//------------------------------// // Ch. 7 // Story: A New Perspective // by portaljumper339 //------------------------------// A New Perspective Ch. 7 We had been roaming the forest for a good two hours, occasionally using the book as a reference, but we were nowhere close to where it said that the castle is. It was a full moon that night so there was plenty of light to read by, but the book was so outdated that we had trouble recognizing some of the landmarks it referenced. What's worse is that since it was nearly 1:00 in the morning, we were all getting tired. Fluttershy was the first to voice her opinion, offering a plantive yawn and saying "Guys, I think that we should stop for the night." "We've barely even gotten a mile into the forest," retorted Rainbow Dash, "Let's at least get another few hundred yards before we call it quits." "Rainbow, Fluttershy's right. In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea to start our little voyage so late at night, but there's no sense beating our bodies up trying to go all night. That, and all of the monsters and whatnot are probably out and about, and the last thing that we need is to attract their attention by going in further tonight." "Oh, alright," said Rainbow, relenting. "I'll get the tents set up. Could you go and gather up some firewood so we can make up dinner?" "Sure thing." "I'll go too," offered Fluttershy. "Good idea. It'll probably be safer if you two go together, what with safety in numbers and all." We trotted off into the woods, Fluttershy managing to keep up despite her tiredness.  "Thanks for coming along," I said as I picked up a bundle of twigs for kindling. "I've never been one for working in silence. That, and Rainbow's right about the whole stick together thing." "Yeah," she said softly. A branch cracked and broke off of a tree near us, falling to the ground with a crash. Fluttershy nearly jumped out of her skin, dropping the log she had picked up. "Hey, you alright? You seem more skittish than usual." "Oh, it's just being in here. The forest has always given me the creeps, but last time I was here I was nearly eaten by a hydra. You can guess what that did for my opinion of this place." "I can imagine." Note to self: look up all forms of Equestrian wildlife when we get home. I picked up the log that she had dropped, adding it to the four or five that were in my saddlebags. Fluttershy picked up the last of the kindling that could fit in her bags and we started to make our way back to camp when we heard something crashing through the brush. Something big sounding. "Fluttershy, get down," I whispered, forcing her into some bushes. I didn't know exactly what it was that was out there, but if there were hydras out here then I'd rather not take any chances. The sound got persistently closer, and I was praying that it couldn't smell us, whatever it was. Probably some horrible, nasty creature with long, sharp teeth and claws that could rend a pony in two or... "Oh, hi Zecora!" said Fluttershy cheerfully. She had moved out of the bushes while I was absorbed in my own thoughts. I was about to pull her back in when I noticed who she was talking to in the moonlight. She was having an animated conversation with a zebra mare. She had several gold rings wrapped around her front hooves, as well as her neck, and her tail was done in a neat (sorry for the pun) ponytail. "Fluttershy, how good to see you. However, I feel you are not alone, but are traveling with... who?" she asked, in a perfect rhyming couplet. "Oh, where are my manners? Evan, c'mon out, it's safe." I drew myself out of the bushes, brushing some dirt and stray branches off of myself as I did. "Evan, this is my good friend Zecora. She lives here in the forest. Zecora, this is Evan. He's a pen pal from Fillydelphia who just moved here." "Pleased to meet you," I said, offering my hoof. "An honor, it truly is, to meet a pony such as this," she replied, taking my hoof. "Fluttershy, if I could be so blunt," she asked, turning to Fluttershy, "but why are you here, taking Everfree's full brunt?" "Oh, we're just on a bit of an archeological expedition. We wanted to examine the ruins of the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. What are you doing out so late?" "I was searching for more amethyst, to add to one of my healing mists." "Well, best of luck to you. We need to get all this firewood back to our camp, and it's getting really late. See you around," said Fluttershy as we turned to leave. Zecora offered a quick wave before she slipped back into the woods. "So, that was interesting." "Yeah. Zecora is a really nice pony, and I occasionally go see her to get some herbal tea. Everypony in town used to be afraid of her, thinking she was a witch or something, and it wasn't helped by the fact that she only speaks in rhymes." "Yeah, what is it with that anyway?" "You know, I've never actually asked her about it. I guess it would be interesting to find out. Maybe next time we see her. In the mean time, though, let's get back to the camp. Rainbow is sure to have set up the tents by now, and is probably wondering what's taking us so long." "Well, we sure wouldn't want her to worry, now would we?" =============== We got back to camp to find the tents set up, and Rainbow Dash having already fallen asleep, curled up inside one of the sleeping bags I had brought from the cottage. She looked almost at peace, and it was hard to believe that not two hours ago we had been about ready to tear each others heads off and play soccer with them. "Hmm," said Fluttershy, putting down her saddlebags "I guess it wouldn't make sense to start a fire now. All it would do is probably wake her up." "True. And frankly, she has the right idea. It would be better if we just went to bed now, and saved food for the morning." "Yeah. Well, goodnight," she said, walking over to the tent Rainbow was in, where a second bag was laid out. "See you in the morning." I walked over to my own tent, slipped inside my sleeping bag, and conked out. The sleeping bag may not have been the most comfortable thing in the world, but right now it was like sleeping on a cloud. That is, at least until I started dreaming. I found myself back in that same hallway, only this time I didn't need to find the door. It was right in front of me, and wide open, practically begging for me to enter. I walked inside, and was swept off of my hooves by a gust of wind, not unlike the one that blew me out the last time. The wind carried me all the way towards the light, and deposited me unceremoniously in the stone chamber with the cauldrons of flame. Looking up as I got to my hooves, I saw him. His chestnut mane was as tidy as ever, but his eyes were narrowed in something like annoyance, looking on at me in contempt. "Well well, look who it is," he said, venom dripping off of every word. "You've done quite a lot since we last spoke. Recovered some lost memories, made plans, put friends in danger. You should be so proud." I got up and leaped across the table, using my wings to help gain some distance, and tackled that pompous, conniving wretch. I had him flat on his back, my hooves practically crushing his forelegs into the floor. It felt good to get some of that pent up aggression out. "Nice to see you, too," I answered. "Care to explain why you sent your lackey to ransack Fluttershy's home and torture Twilight. Were you really searching for something, or was that out of general butt-headedness?" "Temper, temper," he chided, still keeping a calm demeanor despite the aforementioned tackling. "You really should see somepony about that." "Can the sarcasm," I said, slapping him across the face, "and answer the question. Why did you do it?" "Well, if this is going to get violent," he replied, shaking his head a little, "then I guess I have no choice but to answer. First off, I do apologize for Firebrand's tactics, and be rest assured that he will be punished." "I find that rather hard to believe, considering you sent him with the express purpose of getting something." "Well, believe what you may, but I am a stallion of my word. Secondly, what I was searching for is of vital importance to the protection of Equestria as we know it."  "And what exactly were you searching for, pray tell?" "My my, that would be telling, wouldn't it? I don't think you are ready for such information, but I might be more inclined to say if you would do me the kindness of letting me up." "In a pig's eye I will." "Well, I can wait here just as long as you can. I don't have anyplace to be for quite some time." We both sat there for a good five minutes, just staring each other down, neither daring to blink. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me. "Alright, I'm going to let you up, but I don't want any funny business. You stay on your side of the table, and I'll stay on my side." I hesitantly got off of him and trotted over to my side of the table. Bad idea, letting him up. I felt very strong magic wrap around me, which quickly levitated me off of the floor and slammed me into the wall on them opposite side of the room, nearly knocking the wind out of me. The unicorn walked over, his horn glowing a furious red. "You really are too naïve, too trusting. It could prove to be your downfall." "I thought you were a stallion of your word?" I grunted out, trying to ignore the pain going down my back. "I lied. You really are new to this game, aren't you?" "Look, enough with the snappy one liners. Get to the BLOODY POINT!" "You want a bloody point? Alright, I'll give you one." At that, he materialized a knife out of thin air, blade honed to a razor's edge, and pressed the cold steel up to my throat. "Well, that is quite the point," I said, using humor to mask my outright terror. Being held at knife point is not an experience I recommend. "All that you need to know is that you are simply a pawn in a game beyond your understanding. I have done all I can to try and protect you, but you insist upon meddling in affairs beyond your control. Take my advice now, if you never listen to another thing I say; leave now, before the unthinkable happens." I was about to respond, but he used his magic to fling me into the portal going back to the black room and beyond. You know how it goes. Fortunately I did not awake with a start, but I was rattled nonetheless. "Evan," came a quiet voice. One that nearly made my skeleton jump out of my body. "GAH!" I yelped, turning to the source of the disturbance. It was Fluttershy, standing at the entrance to my tent with her sleeping bag across her back. "Oh, it's just you. Geez, don't scare me like that." "Sorry. Um, I was just wondering... I mean, if it's okay with you... if I could maybe sleep with you?  "Why? You have Rainbow Dash over there." "Well, it's just that I would be more comfortable in here with you. Rainbow is a good companion, but she turns and kicks a lot, and it's keeping me up." "Really?" I asked skeptically, arching an eyebrow. "Well... alright, it's because I'm scared. The forest at night just makes you seem so small and insignificant." "I know the feeling," I said, thinking back to what the unicorn had said about me being a pawn in a game beyond my understanding. "Sure, you can sleep in here. Let me just make some room." "Thanks," she said, laying her sleeping bag down as I shuffled out of the way. She quickly zipped herself up and fell into a deep, relaxing sleep. I wrapped one foreleg around her side, partly to comfort her, but also to comfort myself. As I started to drift back off, Fluttershy grabbed my hoof, clutching it like a security blanket. This one act brought back what he had said. 'Leave now, before the unthinkable happens.' Maybe I should listen to him, on this if nothing else. Or I could chop my own wings off and repurpose them as potholders. =============== I awoke the next morning to the birds chirping and the heavenly scent of breakfast wafting up my nose. Opening my eyes, I was treated to a sight that could've come out of a storybook. Fluttershy's nose was about an inch from my own, and we apparently had fallen asleep in each other's hooves, clutching each other tight. She was still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. It was a peaceful beginning to the day, but it was destined to be a short lived peace. "Hey guys, soup's on!" said Rainbow Dash, tearing open the flaps to the tent. Looking down at us, she couldn't help but suppress a snicker at what must have looked like a truly cheesy scene. "Oh, sorry. I'll let you two lovebirds get ready. Don't let me disturb you." "Rainbow... it's not... we weren't..." I stammered, getting out of my bag. "Don't worry, I get it," she interjected with a wink. "I'll just let you two be." With a quick smirk, she walked out of the tent. I could swear that I heard her chuckling to herself as she went to tend to breakfast. "*yawn* Morning Evan," said Fluttershy, my little spat with Rainbow having probably woken her. "How did you sleep?" "Just fine," I answered, getting my vest on. "You get ready while I help Rainbow with breakfast, okay?" "Okay," she said, getting out of her sleeping bag. I quickly slipped out of the tent to give her some privacy while I went to go talk with Rainbow.  "Well, if it isn't our own resident Casanova," she said, still stirring the iron cook pot. "Rainbow, it wasn't anything like that. She was just scared last night and needed somepony to sleep with." "Sure, and my mane is only this way because I dye it. She had me, so why do you think she went to sleep with you, huh?" "Maybe she's just more comfortable with me or something, I don't know. From what she tells me, you also toss and turn and kick in your sleep, which may have been a contributing factor." "Well, whatever the reason, I think it's revealing something. She may be picking up on your feelings, and has decided to make the first move." "Well, even if she has, I don't think I'm quite ready for that next step just yet. I mean, we're really good friends and all, but I don't think we're all that... close, you know?" "Well, speaking from experience," said Rainbow, turning away from the pot to look me in the eye, "if I were you, I'd wait and see if this is a one time thing, or if she wants to try and pursue this any further." "What experience? Not to sound rude, but you don't seem like the type of pony to settle down into a nice relationship." "Oh, it was years ago, back when I was barely even a young adult. I fell for this guy, but he just couldn't keep up with me. It's still a bit sore, though, and I don't really like talking about it." "Oh, sorry if I opened up an old wound." "No biggie." "So," I asked, getting off the subject, "what's for breakfast?" "Just some stew that I slapped together. It may be plain, but it's nice and filling, and is guaranteed to give you energy enough for the day. It's a recipe that's been passed down in my family for generations." "Sounds good. Should I get Fluttershy?" I asked, turning towards the tent. "Please, allow me," said Rainbow, taking in a large breath. "*ahem* HEY FLUTTERSHY! YOUR SOUP'S GONNA GET COLD! GET OUT HERE!" "I'm coming, no need to yell," said Fluttershy, blearily rubbing her eyes with one foreleg. "Must be pretty good if you're this adamant to get me out here for it." "Only the best for my friends! C'mon, let's chow down." We sat down at three logs that Rainbow had arranged around the fire and ate. As soon as that stew slid down my throat, I felt a surge of energy race through me, like I had been hit by lightning. I felt like I could take on the entire forest single-hoofedly.  "Good gravy Rainbow, what the hay is in this!? My whole body feels like I was shot up with 100 cc's of adrenaline!" "Oh, just some vegetables, seasonings... and a drop or two of extracted rainbows," she finished with a smirk. "Extracted rainbows?" Weren't rainbows just refracted light? "Yep. Whenever the pegasi in Cloudsdale are making the rainbows, they bottle some of it up and sell it as a sort of energy tonic. It's great if you want to get somewhere in a hurry, but it's spicy like nopony's business. That's where the soup comes in. My great-great-great grandmother discovered that this combination of vegetables and seasonings tones it down to the point where it still provides the kick, but won't light your mouth on fire." "Wow. You have got to give me this recipe!" "Sorry man, but it's a family secret. Ponies would come for miles around to get it, and my folks made a fortune selling it. I didn't really want to go into the family business, though, and they cut me off from my inheritance. As payback, I sort of stole the recipe, and I make it for anypony that may need it, free of charge. If they found out, I'd never hear the end of it." "And just when you think you know a pony, she turns out to be the deposed heiress to a soup empire. Should I kneel at your hooves whenever I am seen in your presence?" "Only if you want to get punched. You want some more?" "Nah, this is plenty. I feel like I could take down a mountain. You about done Fluttershy?" "Just finished. I guess we should get going, don't you think." "Yeah. Those ruins aren't going to find themselves." We disassembled the camp in record time, thanks to Rainbow's jolt soup, and continued on our way. We walked for most of the day, not even bothering to stop and rest every once in a while. Surprisingly, we hadn't encountered anything even remotely monster-ish. The most dangerous thing to cross our path that day was a wasp, and none of us were allergic, so it was a nuisance at best. It felt sort of like when those birds at Sweet Apple Acres were completely ignoring me, which only added to the creepiness factor. "Hey, Fluttershy, I thought you said that there were monsters crawling all over this place. What gives?" "This is rather odd. I'd have thought we would come across a hydra or a cockatrice by now. Maybe they're all asle-" She was cut off by a large crashing in the brush, something way too loud to be pony sized. Rainbow was the first to react, flying up over the canopy to get a better look. "See anything up there, Rainbow?" "Not yet, but it's really bright up here compared to the fore-OH HORSE-APPLES, HIDE!!" She didn't have to tell me twice. I snatched up Fluttershy and dived into a bush, doing my best to keep both of us from shaking in our horseshoes. Rainbow dove down through the canopy and joined us, scrunching up into as tiny of a ball as she could. "What's out there?" I asked in a terrified whisper. "There's an Ursa Minor coming towards us. Keep your voice down." "What the hay is an Urs-" I began before Rainbow clapped a hoof over my mouth. Fluttershy was practically beside herself with fear, and yet doing her best not to move. The ground began to shake with the footsteps of whatever was coming towards us, and my curiosity overtaking my common sense, I peeked my head up over the bush. I wish that I hadn't. Standing not three yards away was a bear about three stories tall, with claws like railroad spikes. Even stranger was that it appeared to be made entirely of stars, held within a field of magic. Thankfully, the creature was facing away from us, and was actually running in terror, like it was being chased by something. I only got a couple of seconds to look at it before it disappeared into the bowels of the forest. We stayed hunkered in that bush for a good ten minutes before we deemed it safe to come out, and we were all thoroughly shaken. "Ya know, one of you could've warned me that this place had things like THAT in it. Hydras and cocka-whatsits I can handle, but not a three story tall star bear." "I'm just glad that it left as quickly as it did," answered Fluttershy, breathing a sigh of relief. "It makes me wonder what had the poor baby so scared." "Poor baby? We are still talking about the star bear, right? Cause that thing is no baby." "Actually, it is. It's only an Ursa Minor. The Ursa Major is the adult form of it." "Sure doesn't look minor," muttered Rainbow Dash in my ear. "Look, whether it was running home to mama or what, something must've scared it good to get it to run in such a hurry. I think that's where we're going to find our mysterious unicorn friend." "So," interjected Rainbow Dash, "All in favor of going straight into the hooves of somepony that managed to scare the living bejeezus out of an Ursa Minor, say aye." "Aye," I said, raising my right hoof. "Aye," repeated Fluttershy, only more hesitantly. "Well, just as long as we're in agreement." =============== We had been following the tracks of that Ursa Minor for a good three hours or so when we came to a wide chasm. Even in the evening gloom, I could faintly make out a decrepit stone structure through the mist.  "So, who's first?" "I'll go," answered Rainbow Dash, taking off into the mist. "Good, the bridge is still up from the last time," she called through the gloom. Fluttershy and I breathed a collective sigh of relief. Not that I was scared to fly blind, but I'd rather I didn't have to. Plus, I didn't want to leave Fluttershy to try and navigate the bridge by herself. What kind of friend would do that? We crossed the bridge in relative comfort, although Fluttershy may as well have been stuck to me with super glue for how close she stayed to my side. As we got to the other side, I could see the ancient castle more clearly, and even in it's ruined state, I could tell that it had once been majestic, truly a seat of royalty if ever there were one. THUNK! went my nose as I hit an invisible wall at the end of the bridge while Fluttershy passed through without a problem. Dumbfounded, I lightly tapped it with my hoof, it ringing out with a hollow sound, like a window. "Evan, what's wrong?" asked Fluttershy, concern on her face. "I can't... seem to... get through," I replied, while throwing my weight at the wall. Defiantly it stayed there, completely unmarred by my attempts to bring it down. "Let me see if it has a height barrier." I flew upwards about 30 or so feet before smacking my head against another invisible wall, sending pain through the spot where I had smashed into the apple tree. My flight wavered, and I dropped ten feet before managing to get my wings under me again, making a safe, if abrupt landing. "There's no way I can get through. Hmm... you two go on ahead, see if you can find what's causing this." "You got it, boss," said Rainbow, offering a quick salute before taking off towards the castle. Fluttershy followed behind her, but I was able to catch a look of worry on her face before she disappeared from view. Hayseed, I hate it when things like this happen. Having to send friends to do something while I just sit around is not something I could abide. They were gone about five minutes when I could feel a change in the air. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it felt like the power of the forest was being drawn towards the wall. I stared at it, and noticed a shape beginning to take form. While indistinct at first, it slowly coalesced into something pony shaped, and I swear I could make out a face. A face with bright green eyes. The power reached a crescendo as Firebrand puffed into existence, then extended outward, dissipating in a gust of wind that whipped my mane backward. He took a few wobbly steps toward me. "Still sore from the pounding I gave you, eh Firebrand?" "Not at all. It is simply disconcerting to travel by teleportation, particularly of this magnitude. As for what happened at the library, I think that we should just let bygones be bygones, don't you?" "Not at all," I mimicked. "Well, whatever you say. Anyway, sorry for the force field, but we had to make sure your friends wouldn't... interfere," he said, the last word rolling off his tongue with a smirk in tow. "My master wishes to see you, and it would be rude to keep him waiting. Follow me." I complied, but kept my wings unfurled just in case. Better safe than killed to death. "So, your master said something about you being punished for torturing Twilight like you did, as well as ransacking the cottage. Care to elaborate?" "If you mean doing what I was ordered," he said, anger on his voice, "then yes, he said that it would be a public punishment as soon as you had arrived. Thanks for that, by the way. I was my master's most trusted lieutenant, but after this debacle I'll be lucky to get away with my pride intact." "You had it coming." Firebrand bristled with anger, but managed to keep his voice level. "If you say so. We're here." And sure enough, we were. Before me stood a large stone archway, which must have housed some pretty impressive doors at one point in history. It led into a hallway overgrown with weeds and various plant life, all flourishing in the castles old stone work. Beyond was a pair of large oak doors that had somehow managed to survive hundreds of years of ruin and decay. Firebrand pushed them open, the doors creaking on their rusted out hinges. We entered what I assumed was the throne room, and boy howdy did it look familiar. A large stone chamber, illuminated by two cauldrons of fire, just like my dream. Instead of a table and cushions, however, there was a raised stone podium at which a cloaked unicorn stood. Flanking the walls were cloaked ponies of all types, gathered around a hastily erected wooden platform in the center, probably meant for me. KRAC-KROOOOOOOOOOM!!!! A blinding flash of light accompanied by an ear-splitting crack temporarily discombobulated me, sending my head reeling. When the room finally stopped spinning and I could see again, I saw a grisly sight. Firebrand was on the ground, smoke wafting up from his now lifeless form. The sickly black burns that crisscrossed his silver coat and the scent of burned hair made me sick. It was all I could do not to vomit. "He was always too brash for my tastes anyway. Good riddance to bad rubbish, wouldn't you agree?" I whipped my head around to find the pony from my dreams at the podium, and having removed his hood I could finally see his real face. He looked generally the same, although older, more harried, like he had a great weight on his conscience. "What the hay was that for?! What did he ever do to you?" Okay, so maybe he wasn't exactly a saint, but nopony, not even Firebrand, deserved to die like this. "He sorely disappointed me. I had ordered him to find the Key, and to be discreet about it. So what does he do? He breaks into another pony's home and paws through their belongings, then proceeds to torture a poor, helpless unicorn mare. I do not take lightly to anypony bringing harm to a lady, and Firebrand crossed that line and spat on it." "Yeah, but KILLING him? Geez, I could've done that and saved you the trouble! Talk about your cruel and unusual punishment!" "Call it cruel if you will, but he deserved what he got. Now onto more pressing concerns." He stepped down from his podium and walked over to me, never taking his eyes off of me. "Please, step up onto the platform," he said, gesturing to the crude wooden structure.   "Why, so everypony can get a better look when you give me the axe?" "Not at all. I simply wish to speak to you, and seeing as how you are vital to what we plan, I thought you deserved a spot in the limelight." "And what exactly are you planning," I asked. The unicorn took his spot at the podium, saying, "The future of Equestria, and the preservation of this great nation. For far too long, I have seen this country wither and wilt, and it saddens me to no end." "You certainly have an unorthodox way of going about it, I'll tell you that," I said, stepping onto the platform. "Is it really? Change has always been brought about through sacrifice, both great and small. Firebrand is merely the latest in a long list of necessary sacrifices to bring about the new world. Isn't that right my children?" he called out to the ponies who were present. They started muttering some incomprehensible chant, the first signs of life they offered since I arrived. "Tonight," he continued to them, "we have in our presence a stallion very near and dear to me. It is through him, and the power that he holds within himself, that our plans will finally come to fruition. Many hours and personal fortunes have been spent to bring about this moment, and that is what makes it all the sweeter still." The chanting was slowly growing, and I could feel magic in the air, gathering around a point on the floor, one emblazoned with the symbol from Twilight's necklace. "When we summoned him here nigh on two weeks ago-" "Wait, YOU brought me here?" I interjected. I could feel my blood begin to boil. "Yes, it is we who brought you here. The magic involved was long and complicated, and you did not appear in the predetermined spot, but we brought you here nonetheless." Returning to the cultists, he said, "We never expected him to find us this rapidly, although my own personal intervention may have been a catalyst." "Your intervention?! You outright TOLD me to come find you!" "And did it not work?" I was about to respond when the doors were hastily pushed open, and two cultists, probably guards, came in carrying two ponies, legs bound up and gagged with bits of cloth. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, to be specific. "NO!!" I screamed, about to fly off of the platform. Nopony, and I mean NOPONY takes my friends captive. "I don't think so," said the unicorn calmly. I could hear the sound of magic going off, and found myself chained to the platform, manacles of hard steel clamped firmly around my hooves. Though I struggled and strained, the shackles were not going to come loose, that was for sure. All I could do was watch helplessly as the two cultists threw my friends onto the ground, right onto the sigil etched into the floor. "And now we have our next sacrifices," said the unicorn, mustering up the straightest face he could. I, personally, would've wiped that smug expression right off his face if I could. "What do you mean 'sacrifices'?" I asked indignantly "Just what it sounds like. A bit slow on the uptake, aren't you?" "But, sacrifices for what? What could you possibly want with them?" I looked down at them, hoping with all of my heart that he didn't mean sacrifice in the traditional sense. "As I said before, the magic that brought you here is costly, both in magic and in blood. The sacrifice of a life is always needed to bring a pony from your realm to ours. Fortunately, I won't have to go through any more of my children to do so, at least for now. While it pains me to harm two young mares with so much potential, it is necessary." Realizing the gravity of what he just said, I strained ever harder against my shackles. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash struggled against their bonds, looks of horror and desperation on both of their faces. The unicorn and the cultists started to chant once again in earnest, and a ring of unicorns gathered around the engraving on the ground, horns lighting up with angry red magic. A circle of arcane enrages gathered around them, lightning connecting their horns to each other. There was nothing I could do to stop them. The chains holding me down weren't going to break, and Fluttershy and Rainbow were both helpless to stop them. I had failed them both. Hanging my head, I shut my eyes and awaited the inevitable. Fluttershy must have been able to spit out her gag, because she managed to let out just one word. "EVAN!!!" I'm still not sure what happened, but I felt energy surge through me, lighting me up like a Christmas tree. It wasn't like the energy from that soup Dash made, though. This had a more mystic quality to it, like gaining some great knowledge. Raising my head, I opened my eyes to find that the room was brighter, but not painfully so. The unicorn had since moved down from the podium and had joined the circle. One thought kept echoing through my head as I stared at him: "He dies." Flapping my wings, I found that I could now fly as well as normally, the chains not weighing me down. Looking down at the platform, I could see the shackles were in ruins, probably destroyed by whatever had gone through me. I flew hard to the center of the room, the unicorn not noticing me, being too focused on the spell. I slammed into him with all of my might, and he flew to the other side of the room, smashing into a wall and sending cracks through it. I flew over to him and yanked him out of the wall. Slamming him onto the ground, I landed a kick straight into the side of his head. I could practically feel the bones crack under my hoof. It felt good. Still dumbstruck, and now in obvious blinding pain, he managed to yell over to the cultists, "NOW!! DO IT NOW, YOU FOALS!! Oh no. The cultists did one final charge of their magic, then unleashed its fury on Fluttershy. She couldn't even scream for the pain, her body lifted into the air by the energies that were now wreaking havoc upon it. Looking down, and ready to rip out the unicorn's jugular, all I saw was a quick smirk and then black smoke as he dissipated.  There was no time to dwell on that, though. Fluttershy had managed to find her voice, and her screams of pain and terror echoed across the halls. I flew to her with all of my might, and pushed her out of the cage of energies that had coalesced around her. Their fury was turned upon me, thankfully keeping Rainbow from coming to any harm. Looking down, I barely glimpsed Rainbow looking at me, her pupils narrowed into pinpoints and eyes as wide as dinner plates. The magic, however, wasn't hurting me, either. Instead it felt like it was building up inside of me, like I'm a sort of capacitor. The magic continued to build up until I could hold no more, and then exploded from my form. A massive bolt of arcane lightning came streaking down, illuminating the chamber with a brilliant blue and sending the cultists and Rainbow Dash flying by its sheer force.  After what felt like an eternity, the magic finally dwindled inside of me and I landed on the floor, surrounded by a gigantic scorch mark. The cultists were nowhere to be found, probably having teleported away along with their coward of a leader. Rainbow was on the other side of the room, still struggling against her bonds. Thank goodness at least she's alright. I ran over to her and set her legs loose. She got weakly to her hooves and spat out her gag. "Everything alright?" I asked. "Just some rope burns and a scrape on my back where I hit the wall. I'll be fine." she flew over to Fluttershy, and backed away slightly when she saw her, laying there on the floor. "How is she?" I asked, not even bothering to turn around. "You should see for yourself. It's... it's not good." I turned and trotted over to where she lay, and collapsed to my knees when I saw the state she was in. Shock can barely describe what I was feeling. Her body was covered in those same horrible burns as had been on Firebrand, although they weren't nearly as deep. Her mane and tail were coated in black streaks, many parts of it having burned away completely. Her breathing was shallow and ragged, as if she was a hair's breadth from death. I took her head gently in my hooves, being careful of her burns, and simply stared at her. All of this could've been avoided. It could've been avoided if I simply had ignored my dreams, if I had written them off as just that, dreams. "Rainbow," I said, keeping my eyes on Fluttershy "I need you to get back to town and get Nurse Redheart at Ponyville Urgent Care. Tell her there's been a terrible accident, and to bring as many personnel as she can spare. Also... get the others. They're going to need to know about this." "Sure thing," she said, her normally chipper voice sad and morose. She laid a hoof on my shoulder in silence, then turned and flew out the doors, which had been destroyed in the blast. Whatever emotional dam had been holding back my sadness burst when she left, and the tears streamed down my cheeks. I held Fluttershy close as the sobs wracked my body, not wanting to let her go for the world.