//------------------------------// // Chapter 25 - Crimson and the Silence of the Mare // Story: Fire and Brimstone, Book 2 // by BluePhoenyx //------------------------------// All was dark with an eerie silence. The only light was the faint glow from the heart of the earth itself. Celestia stared down the gaping wound the planet had sustained, feeling a strange cold sensation. She felt the suction of the chasm below as her mane flowed with the wind. She turned around and looked to her sister, and the army of ponies behind her. “Princess Luna, are you ready?” Princess Luna stepped up to Princess Celestia. “I am.” Luna turned around to the army. “Get in positions!” She spread her wings and flew over the chasm with pegasi following and they landed on the other side of the chasm opposing Celestia. The army fanned out behind their assigned princesses as the two faced each other and took a few steps back. They looked at each other for a brief moment before they nodded. Then, they pointed their horns at one another as their horns started to glow. The winds suddenly picked up as a helix of magic shot from their horns and flew at each other. Upon impact, a huge gust of wind exploded from the impact point, causing a massive pulse to shoot out at the army, making a few of the soldiers get knocked off their hooves. Celestia and Luna winced in pain as the helixes intertwined and merged, then tensed up creating a long beam of magic connecting the two princesses together from across the earth’s gash. As soon as the magical bind tensed, the wind suddenly imploded toward the impact point. Then the combined beams started to violently fluctuate as a circle of volatile magic energy formed around the two princesses. Then, the magical domes lashed out, causing massive amounts of magic energy to shoot out at the army. Some of them screamed in pain while others collapsed from the hit. Before anyone knew it, they were all tethered to the domes from this volatile energy, as some of the ponies struggled to keep their balance from the strong winds that were pulling them into the void, as well as the tether draining them of their strength. The earth started to shake at the completion of the ritual and the three hundred meter chasm started to slowly close. Soon after, Celestia started to lose her balance as her fatigue from the ritual started to take its toll. Finally, she collapsed and was launched into the middle of the chasm. Luna’s eyes popped and she gasped, then she whipped her head back, breaking the magical tether the two had created and launched herself into the air, stopping the vacuum the spells have caused. She dove as fast as she could into the chasm and snatched the falling princess from the depths of the earth. Luna slowly started to make her way back to the surface as other pegasi flew down to assist the recovery of the falling princess. Finally, they all reached the top and they rested on the ground beside the chasm. Celestia looked up at Luna and gave a faint smile as the army surrounded the two. Luna gave a smile back then looked up at the chasm to see the effect that the ritual had. Celestia turned her head to view their results only to have her smile fade away. Luna helped her sister to her hooves and they walked to the ledge of the chasm and looked down. Luna looked into the glowing red at the bottom of the cut. “I’m sorry, my sister. It would seem that our efforts have been for not.” Celestia shook her head. “No, it started to close. I think we did well for our first attempt.” She looked up at the other ledge. “We didn’t restore the earth and close the wound, but the healing has started.” “We need to revise our strategy of this ritual.” Celestia nodded. “I agree. Come, my sister. Let’s go back to Canterlot and think of another solution to our problem.” Luna nodded and the army lifted off and flew back toward Canterlot. * * * Crimson’s eyes slowly cracked open. The fuzzy and blurry shapes of ceiling lights slowly came into focus as he shut his eyes and turned his head, avoiding the light. He tried to lift his hoof to shield his eyes only to feel that it was attached to some sort of thin hose that went through the flesh of his arm, and was held into place by an adhesive strip. He stared at the strange object, then followed the strange tubes with his eyes. He paused when he looked at his chest, and at the new and rather large circular scar on his torso. He touched the object on his arm with his other hoof to feel the tube. Then in one quick motion, he grabbed the tub and ripped it out of his arm. The sound of ripping adhesive made him cringe as the skin tried its best to not tear from the quick and violent motion. He tossed the tube aside and started to rip out the strange objects from every piece of his body. He turned over and stood up. With a sudden rush of blood to his head, he felt light headed and staggerd a few steps. A pony in a white overcoat rushed into the room and looked upon the red coated pony. “You’re awake!” Crimson tried his best to stand up straight as he rubbed his eyes. “So it seems. Where am I?” The doctor quickly got beside Crimson and tried to help him. “You’re in Canterlot. Princess Twilight brought you here a couple of weeks ago with a critical injury to your torso, as well as a ton of other injuries.” The doctor gestured back to the bed. “You need to rest. You being alive is nothing short of a miracle.” Crimson looked down at his body and looked at the scar. “What happened?” The doctor started to lightly turn Crimson back to the bed. “You had a hole in your torso going from your seventh rib straight through to your sternum two inches in diameter.” Crimson put a hoof on the bed and he turned around. “How did I survive such a fatal wound?” “I don’t know.” The doctor started to gather some of the hoses Crimson threw on the ground. “All I know is we bound you as best as we could, and we kept a pony on you to watch your condition. Then Princess Twilight came rushing in the next day, put something on the injury, then left. From that point on, your wound quickly closed up and you were stable.” “Fascinating.” “I know, right?” The doctor put a hoof on his chest and gestured for him to rest. “Your wounds may have closed, but it looked like your internal injuries needed a lot longer to recover. You still had broken and dislocated bones, but they were healing quickly - quicker than anything I’ve ever seen.” Crimson leaned back into the bed. “Very fascinating.” After Crimson settled back into the bed, the doctor took a step back. “I was told to call Princess Twilight and her Jane Mare as soon as you woke up. If you’ll excuse me…” He turned and left the room leaving Crimson alone once again. * * * A short while later, the door to Crimson’s room opened again and Rainbow Dash walked into the room, followed by Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash looked surprised at Crimson’s awakening. “Holy hoof, you ARE awake!” The girls got excited and surround Crimson’s bed. Fluttershy clapped her hooves together. “I’m so happy to see you’re okay.” “Now we can have a Welcome Back party!” The girls started to uncontrollably talk as Crimson looked over the three. “I can not help but notice that some of you are missing. Where is my sister?” The girls quieted down as Rainbow Dash answered. “Your sister has us running all over the place gathering all sorts of strange stuff and taking them to Rarity’s boutique or Applejack’s farm.” The doors opened and Demi entered the room. “Ah, there you are.” She pointed to Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. “You two, go to the blacksmith. And you,” She said, pointing to Fluttershy. “Go to the clothier. We’re almost finished.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Yeah, yeah.” She and the other two left the room. Demi looked at Crimson. “What did I say about you and your futile mission?” “It was not my best strategy devised, but it was sufficient. And now you have every pony doing your bidding?” Demi scoffed. “Hah, hardly. These lazy sobs are weak and pathetic.” “What are you planning?” “I’m not planning anything. It’s what your precious princess is planning.” “This is Princess Twilight’s doing?” Demi nodded. “Yes, and that whelp owes me big for me even bothering.” Demi walked up to Crimson. “Come, you must see.” “I was informed by the healers to rest.” Demi shook her head. “You are turning into a bigger weakling by the minute.” She grabbed Crimson’s hoof and sat him up. “Come, we’re leaving.” * * * Crimson and Demi walked through the halls of the Canterlot Infirmary. The doctor's arms went limp in surprise when he saw Crimson walking down the halls. “H-Hey!” He rushed to confront his patient. Demi lifted her hoof and stopped the doctor’s approach. “Stop, fool.” “No, you should stop.” The doctor replied. “He’s still in recovery.” “My brother has recovered enough.” She pushed him aside and continued to walk. She looked behind her at Crimson. “Come, we have important issues to address.” Crimson stared at Demi as she turned and continued to walk. He then looked at the doctor, who in turn looked at his patient. “Do not worry about me. I shall be fine.” “Are you kidding? You should be dead and now you’re just going to leave?” “So it seems.” Crimson walked passed the doctor following his sister. * * * Demi and Crimson went to the train station and waited on the platform. Crimson sat down to rest. Demi noticed and turned to talk to Crimson. “So you are weak.” “Perhaps.” He leaned back and rested against a wall. “Then again, I have apparently been unconscious for many days.” “And while you were sleeping, I have been working my flank off for your precious princess.” Crimson looked at Demi. “What are you up to?” “Like I said, it isn’t me who is up to something. At any rate, you’ll find out soon enough.” Crimson sat quietly for a moment. “... Very well.” A pause ensued as they continued to wait for the next train. Demi looked up in thought. “Brother,” she said in a less bossy tone. “Did I change?” Crimson looked up to his sister. “What do you mean?” “Did I… I mean, am I the same filly you knew before I was taken to the academy?” Crimson stared speechless at the strange question. Then he leaned over and started to get to his hooves. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about… things…” Crimson walked up to Demi. “In a lot of ways, you are not the same pony you once were.” Demi looked at Crimson as he continued. “You are strong and brave.” “I’m also a bitch.” Crimson looked at Demi. “What do you mean?” “Look around.” Demi turned to Canterlot. “I’m the meanest pony this place has ever seen. I’m so bossy and cold. No pony likes me or accepts me for who I am. I’m not respected. I don’t even think I’m feared. Unlike you.” She turned to Crimson. “Everywhere you go, you get an unsurpassable amount of respect. These mares will do anything for you. How do you do it?” “My sister, this is not our homeland. It took me a while to finally understand that.” “Your precious princess told me the tale of your arrival and how you two met.” “Is that so?” “Yes. And a question has been in my head ever since. Why didn’t you kill those guards?” Demi looked at Crimson as he stared off in the distance in thought. “I know you could have easily slain every living being here. So why didn’t you?” “I have had enough bloodshed from my old life. Even before I discovered this world, I decided not to kill any pony ever again.” “So you’re the one who changed, not me.” Demi turned around. “I knew it.” Crimson looked at Demi. “Your words ring true, but only to a point. You have changed as well. I trusted you when we were young.” Demi turned her head to look at Crimson. “Are you saying you don’t trust me?” “I feel like I can not fully trust you. You still hold on to our kind’s old ways. You were never a cold and callous mare before you were taken. You were warm hearted and fun to be with.” “I…” Demi stared off in the distance as she felt that strange magic spell beginning to affect her. She quickly turned around. “You’re a fool! A pathetic weakling not even worth my time!” “You also were not as defensive are you are now.” Demi lifted her hoof and backhanded Crimson. Though the pain shot through his entire body, he valiantly stayed on his hooves as she turned her back to him. She started to take deep breaths. “Be thankful I’m no longer your superior, whelp.” Crimson took a few steps and stopped beside Demi. “No, you are not. You and I are the same. And if I can change, so can you.” The two stood in silence before Demi looked down at the tracks. “Do you chose Princess Twilight to be your lila’vah?” Crimson looked at Demi shocked. “I…” “In fact, you could probably pick any of those mares.” After a brief pause, Crimson regained his composure. “... I have not chosen a lila’vah.” “Why?” “The thought has not crossed my mind.” “Oh.” Crimson observed the strange tone in Demi. “What about you?” Demi looked up to Crimson shocked. “What?” “Have you chosen one?” “Oh.” She turned her head. “I don’t know. I did a long time ago.” “I never knew that. What happened?” “... Nothing.” “Nothing?” Demi nodded. “Yes. Nothing.” The two stared off together in silence. * * * The train came and dropped the two off at Ponyville. The entire trip, though spanning hours, was done in silence. The two walked to Rarity’s shop and Demi walked in. Rarity, working on wrapping up a large box with Fluttershy, turned and smiled when she noticed the knightly Crimson up and walking around. “Crimson, darling! You’re okay!” “I am.” Fluttershy turned and took a few steps toward Crimson. “I’m glad you’re okay.” “Thank you all for your concern. I will survive.” Rarity handed Demi the wrapped box. “All done.” Demi took the box and left the boutique. Rarity just stared blankly. “Ms. Rarity, Ms. Fluttershy, I must be off.” “Yes, I understand. I’m glad I finished everything just in time. Applejack should be finishing her work too.” Crimson looked outside toward the farm in the distance. “Anyways, it was good seeing you. I have to clean things up. But we can see each other later.” Crimson looked at Rarity and bows. “Yes we can. Until then…” Crimson turned and followed his sister. Rarity stared for a few moments before closing the door behind him. * * * The two walked to Sweet Apple Acres in silence. Demi led Crimson to a newly constructed building on the property and opened the door. Applejack and Big Mac, who were cleaning the shop, turned to see the strong Crimson standing at her door. “Crimson, yer okay!” Crimson nodded. “I am.” “You just missed the girls. I didn’t expect to see ya on yer hooves so soon. Heck, we didn’t even know you’d be able to walk after what happened. Isn’t that right, Big Mac?” “Yyyyep.” “I thank you for your concern, but it was not necessary.” “Anyways,” Applejack said as she turned her head to Demi. “What’chya looking for is in the back.” Demi walked by without saying a word. Applejack stared at her as she walked by. Then she looked at Crimson. “What’s eat’n her?” “I am not sure. Perhaps it was something I said.” “Anywho, go on in the back. It’s all ready for ya.” Crimson bowed to Applejack and Big Mac, then went and follow his sister. When he caught up, he noticed her stopped at a door. Applejack walk beside Crimson as Demi opened the door. Crimson stared inside. “Is this… A suit of armor?” He looked at a suit of elegant chain and studded leather hanging on a mannequin. The light shone off of the polished metals as the general design looks lavish enough to wear like royalty. Big Mac poked his head from around the corner. “Yyyyep.” Crimson walked inside to take a closer look. Applejack followed. “Yeah, this was a tricky one. Demi and Twilight came up to me with this crazy idea for some armor for ya. Pinkie Pie and Big Mac helped a lot with the construction. Fluttershy helped Rarity. Rainbow Dash got most of the materials and Twilight did all sorts of stuff.” Demi walked up to Crimson and put the box in front of him. Then she turned and walked away. Crimson looks at Demi, then looked at the box, then started to open it. Inside were a few smaller boxes and some objects of some kind wrapped in tissue paper. He picked up a smaller box and opened it up. He picked up a hair pin twisted in a silver looking material around a small spherical object. “Elemental stones?” Applejack shrugged. “I guess.” He grabbed one of the tissue wrapped items and unwrapped it to see more pieces of jewelry. He looked closely at the stones and metals used in the construction. “I have seen this type of stone before.” “Pearls. Someth’n ‘bout a trade with pirates or someth’n like that. Either way, your sister demanded a lot of crazy things for this stuff to happen.” Crimson put the jewelry back in the box then walked up to the armor. “Twilight came up with a design that would offer protection but would be lighter and more flexible than that big lug’s armor. Demi and Twilight put a hoof load of magic into these things.” “I must say, I am impressed.” “Glad to hear it, hun.” Applejack turned around. “Big Mac and I have a lot of clean’n to do. We’ll let you to it.” Crimson heard the door close behind him leaving him alone in the room. He closely inspected his gifts, looking at the details the girls put into every piece offered to him. He stared at the engravings, the etchings, and the extreme intricacy in the very design of the piece. “Very impressive.”