//------------------------------// // Another Door Closes // Story: A Second Too Late // by Thunder Seethe //------------------------------// Lone Colt Thunder Seethe Special Thanks: AppleMLP < Editor Follow me at my: Page ========================================================================= Ch. 19 Another Door Closes I could hear the dark laughter swaying about in my head. Over and over again. I couldn't help but think of Dashie's safety. Wherever we're going to end up, I don't want her to come. I'd rather have me dead than for her to come along with me. She has too much left in her life for something so awful like this to happen to her. I'm not unconscious though. I could hear everything around me. I hear the cries of the citizens. "Look what we have here... the Eighth Element. Heheh. You're going to be fun with Loyalty. You'll both die... happily. It is true you love each other right? Don't speak now, or rather... you can't!" What I assumed to be Nightwalker, but he sounded different. Like I said before, more sinister. I'm not even sure if this is the true Nightwalker, but then again... he sounded so familiar. Why can't I remember his name?! What is this Eighth Element? I remember it back at that weird cavern place, but I still don't know what it means... is it some type of chemical compound? Probably. "Well, it seems like you're busy right now. You'd best enjoy it while you can, because I can guarantee... that this is as peaceful as it will get real soon. Of course, assuming you're still alive." He chuckled and what sounded like his hooves galloping away. I opened my eyes just enough so I could see Dashie. She did the same. "Hey... you alright?" "Yea..." She tried opening her wings, and moving her hooves, but ended with failure. I did the same thing with no different result. "I think we may be immobilized for the time being. Don't worry though. I'm sure Twilight and the others will find us soon... wherever we may be going." Reassuring her is probably the best solution. I know that there is no way Twilight would find us, and she'll be up for days without sleep to find a considerable solution or location, just to be met with the inevitable failure. I won't give up. I will fight, but if it means one of us dying... I'll make sure it's only me. "Don't even try that... and just in case this really is the last time we're going to see each other, I just wanted to ask... a few things." "Go on." "First, what was with that weaponry? Second, what happened at the farm... with AJ-" "Don't worry about it. And well... I'm not sure if this is full proof, but I think I was flown into you... with magic." "What?" "Like, I felt really strange, and suddenly I started flying towards you at top speed. Sorry about that." "It’s fine... but what did the magic, and how was it so strong?" "I wish I knew... was there anything else you wanted to say Dashie?" "Yea... one more. What is all that blabber about the Eighth Element? I thought there were only six; Loyalty, Kindness, Laughter, Honesty, Generosity, and Magic!" "Well, the weaponry I brought home came from this weird cavern. I sorta just kinda went in, I don't know why, but I did... and I entered this citadel structure, and then... that happened." That fall to save Dash took out a real chunk of my brain now didn't it? "Well... I guess that explains both this question and the other. So... are we really stuck? Are we really going to end up with that alicorn? Those shadow things... they're from the Everfree. I know they are, partially because when I do crash, it's over there." "Yea, well that's kinda how we met." I put on my 'I'm okay with this' smile, and she did the same back. "Glad we're on the same page, well... I guess we always were- ACK!" "Wha-ACK!... Dash..." ========================================================================= The After Party ========================================================================= The guards had now taken back what used to be a monumental castle, which was now destroyed and barren. There were occasional fires spread in the garden where Fluttershy stayed, and chunks of marble floor lying about in the main hall. Thrown and bloodied of those who fought and died in this skirmish. Twilight was in the middle of it, cleaning up what she could, and scorning at the shadows which dribbled blue and purple blood. She occasionally walked up to one, and relentlessly kicked their faces in, obliterating whatever bones they had in their skull, crushing and piercing the fragments in their brain. "Buck you..." She kicked another shadow's face in. She dropped a few tears because no matter how much they deserved it, she knew that she was ending a life of another being. It wasn't her job, but she did it anyway, because she felt that it was her responsibility. Applejack was in the main hall with Pinkie and Rarity when this all had happened. Applejack was still well and fine, she could fend for herself. Pinkie... had her party cannon which she used as she threw multiple cakes while screaming like a psychopath. Rarity had it the worst. Being the fine fashionista she is, she wasn't as strong or had any... potential weapons to fend for herself with. She was grappled, bitten, scratched, and beaten. She managed to get a few bucks into the shadows' jaws, but they were too overwhelming. Sean was able to fend for himself well, providing he has hands and feet. He took martial arts as well, so he didn't have much trouble. Just a few scratches here and there. Luna stayed hidden with her sister well, and they remained unharmed. The remaining guards took a death count of both civilians, and guards. 1600 civilians attended. 542 civilians dead. 120 guards on duty. 97 guards dead. The rest remained hidden, or in the hospital. The terrorist attack won't be long forgotten. July 20th, has been marked as an official mourning day for those who died. To Mask, it was all worth it. The first step had been accomplished. ========================================================================= "Where... where am I?" I awoke in a dirt tunnel, and trapped behind jail bars. Across from me was Dashie, and to the cell on the right, was Octavia unconscious. Why is she even here? "Hey... Dashie? You awake?" "Hmm? Oh thank Celestia you're awake! I don't know what's going on, or why Octavia's even here. You have any clue as to that?" "I'm afraid not. I was just wondering the same thing." We put our heads down. What am I doing... this may be the last time I see her! I need to say something... is Octavia waking up? "You awake?" I said in a whisper just in case she was only shifting positions. She slowly arose from the ground with matted hair, and she took a good look around. "Not exactly the best spot to be waking up huh?" I chuckled a bit to lighten the mood, it didn't seem to work. "Heh... yea... well, what do we do?" "Well I guess... there really isn't much we can do except for waiting." I looked at the two of them. "Dashie, you've been up the longest right? Have you overheard anything?" She looked up at me, and she started tearing up. Then she broke down. "Well... *sniff* buck." "You don't need to tell me. I'm sure it'll be fine-" A door nearby, definitely in this room, swung open and here entered Nightwalker. "Well. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." he laughed like a psychopath. "Go fuck yourself." I glared at him, but he wasn't phased. He walked over the Rainbow's cell, and his shadow guards slowly became visible. "Don't you dare touch her!" "Or what? What can you possibly do now? You've lost. Since you're one who's certain to make it out of here alive, let me introduce you to the real Nightwalker." What is he talking about? He's clearly crazy. At the same time, I'm curious... Princess, Can you hear me? Shit... it doesn't seem to be working. I guess I gotta find a way out of this... to get everyone out. "Storm. I'm so sorry, I am not doing this, it's completely against my will! Please, your name's Storm right? Help... Me!-" I remember now. Is that Ron? It can't be... were the dreams Sean and I were sharing true? No... "Well that was pleasant wasn't it? It's okay Nightwalker, soon you'll be free again. Just... not as a pony. You'll be restored as a human, and I shall take over your Alicorn being." "What do you mean?" "Heh... you'll see in a moment. You two, unlock those doors. Send them to any death chamber, I frankly don't care which one... Screw that, I figured out something more interesting..." He turned and looked towards me smirking. "Take him out too, and follow me." He led us down the dirt hallways. It was lit with torches, and had the medieval look. We passed multiple doors, but stopped where there was a split between the hallway. We went to the right, and the walls slowly changed from dirt, to stone. "Stop here." he motioned one of the guards, and I was thrown into an iron room with one glass window pane. I could see a sand dome... there was blood everywhere, and it looked recently used. "Is that... Octavia and Dashie? Oh no... This isn't what I think it is..." I could see multiple monsters with spears stuck in their chests, and dead ponies on the ground wearing the Royal guard armor. This is a gladiator arena. "SHIT! SHIT, SHIT, SHIT! Oh fuck!" I started bucking and kicking everything I could trying to get out there. I know what they're going to make them do. I started bucking at the glass. Then no sooner than I had started doing that, I started flying towards the glass at top speed. It seems to be no use, but I don't care. I'm not going to give up! They're talking right now. They're going to send a threat out soon so they are forced to fight. They can't. Fuck! A gate on the far east started to open. I can't believe they're going to force me to spectate such things! I can't... "OPEN!" I started kicking at the door, but nothing is working. I'm powerless. "Enjoying the fun?" The fake Nightwalker appeared next to me. "You bitch!" I flared my wings and was about to start an attack until I was thrown in the back wall by magic, then entangled by magic. He turned my head so I was forced to stare out the window; he moistened my eyes constantly so it wasn't blurry, or too wet for me to see. It felt normal. He wanted me to watch. ========================================================================= "Octavia! Behind you!" A shadow appeared behind, and was about to take a few lashes. Rainbow Dash was quick enough to fly and buck it in the jaw, knocking it unconscious. "Thanks..." Octavia thanked. "You know what has to be done if one of us wants to make it out of here right?" "Yea... I was awake." They both started tearing up as they remembered their childhood, adolescent age, and their share of adultery. "I've always thought of you as a great mare Dash. I admire your will to do everything it takes for yourself to win. You must know... that I have to at least try to survive." The gray musical mare looked down and started crying as if she knew her fate. "Don't worry about it Tavi. When I'm gone... tell my friends back in Ponyville... that... that I was thinking about them." The rainbow maned pony looked up with tears in her eyes, but she was smiling. She would never kill a friend, even if it meant they were going to kill her. "And Tavi... I think the same way about you. You're a great mare, and don't let what happens tonight ruin that for you. Just... don't forget about me." The rainbow pegasus regained as much composure as she could, and let all of her pride go. She walked up to the earth pony and said, "You can kill me now." she looked up where Thunder stayed crying and screaming for them to be let go, and have him killed instead. He knew they didn't deserve to kill, or be killed. It was him who got them in this mess anyway... or would this have happened anyway. Was this something that fate already decided? "Sorry Rainbow..." the gray mare turned around and kicked her in the jaw, making a sickening crack. She fell with a thud, and blood seeped from her mouth. She got back up, and was preparing for the next hit. "Don't be." She took another blow, and landed with a thud again. She screamed in pain, but still got back up and prepared for the next hit. She was beginning to shake, but she stood her ground. "Ack!" Her right wing was broken, and now she was unable to get back up. Her stability was diminished, and was now bleeding from multiple cuts across her body. She was in constant pain, but she refused to scream any more than she already did. She was beginning to hyperventilate from all the bruises she received. Thunder who was watching from a distance was crying even more than when his mom and pa' died. It wasn't so much that he was watching a fight... it wasn't a fight. It's cruelty, but even so. She didn't have a choice. He started screaming and gagging himself from all the deep breaths he was taking. He would never know of the end, because for the rest of his life, he would relive this moment. "Tavi... I-ACK! I'm sorry you have to do this... but please. If you're going to do it, please hurry. Stormy is watching, and well... he's probably... not... so happy. ACK! The rainbow pegasus was dying slowly already. She had been bleeding from multiple spots on her body, and soon she'll bleed out. "Rainbow..." Octavia was weeping as she was forced to kill a friend. She never had many because of her talent, and what she loved doing. It hurt her even more to know that she didn't even fight back. "I'm... sorry." "Don't be... just remember what I said. Don't forget me, and tell my friends that... UGH! I was thinking.... about them..." She smiled once more before the final blow crushed her skull. The gray pony just stared at her motionless body. She broke down, and laid next to her friend. "Accepting a loss for a friend, is much more colossal than winning for them." - Thunder Seethe A/N: I didn't want to put an A/N on this chapter, but I guess I have to. There's a rage going on about me killing off Dashie. Well, honestly this scene takes a big role on the story. It also doesn't necessarily mean that I'm killing her off. As I said, I have an idea, dunno if you'll like it. I totally agree with Byraganon and kararnos. I hated myself and was practically sobbing while writing, and I don't know why I stuck to this idea. Well, probably because of where I was heading from the previous chapter. I will be using idea's you send me, so if any of you make some spectacular idea that even includes Dashie coming back to life, I will do it. Trust me. Dashie is my favorite character in the series. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know that feeling. But it's just up to you to bring her back. Please send me ideas. It's appreciated and you'll be given credit.