Bathophobia

by Ice Star

Water

Burning in the cold with all the dryness of the Arabian deserts where the sand tangled her mane and Shiny's smile was brighter than his armor, shining in the hot sunlight brought by her lovely auntie so far away
and Canterlot was gone then
but she had been safe
and smiling
because she had him at her side
the sun in her face
and Equestria behind her
on a trip with a deadline
and no green eyes
or bugs
and laughter so cruel it—

But her throat burned sand-hot and she couldn't wet her lips

all her magic did was fizzle out
just like her focus
and her fluttering heart couldn't hold her aura there
and her gaze traveled
everywhere
and
anywhere

because...

green eyes and bugs with chitin shapes cut from shadow and darkness
stole her away

and all her magic did was fizzle out
in the caves where silence was louder
than anything she knew before

and in it
her ears rung
with the sound of nothing at all

but

Her throat was burning and her breathing was labored
Her whole chest seemed to shrink
with each inhale
until
on the floor
from the sound
of her new favorite song
dripping in the icy dark
was

coolwonderfulbeautifulpreciousabsloutelywonderfulshethankedeverygodandgoddesshermothertaughtherandohstarsthereitwasslippingdownherthroatwithanicystingthatlappedovertheburningskinitscoldandsmoothbeautyshininginthelightlessplace

shining...