//------------------------------// // Blackrock // Story: To Glory // by Quantum Solace //------------------------------// To Glory Chapter V Blackrock         Pain. That’s what flooded into my mind as I gasped, lying on my back, agony searing through my chest... and my nethers. I attempted to stand... and found that I couldn't! My body wasn’t responding! I couldn't even move my eyes to look around! I was stuck staring at the ceiling of a... surprisingly familiar pink bed.         A hoof pressed on my throat, and I began to choke. My hooves flailed around, like they were under another's command, and didn't seem to respond at my attempts to grasp at the hoof choking the life out of me. My pink flurry of hooves pitifully batter against the strong white stallion’s foreleg seemed to do nothing to-         Wait, pink forehooves?         True enough, My forehooves where pink. I noticed now, no thanks to the pain I was enduring, that I had also gained a smaller build. I was lighter. I still had my horn and wings. And now the big stallion was looming over me, grinning sadistically. I attempted to focus my magic, but I had just about as much luck with that as moving my limbs. I looked into the stallion’s eyes and tried to focus beyond the pain as his lips moved to form words. “-what you get Cadence. You shouldn't have tried that stunt back there. Not smart. Not smart at all.”         With a jolt, I realized as was being addressed by Shining Armor. But... this was wrong! He had me pinned to the bed, looming over me, grinning. I felt something touch my mare-hood. I nearly fainted right then and there. I tried to turn and twist away, but my body wouldn't respond. I scratched at the walls of my mind as Shining Armor began to penetrate me. My scream echoed the ponies I was in, and my entire world turned black My eyes snapped open when I finally exited the nightmare. I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself. I had been raped; or rather, the mare I had inhabited for that time had been raped by Shining Armor. However, I did have a sneaking suspicion that the pony I had been inside had been Cadence. But Princess Cadence and Shining Armor where married! To what purpose did one forcing the other to submit to sex serve? I had heard of some ponies enjoying that type of thing, but I did not share this fetish. It took me a few seconds to grow aware of my surroundings. The first thing that struck me was that it was now very late in the night, or very early in the morning.. I lay in a clearing, amid a large dense woodland. I could feel something warm a soft pressing against my side, and sunk into it, not caring what it was. I shook uncontrollably. It was as if I could still feel Shining Armor’s breath on my face, and his body violating my own. I squeezed my eyes shut, and slowly entered a dreamless sleep.         When I awoke a second time, it was daylight. I yawned, and found myself staring in golden eyes. I jumped back in surprise, and smashed into the furry mass behind me.         “Princess Luna?” Judgement asked in concern. “Are you alright?” he moved what I now realized was his tail, closer around me. I shoved it away, and ignored the confused expression on his face.         “I am fine.” I informed him tartly. “Where are we? What happened to the Changeling Queen’s ship?” Judgment stood and shook himself, scattering morning dew all over me. I flinched at the cold water, and the dragon gave me an apologetic smile, which I returned with a hard look of my own. “We’re in Everfree.” he explained. “About thirty miles from Blackrock. After you fell unconscious, some Solar Empire warships popped up out of nowhere. Chrysalis held them off while I took you and escaped. She wants us to complete the mission.” His horns glowed as he levitated up my saddle bags and Spec. Rifle, before passing them to me. I took them hesitantly, still uncomfortable at the magic wielded by the dragon. I took them and eyed him warily. “What... what happened to me?” I questioned. Judgment looked sympathetic. “You entered her memory.” he said. “One of Cadence’s memories.” I frowned. “How?” I questioned. “How did I enter the memory of one who is not myself?” Judgment considered the question a bit before answering. “We’re not sure.” He said. “But it has something to do with you missing your memories. Your magic is constantly searching for them, reaching out to others in an attempt to take theirs as your own. Luckily, your mind can tell the difference between your’s and someone else’s, but you might find yourself dragged into one of the memories of you concentrate on it.” “Concentrate?” “Focus your magic on it.” He elaborated. “From what I've heard, it’s a bright orb, or floating star, or something like that, that will appear near the pony whose memory it belongs to.” I shivered a bit. So, I could see Cadence’s memory again? Be forced into such a position, and subjected to such horrors if I did so much as looked at that floating magic above her head Judgment noticed my obvious distress. “What happened in the memory?” he asked softly. I trembled a bit as I recounted what I had experienced inside the memory orb; the humiliation, the pain... the humiliation. Even if it wasn’t me, I have never included myself in such... activities. As much as the rumors circulated around Canterlot of my sister’s workings, I had never done anything as such. My draconic companion looked thoughtful for a moment, then sighed. “Are you... going to be okay?” My response was a snort. “Perfectly.” I said icily. The dragon looked at me disbelievingly, and I rolled my eyes. “I believe you mentioned we’re in Everfree? This is hardly the place to go through sexual therapy.” The dragon rolled his eyes. “Fine,” he said, turning, “but we’re going to talk about this at some point.”         I gave my own little sigh and pouted.         I took us about three hours of flying and walking to finally reach a point where we could view Blackrock. Celestia’s sun was beginning to set as we looked on at the ominous hilltop castle.         It looked like a dark mansion from a fairy tail. Black towers rose high into the air, as a large wall rose around it. Not to mention it was built on the side of a cliff face. Indeed, a fairy tale castle. If it wasn’t for the monstrous flickering blue shield that circumnavigated the structure. Or the hundreds of golden shape flittering about the dark monsterosity. As we watched, a large flying ship, much like the Hive only on a much smaller scale, emerge over the castle. Even though the Hive would dwarf this ship in size, there was no question it was large, spreading it’s shadow far over the entire castle. It floated down towards a small white platform that seemed out of place, and docked there. I strained to make out the figures disembarking, but they were too far away to make out. Judgment prodded me, making me jump. He put a finger to his lips, and pointed a few yards away from us. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now I could make out a small light- a small fire- burning. Surprisingly stealthy for such a large creature, Judgment began creeping towards the light, motioning with his tail for me to follow. I gave an indignant snort and trotted after him. As we neared, I could begin to pick out voices. Two stallions were arguing. loudly. “--And I tell ya, it ain’t the radiator!” one said. “It’s the water pump! Ae need ah new one!” “And I say, it’s the radiator! All we need’s a bit O’ water!” Around a large bush, two stallions were yelling at each other beside a large.... thing. A long, black, sleek metal thing, with large wings, and propellers on the ends. At the front was a cockpit, and at the back, a large bay door was open, revealing a steamy cargo area, loaded with crates. From one of the propellers, smoke was rising into the sky. It seemed to be damaged in some way. Judgment began to slip around towards the back of the machine. Again, I silently trotted after him. As we neared the back, the two stallions were beginning to argue even louder. Judgment began to explain his plan in a hushed growl, “First, we’ll levitate out a few of these crates, and put them out of sight somewhere. Next, You sneak around front, and crawl into the cockpit, while I sneak into the back. I shut the door, you pilot the thing, and we’re off! Foolproof!” “Great!” I hissed. “Save one flaw. Just a tiny thing: I can’t fly this infernal contraption you great oaf!” Judgement paused, and stared at me. “What are you talking about?” the white dragon asked. “Of course you do! Don’t your remem-” he stopped himself short as something dawned on him. “Riiiiight. You don’t remember.” I attempted to resist the urge to shoot him. “What are you talking about?” I questioned. “Nothing!” Came his too quick response. “Nothing?” I hissed. “Then you should tell me!” “It’s not important!” “What are you saying, it’s obviously important! And that’s why you're not telling me!” “Look, maybe we can--” “Put your hooves in the air!” “Yes Judgment, put you p-- wait, what?” I turned to find a floating weapon pointed at my royal flank. Obviously, our argument had gone a little louder than intended. The two stallions who had been arguing where now wielding weapons. One, a unicorn, was levitating some kind of drum fed weapon, while the other, an earth stallion, had a long sleek weapon in his mouth. “Ah said, put ‘em up!” said the unicorn levitating his drum-weapon higher. As I turned, his companion gasped. “Bob...” Bob? “That’s.... that’s Princess Luna!” The Unicron gasped. “Then...then intel was right! She did escape!” The earth stallion looked completely ecstatic as he dropped his gun to the ground, and spun to face the unicron. “Ya know whut this means Bob?” He was so distracted, he didn’t notice me wrapping my magic around his weapon. “Whut Harry?” he asked, also dropping his weapon, and noticing when I levitated it into the air. These two weren't the exactly the brightest bulbs in the-- “Twenty thousand tons of pure gold!” Harry blubbered. Now that caused me to pause. “Oh yeah!” Bob blubbered. “Bring the Princess back alive, and we’ll be livin in style. Forever!” I gave the duo a little cough, but the two stallions were too busy fantasizing. “We could get the new Xbox!” “And pre-order Halo 5!” “And get all the hot mare’s we want!” “All da mares!” I gave myself a face hoofed and spoke loudly, “Excuse me, fine gentlemen!” The two turned as I shoved the weapons, which, thanks to the names carved into the side, I recognized as a combat shotgun, and an assault carbine, into their faces. “I do not think I’ll enjoy being captured.” I said sweetly. The duo paled. “Oooooh snap....”         And hour, two rolls of duct tape, and a few threats later, Judgment was in the back of the airship with one of the stallions (who was comically duct taped to the roof), while I rode with the other, who was piloting the ”dropship,” as they called it. The large, plane like vehicle sailed through the sky, soaring towards the large castle perched on the mountain side, enveloped by the blue shimmer dome of protective magic. As we flew, I questioned the guards on the status of the castle, and the large ship coming in.         “Well,” the buck answered nervously, “So I hear, the prisoner attempted to escape. Nearly did, but he needs someone on the outside to shut down the shield protecting the level he’s stuck on.”         “Needs?” I asked. “In the present tense?”         The buck nodded. “No ones either got the skill or power to lock him back into the prison. So they had to call in a specialist.”         “A specialist?”         “The only pony powerful enough to force the escaped prisoner back into his cell,” he said, “Is Princess Celestia herself.”         My blood turned to ice at the mention of my sisters name. “On-on the boat?” I might’ve said that, or squeak, but the pony nodded in response as he pulled closer to the base of the castle.         “This is where we usually unload supplies.” he said, pointing a hoof towards the base of the huge structure, where an opening was visible just below the shield. He turned back in his seat to look at me. “If it means anything, I didn’t approve of celestia locking you in an asylum. I always thought you were more down to earth than she was... so to speak.”         I nodded dully at his praise as we landed at a deserted docking back. Huge platforms speared over empty space, leading to a single large tunnel traveling deep into the mountain. We landed. and the cockpit slid open. As I began to disembark, I glanced back at my pilot. “Need I threaten you about what happens if you go raise the alarm?” he shook his head violently. “Good.”         I hopped off the Dropship, Just as Judgment came out of the cargo bay. The rear of the ship closed, and it glided back into the air, noticeably flying rather quickly in the opposite direction of the oppressing castle.         I turned to Judgment. “Celestia is here.” I said immediately. Even saying her name made my mane stand on end. I explained to the dragon what I had heard from the pilot.         To my surprise, the great white dragoon did not seem the slightest bit put off. “Figures.” he grunted. “Celestia and the prisoner have a history.”         ‘What?” I said in surprise. “Is this someone I know?” He gave me a look. I rolled my eyes. “Yes, in my lost memories I cannot have for some reason correct?” He gave a nod.         Stomping my hooves in frustration, I stormed angrily towards the tunnel opening. “They’re my memories!” I snarled. “What makes it so I’m not allowed to know what's going on in my own head!”         “Luna,” he whispered urgently, “Don’t you think it’s best we keep our voices down?”         I snorted. “Sure, like an entire army is magically going to appeared from thin air-” I was cut off as in the tunnel opening, a bust of air clodded out, and dozens of Solar soldiers, armed to the teeth and in golden armor, flickered into existence.         They gaped in surprise.         Judgment gaped in surprise.         I went, “Oh shi-”