The enhanced Stallion

by Shenzy

> A long time ago... The Empire

The light. It was blinding. I couldn't close my eyes in time. It all happened so fast.

Heat followed. A first wave brushed against my coat and threw off my balance.

I couldn't come up, because I had to cover my ears. The noise was deafening.

I then felt... weightless... I couldn't tell in which direction I was falling. I'm an earth pony, i'm not used to it. I hope I never will. Not like this.

Once I felt the flames I was too taken aback to even realize the... barrier I must have hit -pressing all the air out of my lungs. I tried to gasp, when I hit another barrier and cold filled my lungs and I became weightless again.

The light above became nothing more than a blur... the world around mute and dark.

I knew I had made a mistake. I only could hope he could forgive me. Hope they all would.

- - -

Light. There was the light again. It... shun onto me. Why didn't it come closer?

… and why did I feel so cold? A shape then blocked out the light to bow above me.

Noise. Just a little. Another shape appeared. More noise was exchanged.

I felt a sting. Darkness followed.

- - -

When I was still a little filly, I once slipped on a spot of ice and broke my leg. It hurt so much I cried. I cried harder then I ever cried before or since. I cried when an adult picked me up and I cried when the nurse finished the cast. It hurt very much and even if it got easier... it took a long time to stop. After this I thought I knew what pain felt like.

Naive me. There is still so much to learn.

- - -

I can't tell how often I woke or how much time had passed, but eventually I came to the conclusion... when I can still feel, I couldn't be dead. It took all my strength, but I just had to smile.

Soothing darkness followed.

- - -

Magic and needles was what it took. It had to be done they said. I blinked twice. They began the procedure. It hurt. I knew it would, but I had worse. And I just had to hold out a little longer, so I held still.

They nearly forgot I was still awake and what I heard let the cold return into my veins.

- - -

Good enough. That's how they put it. My caretaker would disagree, but they shoved me into a wagon anyway. Bandages covered up by shackles, so I wouldn't run. I couldn't have run even without.

It took patience for us to arrive.

- - -

Wounds burned and bandages itched. My mouth was dry and my stomach growled, but i knew they wouldn't let me go this easily. Not after all the trouble I caused, but can you blame me for trying?

I wish i was as brave now as back then.

- - -

They didn't mean to show me, but what I saw... I couldn't have imagined. It pained me to see that I had been wrong yet again. We could have lived here, if only I hadn't been so stubborn. I couldn't stop my tears from flowing.

I'm sorry. Inconsolable so.

- - -

Dignity. Staying straight I couldn't, so I sat. He would try to make a show out of it, but I wouldn't bow. Not as long there was somepony watching. I came too far to stop just now. If only my knees would stop shaking.

The gate opens. Light's, guide my way.

- - -

I feel many eyes resting upon me. Most of which afraid. Do they think i'm brave? I'm stiff with fear, that's why my knees haven't forsaken me. At least I have been right once, he did make a big show out of it. Rebellion demanded a statement.

Boasting he did. I spat in his face.

- - -

I'm not a unicorn, so I can't tell if he is bluffing. Can you change a spell like this? I might find out any moment. He embraces the darkness and I feel my fur standing up. It crawls under my skin! Electric fire makes me scream! Introduces pain my mind can't comprehend! My body is turned inside out- I can't stop screaming.

Pony's turn away. They can't bear to look at me.

- - -

Pain. I can't remember anything but pain. I can't recall my name or where I am. Why I am. There is a pony on the floor. Poor thing. Whatever happened? ...and who is he? He is looking at me. Looking at... us? Is that...

He smiles. Wishes 'farewell'. Darkness follows.

- - -

Walking. I keep walking. Putting one hoof in front of another. I feel... tired. That's all I feel. My mind is blank. Walking, i know how to do, so I keep doing it. I'm nopony. I have to walk.

My punishment is eternal. Compassion, my only crime.

Author's Note:

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