//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Unexpected Events // Story: Existential Secrets // by Black Hailstorm //------------------------------// During that brief moment Hailstorm’s life flashed before his eyes as he screamed and the tears slowly rolled down his cheeks, the timberwolves roared and he expected their teeth to sink into him. All he could see with his eyes firmly shut was the life he’d lived back home, enjoying himself and having a good time. Although that all changed those many months ago It’s over he thought gritting his teeth in expecting their horrid breath on him, sinking their fangs into him and ripping him apart slowly and gradually, but that didn’t happen. In that moment of fear Hailstorm heard a swoosh followed by a cracking sound and the roars of the timberwolves dying with that crack. His eyes were closed, tightly shut and his ears twitched, slowly rising after the cracking sound had died.Slowly he opened his eyes, the tears still blurring his vision so he had to blink a few times before being able to see properly. What he saw both surprised him and gave him relief. A giant rock had smashed all three of the timberwolves collectively disassembling them. Hailstorm simply stared awestruck by the appearance of this rock. Where did it come from? he thought and from the corner of his eye he saw two- no three figures at the far side of the forest, at its exit. “Who are those three?” he mumbled to himself, then he heard a thing. A familiar clanking sound that suddenly made him remember something important fact, about timberwolves. The timberwolves can revive themselves after a few minutes...so that means. Gulping as a drop of sweat formed on his brow, Hailstorm could feel his pulse quickening as he began to turn slowly hoping what he was hearing was just his mind playing tricks on him but it wasn’t. The wolves were rebuilding themselves. “Oh CMON!” he cried slowly forcing himself to get up only to stumble a bit. “I’ve got to hurry” he muttered hearing even more clanking told him that the other two wolves had begun to rebuild themselves, and he was starting to run out of time. In the distance he could still see those figures and it seemed they had gotten a bit closer but were maintaining their distance. Did they help me? he hesitated as he began to trot a bit faster Aw screw it, desperate times call for desperate measures. With a grunt and a huge amount of effort Hailstorm broke into a gallop. As he ducked under a branch he heard that horrible familiar roar. They’re back! his heart began to pound harder and the ache in his head seemed to double, but he ignored it, this meant life or death for him. Taking a quick glance behind him he could see the leader of the pack had just finished reforming and was preparing as it waited for it’s followers to complete their reformation. Swallowing hard he averted his gaze and returned to look ahead of him. Just in time also for a blast of purple magic had been shot right at him, just barely managing to jump out of it’s way, the purple magic hit the three wolves that were now completely reformed and sent them flying backwards, but wasn’t enough to disassemble them. Hailstorm simply stared a little surprised that he had almost been tossed back to his pursuers, although that changed as soon as he saw they had recovered. Taking off towards the three figures, in the distance he could see one of them had a hoof up motioning him to pick up the pace. “Hurry up!” the voice shouted. You think I’m playing tag with them?! he almost wanted to shout back, but knew this person or in this case pony was only trying to help. Although that realization was knocked down by the growl of the leader as it began running after Hailstorm in a hot pursuit with the others in tow. “Cmon now hurry!” the voice called beckoning Hailstorm over frantically. In that moment Hailstorm had never felt more of a rush his entire life, it was as if a boost of adrenaline 2x more potent had shot through his entire body, forcing him to quicken his pace. The timberwolves however were determined in capturing their target and kept up as best they could. In a last ditch effort the leader pounced. Hailstorm was about to reach the exit out of the forest, the light that shined on his eyes blinded him for a split second, causing him to look away as he continued to gallop forward. In that split second he felt a surge of magic fly right past him and at the same time he slammed into something or somepony. That blast of magic he felt knocked all three of the timberwolves back to the farther side of the forest before they slammed into a tree collapsing and breaking apart on each other. Sighing a breath of relief he relaxed only to feel a hoof tap on his shoulder. “Hm? Oh yes yes thank you sooo much for-” he paused only to see that the pony that he had collided with was... wearing a cowboy hat. “Y-You” he breathed staring at the pony underneath him. The orange blonde pony in turn smiled back at him sheepishly. “Um...I’m glad yer safe and all but.. ya mind moving downwind?” she asked feeling awkward as it is. Hailstorm did as he was told and moved. His mind was blank, sure he had been saved by this pony and her friends but what really shocked him is that she was real. One of the ponies he’d been seeing in his dreams was real and standing right in front of him, he couldn’t be more at a loss for words. “Are you alright?” a baby dragon asked slouching on the head of a purple alicorn. “You look pretty beaten up” he said biting his lip. “Twilight can’t you use your magic to help him out?” “Oh- yes right of course, thanks Spike” Twilight said still surprised that a pony had been wandering by himself in the Everfree forest. Walking towards Hailstorm with her horn pointed at him she said “Hold still this might tingle” Reflexes kicked in and Hailstorm put some distance between himself and the three creatures standing before him. It was only natural he’d want to stay a little separate from not only the ponies he’d been seeing in his dreams but also one who blew away his attackers with a single shot of that purple stuff. In his attempt to trot backwards he tried standing on his hind legs again only to fall backwards on to his butt. Kicking his way backed up against a tree he gave the utmost confused and slightly fear induced look Twilight had ever seen. “What in Celestia’s name happened to him?” she asked looking at the now concerned orange pony. She shrugged and said “Who knows sugarcube we just gotta get him back to Ponyville, he sure looks like he could use some help” she stated. “Yeah here help me with him Applejack” she said motioning to the orange pony. As the two got closer Hailstorm’s head started to ache again, the full realization of how sore his body was, was unbearable and his head felt like he’d smashed it against a tree. “Ooooh” he groaned clutching his head, only to notice the shadows of Twilight, Applejack and Spike above him. Scrambling to a stance he attempted to tell them to leave him alone only to stumble, fall and slowly lose conscious. “Looks like...I over exerted myself” he mumbled seeing Twilight and Applejack’s hooves now in front of him, before everything went black. <(((((O)))))> “Mmm” he groaned as he blinked his eyes repeatedly to clear them of the blur that clouded his vision accompanied by a terrible ringing sound that made it impossible to hear. "W-What’s happening?” his thoughts were still a mess from the force of the explosion and he was only now starting to realize what had happened. The force from the explosion caused a huge crater that separated Vindictive and Silver Caliber, since they had just found out how to use their magic they still weren’t capable of controlling it properly so this was an obvious outcome, though that didn’t make things feel any better on Caliber’s side. Still laying on the ground Caliber looked around only to see on the other side of the crater was his former friend now getting on his hooves. As the other alicorn stood he could see it was with some difficulty, for a large but slightly deep slash was across his chest as it heaved up and down with each breath. A look of guilt filled Caliber’s eyes when he saw the wound. “Did I do that?” he asked despite still not being able to hear. For a second he was tempted to cross the crater, to apologize for abandoning his friend, to beg for mercy but that changed as his hearing slowly started to clear up he saw a cloud of dust rise. Turning his head in the direction of the sound he saw his wife Twinkle on the ground. She was a mess, her mane was in a disheveled heap small parts slightly burnt off most likely from her fight exchanging magical blows. Slowly she sat on her haunches and looked at Caliber tears in her eyes, her lip trembling. A horrible shiver went up Caliber’s spine when he looked at the fear in her eyes, trying to get onto his hooves only to slip and fall, he could only stare at Twinkle and in a quiet whisper asked “W-Where are the others?” Twinkle’s lip only shook more as the tears in her eyes started to overflow slowly falling down her cheeks. “What happened to them?” Caliber asked again somehow finding some sort of renewed strength to stand. “Twinkle what-” cut off to see a figure of shadows in the distance Caliber stared as they slowly neared. From the shadows emerged Iron Clad, Straight Forward and the rest of Vindictive’s group behind them they carryied the unconscious bodies of all of Caliber’s allies ,tossing them in front of the battered alicorn. Script was the last one to be tossed forward only half conscious of his surroundings, the poor lime colored stallion had a bruise on his shoulder and a couple cuts around his head. In a defeated wobbly voice he said “I- I’m sorry Caliber... I-” Caliber cut him off placing a hoof on the stallions’ lips. “Shhh” he said gently patting his forelock “I know” he said with a weak smile reading the words off of Script’s lips. Script slowly stood up with the support of Twinkle he was able to properly stand up, both casting worried glances at their group, Straight Forward stepped forward once again blowing his green mane out of his line of vision. “Relax will ya, the boss won’t kill you” he said with a mundane look on his face. “Unless you do something to really piss him off” he muttered the last bit to an audible whisper, although Iron Clad seemed to have caught the drift and elbowed him in the side. While Caliber watched his companions that lay on the ground injured and unconscious like dead bodies, saw the pain and fear of both his cousin-in-law and his wife one other thing was gnawing at him What the hell happened to Celestia?! **** *** **** Celestia lay near the castle’s throne room slowly regaining consciousness. When the goldish alicorn had made his threat to attack she was prepared to fight, but due to the battle with her sister she was slightly sluggish and was immediately knocked out by an unexpected blast from the alicorn’s horn sending her crashing through her throne doors and on to the floor. “Mph” she gasped as she slowly rose to her hooves, the pain surging through her body as she steadied herself. Looking around bemused it took Celestia a few seconds to remember what had happened. Sister, she thought looking up at the moon feeling the tears starting to rise again she blinked forcing herself to shove the pain she felt within her, there were more important matters to attend to than her guilt. Spreading her wings upon hearing an explosion in the courtyard Celestia took off. Vindictive had finally crossed the crater and now climbed his way out, breathing heavily as he made the climb he ignored the pain in his chest and the previous pain in his hoof coming back, furious beyond belief. Slipping for a split second only to be caught by the hoof of Iron Clad and helped up the steep part, onto firm land. Taking a few seconds to calm himself and his breathing the alicorn looked up to see Caliber, Script and Twinkle all huddled up together in front of their fallen comrades as his own allies maintained watch and guard. “What do we do now Vin?” Iron Clad asked, casting a few cold glances towards Caliber. “Do you want us to finish them off or would torture be better?” he asked a sly grin slowly spreading on his lips as he saw Script shuffle at the mention of their demise. “Put your sadistic tendencies behind you” the alicorn stated firmly looking at the grey unicorn. “I will deal with them just keep watch and make sure the others don’t do anything to escape or get help” he ordered slowly limping his way towards Caliber and his friends. With a nod the grey stallion’s smirk instantly disappeared as he followed behind his leader, Straight Forward had been talking to the other members of the group while casually maintaining watch of Caliber and the others, as soon as he saw Vindictive approach them he moved aside to give him space uttering a “Welcome back sir” which in turn was echoed by the others of his group with a respectful bow. Dismissing the bow with a nod of his head he stopped as he was now a few feet from Caliber and Script who was being supported by his cousin Twinkle. Just what should I do to hurt you like how you hurt me? he pondered, wondering just what could hurt him as badly as he had been hurt to make Silver Caliber truly suffer he had to take something from him. Just like his freedom had almost been taken when he was abandoned back in their country, almost how he lost his life Vindictive needed- wanted to make him feel the pain he had felt all those weeks in that hell hole. Then it dawned on him. There’s no greater pain than being alone he smirked as the the thought crossed his mind, that smirk only made Caliber hesitate unsure of what Vindictive would pull now. “Iron Clad..we’re taking everyone here hostage, if they resist...you may deliver punishment” he commanded, bringing an almost ecstatic grin and shine of jubilance in the unicorn’s eyes. As an afterthought the alicorn also added “In fact change of plans, we’re taking her” he stated pointing a foreleg at Twinkle at the same time licking his lips. “She’s going to be my personal pet.” A shudder went up Twinkle’s spine at that horrible thought, “And why on earth would I be your pet” she asked glaring daggers into Vindictive as Iron Clad and his crew encompassed them. “Oh you’ll find out very soon..patience my dear” he winked and with a wave of his good hoof, Iron Clad began his trot towards them. The pony quite large equally quite fit for a unicorn. However hearing Twinkle become Vindictive’s pet was probably the breaking point for Caliber as Iron Clad came in closer and was about to backhand Caliber out of the way, anger took over, his horn started to glow, his breathing quickened and the next thing he knew he had hit Iron Clad square in the chest with his foreleg. Not waiting for a second for the pony to react he lifted him up by the legs with his magic and pushed him aside, sending him hurtling towards a few other ponies who got mowed down like bowling pins. Vindictive’s smirk only widened. “Excellent, you never were good at keeping calm as soon as someone personally threatens to do something to your so-called friends or family” he muttered to himself. With a snort Caliber stamped both front hooves on the ground and using a stick drew a line. “I dare you ANY of you to cross this line, I will personally send you to hell myself if you lay another finger on her, or them!” he stated. No one moved. A awkward silence filled the area, as the only thing that could be heard was the sound of a wind blowing over some of the debris around the castle’s courtyard. That silence was soon broken by Straight Forward’s chuckle. Rounding on him Caliber grasped the violet earth pony and dragged him towards him with his emerald green magic and through gritted teeth asked “What’s so damn funny?” his face inches from Forward’s. “Oh nothing” Forward said in between small chuckles “Just that I thought you were smarter than this, but it looks like I was wrong.” Another silence fell. Twinkle now who had initially been rooting for her husband along side Script both looked with horror on their faces as the violet earth pony flatly called their leader an idiot. Of all the things Caliber couldn’t stand, it was that, he could not stand being called an idiot, especially when he was trying to protect the people he loved from the one person he thought would always be there for him. His left eye twitched, and slowly the black alicorn raised a hoof without a word ready to strike Forward in the face until his ears twitched. “S-Sir?” one of the filly’s said. “W-what are you doing?” He froze, the anger that was about to explode like a nuclear reactor subsided instant. He could hear the fear in the filly’s voice, his face slowly switching from anger to regret he turned to see that his allies slowly awoke to see this new side of him. Anger. It’s something I never really show them. Something I do my best to hide, to keep hidden because anger only leads to violence which leads to pain. His magic vanished releasing the violet stallion from it’s grip who immediately disappeared into the crowd of his allies. “I-it’s not what it looks like” he tried to explain. Stop talking, “I- they said they were going to take you, I- I couldn’t let it happen- I” You’re only making it worse. “I-” he was interrupted by a cold cruel laugh he knew Vindictive used when he had won. He’d fallen into the trap and if he wasn’t carefully there’d be no way out. “Well!” he said in sheer delight. “Looks like your leader here isn’t cut out to be the kind and loving soldier now does he?” he asked lifting his right foreleg up to reduce the pressure on it. “Well child let me ask you something what good has your leader done for you hm?” “He’s done a lot more good than you seem to be doing for your own!” Script shouted cringing as he pointed his injured hoof at Vindictive. “At least our leader treats us as equals, you weren’t like this back-” he hesitated not willing to recall the things they had endured back home. “Your weren’t like this before the- incident” Twinkle finished for her cousin in a calm yet angered voice. “What happened to you Vinny! What made you change so much in just a few weeks!” The pleasant grin that had been playing on his lips slowly disappeared into a frown at Twinkle’s words, so had the smug look on Straight Forward’s face. In fact everyone in Vindictive’s group suddenly had hardened cold eyes that looked right back at the remaining three. “What happened?!” Iron Clad yelled having been helped up by the three he slammed into as he slowly trotted towards them. “You want to know what happened after you abandoned us?” he asked his voice raising to a shout. “I’ll tell you what happened! We were captured! Made into servants for the rich, treated like dirt and spat upon by those who looked down on us! If it weren't for Vindictive then" he paused gritting his teeth. "Do you even know what-” he was cut off by Vindictive raising his injured right hoof. “Enough” he said in a soft tone. “It’s in the past” he stated as he looked back at Twinkle his eyes still giving off that cold feeling just like the first time they’d met. A silence ensued for a few minutes, Vindictive was about to speak again only to be hit by a blast of golden magic which pushed him back into the arms of his friends. “What in the name of-” Celestia interrupted him as she landed in between his allies and Caliber’s. “Enough is enough!” she said her wings still spread in that regal manner of hers. “Take your people and leave!” she demanded in the voice that was used to addressed the citizens, stamping a hoof on the ground. “If you do not, then I must fight as Equestria’s protector and as Caliber’s new friend I will not let you lay a hand on him or his comrades!” “...Fine” he stated as Straight Forward and others helped him to his hooves. “We’ll leave...for now” he stated his horn began to glow as did the other unicorns in the group. “Oh and princess ask your friend over there. What true friendship is” he said giving her a dark look. “We’ll meet again Silver Caliber”, and with that they all disappeared in a mixed spectrum of magic. <(((((O)))))> Opening his eyes Hailstorm saw that the temperature was room temp, and he was staring at the ceiling of what he’d presume was a hospital. Looks like I passed out again he sighed. Just what is the deal with this Vindictive guy anyway? he wondered as he slowly sat himself up in the bed. “You’re awake” said the voice of pistachio eyes that stared up at Hailstorm from his bed side. Hailstorm raised a questioning eyebrow, until he realized that it was just Spike as he pushed a chair up and sat on it to give Hailstorm a better view. “So what were you doing out in Evergreen Forest anyway?” he asked getting right to the point. Not even a ‘how are you feeling?’ shrugging it aside he said “I was lost that’s all” “So I’m going to assume you’re not from Ponyville?” he asked taking a bite out of one of the gemstones that had been brought to him as a snack. “Ye- wait Ponyville?” he asked the realization now dawning on him where he was. “Yeah Ponyville?” Spike replied with a raised eyebrow noticing the surprised look on Hailstorm’s face made him want to ask another question but was stopped when the door opened. It was Twilight and Applejack. Oh my Lord they are real! he thought looking once again perplexed by his situation. “Well looks like yer feeling much better” Applejack said with a sweet smile. “We were plum’ worried about ya” she stated with her smile. “Yeah you kept babbling things in your sleep mentioning Princess Celestia, and the rest was kind of a muddled mess so we got you something to eat” Twilight said levitating a basket of apples towards Hailstorm’s table. When he didn’t say anything but just kept staring between Applejack, Twilight and Spike felt a sudden awkwardness. “Um anyway please let us introduce ourselves I’m-” “Twilight Sparkle” he said still with a perplexed look and in a hushed voice he looked at the orange pony “Applejack..part of Sweet Apple Acres...Spike... one of Twilight’s best friends and greatest assistant” his voice now wobbling as the three stared shocked. “How did you know who we are?” Applejack asked almost hesitantly, but he didn’t answer. In fact the next thing he did was so calming it surprised them. Hailstorm slowly got off the bed stared at the three one more time for a few seconds and left the room. A long silence fell for a few seconds before it was broken by Spike. “Well that was weird” he said grabbing another gemstone and munching on it.