Wish

Chapter 10

“This time you’re not going to get away. Girls! Get ready!” Twilight shouts.

“Twilight you must listen! This isn’t as it seems!” Trixie says in an attempt to make them understand, but it is no use. The six ponies’ bodies pick up off of the ground as a sudden wind is whirling around the cave. The colors of their gems intensify and the irises of their eyes flush to a bright white.

“It’s no use! Move!” Valiari shouts and pushes Trixie out of their way, and with one final look into the ponies’ white eyes I desperately crawl away. Through the gem atop Twilight’s tiara fires a blindingly white beam barely missing us. It causes the cave to rumble, and the mark it leaves behind is a wide blackened crater. But it wasn’t finished; the beam continues to flow and Twilight turns her head to guide it towards me. “Duck down!” Dropping myself down and covering the top of my head with my hands I feel an intense heat above my body and violent vibrations below. I’m too afraid to move or to even peek to the side and see if I have a chance to escape.

“Aireal run!” Trixie screams.

“Get up! Run!” Valiari shouts. Something wraps around my body and jerks me up into the air. Somehow the beam has wrapped itself around my body gripping me tightly. No amount of kicking or struggling can loosen its grip. I try to pull or push myself out from the beam but my hands go straight through it. After a fearful stare into their furious expressions the beam whips me through the air. My back smashes into the cave wall above the ascending stairs to the podium. My shoulder blades are in a shock of immediate pain, and I fall to the ground as my face tastes the dusty stone floor with my knee caps smashing onto the ground.

“No!” Trixie shouts. The two robed ponies stand near me to where all I can see is their hooves near my face.

“Well, what is this?” One of them says while spotting a black bag on the floor. It doesn’t take me long to realize that it’s my bag of the glowing stones. She picks it up and whispers into my ear. “I really must thank you for making this easier, but for now we must be on our way. Looks like this may be the last time we see one another, but before we go. . .” The pony stomps her hoof onto my back sending a stream of pain throughout my spine, and the other kicks me in the side causing my body to curl and yell. My bones are suffering through misery, and there is no stone that can ease it. They trot away and out of the other ponies’ field of vision their bodies disperse into a black mist that flows through the cracks of the cave walls. I turn my aching head to see that the six ponies are trying to blast their beam at Trixie and Valiari, but their quick movements and dodges allow them to continue their evasion. Is this how it must end? All I can do is watch? The six ponies are causing this cave to fall apart as shards of rock break from the roof of the cave nearly crashing down onto my friends. It is all my fault; I’ve given the enemy just what may end everything . . . everything about this world. I’ve put Trixie, the one who showed me kindness in this cold world; and Valiari, the one who guided me through danger; now into the heart of danger. I do not know what will happen to them if that beam comes into contact with them . . . but I will not know. For now it is my turn, my turn to repay them for all they have done for me. My body may be in pain, but I cannot let this stop me. I’ve gotten too far; I’ve gotten too far; I’ve gotten too far. . . This is what I have been telling myself whenever I have been presented with a seemingly inescapable problem.

After everything I’ve been through: the fear, the sadness, the hope. I will not let this die with me, because this will not be the end. I will not lose my only friends I have in this life. This time there is no help for me; Valiari cannot guide me, and Trixie cannot lift my spirit. I must find my own way through this, and turning back towards the cave wall it just may hold my refuge. In the wall is a tall jagged cut that looks just wide enough for me to fit my relatively thin body through. Behind it I can see a slight orange glow; there must be more of the cave beyond this wall. Perhaps I could find something that could help. All I need to do is stand, but here is where the main problem lies. The slightest movement of my torso is excruciating, and I cannot let the ponies see me attempting to get up for they just may take not a single moment of thought to knock me back down. I must ignore the pain by blocking it, distracting it with other thoughts. I press my hands against the dusty stone ground, now I must think. Letting what little memories I have enter my mind. I remember Trixie saving me from the cold wrapping me in a sheet and bringing me to a place I could call home. I strain to push my body and lock my knee below my stomach to keep myself up. I remember the times Trixie and I performed and the applause of so many ponies . . . how proud she was. I lay my forearm on my thigh and begin to straighten out my legs. I remember how ecstatic Valiari was to meet me after all the hope he’s given me . . . how jovial he was. I stare down to the ground to find that I have done it, and the pain passed by like a breeze. I take one more look out to Trixie and Valiari; they spot me and their eyes appear to be lost in awe that I am still standing. The six ponies notice that they are entranced by something and turn around towards me.

“You! Stop right where you are!” Twilight commands. I begin to step away and their gems’ glow starts to intensify. “I said stop!” She pointlessly shouts, as I will not stop; I must not fear any sort of consequence. I back up against the wall and wedge my way into the crack ignoring the jagged stone rubbing against my body. A beam of white light fires from Twilight’s tiara and towards the entry point of the crack. It sends a shockwave upon impact of the wall and a burst of energy through it sending me shooting out to the other side slamming against the ground. My body cringes as I lift my head up to see that the exit has been completely blocked off by rubble. Along with the sounds of smaller stones falling from the roof I believe I hear voices calling my name beyond the rubble, and then the resumed firing of the ponies’ magic beam. The commotion continues as I pull myself together and force myself to stand. This time the pain cannot be ignored as the impact has heightened it. I grip my left hand around my waist, and limp my way to the orange pulsing light that beckons me down the dark curved passage. Dragging myself down the hall there is but one torch that hangs along the wall. I pull it out of the metal ring and hold it out in front of me so that it may illuminate the way. Rats scurry away from me and into the dark ahead, and lighting the way I find myself in a small chamber. There are shelves with books that don’t look very old, there not even covered with nearly the same amount of dust as the shelf itself. Scattered along the floor are several jars of cracked pottery, the ones that stand are filled with a black fluid or with herbs of many different colors. If these robed ponies do not have horns to cast spells, then perhaps they used things of nature to manipulate into something else. I find a table that is cluttered from corner to corner with . . . horns of unicorns as well as other strange looking instruments made form either wood or metal. The horns are all gray and sheeted in dust, and to the side of the table is an oddly shaped metal box with a crank. Underneath it is a pale filled half way with thick dust, but a closer look reveals that the particles are like little fragments of bone far too big to be considered dust.

The sound of something moving behind the dark breaks the steady silence. I feel that I might not be alone in this cavern. I can’t let my imagination take over, I just need to tell myself that it was just another rat; but the sound was so heavy there is no way a rat could have made it. Inching my way closer to the doorway I poke my torch through to hopefully light up the place. However, the dark overtakes it, leaving me clueless as to what lies ahead. Without any other place to turn I limp through the doorway where I had heard the noise. Step by painful step I make my way into the dusty chamber lined with thick cobwebs. It feels so empty that I do not believe there was even a point to this room. Just as my heart calms and mind rests the next step I take isn’t met with the ground but a drop off into a pit of black. Without any balance my body falls to the jagged floor followed by several snapping sounds. Multiple sharp objects are digging into my back, and with the torch still gripped in my hand I wave it around near the floor. It sheds light on a big skull with its two round hollow eye holes staring at me. Out of fear and adrenaline I set the pain aside for a moment to kick and push away piles of ribs, spines and femurs until I get back to my feet.

The ground is covered so deeply with bones that I cannot see any bare ground. I hold my torch upwards to find that there is no way for me to even attempt to climb up. The round walls are too high for me to reach. The only thing I can do is brush through the ocean of bones and see if there is any way for me to escape. While pushing my legs through the bones and scanning the walls that sound reappears. Something big is moving about, and it is down here with me. I defensively hold out my torch and cautiously step closer. The sounds of breathing ease in with the movement, and my heart rate rises. The light is then met with something lying atop the piles of bones, a white unicorn big enough to be considered a horse. Its horn is coated in a black fluid; its wings are horribly bent and twisted; its mane is like a dull flowing rainbow. It’s Princess Celestia, and her body is motionless covered in cuts and bruises. I feel the need to hurry to her aid, but I do not know what she might do to me if she wakes. I try to limp as quietly as possible to her body, and with my quivering hand I reach out to her so that I may check to see if she is even alive. Before I can make contact to check her eyes flare open with her irises staring dead into mine. I pull back and step away with my heart ready to leap out of my chest. The princess begins to cough and tries to use her voice. “Y-You! Come back!” She weakly pleads. I feel reluctant, but she just may need my help. I move a bit closer, but keeping a distance allowing the torch’s light to shine upon her body. “. . . I do not blame you for being afraid. . . None of this would be happening if it wasn’t for my actions, or better yet the actions I failed to perform. I took an oath to protect my kingdom . . . and look what has happened. Soon . . . it will no longer be my kingdom.” She says aloud to herself. By her statements my fear of her is subsided. I feel that I am not seeing the same Princess, the one that threatened me, but one that is threatened. Curious to hear more I step closer and take a seat near her. “What did you do that was so wrong?” I ask.

“So, you can speak after all? But what does it matter? It cannot be undone, so what is the point of speaking about it?” She says arrogantly. Her irritated voice brings back some of my fear of her forcing me to keep silent. “. . . Sometimes you have to make choices, but sometimes choices are made for you. I could have saved them, but I did not have enough time. The cave was collapsing, and those three would never make it out. It was all because of my ignorance I did not recognize the threat sooner, and several innocent ponies paid for it. . . Now, we are all going to pay for it.”

“. . . I’ve made it all worse.”

“And how is that?”

“Because of me they’ve gotten hold of what they need to finish their plan. If there is anyone to blame it might as well be me.”

“I suppose we have more in common than I thought. But why are you here? Why haven’t you given up?”

“Because . . . maybe it can be fixed.”

“And why do you think that? Does a creature such as you still hold some hope for Equestria?”

“. . . Yes.”

“. . . Then perhaps I was wrong about you. I can feel that you indeed hold that belief in your heart even though you feel guilty for what you’ve done. You haven’t lost it just as I haven’t; but how? You cannot be a being of this world . . . yet you care for it?”

“There’s . . . no where else for me to call home.”

“. . . I have indeed misjudged you, but soon there won’t be anywhere for us to call home. However, I do know that there is some hope out there. All this time I have been hoping that my student and her friends could rescue Equestria, but I fear that they are in grave danger.”

“They’re here, looking for you.”

“What?! Then we must—” The princess attempts to push herself up to stand, but she does not have the strength and falls back down. “It is no use, I do not have the energy; and my sister suffers the same.” She turns her head over to the other side of the pit, and I wave my torch to see that Princess Luna is here as well. Her still body alarms me to go and try to wake her, but Princess Celestia stops me. “Do not worry, she is unconscious. I have tried to wake her but she will not come to. But our attempts to escape might as well be in vain. Our wings are broken, our horns are stained with this magic preventing fluid, and these walls are to steep to climb.”

“No, th-there’s a way. We can find a way.” I say in a panic moving about through the bones and checking the walls for a possible way out.

“You need to keep calm; you do not seem to be in any condition to attempt a climb out of here either.” She is right; my body is in a good deal of pain and aching. There are no rocks or crevasses along the walls to provide for a way to climb. I’ve fallen into an inescapable trap; I do not even want to imagine what’s happening to Trixie and Valiari. The silence of the cave brings me thoughts of defeat. They must have been overwhelmed, and now the princesses and I are going to be down here to weep about our failings. I lay my aching back against the wall and slide myself down to sit onto the bones below. I hide my face beneath my arms and stay in silence. “I’m certain if they are indeed here then they will find us eventually, just give it some time.”

“If it is just them, then I have no reason to leave this pit.” I mutter.

“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

“I didn’t come here alone. . . My two friends were with me, and now who knows what they’ve done to them.”

“Now I assure you that Twilight would never harm another pony.”

“Not even if she blamed all of this on them including me.”

“Well. . . Dear me, I. . .”

“. . . What’s the worst that could happen?” The princess doesn’t respond, so irately I ask her once more. “Princess!”

“Banishment! . . . They will have been banished from Equestria, and the spell cannot be undone.”

“. . . What?”

“Once the spell is casted they can no longer return. I’m sorry but I have no control over what happens out there. . . It’s just like I had said: sometimes choices are made on their own, by fate.”

“Fate?”

“Yes, what is destined to happen will happen. There is nothing you or I could do to stop it. . . Now I must ask you a question . . . would you really stay here if your friends were no longer here?”

“What reason would I have to leave if they weren’t?”

“Let us say that what is happening right now really wasn’t. Just the world is out there for you to explore and enjoy.”

“How could I enjoy it without those who saved me from it?”

“You would rather rot down here then live out there?”

“Without my friends . . . yes, I would rather sit down here.” It may sound absurd, but without Trixie and Valiari my heart has no more reason to beat. Of course I question if I would really want myself to die and become a part of the collection of bones, but in reality that is all I felt before I met Trixie. I felt hollow and empty, but she filled me with emotions that I never thought possible. Valiari kept me from becoming completely helpless by guiding me through my struggles like a guardian angel.

“You could always make new friends.”

“No one could replace them. . . Never.”

“You continue to prove me wrong. To think that I accused you of being a threat. You do seem indeed connected with your friends in an inseparable manner. Although I should not have asked you if you would rather die than live. Your mind knows one thing but your heart another. Your words are full sincerity from your heart, and just being able to say that you would rather stay here shows me enough. Yet still I am befuddled. I thought that you were a creature unable to understand the meaning of kindness and friendship, but I was mistaken.”

“You and me both Princess!” Shouts a joyful voice from atop the pit hole. Jolting and gazing up I see one of the most relieving sights my eyes have ever gazed upon: Valiari with his cheery smile waving down at us. Out of sheer joy I shout out his name and painfully jump to my feet.

“Valiari! Hey where’s Trixie?!”

“She umm . . . well . . .”

“W-What? What happened?!”

“She. . . She didn’t make it.” Those words. Those were the last words I had expected to be put together. Can it really be true? She’s really gone? Why do I even bother to ask myself all these questions when I never can answer them? That is it then, she’s gone for good. Banished to who knows where— “Nah! I’m just messing with ya! She’s right here!” He shouts breaking into my thoughts.

“Ugh, I told him not to joke around like that! I’m right here Aireal! And I couldn’t be happier to see you again.” Seeing Trixie peer over the edge brings my heart back to a steady beat as I take in a calming breath. Valiari can’t hold back his chuckling, and I should feel angry at his cold joke, but I am just happy to see them both again; so much so that I myself feel the need to laugh. The heads of the other six ponies peer over as well gasping at the sight of the princesses.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Twilight shouts.

“Do not worry Twilight. We are alright.”

“Heads up! We’re dropping a ladder!” Valiari shouts before tossing down a ladder composed of rope tied together in a ladder-like shape. The six ponies hurriedly climb down and attend the two princesses. Trixie disgusted by the piles of bones and Valiari acting like they don’t even exist follow the ponies down until meeting up with me. I can hear that Princess Celestia is explaining everything to the six ponies. She mentions the cult and what this cave used to be. I hope that if they’ll listen to anyone it might as well be their ruler. “I heard what you said. . . Did you really mean that?” Valiari asks.

“Of course, without you two I. . . I don’t know what I would do.”

“Aw c’mere!” Valiari throws his forelegs around me squeezing the air out of my lungs. My back is screaming in pain, but I choose to ignore it. Although I’m not very good at hiding it as I groan in agony.

“Oh sorry! I got a little emotional there.” He says quickly letting go of me.

“I-It’s okay. H-How did you two . . . ?” I ask still in shock.

“Oh well all it took was a little chat to get them to understand.”

“You held Twilight’s tiara over a hole and threatened to drop it if they wouldn’t comply.” Says Trixie laughingly.

“Now, now I can’t take all the credit. I never knew that you Trixie had such good aim! She knocked off that purple pony’s tiara with one shot.”

“So what did you do?” I ask.

“Well I told them about everything, and that we are innocent.”

“. . . And they believed you?”

“Of course not, so I told them that if they helped us find you then she would get her tiara back.”

“Ahem.” Twilight clears her throat and holding out her hoof to Valiari.

“Oh right, umm . . . Ah, here you are.” Valiari says while reaching into his pocket and handing back Twilight’s tiara.

“Thank you. Well, Princess Celestia tells me that you three really aren’t responsible for this after all.”

“It took you this long to figure that out Sparkle? Hah, I thought that there was a brain in that thick skull of yours.” Trixie comments.

“How was I supposed to know?! All the evidence pointed to you three!”

“Twilight.” Princess Celestia interrupts giving Twilight a stern stare. “. . . Wait, y-you there.” She says while turning her attention to Valiari puzzlingly.

“Umm yes princess?”

“You look familiar; I have seen you before. . . Yes you were . . . here.”

“Indeed I was, and if it wasn’t for you—”

“Then more lives could have been saved.”

“Well I was thinking that those that didn’t fall prey to the cult were saved.”

“But look at what I let happen to you. I can sense a foreign spell amongst you, and here you are trapped on this world.”

“Eh it’s not that bad once you get used to it. I don’t understand, what happened to you Princess? Back then you used to take charge whenever Equestria was threatened. Now, you’re beating yourself up for something that wasn’t your fault. Nopony here blames you for what happened that day am I right?” Every pony agrees with Valiari saying that none of this was at all her fault. Even I myself don’t feel that this all was because of her. After what Valiari told me it sounds to me that she did all that she could to save her subjects. Yet she has it drilled in her mind that she was the cause. “And take it from me; I do not blame you at all for what happened.”

“Thank you.” Princess Celestia finally gives in, and a smile starts about her face.

“Umm not to ruin the moment or anything but uhh . . . isn’t there a group of freaks that we need to stop?” The rainbow pony says.

“I’m afraid my sister and I won’t be much help in this condition. It will be up to all of you to defeat them.”

“Don’t worry your majesty; we will stay here to tend to your wounds. Which reminds me. . .” Twilight faces me with her horn glowing a deep orange, a cloud of sparkling orange mist drifts and soaks into my body. Instantly my aching bones have eased enough to where standing is no longer a painful chore. “Accept that as my apology to you.”

“Th-Thank you.” I say awkwardly. It feels strange being helped by the one that tried to attack me, but regardless I am still thankful.

“I hope that you three can forgive me for the misunderstanding.”

“I suppose so. . . Trixie?” Says Valiari turning his head to Trixie.

“. . . Oh very well, Trixie supposes she can forgive you; as long as my friend can forgive you as well.”

“I do.”

“Wonderful, now we must focus on the task at hoof. The clan, where could they have gone?” Princess Celestia asks us all.

“Right, Aireal, you were the one that last saw them. Where did they go?”

“They took the bag of stones, and they left.” I say troublingly.

“What?! Then time is short we must leave this place immediately!” Valiari’s cheerful tone has now significantly shifted to fearful and frantic.

“Not without a plan.” Says Twilight.

“Plan shman! We have no time for that!”

“The Princesses need our care we can’t just leave them here unattended!”

“If we don’t hurry back to the cave then our chances are squandered!”

“What cave?”

“I don’t have time to explain!”

“Then you three go on ahead. We will stay behind and help the Princesses until they are healed.”

“Twilight our magic is useless. What they’ve applied to our horns will not allow us to cast any spell.” Says the princess.

“. . . I-I saw shelves of books in a room back that way. Maybe one of them holds a remedy.” I suggest.

“Then we will search there. It should not take very long, so we will catch up with you after some time.”

“Works for me. Trixie, Aireal, let’s get going.” Valiari yanks the both of us to the ladder, and we hurriedly follow him up.

“Be careful you three!” Princess Celestia shouts to us before we frantically maneuver through the chambers. Sweat is trickling down my neck as I now come to the realization of how short on time we might be. I had almost completely forgotten. Aria could be in serious danger and I’ve slowed us down. But I do not have time to hound myself with guilt. For as Celestia said, it cannot be undone; and as Valiari said, why waste time worrying when I could maybe find a solution. If the robed ponies find her and her cave then. . . I do not even want to imagine what would happen next. I only hope that there still is time.