//------------------------------// // Reunion // Story: Warped Mind // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Many Hours later, After Nightfall Shining Armor yawned as he held the portrait in his left fore-hoof. He had plenty time to examine over it. It wouldn't be long before Queen Chrysalis' curfew would force him to return to his room. He had been standing there since he had found the portrait. I can't just steal it... it could be something important to her. Shining thought. He could not and would not allow himself to steal something important from somepony, especially a portrait of a loved one. Thump Thump Thump Shining straightened his form, expecting to see Queen Chrysalis. However, he let himself relax once he noticed that it was Taltra. "Oh, hello Shining Armor." "Er... hello, Taltra. You dropped this earlier." Shining said, extending his hoof to her and allowing her to grab it. Taltra's face brightened as she picked up the paper, a smile spreading across her face. "Oh... thank you, so much." She held it close to her chest for a moment. "It's no problem. I know it could be something important, so I didn't want to take it. However, may I ask who's in the portrait." Shining said. Taltra cautiously put the paper into her right fore-hoof. "He's... he's somepony very important to me." She glanced downwards, before looking up to him. "Shining Armor... would you, if you don't mind, join me? I need to go to the dungeon and I wouldn't mind having another pair hooves to come along with me." Taltra said. Shining became confused. "But, Queen Chrysalis said I couldn't leave the palace." "She said you couldn't leave the palace without her supervision, my supervision, or a guard's supervision. As long as I'm with you, we're not disobeying her." "O... okay. I'll come with you." I could see Cadance again... no! She's just a pony! "Excellent. Follow me." --- I stifled with a loud yawn, holding my spear to my side while I sat at the doorway. Blooming Lily had retired to the bed with Lance Force long ago, and I was left to guard the house. Eh, I'd prefer this anyways. They need the sleep more than me. Besides, I rather not take any more chances, especially after that run in with those changeling soldiers. Thump Thump Thump Changelings! I quickly jumped to my hooves, turned around, and pushed my spear forward, expecting to see a changeling. "Whoa- wait!" As I heard Lance's surprised voice, I immediately pulled the spear back. "What the hay?!" Lance's raspy voice took on a tone of anger. "I'm sorry! I thought you were a changeling." Lance sighed and wiped her eyes. "It's all right. Just don't like to wake up and nearly be stabbed when trying to get somepony's attention, y'know?" "Yeah. Sorry. Just a little paranoid right now." "Need some sleep? I could take over for you while you get some rest." "No thanks. You can still stay with me, if you'd like." "Of course." Lance said, trotting over to the wall beside me. I scooted over, giving her some room to sit. "So, what happened while I was asleep?" "Blooming and I looked through the kitchen and found some food and water. Other than that, it's been pretty event-less around here." "Good. Have you noticed anything out there?" "Nope. Nothing but snow falling and a couple of animals passing by." "I guess I'd prefer things to be quiet than loud with the situation in, you know?" "All too well." Lance and I became quiet for a moment, listening to the wind howling outside. "So... Rocky, what do we do once we get back to the Crystal Empire?" "What do you mean? We'll get to the nearest hospital and--" "I mean, about us." Oh. Oh... "We'll just stick together, right? We can try to at least." "Definitely. Besides, I still owe you." "I think we're even after yesterday." "You sure?" "Definitely." I glanced away, outside, trying to focus on anything but the burning in my cheeks. "It's strange, y'know? We ended up hating each other at first, but we've gone so through many trials and tribulations... it'd be strange if we weren't together after we got back." "Yeah. We should at least try to keep in contact." "Defin--" Snap Wait- that wasn't from the inside. I glanced outside, looking around for any movements. There were some tree branches moving, and I could see those... those cold, blue eyes. "Lance, get in the bedroom. Grab the food and your spear, get Blooming, and hide somewhere." "Is somepony out there?" "Yes, changelings. Now go!" I whisper-yelled. "But what about you-" "Don't worry about me." "I'm not leaving you. Come with me and we'll hide." "I can't- I need to protect you." "I can protect myself. Look- let me-" "Lance, there isn't enough time! Get back into the bedroom!" "You aren't making me leave; I'm not leaving you." "Horseapples- fine. We're too late to do anything now." I said, seeing them come out of the treeline and towards the house. Lance tossed me the helm before she pushed me against the wall. I, rushed and clumsy, pushed it on my head as the hoof-steps drew closer and closer. My heart rate rose as I heard hoof-steps approach the doorway. "Where are they... I know I sensed love in here." Silence suddenly ruled over the area after a moment. Snn- A spear suddenly burst through the wooden wall behind, narrowly missing me. "Gah!" I turned around as I heard the noise, and fear struck my heart as I looked at Lance. The spear had hit her directly in the ribs. The spear's tip was still inside her, half of it buried into her ribs. The other half was covered in her blood, and blood dripped onto the floor beneath her. "Lance!" I yelled in fear, rushing up to her and pulling the spear out. She stumbled for a moment before regaining her balance. "I'm fine... look out!" I turned, seeing a changeling rushing towards me with his spear. I'd knock his spear up and push him back. "Lance, get Blooming and run!" I'd said as we were backed away from the changelings, more and more of them coming in and filling the room. There were 10 or 20 at least. "No! I'm not leaving you behind!" We backed into the corner as we were surrounded by changelings. "What should we do with them, drones?!" One of the changelings called out. "Let's take their love crystal ponies!" Another screamed in the crowd. "No- kill them with their own weapons! Like they did with our changelings!" The crowd screamed in unison. W... what do we do? My heart raced as I boggled my brain for ideas- any way to get out of this situation. I can't talk my way out of this- they're irrational, and there's too many to fight... "Look, please, this doesn't have to-" Smack The hard end of one of the changeling's wooden staff connected with my temple. I stumbled, collapsing against the wall. "Rocky-" Smack I felt Lance's limp body fall atop of mine. --- "And you're sure we're not breaking any rules?" "Positive. Just follow me and we'll do the headcount." Shining followed behind Taltra down the dark hallway into the dungeon. The bricks in the wall had begun to crack, some even filled with moss growing over. He trotted past numerous cell, passing by both empty and occupied cells, he kept his head down and made sure that his mane hung in front of his face, unable to face the crystal ponies he formerly protected. "Okay... so, fifty to seventy-five prisoners in this one. Let's head to the next." Taltra trotted towards a hallway and turned to the left, coming upon a large, wooden door. It looks like... is Taltra leading me to Cadance?! "I... I think you should go in first. There're only a few ponies in there, so it shouldn't be too hard." Shining nervously gulped and nodded. He grabbed the door knob with a shaky right-hoof and turned the knob, opening the door. He trotted inside, letting the door shut behind him. A pink-coated mare was sitting at the cell door, her long violet, rose, and gold striped mane hanging in front of her face. "Oh, what do you want now... haven't you done enough?" She held up her right fore-hoof, revealing her darkened coat. Bitemarks littered the area. Shining could only manage a choked whimper. He fell to his knees, refusing to allow himself to give into his pony instincts. He wanted to rush up to her, comfort her, hug her, free her, love her, and most importantly, make sure she was still the same pony he had brought in. I-I shouldn't- she's... she's just a-a pony. "What? You don't have anything to say now? After everything you told me and threatened me with since I got here?" Her voice took on a tone of anger and fury. Shining throat locked up. Just say something! A single word! "You hurt my husband, my kingdom, my crystal ponies, imprison me in this forsaken kingdom, separate my husband from me, and you have nothing to say?!" "C... Cadance..." Shining managed to choke out. Cadance froze almost immediately. After a moment, she turned her head to the right, letting that side of her face rest against the bars. "Shining..." --- "Huh..." Blooming Lily's eyes opened, awoken by the sound of crackling. She tried to bring her hoof up, only to be pushed down by another pony. "Let him go! Don't hurt him!" "What... Lance?" Blooming brought her head up, seeing Lance with chains around her fore-hooves and wings. She panicked and quickly scanned over the area, seeing that a changeling was holding her hooves and fore-hooves down. Blooming noticed out of the corner of her eye that Rocky Diamond was being carried into the house she had found during the day. "Lance?!" Blooming called out. A changeling come over to Lance and picked her up, hoisting her onto it's back. "Don't worry! I love you, Blooming Lily!" "No, please! Don't let them take you!" Blooming called out as Lance was carried into the house behind Rocky. After a moment or two, the changelings carrying them exited. "What are you gonna do?! Don't hurt them!" Blooming said. The changeling holding her scoffed at her request. "You'll get a good seat to this show, crystal pony." "W-what are you..." Blooming trailed off, seeing the two changelings that had carried them in using their magic to carry lit torches. They trotted up to the house and shut the door. Blooming realized what they were about to do. "N-no! Please!" The changelings put the torches up above the door. She watched in horror was the boards caught on fire and the fire began to spread. "No! Don't! Let me go!" Blooming said, trying to wiggle out of the changeling's grip. The changeling squeezed her closer to its chest, making sure she was unable to get out. The fire was beginning to spread more rapidly, to the roof and door below. "Please! Stop!" Snn-Crassh Some of the roofing began caved in. Blooming, desperate to be released, tried pushing against the changeling's hooves. "You're just going to have to sit and watch." "Let me go!" Blooming screamed, fury filling her voice. "No!" The guard hissed, his anger-filled voice becoming distorted. "I said, let me go!" Blooming opened her mouth and bit down on the changeling's hoof. The changeling pulled his hooves away, releasing her. Blooming rushed towards the house, desperate to save her sister. --- Cadance and Shining Armor remained still, only taking moments to breathe and blink "Come- come here." Cadance stuck her hooves through the space between the bars, offering her hoof to him. Shining turned downwards, squeezing his eyes shut. I can't... Queen Chrysalis'll be angry if I give in... "Shining, please," Cadance's voice was almost a whisper, gentle. "I've been so worried." "Y... you aren't angry?" He glanced up at her. "Of course not. I've missed you, now get over here." Shining took a single step forward, before turning his head back away. "No... I-I shouldn't..." "Please." A blush spread across her face, as Shining felt something strange... something off. Love? Shining questioned. He turned back towards her. I mean, I can't let the love go to waste. Only for the love. Shining, slowly yet surely, trotted to the cell bars, sitting down in front of her. She grabbed him, pulling him close as she snuck her other fore-hoof through the bars, pulling him close for a hug. "I've been so worried about you." Cadance held his head up, looking directly into his eye. "Did they do anything to you? Are you okay?" "I'm fine. Just trying to follow her orders." Cadance glanced away, seeming uncomfortable, before turning back up and looking at his bandaged eye. "What happened to your eye?" "Queen Chrysalis said it was starting to change. I needed to keep it protected, so she bandaged it up." "Could I see it?" "You won't want to... and I can't take it off; Queen Chrysalis ordered me to-" "Queen Chrysalis isn't here, right?" Cadance asked. Shining nodded. "Well, she won't know. Now, come over here." Cadance said. Shining trotted up the bars, allowing Cadance to slip her hooves through his mane and undo the bandage. It rested atop of his mane as she looked at it and quietly gasped. "What?" "The outside of iris is... it's almost a blue. And your iris is green." Shining looked down to Cadance. In his right eye, he saw Cadance's outside appearance, but in his left, he saw a large, pink, translucent mass that was enveloping her. It's outside shot up and down like a wildfire. Is that her love? It looks so... so alluring. Shining said, his mouth began to water. He shook his head and pulled the bandage over his eye again. No- I can't hurt her-- "Why'd you-" Knock Knock Knock Shining looked to the door. "I'll be back in a moment," Shining said, beginning to trot away. However, before he could, Cadance grabbed his left fore-hoof. "No, wait-" He turned back to her. "I love you. I don't care what happened in the next few days, or if we'll even see each other again, but I love you, changeling or pony, okay?" She released his hoof, a large smile spreading across her face. She's not angry? At all? Shining smiled. "I love you too. I can't stay, but I'll try to come back soon." Only for the love. Shining told himself, although he knew his words had more meaning than a simple ploy to gain love for Queen Chrysalis. "Okay. Please be safe." Shining nodded as he turned back towards the cracked door. He looked through the crack, Taltra leaning against the door as her hooves bounced with anxiety. "Can I see the other pony in there? It's been a long time since I've seen him." "There's nopony in here besides Princess Cadance." "What?" Taltra said, opening the door and peeking in. Her eyes widened and filled with tears as she saw there was nopony else in the cell. "I-I must speak with Queen Chrysalis. Come with me." Taltra said, grabbing Shining's left fore-hoof and pulling him outside of the dungeon. --- "C'mon, c'mon... unlock!" I coughed as I began to slowly regain consciousness. A smell filled my nostrils, choking me as I breathed it in... smoke? Something was rattling at my hind-hooves. The air around me was heavy and dense, stealing my breath. I coughed as I opened my eyes. There were pillars of smoke coming from the burning floor around me and out of the open ceiling. A large piece of the roof had fallen in front of the door. A beam had fallen beside, blocking the door and the entryway to the kitchen had been covered by the upper floor that had caved in. "What... Lance?! Blooming?!" I looked around, frantic to find him both. Lance was laying beside me, with Blooming at her fore-hooves. Blooming Lily was trying to pull the chains off of Lance. "What the hay happened?! Are you all right?!" I asked as I leaned up. Lance let out a dry cough before looking up. "The changelings knocked us out and set the house on fire! We need to get out!" Blooming Lily said, desperately trying to pull the chains binding Lance's fore-hooves off. "Where's the spears?! We could break them off that way!" I'd tell her. Blooming nodded and rushed around the room, looking for my spear. After a moment, she trotted back up to Lance with her head hanging low. "I-I can't find it... it's gone... I-I can't help..." Blooming said, bringing her head up, revealing her tear filled eyes. "No no no- Blooming. Don't panic... keep calm. Look around for something like it. A broom, a piece of wood- something. Just stay away from the fire." "O... okay." Blooming once again began to circle around the room. I could feel the intense heat from the fire behind me getting hotter. I looked back and saw the flames were getting closer. C'mon! "Blooming, you need to hurry!" "I'm trying!" Blooming called out. After a moment, she returned with a large, circular piece of wood. "I-is this good?" "Yes, perfect. I need you to push one end under the chain and then start pulling the chain up with the wood. Lance, you begin to lightly push down on the chains when your hooves are lifted above." Blooming and Lance nodded. She began to pull up on the wood, the chains hung in the middle. Lance began to pull down on the chains, causing Blooming to fall forward atop of her hoof. "What happened?" "I-" Blooming dryly coughed in the middle of her sentence. "Couldn't hold it up." "Blooming, I need you to try your best to keep pulling it up, okay?" Lance said, coughing at the end of her sentence. The black smoke filled the room, quickly stealing the oxygen. Blooming picked up the board again. It still had the chain resting against it. They repeated the process again, causing the chain to crack a bit before Blooming fell. "Good job. Let me see if I can... can break it." Lance said. She pulled her hooves apart. "C'mon... c'mon..." Lance grunted as she managed to snap off the chain-link in the middle. "There we go! Now, let's get Rocky out." After a moment or two, Lance had managed to break off the chains binding my hooves. I stood and trotted up to her. "Good. Now, let's get out-" Snn-crack Whoa-- "Rocky! Watch out!" Before I could have the chance to respond, Lance pushed me away, knocking me into the wall and causing me to fall through. Thankfully, there were no changelings at the side of the house. I coughed as I looked up. "What the hay-?" Lance was holding up the beam with her wings and back. Her hooves quivered as she desperately tried to hold it up. Oh horseapples! "Go Blooming!" "B-but Lance-" "Just go!" Her voice strained under the weight of the beam. Blooming quickly scurried off into the snow. I quickly hopped up to my hooves and up to her, putting my back under the beam Blooming rushed under the beam and up to me. I quickly hopped up to my hooves and used my back to hold up the beam. "Go Lance!" I said, my voice straining from the weight of the beam. Lance quickly moved out from under the beam. Okay... she's safe. I quickly pulled out from under the beam, scraping some skin off my back. Lance and I panted exhaustedly. "Let's get out of here, before the changelings find us" I turned to trot past the tree line. However, I stopped as I heard a pain-filled grunt. "Buck me..." I turned to Lance, seeing her left wing bent at a few broken feather bending against her back. Blood had stained her usually white coat around her stomach and ribs. She leaned against the wall, panting heavily. "Are you okay, Lance?" "Yeah-" She said while letting out a breath. "I'm just... just a little light-headed..." Her hooves quivered. I quickly rushed up to her, holding her up. "Here-" I pulled her right fore-hoof over my neck, helping her trot down. "All right, let's get going." I finished. Lance clung to my neck as we stepped down into the snow. She put most of her weight against me. "Ooooh..." Lance groaned, holding her bleeding side. "I've been through crashes, but nothing like this..." Her head bobbed. "Lance, stay with me. We're going to be fine." "I'm not going anywhere yet." Her speech was slightly slurred. Oh no... no... "Blooming, grab my scarf and press it against her cut. Make sure there's no ash or soot on it." Blooming quickly trotted to my left side, yanking the scarf off my neck and quickly trotting to my right side, wiping the scarf over before pressing it to Lance's cut. She groaned, with a quiet scream. "Just... just keep it there, Blooming." "L-Lance..." Blooming's voice quivered, tears filling her eyes as she saw her own sister's head bobbing as she struggled to stay conscious. She used her left fore-hoof to weakly ruffle her younger sister's mane. "I'm gonna be just fine," Lance said with a reassured smile. "Don't you worry about me. Just keep yourself safe." Her head bobbed a final time before she released a deep breath, resting her head against my shoulder. No... no! I stopped where I was, resting her to the ground as I put my ear to her mouth. "I-is she-" "Don't t-think that way." My voice trembled. I'm not about to lose her- not with Blooming still here. Shallow breaths, thank goodness... I put my ear to my chest. She's still got a heartbeat. "She just passed out. Come on." I huffed as I lifted her onto my back, my right fore-hoof struggling to support the extra weight. I'm not about to give up, though. Not with Lance in her condition. --- Twilight Sparkle sat in the Archives, her hind-hooves bouncing in anxiety. She quickly scribbled notes and formulas into her notebook. "And what are we doing again?" "I'm going to finish and perfect the spell, then head out for the Changeling Kingdom tomorrow morning with the others. You'll be staying here." "Aw... why do I have to stay here?" "Because, it's too dangerous out there." "Not for me! I'm no baby anymore!" Spike said defensively. Twilight sighed as she looked down at the piece of paper. However, after a moment, an idea popped into her head. A way to keep Spike from continually asking to come. "No, you're not. Which is why I'm giving you an important job." "I'm not- wait, what?" "I mean, being in charge of protecting a kingdom is a very important job. Only the noblest of knights gets to do this." "L-like Shining Armor?" Spike said. Twilight knew that Spike, in a way, looked up to Shining. "Yes, like Shining." "I was going to give you this job to do, but if you don't want to..." "No! I-I want to!" "Good. If you see or hear anypony or changeling doing something that could hurt somepony, send me a letter and I'll get here as soon as I can." Twilight said, handing Spike a roll of paper. "Okay. I won't let you down!" Spike said, saluting Twilight. Twilight giggled and rubbed the top of his head, causing him to relax a bit. "I don't doubt it. Now, let's get back to work, shall we?" ---