Chapter 18
Eye of the Storm.
I stare blankly out the window of the carriage. Daylight is quickly receding from Equestria and a brilliant sunset is beginning. I can’t help but wonder if some pony out there is responsible for it. Most likely the pegisi. But then again the Equestrian world is round so it is possible that the sun and moon are distant celestial objects here like they are back on my earth.
Other people speculated that Equestria was in a dyson sphere. I wasn’t much of a fan of that due to the fact that there were also comets and other celestial bodies.
I don’t feel terribly sad right now. I am not sure why. Is it the way that lights are being lit by pegisi in the streets? Is it the evening dusk splashing its colours over Equestia? Or maybe it is the fact that we are so close to the castle that trying to run would be pointless seeing that Celestia could just come out on high and gank me. Feeling sad wouldn’t help matters... A voice breaks into my thoughts and disrupts my concentration.
“Do all of the Princesses Spies sit like that?” Pinkies overly sugar fueled voice asks. I slowly look at her. “Cause if that’s the case, I know another spy living right in ponyville!”
Looking down, I see what she means. Whiles all the others are sitting in the most comfortable positions for any equine, I seem to have taken the ‘Lyra’ stance of sitting. Applejack chuckles at something that Rarity said and then turns and looks at me.
“Uh... isn’t that uncomfortable?” She asks me. I sigh. I am not sure if I should respond or not, I have put all of them through so many rounds. So I shrug.
“Well.. Whatever makes ya feel most comfortable there Heartbreak.” She says in a way that is meant to convey sympathy. But hearing that name only reminds me of the burning sensation on my flanks. As I turn my head grimacing, I can hear a lady like ‘Hmph!’ from Rarity.
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Twilight Sparkle stood at the steps of the castle. A bright and shining beacon to all those who lived under Celestia’s rule.
“I hope writing to the Princess was the right thing to do here.” She said quietly. Twilight felt a gust of wind gently go through her mane. Fluttershys’ hooves landed gently on the ground.
Twilight blinked. “Fluttershy, you came?”
Fluttershy looked at Twilight. “Of course I did Twilight. I might be upset with you, But we are still friends.” Twilight smiled.
“With that said Twilight, I have had time to think about it all and what happened there was still wrong.” She said. Twilights’ smile ebbed and she looked away.
“However, it wasn’t just you that was responsible, it was all of us. Myself included.” Fluttershy said meekly hanging her head.
“Huh? How are you responsible for what happened back there?” Twilight asked. “I was the one that came up with the plan and forcing-”
Fluttershy held up a hoof. “You never corner a frightened animal like that. They are likely to try and fight you or try to find a way to flee. And there is no telling what Heartbreak was before she was a pony. I should have said something. I’m sorry.”
Twilight hung her head. “You’re sorry? I should have listened when you were suggesting we just talk to her. Maybe we could have avoided an unnecessary chase.”
Fluttershy smiled and gave Twilight a light hug. “We shouldn’t focus on the things that we could or would have done Twilight. But what we can do. That’s why I am here.” A carriage came rolling up to the stairs of the castle.
“While I don’t know who she is, I feel that whatever happens Twilight, whether she is right about Princess Celestia or not, we need to be there.” Fluttershy watched as her friends walked out of the carriage. “And if she is right about Celestia, despite Celestia being more powerful, older, and well... The Princess of Equestria, we should stand up for for Heartbreak and see if there is anything we can do for her.” Fluttershy walked down the stairs.
Heartbreak was the last one to exit the carriage in a rather awkward manner. With her front legs tied up, she attempted to balance herself on her hind legs. However, she could not retain her balance for long, and was sent sprawling down the stairs, landing at the bottom on her face. She looked rather distraught about this.
“Um Rarity, why is she still tied up like this?” Fluttershy asked giving her a concerned and rather displeased look.
“Well, we couldn’t very well risk her escaping or take the chance that she would go on another tirade inside the carriage Fluttershy sweetie...” Rarity explained in a rather makeshift sort of way. “We were planning on untying her once we got to the castle...”
“Well then you won’t mind if I-” Fluttershy responded about to clip Heartbreak’s bindings with her mouth.
Applejack halted her. “Fluttershy, are ya sure that’s such a good idea? There’s no telling what she’ll do once free...”
“Applejack. I’m surprised at you!” Fluttershy stated stomping her hoof. “How is she to trust us if we don’t trust her? Besides, I don’t think she is going to run this time.” She looked at Heartbreak. “Are you?”
Heartbreak looked Fluttershy as if she was thinking for a moment. She then looked down at the ground and shook her head “no”. Fluttershy smiled and bit down on the knot that was holding Heartbreak captive. The fabric slipped off and Heartbreak stretched out her forelimbs. There was a moment of tenseness to see whether or not she would make another break for it. Much to everypony’s relief she did not.
“Ooooooh I see what’s going on Rarity!” Pinkie Pie coo’d. Rarity looked at Pinkie to finish her thought. “Fluttershy is a secret spy too!” Pinkie looked at Fluttershy thoughtfully. “A really good spy!”
“Twilight Sparkle?” Said a voice from behind Twilight. It was one of the Royal Guard.
“Yes?” Twilight asked.
“The Princess will now see all of you.” He said opening the door. Twilight looked at Heartbreak one her friends had joined her at the top of the stairs. Heartbreak, despite being free to walk was still wearing the bridle.
“Rarity. please remove that bridle. If Heartbreak needs to defend herself, which I doubt...She is going to need to be able to talk.” Twilight explained.
Rarity rolled her eyes and used her magic to remove the bridle. “I guess you’re right... Besides without the blinders it just didn’t look right...”
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I smack my lips together, the taste of fabric and metal is still on my tongue as we walk through the door. I feel the eyes of the guard follow me in. It is an uncomfortable feeling. Sorta like the first time I re-entered a church after concluding that I was indeed an atheist. I half expect to burst into flame the moment my back hoof passes through the threshhold.
The seven of us walk down a small ornately decorated hallway. Equestrian flags and suits of pony armor are on either side of me. I would think that the red carpet under my hooves is soft. It looks soft. But I can’t feel anything through my hooves.
Looking behind me, the entrance is getting farther and farther away. The hallway ends in a pair of double doors. The Equestria coat of arms hangs gracefully above it. I once again look at where we came from. Any hope of running now is like a distant memory.
My heart and mind start to race again. I try to avoid the question that is fighting to get out of my mind like a caged animal. I cringe as the beast breaks loose from its confines.
“What could Celestia do anyhow?”
If watching any tv particularly Star Trek Voyager has taught me anything, it is that you should never ask that question out loud, let alone think it.
There are millions of things she could do to you, trapped in stone is just one of them. There are unnamed lands outside of Equestria. She might send you there. But this is Celestia we’re talking about. If I am a true threat to Equestria in any shape or form, only the worst types of punishment would be had.
Imprisoned in a celestial body, shunted to some other realm and let it be some other universes’ problem, or forever chained to a place where she can watch over me until I meet my eventuality? There’s a thought. How long will my natural life span be? Ponies on the show seemed to live from a natural life span to well over a thousand years with Alicorns like Celestia. Fan Speculation was that Celestia and her sister were as old as they were because they were saturated with the magic of the elements of Harmony.
And from what I understand, I was just saturated with the very life blood of universes. Well maybe not that, but something akin to powerful magic. Would I live longer than I was meant to? I mean when I was human, that sounded swell. All that knowledge gathered over countless lifetimes. Now? Like the hells of the religions of the Earth I left behind, it sounds like torment in which I would be begging for an end. That is if I am a threat to Equestria and Celestia imprisons me.
If I am not a threat at all... Then what? I hadn’t even thought about that. Perhaps I have been poisoning my own well about Celestia. She might be the ruler, but isn’t she sposta be a fair and just one? Doesn’t she show sympathy and kindness to her subjects?
Behind me are Twilight and her friends, seeing them makes me slightly hopeful. I know them all too well, maybe better than they know themselves really. I know it was just a cartoon show targeted to little girls and their parents. But I watched it anyway. With its fun characters.. these ponies, bright songs and crazy antics, it brought me a joy and helped me express some emotions that I had trouble expressing before.
I look at the heavy white doors in front of me. I want to run knowing what is behind that door. But seeing Twilight and her friends? I take a deep breath and look at the ground. A small smile finds its way onto my face.
Whatever happens, they’ll be there. They’ll help me if I need it.
I prepare myself for the storm I am sure will happen.. Into the eye, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Alright...HeartBreak. There’s no turning back now.