//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The First Forbidden Spell // Story: Casualties of War // by Deathscar //------------------------------// Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rarity ascended the stone steps as fast as they could, their hooves trotting up several slippery steps at a time. They knew that time was ticking down and that each second counted. Upon reaching the top of the steps, they were in the wide stone square, the same stone square Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had just fought in. The General stood at the opposite end with his back completely straight, his gaze unmoving from the ponies that had just appeared. “Oh look who finally arrived.” The General took a few steps forward and immediately, the ponies took their battle positions. “Where’s Fluttershy!?” Twilight demanded in a loud booming voice, her horn glowing bright. “Who? Is that your yellow friend with the pink mane? Is that who you’re asking for?” The General grinned maliciously, stopping in his tracks. “How can you be so sure I haven’t killed her?” Pinkie’s furious frown transformed into one filled with fear. “No….” She whispered to herself as she slowly backed away. “How can you be so sure she’s still alive, much less with me?” The General continued, causing Pinkie Pie to crouch on the ground, trembling. “Stop it!” Rarity commanded with a glowing horn, staring at the horrified pink mare. The General replied with a laugh before snapping his talons and as he did, a griffin, dressed in armor, descended from the swirling clouds above, biting something in his beak. As he approached closer, the ponies could finally make out the light yellow coat and the light pink mane with the wounds on her underbelly showing clearly. “F-Flutters!” Pinkie called out. As the griffin lowered Fluttershy into the talons of the General, he lifted one of his claws to Fluttershy’s neck, pressing it extremely close. “Wh-What are you…” Twilight couldn’t believe the sight in front of her. “Give her back!” Pinkie Pie yelled, running forwards to try to get her best friend back but froze in place when she saw the General pressing his talon harder against the unconscious yellow mare’s neck. “F-Flutters…” Pinkie whispered to herself. “Now, now. Let’s not be hasty.” The General tapped his talon against Fluttershy’s neck. “We wouldn’t want her to choke on her own blood now do we?” He threatened. “Fluttershy!” All 3 ponies shouted in unison. Slowly, Fluttershy started waking up, her movements were minimal and they could see that she was in a horrible shape. Hunger, thirst, pain and exhaustion had probably drained all but a small reserve of energy. “G-girls…” Fluttershy whimpered out, her head drooping low. “R-run…” She could barely muster out anything more than a couple of words at a time. “What have you done to her!?” Pinkie yelled angrily, her breaths deep and heavy, tears at the edge of her eyes. “Oh, what did I do to her? I merely inflicted barely noticeable wounds…” The General explained in a cocky voice, staring down at his hostage. “You hurt her!?” Rarity joined Pinkie’s yelling. “Just barely. You have your close friend, Rainbow Dash, to thank for all the injuries.” The General released a cold, mocking laughter before staring back at the ponies, Pinkie Pie was frozen in front of Twilight and Rarity, her face showing anger but her heart feeling devastation. “Y-you’re lying!” Twilight shouted back, trying to convince herself otherwise. “No, I’m not. Rainbow almost broke her left hind leg and almost smashed her ribs in. Too bad those were just ‘maybe’s’. I personally thought Rainbow Dash had more power than that.” The General scoffed at the ponies in front of him. “Rainbow-Rainbow would never do that!” Rarity’s patience was quickly running thin. “Oh, she wouldn’t? Let’s ask someone closer to you then.” Turning his attention to his hostage, the talon at her neck turned slightly, harmlessly passing it past Fluttershy’s neck. Fluttershy shivered in fear as she felt the cold weapon slide across her throat. The other ponies could only watch in horror. “Fluttershy, dear. Did Rainbow Dash attack and almost kill you?” The General asked in a mocking tone. The pink-maned mare didn’t answer at first but as he pressed his talons harder, threatening to break skin. The weakened mare could do nothing but nod her head in regret. The other ponies were dumbfounded. Their emotions were mixed and their mind in shambles. Fluttershy’s tears started to flow. She wanted to explain why Rainbow did that to her but she knew that if she tried, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. “Now, is it also true that when she became herself, she ran? Leaving you to die?” Fluttershy wanted to break down, she didn’t want to answer, and she didn’t want her friends to think badly of her friend. She soon felt the talon tighten around her neck, any small force now would pierce flesh. Fluttershy nodded with a remorseful heart. “T-that…That…” Twilight was on the verge of crying too. ‘How could Rainbow do this to her!? Fluttershy trusted her!’ Her mind paused. ‘I trusted her…’ Her mind drifted off slowly, only being brought back when she heard Fluttershy’s meek voice speak again. “B-but she… Rainbow… Rainbow was…” Fluttershy spoke out but was immediately scared silent when the General shouted next to her. “Quiet!” “W-what do you want with Fluttershy!?” Rarity hesitated to ask “That’s the beautiful thing. I don’t want anything to do with her. I could just kill her right here, right now, and it wouldn’t make a difference to me.” The General saw the scorn on all the ponies’ eyes, a smile appearing on his face. “Y-you wouldn’t…” Pinkie Pie threw a glance at Fluttershy, the yellow pony’s look of fear and more only sank Pinkie’s heart. “Oh trust me, I very well would. Alas, I can not. It would be too big of a mess to clean up, especially with that Princess of yours.” The General turned to stare at the talon at Fluttershy’s neck. “So, here’s the deal. You go back to Ponyville. Never think of reaching Gryphon and you all will be safe… for now. If you even think about going to Gryphon, I will kill you and your friends faster then you can even blink.” The General tightened his grip on Fluttershy, causing the others to tense up, ready to spring on him at anytime. “As a little reminder…” The General slid his talon slightly on Fluttershy’s neck, causing her to tense up and struggle, trying her best to break free but to no avail. A small wound had started to appear, causing blood to flow lightly down her neck. Fluttershy whimpered in pain, it was near unbearable. The ponies could only watch in horror, they knew they could not take action and risk Fluttershy’s life. The General started to fly upwards, carrying Fluttershy a short distance up before hovering a few meters above the ground, his talon stopped cutting. “Never. Ever. Cross me.” The General released his talon and grip on Fluttershy, causing her to start falling out of the sky. Pinkie stood, her eyes wide and locked at the helpless pony falling out of the sky, like an angel losing her wings. Her mind shouted at her to run but her hooves did not obey. Thud. Pinkie winced, shutting her eyes tight and turning her head away to force herself to not see the yellow mare hit the floor. Turning her eyes back, she saw Fluttershy lying, seemingly lifeless, on the cold hard floor. The General’s loud, mocking laughter drew all the ponies attention upwards. When their eyes reached the General, he had placed a cloud above Fluttershy. Though Twilight and Rarity gave confused looks, Pinkie immediately knew what his plan was. Dashing straight past the purple and white unicorn, she rushed towards her best friend, lying unmoving a distance away. “Fluttershy! Fluttershy!” Her words rang out through the storm but the Pegasus didn’t stir. Closing her eyes, she took a dive just as the General’s claws landed on the cloud, sending a giant lightning bolt to strike directly underneath. Pinkie felt Fluttershy’s soft fur on her hooves in the middle of her dive, knowing that she had successfully pushed her friend away. However, she soon felt sudden surges of immeasurable pain shocking through her body, a huge burning feeling on her flank. Twilight and Rarity stood with their mouths wide open, seeing the giant lighting bolt strike the pink pony mid air, the spine-chilling scream filled the stormy skies. “I’ve murdered thousands. You six are no exception.” The General warned before taking off swiftly to the forest, giving Twilight and Rarity no chance to give chase. Turning their heads back towards their friends, they galloped quickly to inspect their wounds. Pinkie lay on the wet ground, her body twitching due to small amounts of electricity which was trapped inside her body. Most ponies would have considered themselves blessed for still being alive, but Pinkie threw her gaze at the butter-colored mare, still unmoving. Mustering all the energy she could, she slowly crawled towards Fluttershy. “P-p-please Flutters. Be okay…. P-please…” She recited softly, tears at the edge of her face. After a few agonizing pulls, Pinkie finally felt the familiar soft fur of the Pegasus. “I’m here. Wake up, Flutters, please. I’m here for you.” “Pinkie Pie!” Rarity and Twilight shouted in unison but the pink pony’s attention was drawn entirely to Fluttershy. With the last bits of electricity gone from her body, Pinkie slid her hooves around Fluttershy, grasping her tightly. “Say something. Say anything!” She cried out, startling the two unicorns just behind her. Pinkie could feel Fluttershy’s chest rising and falling slowly, giving her at least a little bit of comfort for the time being. “P-Pinkie, your flank…” Twilight said, pointing at the area of charred skin on Pinkie’s body. Blood had begun seeping from the wound; however, Pinkie didn’t seem to take notice of it. Twilight took a few steps forward, her horn shining bright as she dragged it across Fluttershy’s body. “F-Fluttershy’s wounds are really serious. I’m afraid that if we don’t do anything, she might not-” “Shut up! You don’t know that!” Pinkie defended with a sudden surge of anger within her. “But Pinkie, Fluttershy’s in serious-” “Shut up Twilight! Shut up! I don’t need to know that! She’ll make it! I know she will!” Pinkie hugged her friend tighter within her hooves. Rarity took a few steps forward, standing beside Twilight. “There is…one way.” Rarity suggested. Twilight’s eyes immediately widened. “No. Rarity I am not letting you do it.” “Twilight, dear. You said it yourself. If Fluttershy doesn’t get help soon she might-” “No! It’s too dangerous!” “Are you saying you’d rather let Fluttershy die then have me break a rule?” “N-No! B-but there has to be another way…” “There is no another way, darling.” Rarity took a few steps forward, standing in front of Fluttershy. “W-What are you guys arguing about?” Pinkie asked in a weak tone. “R-Rarity knows one of the two spells Celestia has forbidden us to use.” Twilight explained as Rarity leaned down on the injured mare. “She knows the vital transference spell.” “V-Vital transference?” Pinkie asked with worried eyes before wincing as a short pain shot through her body. “Y-yes. She basically does two things with the spell. She transfers some of her life into Fluttershy and takes some of Fluttershy’s injuries to put in herself. It’s suppose to help those who are dying but the risks are just too great. If you don’t stop when you need to…you might…” Twilight stared at Rarity, not even trying to finish her sentence. “R-Rarity you don’t have to do this…” Pinkie said but Rarity’s horn had already begun to glow a bright blue. As soon as her horn touched Fluttershy’s body, a large eruption of bright light surrounded the two mares, pushing Pinkie a short distance away from Fluttershy, landing her right next to the purple unicorn. A clear stream of dark yellow light had started to stream from Fluttershy’s body and into Rarity’s. A similar light blue hue had started to emit from Rarity and flow like a river into Fluttershy. Suddenly, Twilight noticed something different, something that was not supposed to happen when the spell is being casted. “Rarity!” Twilight tried to shout but the whirling noise from the spell made it impossible for anypony to hear. “Rarity! Your body!” Pinkie Pie heard Twilight’s cries and focused her vision onto Rarity’s fur. Small cuts had started to appear on the white unicorn’s body, crimson liquid had also started to seep worth, staining her coat. “Rarity!!” Twilight tried to take a step forward but the force of the spell pushed her back. “Twilight do something! Something’s wrong!” Pinkie pleaded. Twilight steeled herself, running backwards before charging straight at the white mare, who had significantly more cuts on her then a few seconds ago. Twilight leapt and tackled Rarity, breaking the spell and ending the myriad of lights. “Twilight! What in Equestria do you think you’re doing!? The spell wasn’t done yet!” Rarity angrily shouted. “Rarity, y-your coat…” Rarity glanced down, finally seeing the various cuts on her body. Some were minor, but some were noticeably bigger, letting blood tarnish her pearl white coat. “Oh my.” Rarity could only reply with these 2 words. “Didn’t you feel any pain?” “No. Not at all.” “This is why Celestia banned us from using the spell! Its too dangerous…” Rarity hung her head low, knowing Twilight was correct. “Very well, Twilight. But what about Fluttershy? I mean, she clearly-” “Girls!” Pinkie’s voice snatched the two ponies’ attention. “She’s waking up!” Twilight and Rarity wasted no time dashing over to the stirring mare. Upon reaching Fluttershy, Twilight could see that some of the wounds that were previously present had disappeared. Fluttershy’s eyes slowly fluttered open, her mouth moving slightly. “W-Where am I?” Fluttershy asked in a soft tone. “Flutters!!” Pinkie shouted with a smile on her face, crawling painfully towards her and slipping her hooves around Fluttershy’s neck. “Pinkie!?” Fluttershy called out in surprise but no answer came. Only the soft whimpers of the smiling pink pony who had her hooves around her. “Fluttershy, darling. How do you feel?” Rarity asked, concerned. “Fine actually.” Fluttershy pushed Pinkie lightly away as she stood up on weak hooves. When she finally laid eyes on Rarity, tears had started to form almost immediately. “Oh my. Rarity what happened to you!?” “Oh this? I just… fell. That’s all.” Rarity quickly replied. Fluttershy glanced down at the pink mare who lay on the floor, crying with joy. Her eyes stuck to the huge burn mark on Pinkie’s flank. “Pinkie!? W-What happened!?” “I just fell too!” Pinkie lied with a smile. Twilight cringed at how easily Pinkie told that lie. The realization of where they were finally hit Fluttershy. Her heart sank as she saw that two of her friends were nowhere in sight. “W-Where’s Rainbow!? Where’s Applejack!? What happened!? Is she…” The barrage of questions shocked the ponies, they couldn’t answer for there was no room for them. “Flutters calm down.” Pinkie interrupted. “We’ll bring you to see them okay?” As she finished her sentence, she tried to stand up but her backhooves couldn’t support her weight, sending her crashing back down onto the ground. “Absolutely not Pinkie Pie.” Rarity’s horn started glowing again, lifting the pink pony upwards and on to Twilight’s back. “There. Twilight will carry you.” Fluttershy walked up to the purple unicorn, her cheeks blushing. “T-Twilight?” “Yes, Fluttershy?” “Would you mind if I carry Pinkie? I mean… if that’s okay with you…” Twilight gave a warm smile before levitating the pink mare onto the yellow pony’s back. “Thank you so much Twilight.” Fluttershy answered with a smile of her own. “Come on, Pinkie Pie.” She trotted along towards the temple steps, a huge smile on both of their faces.