replied, scowling. “I don’t mean to be the cause of any trouble. Please, leave me. That is all I ask.” I released another cough, my throat continuing to ache, but the pain has grown tolerable. The stallion continued his approach, intending to apprehend me. He appeared to be experienced, his gaze focused on my own. If I glanced elsewhere he would lunge, assuming that I intended to flee. I was forced to focused, attempting to conjure that power within my own body. The stallion paused for a brief moment, wary of the power I might possess, my horn visibly beginning to crackle with energy. There was a brief flash of pain from my forehead and nothing else. I released a small noise of distress, quickly realizing that I had produced nothing. The stallion smiled, the look infuriatingly smug. “Back inside, now. I won’t hurt you. C’mon,” he encouraged. “I refuse,” I stated. Vigilance scowled at me, a hint of annoyance there. “Kid, I hope you realize that you have just given me explicit permission to handle this situation with the required amount of force. You get hurt, it’s on you.” “I’m aware of this,” I replied, defiance etched across my soft features. "I understand. But my choice remains. I refuse." "You've got guts, kid." He snorted and charged. --- Vigilance wife awoke to a loud thud, her gaze shifting as she attempted to understand the situation she had awoken to. The window. Something happened outside. The noise came from there. She hurried forward, her blurry mind unable to grasp the fact that the small filly in her possession had vanished from her hold. The window was open, and the sky’s shade had begun to grow pale as morning arrived. She released a shocked gasp at the sight that greeted her. A large heavy limb that had once been settled atop their home due to the storm’s fury was now crushing her husband underneath it’s weight. She rushed outside, crying out for help, her vision growing blurry as her eyes stung. Once at her husband’s side she examined him, tears beginning to form as relief surged throughout her. He was still alive. But his breathing was terribly shallow. She glanced upward and then simply determined that the branch had finally rolled off and crashed down on her unfortunate lover’s form. “It’s alright, darling,” she whispered, kissing his cheek as he groaned. “I’ll get help. I’ll be back. I’ll be back!” Having determined that the limb was too heavy to move on her own, she rushed elsewhere for assistance, oblivious to glowing eyes that focused on her retreating back. --- Luck. Luck has gained me my freedom. And I will not lose it again. I will remain hidden away until the fates decide otherwise. I stood upon the house’s roof, my wings sore, their appearance ruffled and unkempt. I had flapped them in desperation and had nearly fallen into the hooves of that stallion. But I remained determined, and did not accept defeat, forcing myself to climb and push onward. The broken tree limb had been there, and my mind had formed an idea as I stood panting upon the home's slanted roof. I had struggled, and, with that final shove, caused it to roll and drop its weight upon the stallion’s bulky form. I shut my eyes and released a held breath. It was time for me to leave this place. Clever little beast, a voice cooed. I glanced about, reconsidering my sanity as a disembodied voice continued to sound. Come to me, child. I will guide you. I will lead you. Come to me, it hissed. My head throbbed. I released a groan, proceeded to clutch my head as the voice released an impatient shout. Run, child! Run! Do you desire capture? Do you desire captivity? Do you desire death? I obeyed, mindless and incoherent. I ran. I strained my tiny wings and flew. I howled in agony. I was blinded by such rage that was not my own! A demon guided my steps. It was all too clear to me. And there was nothing to be done. For I had no other choice than to bow to It’s will. I was overcome with the urge to follow the path it forced upon me.