Chapter 8: Watch the Darkness Hit the Ground
On the train, the group agreed we should enter town cautiously. Chrysalis may still be around, after all. Entropy and I would use our abilities to scout out the town, so we needed disguises of ponies who would be there. As I walked down the streets of Ponyville, I had to move my long pink mane out of my eyes. I tried to stick to the outskirts, avoiding crowds where possible. My disguise was helpful, because who would question Fluttershy avoiding a crowd? I knew her fairly well, being one of my off-and-on clients. Of course, while it'd be much simpler to fly to the library, that would be too suspicious. As I approach the giant tree, I knock softly on the door. After a moment, the door creaked open to reveal Spike's face.
"Oh, hey Fluttershy." He started. "What's up?"
"Well... I'm sorry to bother you, but is Twilight in?" I ask in Fluttershy's gentle voice. Spike shook his head.
"No, don't you remember? She left for Canterlot on royal business less than 20 minutes ago!" Oh, ponyfeathers.
"Oh dear! I completely forgot!" I said, raising my voice only slightly. "Do you think if I hurry she'll still be at the station?" Spike shrugged.
"She never told me when the train left." He grumbled.
"Oh, um... Thanks Spike!" I say as I gallop away. I slip behind a tree and change my disguise to my usual form, before continuing my run back to the station.
As I approached the station, something was clearly wrong. Ponies were running and screaming from inside it, for example. I quickened my pace and headed inside, weaving between the members of the small mob rushing the other way. As I emerged onto the platform, there was a ring of ponies, surrounding a grisly scene. Sprawled in the center of the ring was Twilight, or, rather, Queen Chrysalis disguised as Twilight, as the real Twilight should be elsewhere. She was on her side with a small black object lodged in her chest. The wound had leaked a small pool of blood onto the ground around it, and her breathing was jagged and rasping. on the other side of the ring lay a changeling, with a large green pool around his head, and his horn missing. He had a scar over his eye.
"Entropy!" I screamed as I rushed over to his side. The ponies present were aghast, but I didn't care. "Entropy, speak to me!" At my words, his eye slowly opened.
"Scape..." he gasped, "...I...did it." He smiled weakly. "I took down the Queen, Scape... You're free." He choked a bit, and coughed up a mouthful of green fluid. I saw a flicker of green light from Chrysalis' direction, and heard a gasp from the assembly. Quickly, I move my horn to the gouge in Entropy's head, and conjure a gout of green flames. The heat fuses the chitin shut, and I relent, before grasping him in my aura. With a heave, I lift him to my back. His weak buzzing rasp was all that told me he was still alive. I have to get him to the hospital now. I grab his horn in my magic, yanking it out of an unconscious Chrysalis before putting it in my hoof. I quickly change into a form that'll get me there as quickly as possible: Rainbow Dash. With a stroke of her powerful wings, I took off towards the hospital. I could feel my magic straining to keep up with the ridiculous strain this exertion was putting on it, but the only thing that mattered was saving Entropy. In less than a minute, I was at the door of the hospital. It was open, so I angled for it, still going as quickly as I could. I saw a green glowing crack appear in my foreleg, and the fur began to burn away around it, but I just braced for landing. I hit the ground on all hooves, and slid into the lobby just as the disguise shattered from my body. The secretary looked at me, mouth agape with shock.
"Emergency! Get the doctor!" I yell. The secretary remains frozen. "Now!" She shakes her head quickly before turning and galloping into the back. I hear panicked yelling, and two nurses emerge from the double doors with a stretcher. I levitate Entropy onto it, and place his detached horn beside him. They hurry him off without a word. I turn and move over to one of the chairs, before sitting in it. As the adrenaline fades, I feel my magic beginning to wane, but I muster just enough to return me to my unicorn form. I sit there quietly for a while. The secretary had returned, and was eyeing me cautiously when she thought I wasn't looking. I turn and give her a flat look.
"Miss, I've been here before." I say evenly. "I'm no different than I ever have been, I just want my friend to be ok. Do you blame me? It's not as if I'm suddenly malicious and evil." The mare shifts her gaze to the floor, and I look away. Oh, Entropy... Please be ok...
I sat in that chair for a good hour. Medics had rushed Chrysalis in at some point, but she didn't look like she was even breathing. I felt a little better at that. Without her, the Hive would be in too much chaos to bother me for a long time, until a new queen hatched, at least. Shortly afterwards, the doctor came out and told me Entropy had stabilized, and though still unconscious, he'd live. I felt as if a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders upon hearing that.
There were undoubtedly going to be bumps in the road, but, for now at least, my future had a hope it hadn't held in years. It'd take a while to adjust, but I'd say things are looking up! You know what they say about mirrors? That they show you as you really are? Well I think they're there to show you the past, and things you've left behind but can never truly escape. Some mirrors are better left broken, but sometimes a mirror can show you something truly beautiful. I stand here now, in my clinic, looking at my slightly dusty mirror. The mare looking back at me is smiling gently back. There is nothing in my reflection to fear now. Tomorrow will be brighter still.
The End