Chapter 8: Shifting Shadows

Suggested reading music: Suggested reading music TahD chapter 8Chapter 8: Shifting Shadows

Trixie’s mind was empty, not a single sensation to wake the dead consciousness. Her mind drifted like a broken pieces of driftwood from a newly destroyed warship. There was nothing, and that was alright. A ripple rang out over the still mass of consciousness which was Trixie. The bits ignited, glowing a vibrant blue which light up the void. The disturbance rang out like a bell calling forth the obliterated bits of Trixie into a single cohesive consciousness as her mind came to a recognize a twinge of pain.

A burning sensation came from the sleeping pony’s back awakening Trixie from her violent slumber. Groaning deeply, Trixie rolled over, the limp body struggling to move as the boiling water dripped from above. The lost unicorn opened her eyes, the burning world around her coming to life as the smell of burning vegetation and burnt hair convoluted the stagnant air in the log.

Trixie stood, her legs wobbling as she took a few steps toward the opening of the smoking log. The weary unicorn gasped falling back down on her hind legs as the outside world consumed her senses.

Hundreds of small fires lay scattered, burning in the wake of a massive hole in the Everfree Forest. The tunnel of scorched earth and vegetation pointing directly to Canterlot, the white city barely visible on the horizon.

Trixie stumbled about for a few moments recalling her vivid dream answering the question as to why her hind legs felt like pudding. She examined her body, attempting to regain the feeling in her hooves, only to reveal several pale dots scattered scattered about her back. At first Trixie stared at them in disbelief, her expression and breathing frantically contorting in shock.

A wave of confusion and horror overtook Trixie, losing all her energy, she crumbled on the ground as her mind reeled about what she had just done, and the ramification of what had happened. The frazzled unicorn began mumbling to herself uncontrollably, demanding some recompense for her crimes.

Her teeth began to chatter as what she had done, she had killed the Princess of the Night. The image of the alicorn’s weak form with a glowing yellow spear gorged into her chest flashed repeatedly through her mind. Trixie remember the absolute glee she felt as the spear ripped into her flesh. The attack was satisfying. The murder, enjoyable. . .

“What am I?” the hollow words escaped Trixie’s mouth, leaving the scorched pony alone to her thoughts. There was a pause, a silence which only the cracking stubs of burning forestry in the distance perturbed. Trixie sprawled about on the gritty ground, her eyes lock on her hooves as she look at herself apprehensively in horror.

“We are Trixie,” a calm dark voice answered.

The burned unicorn spring up, her eyes darting from tree to tree, “Who’s there?” Trixie asked, her voice trembling, “What do you want?”

“We are Trixie,” the voice said again, the sound coming from every direction as Trixie attempted fruitlessly to see everything at once.

“I am Trixie. The Great and Powerful Trixie,” the shaking unicorn corrected herself.

“Ohh really?” the voice snickered, “Then who just defeated Luna? Was that not us?” the dark voice echoed through the dark forest.

“Who are you!” Trixie yelled into the forest, her voice rang out, echoing for several seconds as her voice traveled through the Everfree Forest.

An ominous howl returned her question, the low soft call was greeted by others as the once still forest burst into a chorus.

An icy cold shiver ran down Trixie’s back, prompting her to move from the smoldering tunnel.

The rugged unicorn trotted across the burning field, attempting to remain calm as the howls grew louder and more frequent. She escaped the burning tunnel, entrenching herself in the deep brush of the everfree forest bordering the newly formed highway of ash.

Trixie peered out over the open area. Her shelter, the old hollow tree lay out in the open its form casting a permanent shadows of green across burning enclosure. The green stripes of vegetation contrasting the shrifting ash and smoldering vegetation as a brisk night breeze wafted smoke and ash into the night sky.

Trixie’s eyes focused, attracted to the motion of a shadow shifting on the other side of the tunnel. Trixie eyes went wide as the massive aged creature gracefully sneaked out onto the opening, cautiously approaching the log, sniffing for a scent. The timberwolf was joined by another, a younger and smaller devil which violently dashed toward the log, tossing gray ash into the air as the creature came to a halt next to other. A third came into view, the largest of the three, its massive body dwarfing the others as the beast strode out into the open.

Trixie, stood motionless as the three creatures sniffed and snarled; the antagonizing scent of burning pony driving the creatures to relentlessly claw at the log, searching for the source of the scent.

The graceful timberwolf looked up, his eyes searching the dense forest, then he began to trot. He traveled back and forth examining the smoldering tunnel carved out of the forest until he stopped. The beast sniffed the hair-follicles as they lay scattered about the burnt vegetation.

He let out a low growl summoning the two others to his side as the pack followed the trail.

Trixie’s heart rate raced, the three monsters steadily approaching her hiding place. Scenario after scenario of echoing throughout her mind as the timberwolves encroached upon her hiding place.

“We can take them, kill them!” the dark voice encouraged her.

Images of blood and ice filled her mind. The suffering alicorn lay in front of her panting, an expression of exhaustion, shock, and horror glazed across her weary face.

“no. . . I am not a killer,” Trixie thought, attempting to restrain herself from casting her new ice lance spell.

Trixie’s horn began to glow, magic clocking her form in the dark brush.

The three timberwolves approached, the leader following Trixie’s scent.

Across the scorched burnt scar in the forest, there was a loud rustle in the bushes. The group of timberwolves turned, then bolted for the bushes. The rustling continued up the mountain luring the group further away from Trixie.

“See, Trixie does not need to kill to be great!” She touted over her new consciousness.

Trixie got up, and after casting another active camouflage spell, she set out to find a new shelter.

The night remained bright, the moon hanging still in the night sky a soft breeze frolicked through the forest’s underbrush rippling leaves against the tired unicorn’s hooves. Trixie began to wonder if she had killed Luna or not. She had, after all, sent a lance through her body shouldn't something happen to her celestial body? Trixie reminded herself that it was in fact a dream... Had she killed Luna, or had something else happened.

If she had killed Luna, what would happen to her? “death” Trixie’s mind automatically answered, the image of Celestia’s personal guard appearing in her mind. She had only seen her entourage a few times, once was in Canterlot as guards were posted around her school, the other during her time in manehattan.

Trixie paused to rest under one of the grotesque trees, the memory invaded her thoughts.

~~~

A group of royal guard were marching the streets, a brown stallion with a short mane and bruised body followed the troop. The distraught pony trotted slowly, iron cuffs on each hoof with chains attached to four guards. The chains clanged eerily on the stone walkway as the group slowly preceded.

The stallion in front was a tall unicorn, wearing a high ranking police uniform, he trouted proudly with his crew and prize in tow. The composed unicorn froze, an expression of terror and excitement. The stallion stopped, holding a hoof aloft his halted as he scanned the near vacant street. His horn began to glow, a dark blue shield enshrouded his company.

“In the name of Celestia, reveal yourself!” He shouted.

An eerie silence followed as a few curious onlookers watched the group anxious to who he was referring. Moments later an energy bolt sailed from one of the rooftops striking the shield as two homeless earth ponies simultaneously bucked the bubble shattering the shield into hundreds of fragments.

A few dozen others flooded the streets unicorn, pegasus, and earth ponies ripping the peaceful street into pieces as they battled. The air of confusion which followed was hazy as the younger Trixie hurriedly ran away, screams echoing through the streets.

~~~

Trixie stood there under the tree, the thoughts and memory making her cringe at what they would do to her. She had been informed later that the earth pony in question was the leader of a group of thugs known as the Gray Horns.

Trixie tried to rationalize the situation, what would really happen to her?

“Technically,” She thought to herself, “ I haven't broken any laws. It isn’t illegal to kill gods right?” Trixie chuckled to herself, “Who in their right mind would make such a law? Wait. . .” She remembered her elementary days, “It is against the law to assault any sapient creature capable of speech,” Trixie cursed to herself as she realized there was no possible to sidestep the law.

A twig snapped behind Trixie.

She froze, her mind concentrating on her camouflage to meld into the surrounding as she turn her head toward the sound.

One of the timberwolves from before stood several feet away, glaring at Trixie as sap dripped from its jagged mouth. The beast crept closer to Trixie, as he prepared to pounce.

Trixie, stood frozen in her place fear gripping her hooves grappling them to the ground.

“It’s my turn!“ a voice told Trixie, “Let go, I’ll save us,” the dark one growled at Trixie as she started to shake, the other part of her mind taking control.

Trixie’s body seized as two separate beings fought for control. The timberwolf now aware of the exact location of Trixie pounces at the fidgeting unicorn.

Both consciousness saw it coming and their wills finally aligned leaping out of the way of the attack and blasting the timberwolf back with a blast of telekinetic force.

The timberwolf roared as the blast tossed him into the air flying away from the unicorn at an astonished speed. The beast growled low as his massive claws dug into the hard earth to stop itself from sliding further from her prey.

Trixie stood facing the timberwolf, a massive grin plastered across her sweating face. Although Trixie’s thoughts said were still astonished at the power of her blast, when had she gained such power?

Trixie growed, another blast of force breaking the outer branches of the beast.

The timberwolf stumbled slightly back from the blast, glaring at the unicorn, a strange expression of shock and rage beaming down upon the tiny unicorn. The beast let out an ear splitting howl as he re-engaged his prey.

Trixie bit her lip as she realized what the timberwolf had just done.

Trixie fired another burst of telekinetic force toward the beast head. She followed it up with another a quick camouflage spell, darting away into the dark forest.

The timberwolf roared, unphased by the weaker blast, he pursued Trixie, his wooden body buckling loudly as he raced around trees and large brushes to keep up with the small unicorn.

The massive beast got within a claw’s distance of the mare only to receive a blast to the face knocking the timberwolf back a few feet before continuing his pursuit.

Trixie summoned an ice lance, condensing the moisture in the air into a thin filament of razor sharp ice. The cyan conjuration bolted after the timberwolf, the shard’s edges grazing the timberwolf front leg. The beast slowed considerably, but continued to follow Trixie from a safe distance from her blast and blades.

Trixie struggled to keep pace, the short distance from the timberwolf closing fast as her lungs and heart started to fail.

A pit of horror filled in Trixie’s gut, the timberwolf’s intentions became clear as her sprinting halted to a fast trot, keeping its distance from Trixie.

Trixie stopped, eyeing the timberwolf carefully as she regained her strength. The timberwolf responded in kind, confirming Trixie’s fears as he kept his distance a few feet out of range.

Trixie stood there a moment, starting at the timber wolf a mixed complexion of fear and contemplation overtaking her as she consider her next move.

"We can take him!" the dark voice encouraged her.

"No!" Trixie thought, shocked and ashamed of her alter ego's stupidity. "There is an entire pack of them, can't you hear them?"

"ohh, no... RUN!" the voice screamed in Trixie's ear.

The beast howled again. In the distance other howls echoed through the forest bellowed in the near distance.

Trixie’s eyes darted to see where they would come from, but then notice that the forest got extremely dark in the direction to the south. Taking the note of the timberwolf’s temporary distraction as it howled again she dashed off.

Trixie was surprised when he entered the dense forest, it wasn’t as dark as she had originally thought. She frantically jumped from log to log, diving under massive branches trying to put as much forest between herself and the timberwolves.

It was almost unnerving how agile she felt now, the grass and thick brush which once made her stumble and tripe was easily vaulted. Trixie was breathing hard, but she didn’t feel fatigued; instead she felt afraid and thrilled at the same time. The sensation was uncanny, a wave of energy mixed with a strong desire to live and a familiar joy that she had felt earlier.

Trixie wondered for a moment if this was how the Darring Doo felt like when she was discovering ancient crypts and dungeons. Whatever the reason, she felt great and doubled her speed darting through the forest at furious pace.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t lost the Timberwolves. The pack of creatures pursued the unicorn relentlessly, their number almost a half dozen, bore down on her from all sides.

Trixie now thought how stupid it was to think she could enjoy this chase, she was losing what little energy she has rested up and it was only a matter of time before the Timberwolves would make their move. Trixie breathed hard, trying to speed up as the pack got closer, but her body started to fail once again.

One of the wolves made a move pouncing at Trixie, she redirected the creature’s attack into a passing tree, his form splintering in the collision into hundreds of branches. A wave of howls echoed throughout the forest as the beast’s body scattered across the forest floor.

Trixie’s lungs and heart started to give as hundreds of cramps began to populate her body. In desperation, she cast several dozen smoke bomb spells, blinding herself and the wolves as she blindly darted through the forest.

The ground disappeared beneath her, Trixie’s stomach lurching into her racing heart as she fell out of her cloud of smoke. She screamed, falling head first into the ground for the second time that night. Instinctively, Trixie summoned a force shield upon impact, breaking her fatal fall as the the earth around her shattered in the explosion. The unicorn lay unconscious in her impact creator, a round intent in the open rock bed enclosure. A piece of falling debris slashed open her cheek, waking the dazed unicorn.

Trixie opened her eyes revealing a swarm of timberwolves clawing their way down the cliff before her. Jumping to attention she started to sprint the other way, a wave of terror overtaking her as she felt a surge of pain from her front hoof. She hobbled away from her impact crater a small light flickering in the distance like a beacon in the dark forest. Trixie’s hope surged at the possibility of salvation.

One of timberwolves dove out of the smoky forest above, the beast screamed as it fell, exploding upon impact a few feet behind Trixie. Trixie let out a short cry as branches and rock shrapnel flew around her. Another chorus of howls filled the forest urging Trixie into a quick awkward skipping pattern. Trixie hobbled along, she let out a low curse as she heard the claws scrap along the stone opening as the beasts finished climbing down the cliff. She reached the forest, only a few hundred feet until she reached the light source. Glancing behind her she cast another spell quickly before entering the forestry to pursue the light

Several elongated force fields materialized into existence, like long tubes of magic they hovered above the ground a few feet high and perpendicular to the approaching horde. The closest timberwolf failed to notice the magic as the light blue blended with the cold stone below. The beast thrashed across leaping energetically missing the first tube, he tripped on the next smashing its face into the ground as splinters scattered across the opening. The other timberwolves enraged doubled their pace after the unicorn stumbling over the magical force field  tubes.

Trixie winced at the magical feedback as the first tube broke. She was nearly halfway there, when she felt a reverberation of magic the tube closest to her. Trixie looked back to see one of the small devils approaching, kicking up soil and slashing into the trees as the beast jumped from ground to tree limb and back in seconds, transversing the rough terrain with ease. Trixie doubled her pace, hissing at the pain with each painstaking step. Trixie felt the beast was close and started to cast her ice lance in defence. She turned to greet the charging timberwolf, it pounced at her diving from the trees dozens of feet into the air attempting to smash the mare on impact. Trixie was ready, finishing her spell she extended the length lance digging the shard deep into the ground with the point extruding a dozen feet into the air.

The feral beast screech in horror as his body dove into the lance diving through his chest and out his back. The beast roared in pain, a whiff of small black smoke escaped its chest cavity as the green light in its eyes burning seconds ago extinguished, replaced with by darkness.

Trixie stared at the beast for another second, its lifeless form still intact, yet hollow of any motion. Another chorus of howls echoed throughout the forest prompting Trixie to continue running. The pain in her hoof overrun by a stark fear as three timberwolves cleared the rock opening entering the forestry.

The raged unicorn ran, she ran like she had never run before. Her breath was horse and heart racing as her beaten and sore body bolted across the forest stumbling as she approached the light which was emanated only a few dozen feet in a shimmering cloud. Trixie stole a glance at the three timberwolves which had now taken up a formation trapping her in the formation preventing escape.

Trixie’s vision began to blur, her brain and body starting to shut down under the strain of her injury and exhaustion. The thunderous sound of their claws silenced, Trixie turned jumping giving herself a few more milliseconds as the three timberwolves dove claw first at her small form. Trixie’s horn exploded with light, a massive blast of telekinetic force cascading through the forest tossing the three timberwolves with a massive wave a dust through the forest. The ungrounded Trixie catapulted through the air spinning violently and screaming weakly, her limp body elastically flying.

Trixie saw the world blur around her, dark green trees and dark blue sky swishing by her eyes as she flew. The world seemed so blurry and distant to her, the smooth air gently brushing against her as blood rushed to her head. Trixie’s sight blurred even more as unconsciousness overtook her. The flying unicorn saw the sky one last time, then was greeted by wall of fire, Trixie’s eyes went wide for a split second as she flew into the fire until her vision fading to black.