Icarus: Part II
It's dark.
Am I dead? I open my eyes. I... the towers. Those are the towers of the Manehattan Bridge above me.
I try to move, and realize that I'm not dead, because my legs hurt. Everything does. I'm bleeding and I can feel my lungs pressing against my exposed ribs with every agonizing breath. Ponies have gathered around me, terrified, confused, and unsure what to do. They run as I cast a spell to stop the pain. I look down to see if Beakbreaker is-
Beakbreaker's gone.
“Beakbreaker?!” Oh sweet Celestia, did someone take her away? Was she dragged somewhere by well-intended ponies thinking that I was trying to kill-
There! She's lying a few yards away, surrounded by ponies who are trying to help her.
She's not moving.
“Beakbreaker!”
I scramble up and stagger to her. The ponies trying to help see me coming and flee in a panic as I reach Beakbreaker, frantically looking her over. She's lying in a pool of her own blood, her eyes open and unseeing. I press a hoof to her neck.
There's no pulse.
“No... Oh please, no!”
I roll Beakbreaker over, find the jagged hole in her back, and press down as hard as I can. I do the same with the other hole, trying to ignore how much blood has soaked into her fur. But it's not working! Blood still trickles out from beneath my hooves. I close my eyes, concentrating on my magic.
Green energy flows over Beakbreaker, and I feel skin fusing together beneath my hooves. The flow of blood slows to a trickle, then stops. The holes are gone, newly-stretched skin covering them up.
I frantically flip Beakbreaker onto her back and press down on her chest to get her heart pumping. One pump. Two...three...four...five. Pinching Beakbreaker's nostrils shut, I send two of my deepest breaths down her throat, and her chest rises and falls.
Beakbreaker doesn't move.
No!
I pump again, going harder this time. I send even bigger breaths down her lungs.
Nothing.
No...no!
I slam down on Beakbreaker's chest, and I hear bones break, but I keep pumping, trying to make her warm, sweet heart beat once more, to bring life back to her empty eyes.
“Breathe! Come on Beakbreaker, breathe! Breathe!”
She doesn't.
“No!” I slap Beakbreaker's face. “Wake up! Please wake up!”
The rain slides down her lifeless cheeks.
My gaze dashes back and forth between those in the crowd. There has to be a medic here, a doctor, anyone! But there aren't; just ordinary ponies who can't do a thing to help me.
Magic... magic is my only chance! It closed her wounds, and it can make her heart beat again! I grab Beakbreaker and look into her eyes as I concentrate, focusing every ounce of magical energy I have. And when my temples pound and sweat pours down my forehead, I let go.
Green energy pours into Beakbreaker's chest, my will guiding it towards her heart until I feel the energy holding it. I squeeze, forcing every ounce of energy I have to restore life to her heart, to send blood and oxygen flowing once more. I squeeze again and again, forcing her heart to beat.
“Work,” I whisper. “Come on. Work...work!”
I stop and wait.
Nothing.
I shake, barely able to hold Beakbreaker up. All the power I've worked so long to get is at my beck and call, I'm using all of it to help the one soul I care for more than anyone else in all of Equestria... and it's not enough!
"Breathe!” I scream. I hit Beakbreaker. “Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!” I slap her face, and can't stop the tears from falling. “Don't leave me Beakbreaker! Come back! Please!”
Beakbreaker doesn't move.
It can't end here! It can't end like this! It can't! I have too many things I want to say and do. Apologies that have to be given, pleas for forgiveness that need to be said. I want to tell Beakbreaker that I've been such a fool. I want to tell her that she's the first individual who truly accepted me for what I was, and not what I should have been. I want to take her on walks along the beach, to restaurants, to get to know her, the real her, away from work, from the wings, and from the horns. I want to know what she's like as an individual, not a doctor or a scientist.
I want to tell her that I want to spend my life with her... but that chance is gone now, and I can almost hear fate taunting me, whispering into my ear.
You got what you wanted, but lost what you really needed.
Has something, or someone, been guiding me all this time? Is this where it was supposed to lead? Was everything I've gone through some sort of cosmic joke? A sick tragedy merely to teach me a lesson? If it was, then the force that guides me hasn't been a granter of dreams, but a giver of nightmares.
I throw my gaze to the sky. “Is this what you wanted?!” I shout. “You wanted to take away everything I love, don't you?! And for what?! These?!” I spread my wings, and thrust my horn upwards. “Take them back! I...I...” I choke down a sob. “...I don't want them!” I lurch to my hooves, holding Beakbreaker aloft. “I want her!”
There's no answer.
“Please!” I scream. “Please!”
Beakbreaker's lifeless body lies in my embrace. No magical spark gives her life; no cosmic force descends to restore her. She's gone, and no wish, no desire to give up everything, including my life, will change that.
I shake. I tremble, and then I scream from the deepest depths of my soul, and shock Beakbreaker's heart one final time. Not in despair or desperation, but in an act of defiance, all my grief and anger fueling one final beat-
Beakbreaker lets out a huge gasp, arching up in my embrace as she gulps in deep, ragged lungfuls of air. For a moment her eyes dart back and forth, lost and frightened, trying to figure out what's going on. Then they land on me.
“S...Silverspeak?”
I can't hold it back any longer. I clutch Beakbreaker as tightly as I can, rocking her back and forth, sobbing all the while. And for the first time in my life, I know what relief -true, soul-felt relief -feels like.
“Silverspeak?” Beakbreaker's still confused, unsure what's happening. I stroke her hair, turning on my charm, but not to mislead or intimidate.
“It's all right,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “You're safe. Everything's all right.” I don't know if she believes me, but Beakbreaker closes her eyes and leans against my chest. I let her lie there, holding her close as rain falls on us both. I look up to the sky, and beyond.
In a whisper so quiet that not even Beakbreaker can hear it, I offer two words to whoever, or whatever, was listening.
Thank you.
There's no reply, nor was I expecting one. But as I turn my attention back to Beakbreaker, I catch a glimpse of something moving in the clouds above. I squint, realize that it's coming towards us.
Strange...it's coming awfully fast, and-
Something hits the road and Beakbreaker and I are thrown through the air, sliding on the concrete before coming to a stop. Trying to put Beakbreaker behind me, I watch as the dust clears, and Mangus hobbles towards me, his bloody stump hastily cauterized. His bloodshot eyes tear into me, his face red with rage that overwhelms logic and thought. He doesn't even seem to realize that he's lost a leg as he charges, blasting terrified ponies aside.
“Kill you!” he screams, barely coherent. “Kill yo-”
But I'm not afraid of him or his threats. I'm angry.
I've had enough.
As Mangus leaps at me, I rear back and smash his face with the strongest blow I've ever thrown. His head is almost torn off his shoulders as his lower jaw shatters. Blood flies as Mangus slams into the concrete; he still tries to stand, but I buck his wretched form into the closest pillar. Chunks of stone fly as he collapses to the ground, but even with a broken jaw, Mangus howls as he tries to summon a spell.
My horn glows, readying for one final blast. I'll make sure he never harms-
An explosion blasts my ears. I leap back, throwing my legs up to cover my face. How could Mangus retaliate so quickly?! Wait, it wasn't him; the sound came from all around us.
The dome around Manehattan shudders, then lights up as colored blasts slam into the edge beyond the bridge. The blasts hit again, and the entire dome shatters. Enormous shards rain down on Manehattan, dissolving harmlessly into energy that's blown away by the wind and the rain that lashes the city.
I'm suddenly blasted across the bridge into one of the bridge's massive support towers, shrieking as my ribs scrape against gravel. Mangus hobbles towards me, his horn glowing. I roll as he fires, the beam tearing through the tower. Cables snap as the tower collapses, taking a massive chunk of the bridge with it. Ponies scream, flee, and just barely avoid being dragged into the ocean below.
Leaping up, I run towards Mangus, struggling not to collapse from the pain. Celestia help me, if I have to die to keep him from getting Beakbreaker, then so be it!
A light shines down on both of us, so bright and overpowering it's like the sun itself has come down. Mangus howls as he's momentarily blinded. I am too, but as I squint, I realize that there's someone above us...no, wait, it's not one pony, but several. They...
No... it can't be.
The ponies above us aren't ordinary ponies, the Wonderbolts, or even the Princesses...they're the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. All six float above the bridge, their necklaces and crowns still smoking from taking down the dome. And for an instant, I forget about Mangus, overcome with awe. In all my life, I've never seen the Bearers, much less expected to ever be in their presence.
And leading them all is Twilight Sparkle herself.
Scarcely able to breathe, I look upon her, the pony who had become an alicorn, and who had inadvertently shown me what I could become.
Mangus roars and leaps at me. My horn lights up, and I ready to fire.
Another roar fills the air, one that eclipses Mangus' own. A great wind rushes down, and I have the sensation of being next to overwhelming power before a barrage of colors slam into Mangus. He screams in rage and defiance, and I feel his magic yanking at my horn, trying to tear it off. He glares at me, as if the power of his hate alone could kill me... and then his face freezes. So does the rest of him, and his dark blue skin turns a dull gray.
As the hold on my horn vanishes, It takes me a moment to realize what's happened; the Bearers have turned Mangus to stone. He's a statue now, an enraged gargoyle yelling in silent fury.
Wait...if the Bearers turned Mangus into stone, then...
Oh no.
I turn, try to call out, but it's too late, as I see the same barrage of color coming for me. It hits me like an unstoppable flood, and I feel power beyond anything I could ever hope to stand against. Numbness hits my hind legs, rising fast. I want to back away, but I can't. I look down, and scream upon realizing why.
My lower body has turned gray, and I can't feel my legs at all. And that gray is spreading upwards. Frantic, I shake my forward legs, try to get it off, but then they freeze, and I can't feel or move them.
Stone! Oh please, Celestia, no! They're turning me to sto-
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yes yes yes yes yes!
No no no no NO!
AUTHOR! FIRST THOU TAUNTETH' US WITH THY UPDATE NONEXISTENT; THEN THOU TAUNTETH' US WITH THINE CLIFFHANGERS! YE SHALT FEAR, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH RAGE; AS AN SCHOLAR DENIED THEIR BOOK!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I knew it would happen but I didn't want to belive myself. WHY DOES EVERYTHING BAD HAPPENS TO SILVERSPEAK?
Yep~ *lays down and yawns* I'm going to sleep now~
Even if Silverspeak ends up being petrified, I'd imagine Princess Celestia would still want to find out what the two stoned ponies have done, including depowering them by taking off their horns and then removing the petrification when they're powerless to resist, followed by Mangus getting pwned, and maybe Silverspeak finally getting some justice. Also, I doubt Beakbreaker would let the Mane 6 just leave Silverspeak as a statue. I can just imagine what would happen to Mangus if Princess Celestia scanned his memory, and Silverspeak's memory as well.
NO! POURQUOI?
It appears that I have been brutally attacked by an armada of feels.
Great chapter!
But...
Also... ELEMENT BEARERS, WHY YOU SO STUPID?
Yeah, this chapter gives me the heebie jeebies if only because it has the Elements stoning Silverspeak as well, meaning they work on non-evil people as well. Silverspeak isn't evil. Misguided maybe, but definitely not evil in any way close to Magnus or Nightmare Moon, or even nastily mischievous like Discord. So them zapping Silverspeak is scary because it means they could be used against ANYONE.
...Unfortunately, the Elements being able to be used against non-evil people is pretty much cannon as of Equestria Girls, since Sunset Shimmer was able to corrupt and use the Element of Magic, and only the presence of Twilight as the true bearer, and the alt universe counterparts of the rest of the bearers were able to counter her.
And the Princesses are useless.... again.
Always the Manesix.
Nearly missed this being updated since favorites and notifications seem to be still borked.
The biggest problem with the whole situation is that, due to the swiftness and brutalness of Mangus's attack, there might not be many clear views on what exactly happened other than the fact that a mini-fleet of pseudo-Alicorns started attacking everyone and stealing horns. Because it happened not long after Silverspeak attacked the Guardians and the rest of the crowd (and because the same library was robbed), without knowing the full story it'd be very easy to assume that Silverspeak and Mangus were in it together.
I think what could happen is that he'll be released, but it'll be after Beakbreaker and everyone from that generation is long gone because that would be the only realistic way he could start over. But without the one thing he truly fought for in the end, there wouldn't be much point and he'd end up living a miserable existence.
Or, this was it and those were his final words, because he'll never be released and unlike Discord he has no chance of ever breaking free himself. As long as he's not aware, it wouldn't be so bad. If the next chapter is in Beakbreaker's POV and has her visiting his statue throughout the rest of her life, I'll understand, but the feels will be very great indeed.
That chapter was... really short..
Why'd they have to make everything so complicated? I see the way they oversimplify the case and label black and white equalidated. (I don't care if that's a fake word.) You fly and you fall and you take and you break what you got and then you get blasted by Harmony... and honestly there wasn't any choice left to be taken... none at all.
...
*sigh* Judgment has been passed.
So why does it seem so wrong?
I guess you could say now that Silverspeak went so high, he's stoned.
Great chapter, even if it was short!
3456778
"I think what could happen is that he'll be released, but it'll be after Beakbreaker and everyone from that generation is long gone because that would be the only realistic way he could start over. But without the one thing he truly fought for in the end, there wouldn't be much point and he'd end up living a miserable existence."
That would be such a wonderfully tragic ending. I guess what happens next can vary wildly, as it all depends on many variables and ultimately upon the princesses' discretion anyway.
It would be very interesting to see whether or not there actually is or is not a greater someone or something guiding him, and I am still wondering if his horn's curse exists or if it is actually just folklore, because that could even potentially be some important part of this path he may have been guided down (I am still kind of hoping for some kind of downside of this cursed horn to show up, unless the whole curse is just the 'power corrupts' idea)...
Also, Silverspeak seems to be either incredibly naturally gifted in the art of magic, or assisted by said greater someone or something, because he has been able to perform feats that a proper unicorn would need training to do, and even more than the standard unicorn now that he actually managed to resurrect someone who, for all intents and purposes, was dead.
Mangus stopped the bleeding by cauterizing himself... oh... I should have thought of that... though in such a storm it would have been... interesting? meh, he probably just used a contact heat spell thing
3456927
Some interesting points there about the horn/curse, but have you considered that there was indeed a guiding force to his magic, the mind/spirit/whatever of the previous owner, and that maybe after spending all that time trapped underground what it really wanted was a chance at redemption? It would explain the whole mysterious 'thank you' he heard after coming to terms with what was really important.
Also for a less tragic more romance ending Beakbreaker could have herself petrified so as to wake up with him once enough time has passed.
3456408*A
cannot say i'm too much of a fan of this chapter. it's too heavily based around the deus ex machina and really has the main characters come in for little reason. the resolution between silverspeak and mangus doesn't really happen because of this and things feel left out.
3457032
He didn't hear the "thank you." That he said himself.
It seems odd that after what occurred that the Elements would turn him into stone. I don't think Twilight or the others have much control over what happens to anypony hit by the Rainbow Cannon, though.
I hope Silverspeak had the sense to at least get in a good pose. Being stone looking ridiculous is not a good thing...
I get it that you need to keep the chapters separated, but you should've released this and the next one to avoid the cliffhanger. In the words of a famous Klay World dude: "Meeeaaaannnnnnnnn..."
Oh come on! 2 weeks, only 3,000 words, an anti-climax, and a cliffhanger?! You bitch!
oh crap i thought it was done, thank celestia it isnt,
if your checking comments for spoilers lets just say... the ending rocked
Haha, I thought the bearer's showing up would have been anticlimactic, but it's totally not. It's perfectly fitting in. Now the question is will the next chapter be when he's not stone anymore, or will it have a new narrator? I think having a new narrator would totally kill the whole "this is my story about what's happening after I got a horn and wings", so I think it will be after he gets our of stone, but that would break from the excitement of the battle. I'm perplexed.
Btw, thanks for the imaginary cookie. I'm imagining myself eating it right now.
3456903
I heard that in Carlos' voice. Made it even funnier.
Beakbreaker and the Medicorp CEO will vouch for Silverspeak.
The mane 6 ( or at least Celestia are all about second chances) ex.: Discord. I doubt Mangus will be freed.
Hey, Greenback, are you going to go with you are still conscious while stoned thing?
3456778 You forget that Mangus horn has grown quite a lot because of his actions right? There is evidence.
3459628
The Medicomp CEO is dead unless he managed to get out before the building was destroyed, and given the condition he was in when Silverspeak left it's really not likely that he did. And Beakbreaker was the one behind the entire augmentation project so her words probably wouldn't have much clout with the public. She might have some with the Princesses, maybe, but I think the verdict would be to release him after most of the damage is repaired and he's been largely forgotten about. In other words, it doesn't really matter what Beakbreaker feels or thinks because Silverspeak is a sacrifice for the greater good of Equestria. Because he's largely viewed as a villain, it's better that he stays "dead" for a long time and with a hope that he'll be given a second chance with future generations and use it for good.
It's terrible, yes, but also merciful. And there was a point made about the magic he used on Beakbreaker being far from normal... maybe, just maybe the horn has also bonded to him and prevented both it and the wings from degrading over time, in effect making him a not-quite Alicorn in the end. Or even a full Alicorn, because in the battle against Mangus he demonstrated incredible magic (Unicorn), strength (Earth) and speed/dexterity (Pegasus)... and in the case of the latter it was far beyond the skill he had when he trained with his first set of wings. I bet if he had tried to land on clouds it would've worked, but it's not like he cared about such things at that point.
So yes, I think Silverspeak is only going to get let out far into the future or not at all. Mangus, meanwhile, should be buried into a deep hole and forgotten about, much like what happened to the cursed king. And if Silverspeak is released in the future, I'm picturing it being done by a new set of Element bearers given the task to help him adjust and heal (with the threat to re-seal him if he acts out), giving him the chance to make friends and start over. Beakbreaker would still be gone, of course, and that would be very sad (unless she was also turned to stone at her request, like was said above).
Bad Luck Sliverspeak
Gets girl back
Gets turned into stone
3460297 I doubt it. You're being way to grim, to the point of it being very unlikely. It's as if you want him to suffer
Yes you're right about the horn, but that is more likely because, as it was mentioned, it being a "king's" horn. Who knows maybe Sombra used that spell too? Or it being royalty makes it special, more portent, more finely tuned to the casters thoughts (after all it's power depends on the user's feelings, dark feelings that can corrupt). It could also hold knowledge for spells, unknown to the caster consciously, but dormant only to rise up when you try to do something specific ex. heal, resurrect, and there would exist only because someone used it before, the cursed king, and left these imprints imbued into it.
Or whatever, I've talked way too much about this. I don't want to influence the story.
The only reason his wings haven't fallen off is because of all the healing spells he kept throwing on them.
Him ascending is unlikely. I would have been likely if it was done by the elements, them "harmonizing" his body with the wings/horn (and remove the taint left on the horn by the cursed king). But since that didn't happen...
I still think he will be freed (in the present), but not without consequence for his actions, stealing the wings/horn (will probably have to remove them).
Best case scenario he'll viewed as a hero after all this.
Worst case... well Mangus will be viewed as the hero.
EDIT:
Sorry I just had him as Sombra in my head for some reason, even if it is made clear that it isn't, but that doesn't changes that the horn's power is enhanced by negative/powerful emotions, just of like Sombra.
Wow, nearly thought Beakbreaker was done for there. Good for Silverspeak to keep her going, bad that he's getting turned to stone. Your addition of the Element Bearers is really making this epic. Looking forward to the next chapter!
Hrng. I hate that the mane 6 just blasted him and turned him into stone. Giving him no proper time to explain. Hrngg.
3456581
Armada of feels? Yay!
3456772
3456784
I agree that it is; originally, "Icarus" was going to be one, big, giant chapter, but I thought that after all the stuff that happened beforehand, having the big emotional climax go with it immediately would be too much of a mood swing, so I figured devoting a chapter to it would help avoid that.
3456903
3457441
I can understand where you're coming from on that; I had planned for the Mane Six to appear and zap them both because, as satisfying as it may be, I didn't want to have a simple ending where Silverspeak kills Mangus. While that would leave complications for him to deal with in the aftermath, I believe that having both survive opens up some more interesting situations where they have to deal with the consequences.
Can't say too much more, but there will be a resolution between the two.
3458362
I can promise that it wasn't intentionally done to torment people, or that I was lazy, promise!
As I said in another comment, both "Icarus" chapters were going to be posted as one mammoth chapter, but I worried that Silverspeak trying to bring Beakbreaker back, then fighting Mangus, then both getting turned to stone would have too much mood-whiplash, so I split it up. As to why it took so long to post the second part, I wanted to make the entire scene of bring Beakbreaker back as good as I could make it, so it went through about five revisions before I was satisfied with it.
As to it being an anti-climax-wise, I can see that as being one interpretation. My own take is that this is more of an emotional climax, in that Silverspeak finally renounces what he's been searching for, in favor of what he really wants. To me, personally, that's what the story is about, instead of Silverspeak trying to defeat Mangus. I did guess that most people would want to see Silverspeak kill Mangus, but I thought having both survive would make things more interesting, consequence-wise.
3458571
Nope, we've still got two chapters to go!
3458847
If I may ask, which Carlos are you referring to?
3459628
Yes and no.
3462192
Thank you!
It's a good thing he earned some positive karma with some of his actions. He must make for a really scary, grotesque statue with his bones exposed in so many places. Definitely not a garden ornament piece. Could you imagine what those poor unsuspecting fillies and colts would think when seeing that?
. . . Heh. . . it's kind of a funny thought.
3466079 What was frustrating wasn't seeing Silverspeak killing Magnus, though that would be satisfying and put him out of his misery.
No, the real deal breaker was the Mane 6 coming in and turning Silverspeak to stone. The Mane 6 coming in as deus ex machina, I can understand since they're dealing with potential alicorns. Magnus I can understand since he went so far off the deep that he was insta stoned. Silverspeak? I think he's earned SOME kind of redemption instead of being encased in a flesh prison.
Some things are going to happen within the next chapter. In canon, Discord was aware of everything around him in his stone prison, so Silverspeak is going to be watching as everyone looks fearfully\pitifully at him and hears all they're comments about how much these two were monsters. He's taken back to Canterlot and put under high magical security. Magnus will be the same. Debate on whether or not they should be smashed for killing the ponies will arise. A chance to be put through a court system, judged by all the Princesses, including Celestia. Mangus will be encased in stone for eternity with his wings and horns stripped or the death penalty. His subordinates, if they're alive, will also be done the same as him. Silverspeak... I have no clue what will become of him. He has people who can voice that he tried to save people. Beakbreaker. The hospital. The CEO if he's still alive. The people in the crowd. He's still going to have crimes for what he's done, so I don't think he's going to get off lightly.
His horn and wings may have to be removed still and he's going down to being an Earth pony again.
The conclusion of this fight and what had happened was so abrupt that it was a punch to the gut.
I want to see a conclusion, one way or another.
3457032
"maybe after spending all that time trapped underground what it really wanted was a chance at redemption?"
If the Cursed King's horn is the guiding force, then I somewhat doubt that a chance at redemption is what it would want, being buried underground with his horn just out of his reach, without any contact and having essentially nothing to do for countless years tends to drive anyone crazy. So if the Cursed King is still alive in some way, it would probably rather let everyone know his pain I'd think.
"It would explain the whole mysterious 'thank you' he heard after coming to terms with what was really important."
Silverspeak is actually the one who said that, to whomever/whatever let him have Beakbreaker back
3462051
"Him ascending is unlikely. I would have been likely if it was done by the elements, them "harmonizing" his body with the wings/horn (and remove the taint left on the horn by Sombra). But since that didn't happen..."
His ascension wouldn't happen for the simple reason that it would encourage others to do "whatever it takes" to become alicorns. Also, I don't think that the elements would have the power to "harmonize" the wings and horn to his body, the elements are meant to maintain "harmony" by removing chaos and evil, and has it been confirmed that Sombra is involved in this story?
"Worst case... well Mangus will be viewed as the hero."
Mangus viewed as the hero? I don't see that as a possibility anymore, far too many saw him, and when his plan went into action, there is no way that he could be viewed as a hero anymore
3466997
"Silverspeak? I think he's earned SOME kind of redemption instead of being encased in a flesh prison."
They wouldn't know much, if anything, about who he is and why he has done all that he has done, they don't even know who started the conflict and who was good or evil, because the conflict happened so suddenly, and the only way they could have heard about him is through the news, which wouldn't have been accurate or kind (remember that the news portrayed him as a monster).
"Silverspeak... I have no clue what will become of him. He has people who can voice that he tried to save people."
I'm sure that in the following chapters he will be brought to talk to the princesses, who will most likely condemn his actions, but forgive him and give him another chance somehow, though at the cost of his wings and horn because if he was allowed to keep it, as I previously said it would encourage others.
As for those who can voice that he tried to save people, that wouldn't be reliable as even more people would be eager to claim that he was evil and helping Mangus, there is those memory reading spells however, which was mentioned in an earlier chapter. That's what I'm guessing anyways, but I do love being wrong because that means that I can be surprised.
I've loved this story from the very beginning. Excellent read.
I do have an issue though; Silverspeak seems rather overpowered considering He's only had His horn and wings for two or three days at the most. I mean he was able to blow through a metal door right after he got it attached with no anesthetic, and now He's managed to completely blow Mangus' leg off, mend a gaping hole through Beakbreaker's body, and restart her heart. I understand that technically anything is possible with enough magic, and that His horn once belonged to a powerful King, so that could account for some of it. But still, that's an awful lot for a pony to pull off just days after acquiring the ability to use magic. I would imagine it would be a bit harder to use than that.
His wings also seem to be working rather well considering he just got them back. I would think they would have given out by the day after He got them if not sooner. But he's been flying around nonstop ever since He got them.
Nevertheless, all complaining aside, truly awesome story. I've loved the whole thing so far.
3467579 From what we've been shown about magic thus far, it seems to be largely instinctual. That is all you have to do us visual what you want and provided you have the energy it'll happen. This may not exactly be canon with regards to MLP:FiM but in terms of The Monster Below, it does explain how Silverspeak is so proficient with relatively crude magics. And remember, these are -crude- magics, simple blasts of raw energy as opposed to, say, a time spell or a giant force-field dome.
No, I don't want to see Silverspeak suffer as it was said in a comment further back, but given his luck I don't see many good things happening to him. I already have like a million alternate endings in my mind where things went more horrifyingly wrong than in the actual story. Things like:
- Silverspeak murdering Mangus and the librarian, only to get found out much later after both the library recording and another "insurance policy" from Mangus is discovered. He spends the rest of his life in prison.
- Silverspeak being a bit too slow and caught by the thing in the tunnels. Everyone else who goes into it to try and find him dies as well, and it escapes to Saddle Lanka. Celestia gets a report days later about the city having "gone dark" and anyone sent to investigate never coming back.
- One of the guards, being a secret Guardian, switches out Silverspeak's and Mangus's statues for replicas and brings the real ones to the rest of the Guardians. They hack them to pieces. The truth isn't known for a while, until the unsealing spell on Silverspeak's statue quite obviously fails.
- The horn surgery brain-damaged and fatally wounded Silverspeak, and everything past that point was a complete, fabricated delusion in his mind that only lasted about a minute at most. He dies before anyone can break into the room.
- Celestia getting Silverspeak's letter. Okay, this one isn't bad.
When it comes to the thing in the tunnels, I like to think that it's a twisted, mindless zombie of what's left of the cursed king. How he got out of the prison and why he turned into that... I don't know.
It keeps being said that SIlverspeak, if he's released, would probably have both his wings and horn removed. The wings could be taken off easily enough, but given that the horn has basically bonded with his brain, it might not be able to be completely removed without killing him.
Until proven otherwise, I'm still going with the "seal away for later generations to deal with" ending because it both fits the Tragedy tag and yet also has hope (for Silverspeak getting a second chance to do things right). Because I can't, for the life of me, see things suddenly turning around for the better after all that's happened.
i will not lie, your cliff hangers make me wanna kill people UGG
but nice job none the less 
In be for US tactical drone strike comes several minutes late and hits a hospital.
Yeah, finally caught up! What a ride so far, can't wait to see how you will finish everything.
I love how you managed to set-up everything, how many pieces you left scattered throughout the narrative, and how all of them came crashing down in the end – I think that, so far, only Beakbreaker's advisor hasn't gone anywhere. This is undoubtedly a masterclass in setting up a climax, of the kind that even excuses some of the failings of the story.
However, the greatest strength of this story is certainly the way it manages to focus in such disturbing, borderline psychopathic character as Silverspeak, and make his narrative arc sympathetic without trying to make it relatable or acceptable. His bullshit rationalizations and criminal behavior aren't explained away or embraced, but shown quite harshly to be what they are. His actions have consequences, even when they take years to come, and even when he is correct, there is an undertone that his worldview is damaging towards those goals. Celestia's beard, you made his moping and paranoia interesting!
Yes, there are a bunch of issues with the story. The mid is draggy, his irrationality isn't always warranted, and most of the Mangus stuff is down right stupid. Why his security firm wasn't only chosen, but even stayed despite their behavior, is brushed aside (so far), specially considering how they most certainly were causing provable financial damage and how reasonable the CEO was. Also, the higher-ups would have run-ins with them, unless they simply worked in another building (which brings a whole new set of questions). Mangus himself is also over-the-top villainous to the point of charicature, and while that makes him dying very satisfying, I am sure it could have been dealt with more subtlety, and that really hurts the story.
But, all in all, I am loving it, and can't wait to see the conclusion. All in all, great writing!
I love this story. Unfortunately while Beakbreaker lives I knew as soon as she came back to life Silverspeak had used up the rest of his literary Karma, he's still going to pay for the rest of the things he did. Meanwhile I highly doubt Magnus is going to get off easy either there are plenty of witnesses and I suppose Magnus looks differently from Silverspeak that the victims who surived can tell the difference, plus many of the dead and dying Alicorns that were made are all PMCs right? They would still be wearing their uniforms.