//------------------------------// // Corrupted Restraint // Story: What Remains I: The Griffon and Her Dweeb // by Bateman66 //------------------------------// The closest snow troll began charging towards Alistair with a surprising speed for its large hulking frame. Bounding across on all fours, several more of its companions charged towards him and Gilda alike. Unsheathing her sword without hesitation, Gilda raised it to the air in and readied the tips of her claws against the hardened ice floor as the stampeding rush came closer and closer. Igniting the sparkling blue magic in the palms of his hands, Alistair too readied himself into a fighting stance, feeling a flowing power coursing throughout his veins. Then, without hesitation Gilda leaped forward with the propelled force of her wings and began to slash madly against the trolls’ approaching lines. Smiling at her first strike, Alistair charged the power in his hands and searched for his first target. Spotting the closest brute, he powered up the fizzing energy and pointed the tips of his fingers forward. On command, simmering bolts of lightening shot outwards from his hands and crashed directly into the monster’s chest. Howling in agony, the beast clutched the target area and fell to its knees, dazed. Three more of the attackers circled in on him, each coming at a similar speed and well spaced apart from one another. Hopping into the air and charging even more power into his fists, he pointed his clenched palms downwards to the ground. Smashing into the cave floor with such force that the ice around him shattered under its power, a wave of electricity shot out from the impact zone and channeled up into the beasts like a mass conductor. All three were thrown back from the shockwave and rolled like rag dolls against the sapphire-like ice. Turning his attention to the rest of the room, he scanned for anymore threats to annihilate. He could still see Gilda dashing and rolling about as she thrashed away with her sword at several other snow trolls, the multiple slashes and stabs surely chipping the monsters down bit by bit. He needed a target of his own, one fresh and untouched. Spotting a lone troll by the edge of the chamber, he magically leaped off from where he stood and landed meters away from it. Before it could even roar in intimidation, he raised the tips of his fingers and fired a continuous blast of electricity toward the creature. The volts slammed into the troll, holding it solidly in place as the energy continued to scorch and zap it unmercifully. He felt a rush of excitement as the troglodyte moaned in pain from his magic, the bloodthirsty beast finally beginning brought back down to size by one much more powerful than it. Suddenly, breaking his hold on the creature, an unseen beast swung at him from behind with a clawed arm, striking him across the face and sending him sprawling to the ground. He could feel the sting of a cut across his face and tasted the bitter iron of his own blood dripping down his face. Gritting his teeth in rage, he felt the power within him swell as he rolled back to his feet. Channeling the magic back into his fists, he swung forward in his own strike and decked the attacking beast in the chest. The energy-infused punch exploded against the troll, as well throwing it backwards from sheer force. Still feeling the rage pound up through his body, he peered viciously for the beast he’d been electrocuting prior. He spotted it, weakly bounding back toward the distracted Gilda, who still was keeping a crowd of five other trolls at bay with her single sword. “No you don’t,” he growled, knowing all to well what the monster was attempting to do, “I won’t let you.” Seething with anger now, he darted forward in a magic powered sprint and leaped at the trolls unguarded back. Grabbing two large tufts of its gangly fur, he erupted a wave of electricity through his hands and into the troll’s body. The beast screamed in pain as its body was encased in a solid burst of energy. He could see the creature’s skeleton flashing in and out of focus as sparks jumped wildly off the edges of its body. A slight burning smell came from where he stood; still savagely clutching the monstrosity that had attempted to hurt his friend. He knew that the creature was done for, yet he continued to send the electricity through its body, the hate towards the single solitary creature pushing him to limits he’d never yet felt. The power that he held in his hands, the rush that went through his body, it was exhilarating, powerful, and utterly fresh to when he normally attempted magic. Suddenly, he remembered, from what felt like a dozen lifetimes ago, a lesson from his estranged friend and teacher, Twilight Sparkle. There have been wizards who've chosen that path, a most destructive and self-deprecating one, but a path nonetheless. Alistair grimaced and shook his head, but he was unable to get the voice out of his mind. Never even consider what I speak of. Just because you are different from those in Equestria does not excuse you from what that darkness will bring. No matter if you’re a griffon, or dragon, or pony, it was always corrupt. Always. The recollection of her words enraged him even further, and he increased the voltage he inflicted upon the hopeless creature. You left me he thought viciously towards the voice of Twilight, the closest manifestation of her he could get. Abandoned me, became your own god while leaving me to pick up the pieces. Expecting me to act like nothing changed. He snarled and let out one final surge of electricity. I hate you. “That’s enough!” commanded Gilda, her voice booming off the cave walls. “Alistair, release him.” He snapped back into reality and saw that he was still clutching the snow troll, its body now almost entirely charred and mangled beyond recognition. Slowly releasing the creature from his grasp, the lifeless corpse fell to the ground with a thud that too echoed through the cave. Holding his hands out, he saw that the normally blue aura of energy in his hands was now a crimson red, with a black trail of smoke coming of its edges instead of the normal silver. Glancing at them in disbelief, he abruptly ended the channeling of the magic, making both auras disappear. “What the heck was that?” she demanded aggressively. “You turned that troll into barbeque, what’s gotten into you?” He absently looked down at the large smoking corpse, then back to Gilda. “I don’t know. It was going to attack you, and then I stopped it. From there…I don’t know.” Gilda pursed her lip. “Are you sure? I mean, I wasn’t scared or anything, but you kinda freaked me out.” He blinked blindly. “I’m sorry…I just…I don’t know…” “Here,” said Gilda as she nudged Alistair forward through the atrium, “how about we set up camp pretty soon. You don’t look so good.” Still being guided by Gilda, he passively nodded. “I think I would like that…a lot.” “Good, then let’s get going.” Gilda gently led him forward, his glazed eyes stuck open without a single blink between them. Looking back at his hands, he stared at them, feeling something utterly different now taking place.