//------------------------------// // Inescapable Losses // Story: Soren The Alicorn Part 2: The Effects Of War // by KingNyroc15 //------------------------------// It was a stormy night for Equestria. The battle was over, Nyra was defeated, the eclipse was passing, and everypony began celebrating as they were preparing for the Hearth's Warming Holiday. The weather seemed to be mourning the death of Nyra, as was a lone colt as he sat in his hidden cave. The cave itself was connected to a ravine, which was situated within Equestria's grey, rocky outlands near Ponyville. The cave also had a few crystals along its walls that acted like mirrors. The white colt stared out into the ravine; the cave being close enough to the surface that he could easily see the dark grey clouds above. He just sat there, thinking. Although the colt was deeply sad, he wasn't crying; he had finished crying about her a few minutes ago. He simply began remembering what had happened during that battle. After he left his friends in the Canterlot Caves, Soren went to the one place that his friends have told him about but would never think to look for him at. After he spent hours thinking in his current location, Soren sensed a buzzing in his head and an eerie whisper that he thought he would never hear again. Do you see what happens when I leave? "Not even slightly," Soren replied out loud. Come on, be a smart colt and use your mind to speak. 'Have it your way, Cain,' Soren began to think. 'Why are you here?' To make a deal that would benefit us both. 'What makes you think I would trust you?' Because I'm the only one that can heal you. Soren's ears perked. That's what I thought. Now before we begin, I think it would be best to sing one last song for Nyra. Wouldn't you agree? Without realizing it, Soren's eye color changed from green to grey. 'Fine.' Soren, without knowing why, felt the need to walk up to one of the few crystals that lined the cave walls. He focused on his own reflection as he began to sing. "Bleeding I'm Crying I'm Falling I'm Bleeding out. Oh Bleeding I'm Crying I'm Falling I'm Bleeding out Bleeding now I'm Crying out I'm Falling down and I'm Feeling nothing like Laughing now I'm Stopping now I'm Reaching out and I'm Feeling nothing" Suddenly, Soren found that he wasn't moving his mouth anymore, yet the singing continued. Looking at the mirror, he saw that his reflection continued to sing. Yeah, you've created a rift within me Now there have been several complications That have left me feeling nothing I might say, you were wrong to take it from me "Left me feeling nothing" Soren quickly knew that he and Cain were taking turns to sing at this point. "Crawling now I'm Beaten down I'm Tortured now and I'm Feeling nothing like Hunting now I'm Stalking now I'm Reaching out and I'm" Killing nothing Yeah, you've created a rift within me Now there have been several complications That have left me feeling nothing I might say, you were wrong to take it from me "Left me feeling nothing" I can feel you ripping and tearing Feeding and growing inside of me Ripping and tearing and Feeding and growing inside of me "I want this, more than you know I need this" Give it back to me You've created a rift within me You are the cause of these horrid complications That are ripping and tearing and feeding and growing inside of me Yeah, you've created a rift within me Now there have been several complications That are ripping, tearing Feeding, growing Ripping, tearing Ripping and tearing and feeding and growing inside of me "I want this More than you know I need this Give it back to me!" Soren noticed that although he thought Cain sang at the end, it was actually him that sang the last line. 'No!' he yelled at Cain. 'I'm not letting you fill my head with any more angry emotions or songs.' Soren ran over to the mouth of the cave and took a deep breath of fresh air. He managed to catch a glimpse of the mountain that Canterlot was built upon. Becoming saddened again, Soren decided to sing another song. "I got dosed by you and Closer than most to you and What am I supposed to do Take it away I never had it anyway Take it away and everything will be okay In you a star is born and You cut a perfect form and Someone forever warm Lay on lay on lay on lay on Lay on lay on lay on lay on Way upon the mountain where she died All I ever wanted was your life Deep inside the canyon I can't hide All I ever wanted was your life Show love with no remorse and Climb up with your seahorse and This ride is right on course This is the way I wanted it to be with you This is the way that I knew that it would be with you Lay on lay on lay on lay on Lay on lay on lay on lay on Way upon the mountain where she died All I ever wanted was your life Deep inside the canyon I can't hide All I ever wanted was your life I got dosed by you and Closer than most to you and What am I supposed to do Take it away I never had it anyway Take it away and everything will be okay Way upon the mountain where she died All I ever wanted was your life Deep inside the canyon I can't hide All I ever wanted was your life" Tearing up, Soren closed his eyes as he lengthened the last note. He kept them closed as he stood there, feeling the stormy wind move past him. "So this is where you went," a friendly voice said. Soren was truly glad it wasn't Cain speaking to him anymore. With his eyes returning to green, the sad alicorn turned around to see that the Doctor and his TARDIS were behind him. Soren knew the brown stallion would find him after the battle. Frowning, he walked up to the Doctor. "Where were you?" Soren said, anger building. "You could've helped us!" The Doctor simply shook his head as a response. "Nyra dying was a fixed point in time, so no matter who interfered or what happened, Nyra was going to pass away. I'm sorry." "If that was a fixed point in time, why was it so important for her to die?" The Time Lord stared at his new friend with a sorrowful expression. He put a hoof on Soren's shoulder. "Soren...your life will change drastically because of this day. I can't say too much, but what I can tell you is that all I came here to do was to balance your magic out so it wouldn't be unstable." "You have to erase the Elements from my memory, don't you?" The Doctor nodded. "But keeping one won't hurt you. Which one do you like the most?" "I guess I'll keep Air...but Doctor, how could you of all ponies erase magic?" He chuckled. "I won't be doing the erasing. She will." The Doctor pointed to the TARDIS, and her doors opened soon after. From those doors, Princess Luna walked out into the cave. The midnight mare looked sad as she approached Soren and hugged him. "We art sorry it had to be this way in the end, my stallion," the princess said. Soren began to worry as he felt her tears touch him. "Luna, why are y-" Soren couldn't continue his sentence due to Luna grabbing his head with her hooves and touching her horn to his. A bright light immediately illuminated the entire cave. Soren knew something bad was going to happen as a result, so he instinctively fought against the spell. As Soren fruitlessly struggled, Princess Luna looked at the Doctor, who in turn hung his head. Looking back at her struggling coltfriend and feeling guilty for what she was supposed to do, Luna had newfound determination. 'I cannot allow Soren's mind to be erased as a result. He deserves better.' Luna had an idea, but she asked herself if it was any better than the original effect. 'If it's for Soren, I would be willing to do anything to save him.' "I'm sorry, Soren," Luna said softly. Soren looked at her. He began to tear up again as he saw Luna's tears streaming down her cheeks. The light became brighter and a low rumbling began. Very soon, a single, blinding flash signaled that the spell was complete. Princess Luna and Soren were blasted a foot or two away from each other, both of their horns singed at the tip. "Princess, no!" Groaning, Soren looked up to see the Doctor running over to Luna. Once he reached Luna, the brown stallion held her head so he could examine her. Soren saw the Doctor's neutral expression turn angry. "Why, Luna?!" He gently placed her head down on the ground. "Of all the things you could have done!" "What...happened...to her?" Soren said weakly. "Is she...alright?" The Doctor, sadness returning, looked at Soren. "It's going to be fine, Soren. It's just..." He sighed. "I need to tell you something." Soren remained silent and attentive. "You do realize that Rainbow Dash meant no harm, right?" Soren struggled to nod. "She is very sorry though." "Why...did she...throw it?" "Sometimes...the ponies that love you the most, make the smartest yet dumbest mistakes." The Doctor looked at Luna after he said that. He then looked outside and saw that the storm had died down. "I need to go. Don't worry, you're fine, but one word of advice: Always keep your friends by your side." With that said, the Time Lord walked over to Luna, situated her onto his back, and made his way into the TARDIS. Soren reach out a hoof to stop him, but he was so weakened that his hoof fell back to the cave floor. The TARDIS doors closed and soon began disappearing. Soren's eyes slowly began closing as the TARDIS continued to vanish. Once it was gone, Soren fell asleep.