“Crystal, wait! Please!” I cried after her as I galloped out into the lush green gardens of the temple grounds. My heart beat in my chest as all of the repressed memories swirled around in my head. It made it difficult to focus as horrific images flashed across my vision.
As a stroke of luck, my beloved mare was not subtle in her flight. The frenzied escape was obvious in the deeper-than-normal hoof prints on the ground. I chased after them as fast as I could manage. The experience had left me weak and disoriented.
The trail led to where the garden was darkest. This was the area filled with densely packed trees with low-hanging fronds and thicker brush. Knowing where one ended and the other began was difficult. That made the trail harder to get past but easier to follow. It was clear where the frightened mare had crashed through.
As I pushed past another bunch of shrubbery, I caught sight of her ahead. The white of her coat stuck out against the greenery. Her head was hanging low as she sobbed. It was a heartbreaking image.
“Crystal, I—”
Her head shot up and she held out a forehoof. “Don’t come any closer.”
The words cut me deeper than any wound I’d ever received in combat. My stomach sank and it felt like somepony was sitting on my chest. I couldn’t give up though. I took a few trembling steps closer.
My right forehoof landed in something wet and slick. I looked down and wrinkled my nose at the smell. Evidently, Crystal had gotten sick.
“I told you not to come any closer,” she said weakly.
As gracefully as I could, I wiped my hoof off on the grass and took another two steps towards her. “Crystal…”
“Was it all true? Were those the nightmares or is that who you are?”
Lie. Just lie. She’ll feel better if you do. “That isn’t who I am… but it wasn’t the nightmares. It happened. All of that happened.” Or don’t lie, that is a tactic, too.
A sickened look crossed her face and she had to close her eyes. “It’s horrible. How could you…” She trailed and wiped her eyes with a hoof. “No. That’s war, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“You’re very good at it.”
I winced. “Yes.”
She swallowed. “When we read about Dread Knight in the papers and felt pride… when we celebrated victory… when we rejoiced in the defeat of the Sudramoar army… this is what we were extolling? Slaughter without mercy?”
I stepped closer to her, reaching out a hoof. “I did what was necessary to get home.”
Crystal backed away from me. “I know. I know. I didn’t know.” Her head just shook. “I didn’t know you were capable of these things. Ponies shouldn’t be capable of these things.”
My hoof slowly lowered. What could I say? I was very capable and did those things. Repeatedly. How cruel. The skill I’d used to get home could result in the loss of the very thing that motivated me to do so.
We stood there in silence. Crystal wouldn’t look at me. I couldn’t look away.
“Silent Knight,” came the soft voice of Exemplar Ferrel as she approached from the direction we’d come. “We must speak.”
“Not now,” I said without looking back at her.
“I must insist. My estimates on when your services would be required were, perhaps, a bit too generous. It is important that you and I speak.” She came to my side. The memory crystal floated in front of her. It was as black as a starless sky. What had she said of the others like this? Bad memories.
Anger surged through me and I snatched it out of the air. “I said not now! Can’t you see what is happening here? She’s leaving! The only reason I did what I did was to come home to her and she’s leaving!
“I don’t care about prophecies or destinies. I don’t care about any of it! All right? I quit. Find somepony else. All I want is to live a normal life like anypony else! So, no, Exemplar. We most certainly don’t need to talk.”
The blonde unicorn’s head tilted, my rage seemingly lost on her. Her head bobbed and she replied, “Very well. Perhaps another time. Good day.” Without another word she trotted back into the forest.
When I turned my attention back to Crystal, she was lying on the ground, her back to me. “Crystal. Crystal, I didn’t want to be good at this. I never asked for this… it was just how I was made. It isn’t all there is to me. You know that, right?”
“You have an appointment to go to. Don’t be late,” she said softly.
“What? Are you serious? I’m not leaving you.”
She took a deep breath. “And I’m not leaving you. Go to your appointment. I’ll see you at home later.”
See me at home later? After this? How could I believe that? How could I just go? No. It wouldn’t be that easy. It took all of my effort to hold my composure. I was angry and hopeless at the same moment. “Promise,” I whispered.
“What?”
I gritted my teeth, keeping the anguish and pain from my voice. Just be steady, Silent. “Promise you’ll see me at home tonight. Don’t just say you will and never show up. If this is going to be the last time I see you, I don’t want our last words to each other to be a lie.”
Crystal shifted to her hooves and looked at me. Her makeup was running everywhere and her cheeks were stained with tears. “I promise I’ll see you at home later tonight. Now go to your appointment.”
I slowly backed away from her, too frightened to look from where she was lest she disappear. Eventually, that became impossible and I was forced to turn and leave. She’d promised. Crystal wouldn’t lie, not to me. She’d be there. She had to be there… but what if she wasn’t?
☾
I sat in Mindful Soul’s office, shivering. My stomach was a mess and I couldn’t focus on what we were doing. The dark crystal was clutched in one hoof while the Azurite plush was held carefully in the other. She’d squeak if I held her too tight. She’d done nothing wrong, so squeezing her would be unfair.
Mindful Soul had taken careful notes while I had explained what happened. I’d stopped talking a few minutes back and she was just sitting there going over the details. It was making me very nervous. She was supposed to be helping, not staring at paper.
Finally, she looked up and broke the silence. “Major, in most instances I’d say what you just told me was a delusion. In your case, I imagine it is almost wholly accurate given your association with alicorns, unicorn priestesses, and the happenings of our world far beyond what the average pony will ever dream of, much less see.
“This goes well beyond the scope of your normal treatment and changes things significantly. I’ll be frank and say that I have several concerns here. We can’t just treat this as a normal session. Before we go on, I’m going to send for your sister.”
“Why?”
The mare got up and came over to me. “I feel you’ll need her support while we sort this out. The last thing you need to be right now is alone. I want you to just sit here and try to calm down as best you can, all right?”
“All right.”
She motioned to the door. “I’m just going right there to talk to my assistant. You’re not alone. Just give me a minute.” Mindful softly patted me on the head and then went over to the door she’d indicated. She opened it and only stuck her front half out. Whatever she said to her assistant was whispers.
It was barely a few minutes before she came back and settled across from me. “I’m sure your sister will be along shortly. As you know, her office is not far from here. Until then, let’s talk this through. I know you’re sensitive about being Dread Knight. You certainly are very upset about your wife learning more about that part of your life. Can you explain why?”
“It isn’t obvious?” I asked.
“Is it? Let's say it is. That isn’t really the point of the exercise. The point is for you to get it out. You’ve just told me you relived numerous events that were so horrible you’d blocked them out. Repressing such a thing is not healthy. Now that you’ve been forced to accept them, we can start working on them.
“Imagine it as if you’re taking the ill feelings from where you’re hiding them inside and giving them to the world. Put the fear into words. Define it and then share the burden with everypony. That is how we proceed.”
Share the burden? Give it up? That would certainly be nice if it were so easy. My eyes were drawn to the black crystal and the words started falling from my mouth with ease. “I’m worried that no matter what I do, no matter how I grow, or how sorry I am, ponies will never forgive me. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve done some horrific things, and now my wife has seen them. What if she can’t forgive me?
“What if other ponies can’t forgive me? I just did my duty. I just did what a soldier was meant to do. Ponies don’t understand that, though. They were never meant to. Do they even really understand what was asked of us? What it takes to win?”
Mindful Soul’s head bobbed in a soft nod. “Are you really worried about ponies or just Crystal Wishes?”
“Both… but I could get by with her. It just… this isn’t fair. I volunteered to be a guard and they forced me to be a soldier! So I was a soldier and I was good at it! Why do I feel like this? I just did my job!” I was shouting. When had I started shouting?
If it fazed the mare, she didn’t show it in the least. “No, I’m afraid it wasn’t fair. Life isn’t always fair, though. You know that better than most ponies. You haven’t been sheltered. You did it for them.”
“And I regret it. All of it.”
“That is your right. Regret or not, you did your duty. There should be some pride in that.”
“Pride doesn’t make for a happy home. My father had a lot of pride and all he got out of it was two children that think ill of him. Although I’m starting to understand him better now.”
“Oh? You think that perhaps there was something to his methods?” Mindful Soul asked as she picked up her notebook.
“His methods? No. At least I understand, though. If he felt like this all the time… it’s awful. I just want my life to go back to the way it was. Before the war, before Dread Knight, and before that stupid gryphon king decided it was worth killing thousands over some mountains.”
Mindful idly scratched some notes down. “We can’t do that, Silent Knight. That isn’t possible. You can either live your life longing for what you perceive lost or you can fight to find out what you still have. Only you can make that decision.”
Only me. Why was it always up to me? “What if I’m not strong enough?”
“I suspect you are and that you’ll have the support you need if you make the decision. You need to move forwards, Silent Knight. Put one hoof in front of the other.”
“And if she leaves me, what’s the point in doing that?”
Mindful’s ear flicked. It was subtle. It was barely anything. She closed her notebook. “Family, friends, and other ponies that love you. A whole life yet unlived. Experiences… good ones. You’re too young of a pony to ask that question.”
There was a soft knock at the door. “Excuse me. I’ll just be right over there. You’re not alone.”
She got up once again and stuck her front half out of the door. Once again there were hushed conversations between herself and whoever was out there. It was maddening to know it was about me and yet I was being tre—
“WHAT!” Winterspear exclaimed.
There was a light scuffle as Mindful Soul tried to keep herself wedged in the door and Winterspear successfully pushed past her and stumbled into the room.
“Warrant Officer, this quite inappropriate.”
Winterspear trotted over to me and looped her hooves around my neck. She nestled her cheek to mine. “You’re going to be okay.”
Mindful Soul cleared her throat. “Our session isn’t complete, Warrant Officer. I sent for you so you’d be here as soon as we finished and made the arrangements for Silent Knight.”
What arrangements? What was she talking about?
“Arrangements will not be necessary and I think this session is over, doctor. He isn’t going to want to hear about positive visualizations and sunny horizons today. You can save that for tomorrow. I’m going to take him home.”
“That isn’t wise. If his wife isn’t there, the consequences could be significant. Dire, in fact.”
Winterspear’s eyes narrowed. “She’ll be there.”
“You can’t know that and I have a duty to his health and wellbeing.”
“I can and I do! She’s my sister-in-law and I know her. She’ll be there. I have a duty to my brother to do what I think is best for him and this is what is best. He can’t sit overnight wondering whether she is there or not.”
Winterspear grabbed my hoof. “Come on, Silent, we’re going home. You can come back tomorrow for your appointment.”
“Warrant Officer Winterspear, I really must protest. This is highly inappropriate. I don’t want to pull rank here. Taking him home is not the right thing to do. You’re not being objective.”
My sister turned, fire in her eyes. “You listen here. He’s my little brother. My blood. You may be the best in general, but I’m the best when it comes to him.
“Objectivity or not, I know him! So report me or don’t but we’re not going to take him to some watch site for observation. I’m taking him home to be with his wife. She’ll be there.”
Watch site? I held Winterspear’s hoof tightly. It kind of hurt a little. That was probably the crystal jammed between us. I set the Azurite plush down on the pillow. “I want to go home. I refuse whatever it was you were planning.”
“You don’t have that authority, Major. I’m sorry. I’m legitimately trying to do what I feel is best for you at this moment. If your wife is not at your home, it will be devastating and you’re not in a state to handle that right now.”
“I believe you,” I replied and then nudged Winterspear. “Take me home. If she’s not there, we’ll go wherever she was planning to send me.”
“Okay.” Winterspear tugged my hoof and the two of us headed for the door.
“This is foolish. You’re letting emotion guide you,” Mindful said.
“And you’re letting the absence of it force a round peg into a square hole,” Winterspear replied before pushing the door open and trotting out with me.
Once we were on the street, I looked over at her. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
We held hooves tightly as we trotted towards my quarters. “What if she’s not there?”
“She will be.”
“What if she isn’t?”
“She will be.”
I guess Winterspear was determined. “What about your career?”
“Slap on the hoof. My record is spotless. I’ll claim I was emotionally compromised. Which is true. If you were any other patient and Crystal was any other mare, I probably just did the wrong thing.”
“How can you be so sure about her?” I asked.
“Your wife had to become a very strong mare with you gone. If it wasn’t for her, a lot of ponies would have suffered. She didn’t go through all of that to give up on you when you were this close. So stop thinking about it. She’s there. She’ll be there.”
“Okay.” A very strong mare? Her letters were strong but what had she been up to? Usually she just talked about her work, our love, and what I was doing. I’d perhaps taken for granted what was happening in her life.
I could ponder it later, though. Winterspear was trotting with a purpose and practically dragging me along. I was full of fear. She clearly wasn’t.
We arrived at my old quarters in record time and my stomach turned. What if she wasn’t inside?
Winterspear used her key and opened the door. She paused only a moment, stepped out of the way, and whispered, “Told you.”
I peeked inside. Crystal was sitting on the couch looking extremely nervous. Her eyes were fixed on me.
“May I come in?”
“Of course. This is your home, too,” she said.
Winterspear cleared her throat. “I’ll be right outside if anypony needs me.” She then pushed me inside and closed the door.
“You… uh… are you okay?” I asked, keeping my distance.
“As best as can be expected for living two years’ worth of violence in the span of seconds. Will these memories stay in my head? Do you know?”
“I’ve only had it happen once before. They’re like any memories. They fade the further you get away from them.”
Crystal shifted on the couch. “I’d like to be further away from them. That is all I can see right now. Me doing those awful things… as you. I can smell the blood still.”
“Crystal… honey… I wish you’d never seen them. Not for my sake but because nopony should. That is what war looks like, though. On the battlefield, when everything is chaos, all you have is your strategy and your sword.
“You have to fight hard and to survive. For yourself, for your fellow soldiers, and for your loved ones back home. And when you’re not doing that, all you can think about is what you’ll do after the war. I did it for you.”
My wife’s hoof came up. “Please. Please don’t say that. I don’t want to be associated with these horrors. You did what was necessary to get home. You kept your promise. That is what you did that for me. Okay?”
I suddenly felt smaller. “Okay.”
“You need to write a letter to Princess Luna right away.”
“Huh? Why?” A sudden change of subject. It was somewhat appreciated, but it left a lot of questions between us.
“The nightmare. You saw it, right? Surely those flaming Night Mares weren’t from the war. Please tell me that, at least, wasn’t real.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Thank Celestia. Well… now I remember it, too. You need to write her and we can tell her everything we can about it. To help her. That was the point of this, right? We need to get something positive out of it.”
“Oh, right, but…”
Crystal slipped off the couch and trotted over to me. She set a hoof on my chest. “Whatever you did, it doesn’t matter to me. It isn’t going to change us and you can’t be afraid of that. I promise you that I’m not going to abandon you because you did your duty… I’m just… I’m sorry, I’m horrified by it.”
I slipped my hoof over hers. “If it helps at all, so am I.”
She halfway smiled. “It does help. If you weren’t, I’d be worried. I’m going to need some time. I hope you understand that. It is painful to see the pony you love in such a different light… but I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Now go get your sister. I’m going to start dinner and try to figure out ways to escape these memories. I just keep seeing it over and over…”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered before leaning a little closer to her. Crystal stiffened slightly but I placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Some of the tension left her but not all of it. There was a distance now. A painful one. That was the reality of war. It just takes. Takes, takes, and takes. When will it take the last bit? When will what I owe finally be paid?
oh wow, a chapter filled with emotions, I'm anxious to see where this will lead to.
keep up the good work.
*Watches all those reader conspiracies go up in smoke.* rofl, fun times Anzel.
I must say that this is a really intriguing plotline that I rarely see, rehabilitation. It's good to see some healing, but it's never easy. I really have to take my hat off to you to convey it so intricately.
I have a lot more respect for Crystal Wishes.
She saw, she stayed. Anyone else would have likely turned tail and ran, but SHE STAYED.
Thank goodness that Crystal won't ever abandon him, despite what she saw in his nightmares. But this should also prove that this is where they should depend on each other more as soul mates since. Perhaps they could do so by having Crystal Wishes accompanying attending her husband's therapy sessions.
Also, Princess Luna could help them too since they both are now aware of nightmares seen in Silent's subconscious.
This was sad and quite dark.. dad I think I never want to see war.
Well, Mindful's authority is completely shot. Hopefully Silent wasn't planning on going back for any more therapeutic sessions.
But that's fine. Winterspear's the expert, as she noted.
:chuckles silently: Oh, even the start is heavenly!
Dread, my boy! How nice of you to still linger about!
First of all, many points to Winterspear. Her bravery is heartwarming. Second of all, a watch site? Hah! How wonderfully clinical!
Oh, one could drink from this like from a dark font! Incredible work, Anzel! Emotionally delightful! :fills his wineglass: I will be going now, to savour this rich blend... Thank you, thank you a lot! :laughs:
Called it.
I see what you did there
7521312 Welllllllll... no, not exactly, first she ran and got sick
BUT THEN she stayed, and that's the important bit.
I don't think Winterspear will be in too much trouble, once Luna finds out.
Well, I'm certainly not going to say anything and ruin this.
So Crystal has a spine of steel then. That is good. and I have alot of respect for Winterspear thanks to her actions. Sometimes family does know better than a professional, for who sees you almost all the time ya know? I am curious about the Exmplars urge to talk to him.
Wow. That wasn't subtle at all
Wow. You've captured the essence of Silent's turmoil quite well. Good thing Crystal stayed. It's clear (from the reader's point of view) that she's currently Silent's anchor.
As for Exemplar Ferrell: for a long-lived pony, she sure can be clueless. I know that she doesn't know much of the outside world, but one would guess that she knows something of
humanequine emotion!Man, worst birthmonth party ever.
Crap, so fate has come calling but then walks away. I'm concerned about what Ferrel was going to say but didn't. I wonder if this is setting up for some sort of preventable disaster that isn't prevented.
Well, at least Silent's immediate next appointment was the therapy session.
Hmn. I can see where Mindful is coming from on not wanting to send Silent home. This:
Really sounds like a potential suicide risk.
Watch site? Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, quite possibly.
Man, I am so curious about what Crystal does during the war.
There we go, of course Crystal would be there.
Yeah, that's a pretty big problem.
Good plan with the letter to Luna.
That's a really nice touch. Even when freaking the pony hell out, she's still looking out for him.
I reaaaaallly want to feel sorry for Silent and Crystal...at least more than I do.
......but they trusted a pony who clearly is not in touch with reality (for better or worse,) to mess inside a warrior's head and mix memories.
I'm not sure who to cheer for, Winterspear or Mindful... Gambling on the better outcome can reap better rewards, but it's still gambling. What if Crystal had gone to Velvet for a bit for comfort and normalcy before going home? She wouldn't have been gone, gone, but Silent wouldn't have known the difference.
But yes, the measured approach wouldn't feel as immediately effective for Silent.
7521784
I don't know that she has much of a choice, given how overwhelming her abilities are. Silent's emotions may take a distant second to the possibility of the Night Mares doing some thing like - I dunno' - manifesting in the physical world and starting to wreak havoc outside of dreams in the very near future. If his memory crystal is an indication of doomsday, then I'd say she's perfectly justified in pushing forward now.
Tomorrow could be too late.
7521501
Yes, but did she make pancakes? Pancakes make everything alright.
A masterpiece!
ok, yes, I see now that she viewed what gave him nightmares living for years all in the space of a few seconds.
It sounds weird but I loved this line. It just works so well but kind of hard to describe why.
There has been a lot of conflict in this story (including Memoirs and Secrets) but this is one of my favorites.
I realize that there were a lot of emotional concerns but oh god I don't think blowing of exemplar ferrel is going to play out well.
Also people really shouldn't rip on Mindful. Way too many brave souls have gone because there was no one watching them when they needed it most.
I'm still waiting for that Azurite being mistaken for a plush situation...
7521501
Precisely.
7522205
Maybe more like taking the full brunt of an attack in one shot so you can get started on healing/repairs/restoration that much quicker?
Crystal has wrapped herself in her role as the soldier's wife. I don't think she CAN leave silent, at least not and live wih herself. Poor pony. I think she'll need therapy. I'm not sure mindful wasn't right in general. For most soldiers i think a suicide watch might not be out of the question.
I can't disagree with Mindful. What Silent said is definitely grounds for such a thing. I've been there. It's happened to me. I'm still here. It's a very difficult call to make.
Seriously good work in the chapter. It drudged up a lot of feelings and memories. From one damaged soul to another, I really empathize with Silent. Good on you for making believable characters and putting them through realistic situations. I'm taking bets on when Silent is gonna develop a drinking problem, though.
I see that Steven Universe reference.
If you thought you could sneak that past me,
then you'd better think again.
7523988 Aw man you beat me to it.
...buck.
This story keeps getting better. I love the interpersonal conflict. This is how characters grow. I'm so excited to see where this goes next!
I liked how Mindful Soul continually reassured Silent Knight that he wasn't alone even if she stepped only half of her body out of the room for just a moment. Sometimes a guy in a situation similar to SK needs that reassurance. However, I did not like how MS whispered about things regarding SK even though he was still there. He was right to be concerned about that. If not for Winterspear interfering, I think SK was going to be put on something similar to suicide watch. That is never fun. I know it would have been for his own good, but being put on suicide watch is not very comforting for someone going through what SK is going through.
I'm reminded of this song from Imagine Dragons.
That steven universe reference tho
7532197 I can't imagine a song that fits better
7535035 What can I say, it fit perfectly and I love the show :D
7532197 That seems appropriate :D
7529847 Mindful certainly knows her job and how to keep things moving the right direction in a cautious way.
7526454 Thank you kindly :D I think you'll find today's chapter VERY interesting!
7525592 Such is war. War never changes.
7523988 Oh I never try to sneak Steven Universe. I am blatant with it!
7523750 Thank you. Hopefully the feelings and memories aren't done so in a negative way. I'm trying to be as honest as I can with his experience.
7523220 Yes she has. It is part of her identity and the pony she's become while he was gone.
7522977 That is probably going to be an Azubite someday ;D
7522415 Generally blowing off oracles has a consequence. Of course sometimes listening to them does too.
7522310 I tried to be a bit visceral with the image of Crystal being ill and her worry that Silent will judge her for it. Some of that younger lady left.
7521974 Winterspear took a risk but she had a lot of faith in her sister-in-law. It paid off!
7521940 I couldn't take the whole thing ;D
7521903 Not fully understanding what she was up to I suppose ;)
7521863 She is a lady, that is for sure.
7521801 Yes, I don't think this worked out for Myree at all. Nor does walking way from Ferrel... or it does. Hard to say. Oracles have a tendency to lead people into doing exactly what they foresaw by trying to avoid what was foreseen.
A bit more of a reveal on Crystal's activities today. Though again, me skirting the specifics so she has much to share on her own.
7521784 Crystal is his rock! His squishy pillar! His mare. Ferrel's social skills are lacking for sure but, I have to imagine, after centuries you just don't care anymore.
7521704 Newp! Fit to well to be subtle.
7521649 Crystal is a hearty mare for sure. She's a warrior of a different breed.
7521590 Okie dokie!
7521551 Assuming our Princess meddles that much ;D
7521501 Stay she did!
7521500 Fit well so I used it ;D
7521456 Well done ;D
7521390 Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
7521386 There are certainly consequences for that kind of action. For both Silent and Winterspear.
7521371 No one ever should.
7521330 They're meant for each other for sure. A good mate makes life easier to take.
7521312 Crystal is a strong mare!
7521310 It is easy to just write the "yay the war is over" but that is never where it ends. Not in reality.
7521306 Conspiracy theories are fun though!
7521305 Right down the road to pain town!
War doesn't discriminate. It takes, and it takes, and it takes. And through it all we fight, and we break, and make our mistakes.
For some reason SK's little comment on war taking reminded me of the main bridges of wait for it, from Hamilton. XD
I see that Steven Universe reference!
As someone who has read up to the most recent chapter, I decided to reread this. And suddenly, I got a crazy idea.
What if Crystal becomes some sort of...I hesitate to say sleeper agent a la Jason Bourne, but she saw what Silent did. Which would mean she has the experience. What if she suddenly becomes good at hoof to hoof combat? And she hasn't had a need to use it, so she hasn't known about it. Crystal's story isn't quite to this point, so we honestly have NO IDEA what is going through Crystal's mind. What if the night mares assault Crystal as a way to get back at Silent, and her subconscious takes over and she beats the ever-loving snot out of them? And then Silent rushes in to try to save her after finding out she was being attacked, and sees three or so baddies unconscious while Crystal stares at them wondering what in the wide world of Equestria just happened.
Damn my sense of humor. And my mom liking the Bourne Trilogy.
I was worried Crystal wouldn't be there, for once I'm glad I was wrong, I don't know what Silent would do without her
8046006
Well, hopefully she realizes this by saying, "I know kung fu."
7529847
I don't know which is less fun - being under suicide watch, or being the person standing suicide watch.
Wasn't it just two chapters ago she said that nothing would affect her love for him?
Someone get this mare Project Horizons, stat!
And if she is going to leave you, you're making it even harder on her and you.
She's built for squeezing! Especially if that is the real Azurite in disguise and not just a plushie.
Why? I don't think Winterspear has experience with otherworldly entities, ancient alicorn magic, and whatnot. Unless she's been quite differently busy aside from getting married and learning physical therapy.
In hindsight, it sure seems that way. Though I wonder if Stratus had other issues on top of his war memories.
Wait, Soul's idea of treatment was going to be to lock up SK for observation overnight? That's a horrible idea ... unless she's right and Crystal fled the city.
Nooo, I'm pretty sure she didn't tell you a lot of what was happening in her life, so you could focus on the war. A tactic she might be at home second guessing right now.
Hmm, I wonder if the Night Mares will start making cameo appearances as Crystal?
"It's not real." "Really?" "No, you just asked me to say that. The griffons had dozens of them."
Ouch. This feels less like nightmare, and more like Nightmare. Can someone get Twilight and co. he might be in need of some wash cycles.