The Filly Who Cannot Breathe

by Undome Tinwe

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Flurry Heart, Romance, Cozy Glow, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 3439

Flurry Heart is a good mare, driven to temptation by Cozy Glow.

Flurry Heart is a good mare, driven to temptation by Cozy Glow.

An entry into the The Pony Poetry Contest.

Published 2024-10-14 19:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2024-10-14 19:40:01 UTC

Give us this day our daily bread, and I'll give you back your home

Author's Note

Technical notes (spoilered for those who want go in blind): This poem is written in both iambic tetrameter and trochaic tetrameter, which left-justified text iambic and right-justified text trochaic. Also, since dialogue tends to be difficult to attribute in verse, and I'm loathe to use color to denote it, I will instead say that I gave Flurry a William Blake-inspired tic of capitalizing Words in the middle of sentences, to structurally differentiate her dialogue from Cozy's.

Give us this day our daily bread, and I'll give you back your home

I tried my Best, I swear I did
A Good Mare always I have been
And yet the Heavens did forbid
That I would be the perfect Queen

In Winter's Heart I first drew breath
Where Love I gorged with mother's milk
And Friendship lessons most in-depth
The Sun and Moon among my ilk

And so we forged our Paradise
A golden age of Harmony
And in the Light did I arise
Until it burned me presently

My Heart is pure, I swear that’s true
By Harmony I am most bless’d
I’m Kind and Honest, Loyal too
I help all who might be distress’d

But Harmony did plant in me
(When I drew breath so long ago)
A Light that blinds Morality
And chokes me with Desires low

And so I beg Forgiveness though
It’s not my Fault, I’m good at Heart
But she now plagues my tortured Soul
That cunning Temptress oh-so smart

I read her Words and watched her Deeds
Plumb'd Memories to see it all
Her Wickedness did plant its Seeds
Inside me, as I was enthrall'd

With ev'ry waking Thought consum’d
By One subsumed in stony Cage
Before her Connquest was resum’d
To bring about the Darkest Age

So now, though I have all I want
I’m drowning in the wishing Well
For She whose Legacy now haunts
This Paragon turned Infidel

To Cozy Glow, my life’s new Light
I’ll save you from that Darkness cold
And we shall burn in maiden Flight
To purify our tainted Souls

.........

......

...

Darkness endless always ever
Never peaceful thoughts are churning
Burning angry raging fever
Fester faster frothing nothing

Flash of light so sudden piercing
Stone to flesh to pain to panic
World returning overwhelming
Sights and sounds and time and magic

"Be at Peace." A voice so lovely
Chiming like a bell in winter
Anchors me to now just barely
"Welcome to your new Forever"

"Who are you?" A single question
Yet the first words I have uttered
Voice my own yet also foreign
Skin my own yet also fettered

"Goddess, Princess, Saviour, Lover
Purest Heart that walks amongst us
Past and Present unto Future
You shall call me each I promise"

Madness to my ears still tender
"Princess I can see quite clearly
Wings and horn you have that render
Title that you cherish dearly

"Goddess, though— for all their hubris
This you’ve gone beyond the others”
With each word I grow more breathless
As the air grows thicker, denser

“Lost you are, my Lamb so little
Only such explains your error
Now we must begin to whittle
Impudence towards your Saviour”

Through this choking spell I spite her
"Saviour yes — that's quite objective
But I will not thank you either
For reversing this injustice”

“Truly you must be befuddled
Rest you need so to Recover
From this Spell that’s left you addled
Sleep and we shall speak more later”

Darkness closes in so quickly
That I fall before my words can
Doom me further to this crazy
Mare I pray is just mistaken

.........

......

...

So many Secrets to be found
Within this Palace that is Home
For I who am by Crystal bound
To bear my Burden all alone

Ensonced within a hidden Room
My Charge now slumbers 'til the Morn
Shall come so that we might resume
The Discourse marred by Madness borne

In Flesh her Beauty almost shines
As bright as Mine, but deep as Skin
Her ugly Heart is misaligned
But soon we’ll beat without our Sin

A gentle moan as she Awakes
A flutter of her Eyes so red
I offer Water so to slake
Her thirst as she does rise from Bed

“I bid you Welcome to our home”
I say politely, smiling soft
"It's Here that you will now be shown
A better Path to be your Troth”

A quiet Moment as she drinks
Her fill from Chalice in her hoof
"And why am I the one you think
Most needs your care beneath this roof?"

"A valid Question," I concede
"In Truth you don't deserve this Boon
But Fate ordained that I would read
Your Words and then in Love be Doom'd

"And so I'm left with just one choice
A Heart as Pure as mine cannot
Be Poisoned by your sinful Voice
Redemption thus must be your Lot

"With Heart and Soul made Clean again
Together we will will bow to Fate
And be as One forever then
As you will be a worthy Mate"

From Her a smile that's filled with Lead
"Redemption as your prisoner
That you would force into your bed
Belies a heart more sinister"

She's goading me— I see this clear
"My patience dwarfs Eternity
And you are Weak— I taste your Fear
Soon your Resolve shall bend the Knee"

"Then let the games begin at last"
Defiant still, for Now at least
"My wits against your fated task
We'll see who then at last shall feast."

.........

......

...

Games aren't fun all by my lonesome
Weeks or days or hours even
No idea how long this loathsome
Princess means to leave me trapped in

Bread and water feeds the body
While the mind returns to darkness
No escape I've found already
Lest I yield and beg her kindness

Will she let my mind now shatter
So that she can then reforge it?
Now defiance doesn't matter
If she won't come down and visit

Change of strategy is needed
Pride means nothing without vict'ry
Let her think she has succeeded
‘Til she drops her guard around me

“Please, Your Majesty,” I grovel
"Save me from this lonely darkness
In your friendship I will revel
Let me bask within your largess”

Not a moment then is wasted
In a flash she makes her entrance
"Glad am I that you've Recanted
See what can be done with Temp'rance?"

"Torture always yields the answer
That your subject thinks you wanted"
Pride is slower to be severed
Now that I'm not isolated

"Sad it is that Contemplation
Is to you Excruciating"
Flurry frowns in castigation
"If that's All then I'll be leaving"

"Wait!" I cry, the fear returning
"If you so believe your gospel
Prove the value that you're preaching
Show me that it's more than drivel"

Warmth throughout me then suffuses
From a hug so soft and stifling
Gentleness that still confuses
Should she not be more distrusting?

"Wonderful!" my captor gushes
"Wise you are to drop your Protest"
Thus does end the contest this is
Now our game begins in earnest

.........

......

...

Which ones squirm and which one's god?

My Love knows only Evil’s screed
To trust her would be Folly true
Her silver Tongue must oft mislead
Yet of her Plan I've not a clue

"I move my rook to take your queen"
So Cozy falls into my snare
Within this game, as I've forseen
So I will bring my troops to bear

"Your Rook then falls before my Knight"
Alas, that I can only read
Her Strategems in games so trite
My Gaze can't pierce where I most need

A Moment later, Cozy sees
The Downfall planned right from the Start
A sigh from ruby Lips slips free
As her Defenses fall apart

"A valiant Effort, Cozy Glow"
Benevolence demands that I
Give Praise to soften up the blow
That's dealt towards her waning Pride

"I'll get you yet, you mark my words"
A precious Huff— so different than
The Anger that I first had heard
Back when our Chess Games first began

The Tantrums thrown were fiery
So Fasting I did then prescribe
To cool that Flame entirely
And ward away what I've Proscrib'd

"What Subject shall we next discuss?"
I ask and whisk away the Board
To Everything a Season, thus
With words we'll work towards Accord

"Philosophy we've talked at length"
Does Cozy answer, sounding Bold
"And you have shown me all your strength
Yet since the day I was paroled

"Of base desires we've spoken not"
A Smirk that's hiding far too much
Beneath a Soul that still would rot
Without my holy, radiant Touch

"A Time to plant, a Time for Love
A Time to reap what hath been sown
So I must Nurture from Above
Although I yearn to hear you Moan"

"But does a Goddess not deserve
To take what's hers by any means
As payment for the time she's serv'd?
You know I could be forc'd, my Queen"

"I would not force you," I reply
"But rather you would give Yourself
Entirely, when you do See
The Path that we must Walk in depth"

"And once I'm yours, what happens next?"
A Flash of Frailty so fine
Within those cunning Eyes complex
"Am I to be your concubine?

"To use and toss away when time
Has passed and I no longer can
Amuse you once I'm past my prime?
Will I be free from your command?"

I reach a Hoof to cup her Chin
And speak to calm her Fears undue
"To let you go would be a Sin
You shall be Mine alone unto

The End of all Eternity"
Her Doubt assuaged, I smile once more
And so the Conversation flees
From Heaviness to peaceful Shores

.........

......

...

More than ever I can see it
From the start the end I'm planning
Soon we'll plummet from the summit
After an ascent amazing

First to make her think she's winning
With the cooling of those tantrums
That I feigned just like me losing
'Til she "cured" me of my doldrums

Slowly surely she will trust me
But for now my work continues
Play the part, but not too sweetly
Darkness tempered still has uses

"What a sordid little Story"
Flurry says to me this morning
As she sets the book down gently
"Is this truly what you're Favouring?"

"Tales of jealousy unheeded
Are the one that I most cherish"
Such a blatant lie that's needed
So that seed in her can flourish

"For the world is vast and scary
Nothing we have lasts forever
Always we must be most wary
Time will claim yet the most clever"

"Mortals have such Worries plenty
But a Goddess rises higher
We shall have Eternity
When your soul I last acquire"

"This I thought when I ascended
But as long as there are others
Who could keep you bound and grounded
Safety is as naught but aether"

Silence then from Flurry as she
Fails to counter this new toxin
Seeping deep into her psyche
Opening such dire options

"Pardon me for this presumption"
I then add while bowing deeply
"This is far above my station
Such a beauteous Goddess clearly

"Does not need my morbid counsel"
Here I chanced to touch her foreleg
"But is this not duty spousal
To forewarn what may still come yet?"

With a blush that's ne'er acknowledged
Flurry feigns aloof composure
"It is Well that you've accepted
This bright Future given over"

Nothing further then is utter'd
On this matter as we move on
To a game on board so checker'd
As I let take hold my poison

.........

......

...

A Goddess must have Patience true
But cannot fall to Cowardice
A Crossroad now before me shews
And threatens to devour Us

I'd fain believe she's seen the Light
For ev'ry test my Cozy's pass’s
I've planted false Escapes each Night
And yet her Loyalty stands Fast

But Cozy is a cunning Mare
Who may have seen through my Untruth
A final Risk I'll have to bear
And bare a Weakness grim in Sooth

A Mare of Faith I've always been
And with each day my Love does grow
Towards this Sinner I have seen
Became a Saint, my Cozy Glow

"To ev'ry Thing a Season comes"
I say, assembling Relics six
"With Love for you my Heart does thrum
And so for you I'll risk the Styx"

"I know those six within your grasp
The end of magic they portend"
My Love replies with outraged Gasp
"What sorcery do you intend?"

A Ritual familiar
To Cozy Glow is then prepared
And then I bow my Head to Her
My Life and Soul to her now Bared

"I've studied well your History"
I say as I produce a Knife
"If you desire to walk Free
Then take this Blade and take my Life"

The Spell completes as I command
And I am but a mortal Mare
Who stares at One who could now End
A Goddess given to her Care

A Moment passes, Time stands still
'Til Cozy follows Fate's Design
And cuts the Thread that then does kill
The Magic that was binding Mine

"My freedom would be empty if
I did not have you by my side"
A Smile most wide from Cozy drifts
Into my Heart so filled with Pride

With all my Might I sweep her up
Into Embrace so long deferr'd
At last upon our Lust we'll sup
A Kiss is shared sans any Words

"I love you so, my Cozy Glow"
A Truth I'll carve onto my Throne
"And it is Good that you now know
You place as Mine and Mine Alone"

"Forever yours I wish to be"
Another Kiss, another Fall
"Together I'll be truly free
And I will answer when you call

"But promise me in turn that you
Will safeguard me forevermore
If I am yours alone in truth
Let nothing threaten this, our core"

An easy Pact to forge with her
"If any Pony seeks to steal
My greatest Treasure I'll deter
And force them All aground to kneel"

.........

......

...

If I can live inside of you, we'll never be alone

Freedom tastes as sweet as nectar
Drunk right from within her flower
Yet my purpose is a specter
From whose haunting I won't cower

First the grand reveal in public
Of redemption so surprising
Praise this Princess curing those sick
Plagued by hatred for those ruling

"Sorry," I say 'til my throat bleeds
My contrition spake without jeer
What a foolish goal that rage breeds
Now in love my mind is most clear

"So forgiving are your subjects"
I opine one quiet eve'ning
"Charming too— so many rejects
That I have been busy making"

"Rejects?" asks my lovely lover
"What would they from you be Wanting?"
So naïve, I have discover'd
Such a pretty dove for tainting

"Why, to court and then be courted"
I reply as if it's obvious
"Am I not one who's been touted
As a catch to all our audience?"

Icy chill blasts through the chamber
Freezing all our tea in stasis
Fear and dread to be remember'd
Now let's drown in rage so gracious

"You are Mine in ev'ry Manner"
This and more my love announces
Breathless am I at her candor
And the passion she professes

"'Goddess' is an empty title
Ownership you must now earn from
Those that you would now belittle"
Standing ground, I face the maelstrom

With a spell I'm bound to silence
"Let the Heavens see them tremble
If they dare to lay a Hoof hence
On your Body, Soul or Temple"

.........

......

...

My Love is Pure, I know this well
My Loyalty infallible
And yet my Mind cannot but dwell
Upon that Fear intangible

My Lover lacks my Perfect Soul
And though I’ve tried to Purify
The Roots of Evil deep and foul
I know They run too deep to pry

At Night these thoughts do plague me so
And never shall I know of Peace
For though she’s Mine I yet still know
This Happiness could always cease

So what shall I be forced to do?
A Goddess cannot know Defeat
By Might and Right I'll take what's Due
To those opposed will Judgement mete

.........

......

...

Plant a seed and watch it flourish
Let the thorns choke out the daylight
In the darkness I will cherish
All the bloody flags in hindsight

Ev'ry word of doubt I utter
Brings her closer to our ruin
Ev'ry feather that I flutter
Building up the grand illusion

Paint a picture of a filly
Lost and found who still does flounder
One whose faith confounds the lily
Sanity now torn asunder

“There are others” I still whisper
Deep at night in veilèd wording
“On the ‘morrow will I linger
Or will I be then departing?”

Tossing, turning through the nighttime
Seeking solace, a solution
Then I drip the poison so fine
In that mind that seeks delusion

.........

......

...

A Good Mare always I have been
And yet I'm choking on this Bile
That she has spread beneath my Skin
To change me into Something vile

A Ball tomorrow to debut
My Love as one that others Lust
And so we'll dance Together through
The Night as all returns to Dust

For Others always will but seek
To take what's Mine, as Fate concurs
Unless we are to purge the Meek
'Til all that's left are I and Her

And when our Dance comes to a close
We'll look upon a World reborn
Where all the Thorns upon the Rose
Are pruned to Neveremore be mourn'd

.........

......

...

Failure was the only option
This I knew right from my rebirth
Now the fruits of all my caution
Ripen rotting wretched unearth'd

Dragged into the sky by magic
Flurry holds me 'gaint her body
As a storm that's most dramatic
Gathers 'round in air so foggy

"Be now Judged by I, your Goddess!"
Words that echo 'cross the kingdom
"For the Virtue taken from us
You shall drown in all my Wisdom"

Never has she been more beauteous
In this moment I am certain
Though my love be more than dubious
I shall bear so gay this burden

For no mortal could have ever
Triumphed over one immortal
But one alicorn could never
Best the four who proved so fatal

"Soon we'll see the end ecstatic”
This I promise as they enter
Sun and Moon and Heart and Magic
Judgement ready to be render’d

First they cry for peace and parley
As they try manipulation
“This is not who you are truly!
Violence can’t be your solution!”

“See how they deny your Godhood?”
Whisper I within the storm’s eye
“If you give into their falsehoods
I'll be trampled like a mayfly"

"My Devotion cannot falter"
Thus my lover seals our outcome
Nothing further would I alter
Let the Fates receive our welcome

"Be the good mare that you promis'd"
I demand as battle rages
"See now that my words were honest
They will slay me here, these mages"

One against these four unwav'ring
Such a spectacle so awesome
But a standstill we are fav'ring
For collateral is loathsome

Thus shall they be forced to bring out
That one weapon overwhelming
Once again shall Harmony rout
One who dared to be rebelling

As the rainbow drawing closer
Ready to us both imprison
I reveal my true form to her
Gloating as she doffs all reason

"Check and mate, my love divinèd
Now eternal is our union
For your soul I've much malignèd
With each instance of communion

"Once you thought I sought to flee from
Your imprisonment most cruel
But in truth when first you transform'd
Me from stone to flesh most rueful

"Love I felt but in my own way
Never would I bow before you
So as equals we'll stay always
After stone we are reform’d to"

Flesh to stone as pain and panic
Blend and fade to darkness deeper
As the choking grip of magic
Takes our final breaths so meagre

.........

......

...

A Good Mare always and forever
Remember me as one of Virtue
Whom Harmony condemn'd for Fervor
Whose Love at last defined my Purview

Darkness is but misery
Yet I now possess my balm
For I love my company
My belov'd with me embalm'd

I tried my Best, I swear I did

Now the games at last have ended

But Love my Goodness hast forbid

Gaze upon our statues splendid

.........

......

...