//------------------------------// // Aftermath // Story: Warped Mind // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Two Weeks Later, After Queen Chrysalis' Defeat Shining Armor stepped out of the carriage, taking Cadance's fore-hoof and helping her out as the two guards inside shut the door behind him. Storm clouds loomed overhead as they Crystal Empire's palace. "Twilight will be here soon. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna needed to look over her notes of the transformation spell." "Hopefully." She has to return to Ponyville tomorrow. Hopefully, she'll get back soon enough so we all can visit Radiant Shine. "I was worried Princess Celestia would've been angry with me. She had been staring at me since we got into the court." "I don't blame you. She does that when she's being disciplinary, not to mention she's been investigating for weeks now. Just glad she found out you were innocent." "Me too. But I don't think she's too happy with me either..." Shining quietly said, staring down at his red formal uniform with different metals and awards from his service to Equestria on the chest. Hopefully his reputation hadn't been fully tarnished. "I told you she wouldn't be after we explained everything to her. And she's not angry with you. She's just trying to remain unbiased." "You're right. Sorry." "Told you so." Cadance said, playfully nudging Shining shoulder. Shining glanced up at her with a grin before returning his vision to the path in front of them. "Radiant's supposed to get out of the hospital today." Cadance's upbeat demeanor dissipated. "Is she still...?" "She can stand, she can trot, she can use her magic, but she just... won't speak. She hasn't since we brought her to the hospital. And her eye's still-" "Please, I don't want to think about it. Imagine what she feels about it..." Shining nodded. "Right, sorry." They continued towards the palace. "Radiant's been like this since we ran into that changeling, right?" "Yes. It was her husband. I told you to go because I thought he'd want to take us back but..." Shining stopped at the front entrance. "But what?" "Lets get inside. I'll tell you in there." Two Weeks Earlier Shining Armor, Cadance, and Radiant Shine trotted towards the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Empire's tower was visible, shimmering in the setting sun. Radiant lagged behind, the pain of her injuries not allowing her to keep pace with Shining and Cadance. The wind howled as the group trotted onward, snow blowing upwards from the ground and slowing slipping behind them. "How far off do you think we are from the empire?" "A half a mile, maybe a quarter. It's not too far away." "All right." Cadance turned back to Radiant. "How're you doing, Radiant?" Cadance asked. Radiant had stopped a few feet away from them, staring at the treeline to the right of them. "Radiant?" Cadance asked once more. Radiant still looked towards the treeline, scanning for any form of movement. She turned and trotted to the edge, looking for something or somepony. Nothing could be seen other than a few branches blowing in the wind and leaves crumbling up. "Radiant, we need to get you to-" "Warding? Warding Hunter?" Radiant called out. Shining's ears perked as he turned back to them, hearing who she was speaking to. He turned and stepped towards them. "Stay back Cadance. This'll be bad if this is who I think it is." Shining said. Cadance nodded, but only stepped back a couple of paces back so she could get to Shining quickly enough if needed. After a moment, a stallion stepped out, his black mane brushed upwards. Sticks and pines were tangled in his ivory coat. He trotted up to her. "It's you!" She nearly pounced on him. Warding chuckled, before clearing his throat. "You did it, my love. You're a pony." "I-I did. But how're you-" "Don't worry about me. You're pretty beaten up." "I'll be fine." Radiant ignored the pained parts of her body for a moment. She wrapped her hooves around him, pulling him tight to her chest. How... did Queen Chrysalis...? Renla glanced to Shining for a moment, his brown eyes flickering to the usual green color for a moment, full of hatred and anger. He shot daggers at Shining, showing him to stay back, before returned his gaze to Radiant, the anger and hatred seemingly replaced with compassion. He's disguised. But why? "I... I must tell you something, my love." "What is it?" "I have to go back to Queen Chrysalis." "No! You can't!" Radiant said. She grabbed his fore-hoof, holding it tightly "I-I don't want to lose you. Not again." "Nor do I to you, my love. But I'll not risk having her come back after you and Thunder Arc. Even if it means I have to leave you." "You can't... e-everything can go back to t-the way it used to be. W-we could just go to someplace else. Get away from the Crystal Empire and her. Somewhere safe, where we'll never have to worry about her again." "She'll follow me, no matter what. She wouldn't forget my promises to loyalty so easily. I-I wish there were some other way-- I honestly do, but there isn't." "But... b-but..." Radiant stumbled over her words, tears swelling in her eyes. Renla pressed his lips against hers. Before she even had time to react, Renla had turned away and trotted to the north, down the treeline. Radiant hastily trotted towards him. "No, wait-" Radiant winced. She suddenly stopped and grabbed her chest. Renla kept going, shifting back to his changeling form as he trotted out of sight. She glanced upwards for a moment, trying to find one more look at Renla, before she fell to the ground. Shining and Cadance rushed over to her. Blood had pooled under her chest. "Her wound has opened up. We need to hurry." Shining said, lifting her to her hooves and trotting with her. He didn't care about what happened to Renla, he just wanted to get Radiant to safety. --- "Everything else we both know about." Cadance and Shining Armor trotted towards the throne room. "Renla was her husband?" Shining nodded. Cadance stared at the ground. "How many ponies has she done this to..." Cadance muttered. "Isn't her changelings sapping away ponies' love enough?" "She'll do anything she can to make sure she gets what she wants." "Have you found Radiant's son yet?" Shining shook his head. "No luck. Twilight's looked through the Crystal Empire's adoptions and orphanage records numerous times over the past week with nothing coming up. And I'm not allowed near them, so I can't look behind her." "He has to be somewhere here. Where else could he have gone?" "We'll find him." Shining said. Cadance stepped inside the throne room. "I have lots of paperwork to fill out this afternoon. Even weeks later, there's still a whole mess to sort out..." Cadance said, dreadfully sighing. "I'll catch up with you later at the hospital if I can." "Goodbye." Shining said. Cadance nodded with a smile and shut the door. There's no guards to train, and Princess Celestia said I'm not to touch any of the Crystal Empire's records until the investigation's over. Shining thought, turning back towards the exit to the Crystal Palace. I guess I could head to the hospital early. He finished. Shining nodded to himself as he trotted towards the exit. --- "But sir, you just can't-" "No buts. You're to go home now and stay there until you heal if you still want a job when you're hoof's healed." Bucking... "Yes, sir." I reluctantly muttered, trotting out of my boss' office, nearly slamming the door. My red scarf slung in front of my face. The rain had begun to fall since I had gone into work. Or rather, at least see if I could. So tired of sitting at home. Been sitting there for two weeks, and I can't do anything with this on my hoof! The cast around my right fore-hoof makes movement in it difficult, to say the least. Been bed-ridden for almost two weeks now. I let out a sigh, trying to calm myself, and slid my hard hat onto my back. Oh well, the mines will flood around this year anyway... guess I should just head home. Disappointed, I trotted away from the site. I went through the village, passing by repaired houses and some unfinished building sites that were empty. Probably from the rain. The streets were nearly empty, everypony either inside or on the way in. I passed over the bridge and stopped at the middle. I rested my fore-hooves against the rail and looked over the river. Horseapples, this day needs to get better. "R-Rocky?" A quiet voice asked. I looked around for the pony. Standing to my right, was Blooming Lily. Where the hay-- I haven't seen her since we got back. Her dampened mane had fallen in her face. She only had on a pair of red winter-shoes. "What the hay're you doing out here in the rain? Here-" I pulled off my scarf and wrapped it around her neck gently. The scarf was too big for her, and hung to her hooves. "You're gonna freeze out here." "I was with Lance out to get some food, b-but we got separated." "Follow me, let's try to find her." We began to trot down the street, heading towards the market. I took a moment to pull the hardhat back on top of my head, to try and stop the rain pelting against my mane. "Where did you see her last?" "We were just in the middle of a big crowd and I just lost her... she's gonna be mad." "Why? She'll understand." "She doesn't like me being by myself ever since..." Blooming's voice lowered. She hated to bring up the subject of what had happened to us in the Changeling Kingdom. "Plus her shoulder's been hurting lately." "I can imagine. It's so good to see you again. Didn't get the chance to after you two got out." "Th-thanks. You too." Blooming blushed. "How's things been for you two since you got out?" "Lance had to have sling-thingy on her wing and had to take some pills. We've been okay, besides that." "Good. I had to get this-" I held up my right fore-hoof for a moment, showing the cast. "put on my hoof. None of my ribs were broken, thankfully." "Cool... can I touch it?" Blooming asked, staring at the cast for a moment in curiosity. "Once we stop. And it's not as cool as it sounds. Have to keep this thing on for a couple weeks, so that means I can't do anything that'd hurt it or break the cast. " "Oh..." "Yeah. It'll help it heal correctly, though. I've been-" "Blooming, where the hay'd you go? It's-" Lance stopped as we came into sight, holding a small, white scarf. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her blue sling was around her left wing, held up by her neck, was holding two brown bags. "Um..." Blooming stepped forward. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose you. B-but we were in the big crowd and I-I just found Rocky." She rushed over to us and hugged me, nearly knocking me over. After a moment, she let go and turned away from me. "Jerk. You didn't even tell you had gotten out of the hospital." "You got out after you got the sling and some antibiotics. I was there for a week. How was I supposed to know where you lived?" "You should've just-" "I'm sorry, Lance. Now, are we going to catch up or not?" Lance's eyes shot daggers at me, but I noticed her grin. She turned to Blooming and gently wrapped the scarf around her neck, below mine. Blooming took off my scarf and handed it to me, muttering a small, "Thanks" as she followed Lance, who was already trotting away. I hastily put my scarf on and followed them. --- Shining Armor trotted into the hospital, rain drizzling overhead. Radiant Shine sat at the first bed at the left side of the room, at the first row of the beds, the room nearly empty since Queen Chrysalis' attack. A mug was levitating in front of her, a yellow aura weakly enveloping it. She suddenly winced, and the aura weakened and faded. The mug fell, but Shining caught it with his magical grasp before it hit the ground. He trotted up to Radiant and sat the mug beside her. Her stomach had a large, scarred cut down the middle, her mane and coat had been cleaned, and she had bandages wrapped around her ribs and horn. "Hello Radiant. How're you?" Shining asked, sitting down beside her. Radiant turned away from him, staring at the ground. "Do you want to leave now? Cadance and I have someplace inside the village for you to stay." Radiant sat there, just staring at the floor. "I guess I should come back later." Shining said, standing and beginning to trot towards the exit. "I miss him..." She quietly said. Shining turned back to her. "What?" Radiant slowly shook her head, looking up at him. One of her eyes were green, and the other was white. There was a slash across her eyesocket, going over her eyelid. The brutal attack on her had given her the scar. "Have you found Thunder Arc?" "I... I'm sorry. We've looked through every record that'd have something to do with him- through adoption records, orphanages- everything, but I haven't found him." Radiant looked down for a moment more, before standing. "Let's go. I can't stay here anymore." Shining nodded. They exited the hospital and made their way towards the village. "We've got a house in the village set up for you." Shining said. Radiant nodded, remaining silent. "How's your eye?" "I can see, but it still hurts." "Good." Shining nodded with a smile. "The house has some scarfs and socks there in case you'd like to go someplace else." Radiant nodded again. Her mane was dampened from the rain. They stepped over the bridge, and Shining continued to trot towards a small house at the end of the village made of blue crystal with wooden support beams. "Shining... I appreciate this- honestly, but..." "What's the matter?" Radiant turned to him. "Thank you." Radiant said, bowing her head for a moment. However, when she looked back up at him, Shining noticed that she was upset. A frown had spread across her face, and she kept glancing to the ground. "I-I'm sorry to rush, but I'm ready to rest." "Okay. Is everything all right?" "I'm fine. Just-- I need rest." Radiant said, hastily trotting towards the house. "You sure you don't need me to stay?" "Yes. Thank you, but I'd rather be alone." Radiant said. Shining nodded and began to trot away as she entered. --- Lance rushed inside the crystallized house, her bags of food nearly slipping out of her sling. Blooming and I followed behind her, drenched with rain. She shut the door behind us. "Didn't know it'd rain that hard." Lance said. She wiped her wet mane out of her face. "Would've came straight home." "Eh, I don't mind it. Nice change from all the snow." "Yeah. Spring'll be coming soon. Which means clear skies for practice once I get rid of this sling." I nodded, sliding my wet hard hat onto my back. Lance trotted to the other side of the room, flipping on the overhead lights. The inside of her house was... a bit surprising for her. There were three wooden chairs at the corner of the room, two large, elegant sofas at the middle of the right side of the room with a small table in the middle with a blanket laying in the middle, a hallway to the right that lead to a door with small, black and white pictures of different ponies on the wall, a closed door a few feet in front of us, and a large, burgundy rug in the middle of the room. "I'm going to go to our room." Blooming Lily said, turning and trotting into the hallway. "Okay." Lance said, removing her wet scarf and laying it on the table. "I'll be back in a minute, Rocky. Just gotta put this stuff up. Make yourself at home." Lance said. She trotted towards the closed door, pushing it open. I assume that's the kitchen. I trotted over to the two sofas and sat in the right one. She returned after a moment, her sling empty. "Hate wearing this thing. Can't fly or anything" Lance said, her wing stretching out against it. "The doctors said I had to wear this for a month, but it's already healed!" "Yeah. I can't do anything strenuous with my hoof cast the way it is, so no work for me." "Cabin fever?" Lance said, sitting down beside me. I nodded. We became quiet, as awkward tension became apparent in the room. This isn't how she usually is... "How's it been?" "Okay, I guess. I mean, Blooming's been pretty messed up since then, and I have to keep this sling on, but it's better than being out in the wilderness, I guess." "Mhm. But I still can't get a full night's sleep." I haven't slept more than six hours a night in two weeks... "Wimp." Lance said, pushing my shoulder, but I could see she was uncomfortable with what had happened too. "Well, I need something to drink. Want something?" I shook my head. "Suit yourself then." She said, trotting inside the kitchen. After a moment, she returned with a small, black cup filled with dark coffee. "What have you done since we got back?" "Nothing, really. The doctor won't let me leave my house until my hoof is healed. No broken ribs, thankfully." "Hm. I've helped my parent's move into their new house, but I don't see why they bought it. They're entrepreneurs, and they travel a lot. That's why I keep Blooming with me." "How's she been?" Lance sighed, frustrated by the topic. "She's been having trouble sleeping. Just... don't." She said, sipping from her cup awkwardly. "Sorry. I won't push you." I said. Thunder boomed outside, shaking the ground below. Lance sighed as the storm calmed for a moment. "I've stayed up for days now, trying to help her. But how the hay am I supposed to help her when I can't get any sleep myself..." Lance said, gulping down the rest of the cup. She sat it on the table beside her. "Look, lets just get the elephant out of the room. We both were... a bit..." "I can't do anything anymore, Rocky. I haven't slept in days, I barely eat-- I-I can't go a day without thinking about what happened in that courtyard." Lance said. She rested her head on her fore-hooves, staring at the ground. "I-I keep having nightmares about what could've happened with you in the courtyard. It never ends like i-it did, where Twilight Sparkle stepped in. And it's driving me crazy!" Lance said, grasping her braided mane tightly. "I... Lance..." I gently rested my right fore-hoof on her left shoulder. Her shoulder had relaxed from the gentle touch. She glanced over to me. "I'm here to stay. I promised that I'd never scare you like that again, and I don't plan on breaking that promise. There's nopony or changeling that'll hurt us here." "Just-" Lance jerked away from me. "Gimme a minute. I need to calm down." She finished, turning away. --- Twilight Sparkle held the safety rail beside her, the carriage lightly shaking. Rain pelted against the ceiling. She groaned. I knew I should've stayed until the storm passed. She stared out of the window, seeing the sun peek out from under the storm clouds to the east. In the distance ahead of her was the Crystal Empire, also caught in the storm. Good thing the rest of the Elements went back to Ponyville before this came through. Might have been stuck here for a few more days if not. I just hope Shining and Cadance got back before this rolled in. The storm calmed as the carriage approached the Crystal Empire. They landed in front of the Crystal Palace, the rain dissipated into drizzling. The village and Crystal Palace was bathed in an orange glow from the evening sun. Guess I missed the worst of it. The door beside her opened by her stallion driver in white armor, lined with yellow cloth, with Celestia's sun on the middle of his helmet. His coat was dampened from the rain. "We've arrived, princess." He said, bowing. Twilight stepped out onto the muddy ground. "Thank you." She quickly said as she trotted away from him, heading towards the palace. However, before she could reach the entrance, the doors opened, and Princess Cadance stepped out. "Oh, hello Twilight. You're right on time. Was about to go see how Radiant was settling in. Would you like to come?" Cadance asked, two crystal guards shutting the doors behind her. "Sure." Twilight said. Cadance smiled and began to trot towards the village. "How was the ride?" "Shaky. Probably should've waited the storm out, but good thing it cleared when it did." "Good. What did Princess Celestia and Princess Luna need you for?" "They wanted to get a copy of the transformation spell in my book and Princess Celestia said I wasn't to show anypony the spell." "I understand. Wouldn't want that to get into the wrong hooves, right?" Twilight nodded as they passed over the bridge. The river, now flowing fluently with the change of the seasons, had slightly elevated higher than usual from the rain. "Is Radiant still feeling well?" "Yes. Shining showed her to her house an hour or so ago. Just wanted to check in with her and see how she was holding up. Her stay in the hospital wasn't easy..." Cadance said, slowing as they came up to Radiant Shine's house in the village "Wish we could've found something about her colt." "Me too. Can't be easy on her." Cadance said. She and Twilight trotted up to the front door and knocked. They waited for a moment, waiting for Radiant for come. But nopony could be heard on the other side of the door. "Radiant?" Cadance called out, knocking a little harder. The door pushed open, unlocked. Twilight hesitantly stepped inside, with Cadance following close behind her. The overhead lights were cut off. A small rug lead into the inside. There was a door to the right, a large sofa made from red crystal with velvet pillows, a tall lamp behind the sofa, and a door to the right, beside the sofa. Everything looked untouched, in perfect condition. "Radiant? Are you here?" Twilight called out. Nopony answered. "I'll look inside the kitchen. You look in the bedroom. It's the room to the right." Cadance said. Twilight nodded, and trotted to the door to the right. She pushed it open, and stepped inside. The room was a mess. The red bed-sheet had been flung from the mattress, the end of it still sitting on top of the bed. All the drawers in the dresser had been pulled open, the end of a scarf hanging out the top drawer. Bloody bandages were sitting at the corner of the room. What the hay? Twilight trotted up to the drawer, closing the drawers containing different articles of clothing. She noted there were two scarfs and a pair of winter-shoes missing from the top and bottom drawers. Weird... She continued onto the bed, magically grasping the blanket and making the bed properly. However, she noticed there was something sticking out from under the bed. Twilight leaned down, pulling out a rolled up piece of paper from under the bed. She unraveled it, reading it's contents. Dear Prince Shining Armor, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Princess Cadance Thank you for everything you've done for me in the past weeks. I'd not be able to write this if it weren't for the three of you helping me get away from Queen Chrysalis and break her control over. You all got me my life back, and I'll never forget that. But, it also pains me to tell you that I cannot stay here any longer with my son still missing. It's gnawing at my conscience like a pack of wild timberwolves. I can't stay here and sit around, hoping for somepony to find him for me. I need to find him, for both his sake and mine. If not for him to only acknowledge that he knows I exist and that I didn't willingly abandon him. I'll return to the village when I've found that he's safe and happy where he is. Please, do not try to find me or send anypony after me. I'm fine, and I'll return soon enough with my son. Goodbye. From, your friend Radiant Shine Oh... she's gone. Twilight was saddened, but she understood why Radiant had left. We have to show this to Shining. --- Lance was just... sitting there. Ever since she had told me about her nightmares, she had just sat there. Like she was alone, hiding from a group of changelings. "Lance?" "I-I can't do it..." Is she... I stood, and trotting in front of her. "Lance?" I asked again. She kept muttering incoherently. She's gotta come out of this... "Lance, everything's going to be all right." I grabbed her fore-hooves, gently pulling them away from her mane. She looked up at me. "Rocky..." "We're gonna be fine, all right?" "We're not." Lance said, her voice trembling. "I-I can't-- I've lost it. We're not gonna be okay." "I promise we are. You can trust me." I gently put my fore-hoof to her right shoulder. She pushed me away, and scooted away. "No--" Tears rolled down her cheeks. "There no-no way! I-I can't le-let my g-guard down for a second!" I pulled her into a hug. She gently tried to push away from me. "S-stop! I-I" She took a raspy breath, as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't want your s-sympathy! I h-have to pull myself together-- to be there f-for Blooming and you! I'm n-not supposed to be like this!" "It's all right to be scared, Lance. We'll get through this. Together." Lance gently wrapped her hooves around me, returning the hug. We sat there for a few moment, Lance's rapid breath calming and her tears drying up. "R-Rocky?" Lance said. Her voice was normal now. "Yes, Lance?" "Never mention this to anypony. Ever." "You know me better than that, Lance. Wouldn't do that to you." "I know." Lance leaned up to me and peaked me on the cheek. "Just making sure. And thanks." I stood and sat beside her, still holding her. The sun shined through the window, bathing us in warmth. Things were finally beginning to look well. Might even call it bright. Maybe we'll be make it through this. --- Shining Armor read over the note left by Radiant. "She's gone Shining. I'm sorry." He glanced down at the note, reading over it one more time before sitting it to the side of his desk in the throne room. At the side of his desk were week-old reports of imports and exports, new guards needing training, and many other different papers. "I can't say I wouldn't have expected this from her. She missed her son deeply." "I know... just hope she finds what she was looking for." "Me too, Twilight." Shining said, taking a deep breath. "Me too..." He exhaled as he stood. "Thanks for bringing this to me, Twi'. I'm relieved to know why she was acting so strangely." "I am too. I'd love to stay and talk some more, but I need to pack for my trip back to Ponyville." "Need some help?" "Sure, if you're not busy." "Don't have much else to do. Lead the way." Shining said. Twilight nodded, trotting towards the exit. Shining looked towards the ground, thinking of the note Radiant had left. Good luck, Radiant. He turned back up to Twilight. And I hope you'll return with your son one day. ===