//------------------------------// // Darkness // Story: Warped Mind // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Shining Armor pulled against the magic inhibiting his movement. He grunted, even with his strength, he couldn't break the magic. "Please, keep trying. It's a premonition of what your life is going to be like from now on- in bindings." "As if." Shining breathed out, rapidly taking a few breaths before turning back to her. "Twilight and Princess Celestia will come for us." "They'd be here already if they had a clue where you were. Keep dreaming, it produces such excellent love." Taltra lowly hissed. "In fact-" The cloud broke away, releasing the pair. They both landed on their hooves. Shining shook his head. "Let's see how much I can sap from the part of you that's still pony." Queen Chrysalis took a step towards him. He began to back away. However, before he could go far, a green aura shined in his eyes. It was situated beside him Taltra hissed as she released a magical bolt towards Queen Chrysalis, striking her directly in the chest. Queen Chrysalis took a step back, hissing. "You're not taking another pony's love!" Taltra had her head low to the ground, her fore-hooves stretched out as she prepared to strike Queen Chrysalis "You have no idea what you're doing to yourself! You're getting yourself killed!" "Do you think I care anymore? I'm tired of taking orders from you!" Queen Chrysalis growled before taking a deep breath and putting her hoof back down. "Renla will return in a moment changeling soldiers. Enough to kill two traitorous changelings." "I don't care anymore... I'd rather die than spend another minute here." "Then so be it." She growled. Taltra nodded and sat in front of the door, seemingly waiting for her fate. --- "All right... c'mon, one more big step and then we can rest." I helped Lance over a large, fallen tree, and trotted her into a large brush. She released a congested cough as I sat her down against the fallen tree. Blooming climbed over, rushing up to Lance near immediately. "Are you feeling all right?" "Yeah-" Lance covered her mouth, another choked cough escaping her locked throat. "Don't worry. Are you feeling better?" "A-a little bit. Still worried." "I'm going to be just--" Lance broke into a coughing fit, covering her mouth. Oh, horseapples- maybe I could use the last bit of our water? It's not wasting it, certainly. I felt to my shoulder, reaching for the bag. My eyes widened as I realized there was nothing there. "We left everything back at that house!" "What?!" Blooming turned up to me. "What the hay are we supposed to do now? We've got no food, no water, and nothing to keep us warm!" My heart rate heightened as my panic began to set in. Lance is hurt, Blooming's so nervous, and I can't take care of them both at once! "What're we going to do?" "Why're you asking me?! I-I don't know! How are we going to survive out here?!" There's nothing for us to use here! Nothing! "We have nothing!" "Rocky-" Lance took hold of my right fore-hoof. "Calm down. We're going to be fine. Just- just don't worry about it. We'll get to it when we get to it." Her touch calmed me slightly, but I was still in near-full panic mode. "We-we can't just put it off like that!" "We'll find more food and water, I'm sure of it." Blooming stepped up to Lance's side. "I-I mean... it can't be that small of a chance for us to find something to eat or drink here, right?" I ran my fore-hooves through my mane. "I've gotta calm down... sorry..." My hooves slipped out from beneath me, sitting down in front of Lance. --- Queen Chrysalis paced back and forwards in front of her throne. She actually seems panicked... she should be. Shining looked at her, strands of her mane fell in front her face, her teeth were bared, and each step she took stomped with conviction. Her mane swayed as she turned back and trotted again. "This isn't happening quick enough... no. Okay..." Queen Chrysalis stopped and turned to Taltra. Taltra had turned towards the ground, staring calmly as she awaited her fate. Queen Chrysalis' body began to shift and morph, as she began to transform into something, clearing her throat as she grew smaller into something. No- somepony. "M... mommy?" Taltra's eyes immediately opened, tears quickly forming in her eyes as she turned up to the colt previously standing in Queen Chrysalis' position. His mane had been brushed upwards and had a white streak in the middle of his dark black mane. His small wings sat at his sides, folded in. His coat was a cloudy-white and he had three small, black blemishes to the right of his snout. The cutie mark at his right flank was of a opening in a dark gray cloud, with a yellow, almost white bolt shooting through. "T-Thunder..." Taltra tears quickly rolled down her cheek. "No!" She forced herself to tear her gaze away. "Are you okay?" Thunder stepped towards her. Taltra bit down on her lip, refusing a single word to slip through her lips. "Mommy, are you okay?" "Yes, my foal." She could no longer refuse the colt. "P-perfectly fine." Taltra opened her shaking hooves as she opened up her hooves and motioned him to come closer. "Don't listen to her Taltra! It's Queen Chrysalis!" "Mommy, I-I'm scared..." "Oh-" Taltra quickly stood and began to trot to the colt. "Don't worry. Mommy's here." "Taltra!" Shining exclaimed in a desperate attempt to keep her out of Queen Chrysalis' hooves. " Snap out of it!" Taltra stopped, heeding his warning. She held her hooves in place, no matter how desperately she wanted to reach her son. She tore her gaze away from the colt. "P-please... stop..." "Mommy," The panicked colt said. "Did I do something?! Please tell me!" "Stop it! Get out of my head!" Taltra covered her ears as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. The colt rushed up to Taltra and hugged her fore-hooves together. She gently opened her eyes, looking down to him. "Are you mad at me? D-did I do something to make you mad?" That was the straw that broke the yak's back. "No... no." She said, unable to resist any longer. "Thunder, I'm so sorry... I-I left you alone out there. I'm just glad you're with me now." Taltra swiftly swiped up the colt and enveloped him in a hug. "No, Taltra!" Shining rushed forwards, only for a wall of the green magic to block his path. Thunder looked up to him through her hooves, his eyes flashing from brilliant blue to green. Taltra sat as she slowly began to rock back and forward, seemingly trying to sooth the colt to sleep. "Stop Taltra! It's Queen-" "Gah!" Taltra pulled colt off of her and tossed him onto the ground. She held her chest as she swayed and almost, losing her balance. Shining slammed against the wall, but it refused to budge. "No!" "Wha... Thunder?" The small, warm laughing of the colt turned into a distorted, dark chuckling. "Thank you for being so loyal." The small colt morphed and shaped back into Queen Chrysalis. Taltra looked up at her with a cold stare. "This is the price of disloyalty." Taltra groaned as her head bobbed, struggling to stay awake. "What... what's happening..." "You'll find out soon enough. But now since you're incapacitated, I can deal with him." "No- gah!" Taltra reached forward, trying to stop her, but stumbled and fell forward. Queen Chrysalis trotted towards Shining. Shining prepared to fire a magical bolt to blow her back, but his horn burned as he tried to prepare the spell. "Not this time." Shining stood in his place, in a defensive stance. Her horn began to emit a green aura as she bent her head down and aimed for Shining's chest. --- The deep, blue night sky comforted me. Kept me calm and collected, despite wanting to panic. Cold wind rolled over the bushes, traveling over as snow began to slowly descend from the heavens. I felt Blooming rub her head against my hoof and shiver. "Here-" I pulled her scarf up, covering her upper body with it. "It's not much, but it'll keep you a little warm." Blooming nodded. She closed her eyes. I turned to Lance as she covered her mouth, suppressing a cough. "Feeling any better?" I whispered. She halfheartedly shook her head, clutching her bleeding wound. I glanced down to my scarf, tied around my splint. She could use it for her wound... "I'm fine." Lance turned away. "You're sure you don't need my scarf? If you're too cold I could-" "I said I'm fine Rocky." Her voice had an angry edge to it. "You're sure?" "Mmhm. Besides, that thing's soaked in blood." Lance inhaled, then choked out a sudden sharp gasp. I glanced down to her stab wound. "Has it stopped bleeding yet?" "No-" She said, frustrated. "How'd they even know we were behind that wall anyway?" "Here," I looked down at my splint and untied the cloth under my scarf. "Use this." "Oh no. Rocky, I can't-" "My hoof'll be fine. Use it." "You're sure?" I nodded. Lance grabbed the cloth, wiped off the soot and ash. "Can you tie it around me? I can't really get it by myself." "Mm-hm." Lance handed me the cloth and turned. I reached under her, grabbed the cloth from the other side, and tied it around her stomach. "Thanks." Lance said, quickly turning back to lean against the tree. I did the same and looked back up to the sky. --- Shining Armor braced for whatever spell Queen Chrysalis had in store for him. Sss- A beam of blue magic hit Queen Chrysalis the ribs, knocking her off balance and causing the magic to die. Shining looked at the source. Taltra was standing on shaking hooves, her mane had become darker and fallen into her eyes. She huffed in air greedily, as if she were out of breath from a single spell. "Your magic is getting weaker." Queen Chrysalis said calmly. She didn't seem angry- almost joyful. "I... I'm not letting you hurt him..." Queen Chrysalis turned and trotted to her. Shining carefully followed behind. He noticed the area around the bite mark on Taltra's chest had become lighter, from a dark gray to light brown. Queen Chrysalis slapped Taltra, knocking her to the ground. Shining caught her head before it hit the ground and gently sat her down. She had been knocked unconscious. "Soon enough she'll barely be able to use her magic, let alone try and hurt me with such a weak attempt." "What did you do to her?!" "That's for me to know. Now, time to finish this." Queen Chrysalis' horn emitted the same green light. She trotted up to Shining and tried to bite him, but Shining side-stepped her bite. "Ah! Let's make sure that doesn't happen again." The green aura began to snake out and spread to Shining's hooves. He tried to move out of their grasp, but it was too late. His hooves were caught. "Now... let's speed up this transformation, shall we?" --- Lance's head rested upon my shoulder. She seems to have finally fallen asleep. Finally... Why does she love to embarrass me... ugh... and why do I let her? I already knew the answer, but was unable to say it aloud. Lance's hoof fell from my right hind-hoof and down to my fore-hoof, which was resting at my side. She squeezed my hoof before relaxing inside of my grasp. Her hooves were cold(unsurprisingly). Why wouldn't she just go back with Blooming? Now she's stabbed, and all our food, water, and the sheet are probably ashes by now. I looked down at her, but couldn't remain angry at the peaceful look on her face. I don't know how we're gonna survive... if we don't find the Crystal Empire soon... My hoof tightened around hers, trying to calm my rising panic. Keep calm... we'll all make it back to the Crystal Empire safely if we just keep moving... then we'll be safe. I released her hoof and kissed on her forehead. We'll all be fine... we'll all be safe... --- "Stop!" Shining said. He tried to pull his hooves up, but the grip on them was too tight. Queen Chrysalis touched the tip of Shining's horn with her horn and leaned down and bit down on the nape of his neck. Shining's vision became blurry and his hooves became weak. The magical grasp around his hooves released and his horn became numbed. "Yes..." She said. "Goodbye, Shining Armor." Queen Chrysalis pushed Shining, causing him to fall. "Wait... Cadance." "She's not to be involved in the moment." "And Taltra?" "I'm not sure. Perhaps if you were to swear to serve me, perhaps I could say something for sure..." "..." "Hurry. You only have a few moments before you become unconscious." "Fine." He huffed, before his head fell. "Good... she'll not be executed. Thrown in the dungeon, perhaps, but not executed." Shining's head fell, as his mind became blank and he delved into darkness. ---