Chapters Love is Power II: Crash and Burn
The sun poured in through the windows, gently cascading over the faces of two sleeping mares. The yellow mare slowly opened her eyes, taking in the tranquility of another beautiful day. She stepped down at a snail’s pace, ensuring she didn’t disturb her still sleeping partner. She stretched and walked toward the opposite wall, stopping to appreciate a nearby calendar. A nostalgic smile graced her lips.
“One year,” Fluttershy recalled pleasantly, “One year we’ve been together. It feels like only yesterday we were huddled together, sheltering from that storm she planned.” Fluttershy closed her eyes to recollect that moment. The roaring thunder. The warm bed. The beautiful violet eyes staring deeply into hers.
That memory always put a smile on her face. She turned back to her love, still stalking the realm of the night princess. She walked over and gently placed her lips on the unicorn’s head before heading downstairs.
The smell of fresh blueberry pancakes and hay bacon strips drifted through the air. Fluttershy entered the kitchen to see two little figures swiftly moving to and fro. For a moment, she simply watched her family bustling about the kitchen. Eventually, she decided to make her presence known.
“You two sure got an early start today.” The other two turned and frowned at the mare.
“Awwww,” sighed Nyx, “We wanted to surprise you two with breakfast in bed. To commemorate your year as a part of our family.” Fluttershy walked over and pulled the two into a warm embrace.
“How sweet are you two? Thank you, Spike. Thank you, Nyx. Sorry I ruined your surprise.” Spike waved her apology off.
“Don’t worry about it, Fluttershy. We can surprise Twilight. Go ahead and sit. We’ll have breakfast ready in 2 minutes.” She eagerly seated herself at the table.
“So, are you gonna be here for dinner tonight, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy sighed at the little dragon’s question.
“No. I need to be home tonight. I’ve really been neglecting the animals lately. I hope they’re not too upset with me.” Spike nodded silently in understanding and flipped a pancake over his head, landing it perfectly on the mare’s plate, eliciting a small giggle from her.
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The unicorn stretched and let out a rather large yawn. As she did so, she felt something pressing down on her. She opened her eyes to see a small bed tray positioned on top of her. On it sat blueberry pancakes, several hay bacon strips, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a card. Ignoring her rumbling stomach, she reached first for the card.
The front cover stated simply “To Twilight and Fluttershy”. She gently pulled the flaps apart to reveal the inside panels. A copy of the first photo she and Fluttershy took as a couple was taped on one side. On the other appeared to be some type of text.
To celebrate a year of laughs Ringing throughout this tree To appreciate all of the love Shared in our family For the care that you’ve shown both of us And that you show each other We’ll take a moment to say thank you To Equestria’s greatest mothers
-With love,
Spike and Nyx
Twilight wiped her eyes and placed the card in her dresser, where she would see it every day. She quickly scarfed down her food and trotted downstairs. She snuck around the corner to see the others enjoying a delightful family breakfast together. Without warning, Spike and Nyx were encompassed in violet auras and pulled into the waiting forelegs of a nearby lavender unicorn mare. She gave the poor drake an onslaught of pecks on his head.
“Twilight! What’re you doing?” He playfully attempted to retreat, but the grin on his face showed he loved every second of it.
“I just wanted you both to know that I love you.” He smiled up at her.
“We know.”
“Good,” she stated as she renewed her assault.
“Come on, Twilight. Nyx is here, too.”
“Right you are,” Twilight agreed as she redirected her attention to the filly in her other foreleg. The mare at the table giggled like a school filly at her family. Upon hearing this noise, Twilight turned and cast a menacing grin to the pegasus.
“Oh, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you.” Fluttershy gulped as the unicorn pounced on her, pinning her down and kissing her all over. The room’s two younger occupants feigned retching and attempted to step out, but were once again pulled into the embrace of the mares. The four simply lie on the floor, laughing. Another perfect beginning to another perfect day for this perfect little family.
Author's Note
The major delay with this story was that I couldn't for the life of me think of an appropriate title.
Love is Power II: Crash and Burn
_____________________________Three Weeks Later________________________________
Fluttershy had noticed them. They were subtle, but they were there. The signs. When they were speaking, she would often seem distant, as though she didn’t want to be there. Twilight had slept at her desk the night before. She said she had a letter she needed to write. When Fluttershy asked to read it, Twilight had a near panic attack. Things had changed so much in the past month. Fluttershy began to experience a sensation she had not felt in over a year: fear.
She was afraid that the pony she loved was pulling away from her. She was afraid her family was falling apart. She was afraid that it was all her fault.
“Fluttershy?” The voice knocked her out of her trance. She looked down to see a little black filly gazing worriedly up at her.
“Oh, sorry Nyx.” Fluttershy looked around the kitchen. The only other occupant was a purple dragon at the sink cleaning dishes. “Where did Twilight go?”
“She went back upstairs. What’s up with her lately?” Fluttershy felt a sudden moistness in her eyes.
“I don’t know. She’s been so distant lately. I’m worried… that she doesn’t love me anymore.” Nyx reached up and wrapped her forelegs around the mare.
“That’s crazy. I know I haven’t been around long, but as long as Twilight has been raising me, I’ve never seen her as happy as she has been this past year. You know, aside from reading to me, she hasn’t so much as picked up a book since two got together. She’s mad for you.”
“She… stopped reading?”
“She said it cuts into her time with you.” A warm, relaxing sensation came over Fluttershy. Reading had pretty much been Twilight’s entire life. Fluttershy felt so remarkable in knowing that Twilight’s beloved books were left in a perpetual solitude for her.
“Well, perhaps I’m reading too much into this. I’m going to go talk to her.”
Fluttershy playfully smooched the cheek of the little bundle in her forelegs and got to her hooves, prancing toward the door with confidence anew. As she drew closer and closer to the peak of the mountain of stairs, her hope and optimism grew. She had nothing to fear. Everything was going to be fine.
She approached the door, which she noticed to be slightly ajar. She heard a voice echoing from within. After a few moments of intense internal warfare, she carefully positioned her ear next to the small opening and listened.
“I don’t know how long I can keep this up,” the disembodied voice rang through her ears, “ It’s so hard to talk to her these days. I’ve tried to avoid her. I’ve been sleeping in. Staying up later. It gives me more time to think about this. I’m starting to think the time has come. I can’t hide any more.”
Fluttershy crept away from the door. She’d heard all she needed, and trembled back downstairs. She approached the couch they had placed in the rear of the room, her breath shaking with every step, and eased slowly onto it.
She battled her emotions relentlessly for control. Her cheek began to feel wet. She touched a hoof to her face and was met with a small, thin streak of water. A year of happiness and love gathered in her mind. More liquid poured from her eye sockets as the memories flashed before her. All of the joy her new family brought her- she wasn’t going to give that up. If it took her last breath, she would win Twilight’s heart back.
Author's Note
Another rushed chapter. This story is SO HARD to flesh out.
Love is Power II: Crash and Burn
“Twilight,” the yellow figure called, pulling the aforementioned unicorn from her deep stupor. Twilight shot her gaze towards the source of the disrupting sound. She was met with the image of widely-grinning Fluttershy staring back at her.
“Hmmm?” she asked rather nonchalantly.
“Well, I was thinking… it’s been a while since we’ve had a quiet evening together. Alone. Maybe it would be nice to have a night out. It would give us a chance to… reconnect.”
Twilight smiled.
“That would be lovely, Fluttershy. We really do need some time alone to talk. How about tonight? 7:00?” Fluttershy leaned in and quickly caught the lavender unicorn’s cheek with her lips.
“Wonderful.” Fluttershy began a slow trot away from her love as an eerie notion invaded her mind. What was Twilight so eager to talk about?
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Maybe she was mistaken. Through the evening, Twilight had served purely to prove Fluttershy’s instincts incorrect. It had been a blissful date. They had eaten an amazing meal at a new restaurant specializing in griffon cuisine. They stepped into Sugarcube Corner, in which all of their friends had assembled, for a nice cupcake dessert. Finally they seated themselves on a park bench, and simply pony watched, just being together.
As they began the walk home, counting the stars twinkling in the night sky, Fluttershy finally felt her nerves relaxing. Though one little idea kept pushing into her mind.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” The unicorn visibly shuddered at her date’s query. Fluttershy’s heart immediately began to pound once more.
“Oh, it’s been a good night. Let’s discuss that in the morning.”
“It seemed important. I, um, really think it would be best to discuss it now.” Twilight sighed, seating herself at the spot of land where she stood.
“This isn’t how I wanted to go about this. Out of the blue, in the middle of the street.”
Fluttershy had heard all she needed to confirm her theory.
“I have been having a great time this past year, but I-” Twilight didn’t realize until that moment that her partner was already gone. She gazed off, spotting the pony in a desperate gallop for what appeared to be Sugarcube Corner.
“Fluttershy!” she called frantically, breaking into a dazed sprint, the idea of teleporting not even having time to reach her mind. She ran, fast as her legs could carry her, the colorful pastry shop coming slowly into view. As Twilight came upon the door, she noticed it accompanied by a guard of sorts.
“You,” the blue pegasus began with a glare, “have a LOT of nerve to show up here.”
“I need to talk to her, Dash.” Twilight spoke as she began walking to the door. Rainbow Dash snapped into her path, her face merely a few inches from the other’s. She flared her wings aggressively.
“Go. Away. NOW!” For an instant, Twilight’s horn was set alight. Knowing getting into a fight would simply elevate the seriousness of the situation, she dispensed the power.
“Hit me.” Rainbow stepped back and looked the unicorn over.
“What?”
“Hit me, Dash. Throw me into the wall. Break my horn. Do whatever will make you feel better and get me through that door.” Dash simply stood, dumbfounded, until she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She looked back to see a yellow pegasus standing behind her, eyes still glossy with tears. Fluttershy gestured back into the building.
“Rainbow Dash, give us a minute please.” Dash considered arguing, but ultimately decided against it, walking back into the store. Fluttershy lowered her gaze to the ground, lacking the strength to look the unicorn in the eyes. She felt her eyes becoming moist.
“So, I suppose this is it,” Fluttershy trembled as she spoke, “One year… isn’t so bad. I want you to know, I understa-” A hoof pressed gently against her lips. She looked up to at last meet the lavender mare’s gaze.
“Fluttershy, I-”
The noise echoed through the air. It shook them to their very cores. The ground began to quake.
“W-what,” Fluttershy’s eyes darted here and there, searching for the source of the sound. The group froze as the sound grew louder. Then, suddenly, it ceased. Twilight felt uneasy, anxious.
She noticed something out of the corner of her eye. A slight blue glow, emanating from around the corner of the building. A glow she knew all too well.
She pulled at a sprint away from the door, spinning on her hooves after several yards and looking back to the candy store. A large, ethereal being stood tall above the shop. It stood on four legs and it’s head held two sharp, massive horns.
Twilight gazed in awe at the creature before her. She had read so many legends about the Taurus Major, yet there had never been any account of the beast actually being seen.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
She shot around to face the speaker as the other five mares caught up with her. An orange stallion stood before her. His hair was a diluted yellow and a small scar was noticeable on his muzzle. He smirked from the corner of his mouth with obvious pride and enthusiasm.
“The great Twilight Sparkle. How good to finally meet you.”
Twilight adjusted her stance, preparing herself in the case that he would charge.
“You know my name,” she began defensively, “but you haven’t given me yours.”
“I dropped my birth name many years ago. You may call me Torero,” he motioned back to the beast to explicate his new title.
“Which reminds me. I’m certain you’re wondering where I managed to acquire such a rare and magnificent creature. Quite simply, I found a rather large cavern deep in the heart of the Everfree forest, where I discovered him in some sort of stasis. I woke him and, using a simple binding spell i created, leashed him to me.”
Fluttershy stepped forward with an uncharacteristic glare plastered on her face.
“You find an undocumented animal sleeping in the forest and your first instinct is to make it your slave?!”
He chuckled at her reaction.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll return it to the forest as soon as I accomplish my goal.”
“And what goal is that?”
“I want my name to go down in history. And to do that, I’m going to do what so many others were too weak or childish to… I will be the one to bring down the great Twilight Sparkle.” He whistled a command to the monster, which began to step toward the group, only barely missing the building before him.
“Oh, that looks like it may be a bit of trouble. Too bad you don’t have your Elements to help you.
The ethereal bull stood before them and lifted a hoof high above it’s head. Twilight pulled her friends close and flashed away mere seconds before the hoof connected with the ground. The force of the impact pulled the town from it’s slumber. Ponies began to flood the streets, watching the titanic animal in terror.
Twilight and company reappeared several yards away and looked over the expanding crowd. She looked between her friends as calmly as she could.
“Girls, I need you to clear out this area. Get all of the ponies back so they don’t get caught in the crossfire. I’ll tend to our guest.” Without another word, they broke their huddle, spanning out in all directions. Except for one pegasus. Fluttershy stood, watching Twilight charge at the beast fearlessly. Though Twilight wasn’t scared for herself, Fluttershy was. She wanted to stand beside her, keep her safe; but she was needed elsewhere, and she knew Twilight could take care of herself.
The monster acted exactly as Twilight anticipated. It ignored all other animals scurrying around it’s hooves, choosing to focus solely on her. It swung it’s foreleg around at her. She dropped to the ground, allowing the strength to build in her legs, and pounced, narrowly avoiding the oncoming appendage. She gathered energy in her horn and unleashed a magic brace to lock the attacking hoof to the ground. The beast roared with rage at it’s current situation.
“That should buy me enough time to prepare that unbinding spell I learned.” Her horn once more ignited as magical energy amassed within it. Majors were almost nothing but pure energy, and could easily break magic constructs. Being a completely undocumented species, Twilight was unsure just how powerful this beast was.
The great bull roared as it slammed it’s free hoof against it’s restraint. Again and again, it smashed at the lock on it’s foreleg, until a crack began to form. It raised the hoof once more, and brought it down with all of it’s might. The brace shattered, allowing the creature to resume it’s onslaught. Twilight began to sweat, as her spell required several seconds more to cast. The beast stepped closer to her, rearing into an offensive position. Before it could make a move, however, a streak of blue light shot across it’s face and doubled back to latch onto one of it’s horns.
Rainbow Dash cried out heroically, “Time to take the bull by the horns!” If Twilight didn’t need to focus on her magic, she would have face-hoofed so hard her skull would have compressed. The bull’s other horn was soon caught by a length of rope. The orange mare wielding the other end wrapped it around a nearby tree. She reared up and pounced forward, chuckling.
“Come along, ya wily varmint!”
Twilight smirked and looked between the two as she felt the necessary amount of energy fill her magical appendage.
“Finally!” Raising her horn skyward, she unleashed the power built up in her in a violet flash. For an instant, a yellow could be seen around the beast’s neck, before it vanished once more. The six friends cheered in celebration of their victory. Twilight’s eye caught one in particular, whom she immediately began to sprint to. The yellow mare in her sights spotted her as well, and quickly broke into a run to meet her. Through the joy and relief she was feeling, though, Twilight had the nagging feeling that she was forgetting something.
“Would you like to see the new spell I’ve been working on?”
Twilight skidded to a staggering halt and looked around her for the source of the voice, mentally slapping herself for disregarding him.
“Now you see her…”
Before she could react, a yellow streak of light bore down on her and engulfed her.
“... now you don’t.”
Author's Note
All right! Only one more chapter in this disaster of a story! The next installment will be better, I assure you.https://derpicdn.net/img/2013/4/23/306180/full.png on the far left.
Love is Power II: Crash and Burn
The small yellow wings were spastic, swinging this way and that in a desperate attempt to add what little momentum they could muster. Though their efforts proved a waste. The incredible shimmer dissipated, leaving no trace of a lavender unicorn in its wake. With sheer disbelief Fluttershy focused on the small patch of land on which, mere seconds ago, her love had stood. The pain she felt in this moment was beyond what some giant bull could inflict. A pain which resonated from her very being and sent her crashing to the hard ground beneath her. A liquid stung her eyes as it washed out onto the grass. Her sobs blocked even the sound of approaching hooves.
“Oh, don’t be sad, dear,” a familiar voice boomed into her ears, quickly reclaiming her attention, “If it’s any consolation, she fought well. Just not well enough.” An uproar of hysterical cackles flew through the darkness. Suddenly, silence fell across the town. Torero found himself strewn across the cold dirt with a minor pain gathered in the left side of his face and a blood-thirsty pegasus looming above him.
Her tears had ceased, and her green eyes flashed fiery red. With no hesitation, no remorse, no mercy, she pushed her forehooves firmly down on the stallion’s throat. He began to gag and squirm, which she took as her cue to further tighten her grip. She had never imagined herself in such a position, slowly squeezing the life from another pony. Of course, she had never felt such an unbridled rage before. He took the most important thing in her world from her, and she was going to make certain he suffered for it.
She felt something gently caress her shoulder, and turned her head to acknowledge the source. Four mares, eyes all glossy with their own inner turmoil, looked upon her sympathetically. The nearest, a unicorn with a pale white coat, wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy and pulled her close. The pegasus released her potential victim and returned the embrace. She began to wail uncontrollably whilst simultaneously staining her friend’s coat with her tears. She then felt three more sets of hooves cling to her, and heard the indecipherable sobs of three ponies near to her.
The sounds of hooves drawing nearer echoed through the area, and with them came more howls of immeasurable sorrow. The citizens of Ponyville grabbed the villain, still gasping for air on the ground, and dragged him to a nearby dungeon. Though, many contemplated so much more for the beast who had taken their beloved friend from them.
The five mares heard the mob retreat into the city, but they did not look back. The did not follow to observe the monster being chained. They remained sitting there, allowing the flood of their tears to grow. They hadn’t the strength or care for anything more.
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They did not bow as the regal hoof descended from the carriage. The tall white mare seated herself next to the distraught pegasus. A slightly smaller dark-blue mare joined her a moment later.
“Fluttershy, what seems to be the problem?” pondered Princess Celestia, “All Spike’s letter stated was that there was an emergency.” The yellow pony nodded.
“We haven’t told him yet. We want to keep him ignorant for a little while.” At this response, the princess suddenly grew deathly serious.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s about Twilight.” She was visibly shaking now as she the image of the unicorn flashed into her mind. Just when she believed she had run out of tears to cry.
“She’s… She’s…” The word stuck sorely in her throat. She didn’t want to say it. She couldn’t say it. She crumbled to the floor with the force she was exhausting attempting to ease the word out. The orange earth mare brushed a hoof through her mane in an effort to relax her.
Applejack hushed the shivering mass beneath her.
“It’s okay, ‘Shy. You don’t have to talk to anyone right now.” She then focused her attention on the royal sisters before her.
“There was a fight with one o’ them constellation critters. It was bein’ controlled by a unicorn. We arrested him and locked him up in there.” She pointed to the dungeon a block away. “But, before we could, he… Princess, Twilight’s dead.”
Her response was not what any of them had been expecting. Her face showed confusion rather than sorrow.
“B-but… she can’t be.” The orange mare looked over her pitifully.
“I know it’s tough, princess, but-”
“No, I mean she really can’t be.” A small box, wrapped in a radiant golden glow, drifted toward the group. The lid slowly flipped open to reveal the contents, five necklaces and a crown, each adorned with a different symbol.
“You see, when you girls first wielded the elements of harmony, you did not simply use them, you bonded with them. Only you can use the elements because they share a magic link with you. Everypony has what is known as an Essence, a Magic Core. It grants the pegasi the ability to touch and move the clouds, the earth ponies incredible strength but a gentle grip to harvest crops, and unicorns the ability to use magic. The Elements of Harmony connect with the Essences of the ponies that wield them. If one of you dies, then your element dies until it can find a suitable replacement. All magic drains from it, and your cutie mark would dissipate from the design of the element.” The golden aura gripped the crown and raised it for all to see. It seemed no different than any prior occasion during which they had seen it. A smile adorned the orange pony’s face.
“So… Twilight’s alive?!” The princess believed a simple, curt nod to be an adequate response to this query, as it seemed to rocket the earth pony into the air with a “YEE-HAWW!”
“Ya hear that Fluttershy?” She turned to the spot where the pegasus previously lie shaking on the floor, but found no sign of her.
“Fluttershy?”
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He sat quietly facing the rear wall of the small room. He stared in silent contemplation at the discolored stones. He did not look away when the slow creak of a rusty old door sounded throughout.
“Finally figured it out, have you?” the stallion softly chuckled to himself, “Took you long enough.” A gentle clip, clop pattered along the marble tiles.
“Where is she?” At the sound of this gentle, yet somewhat venomous whisper, he turned to face his interrogator. The anger she had so actively displayed before was less apparent behind her pink locks.
“You have a deceptively firm grip, you know. One would not expect such strength from such a gentle pony.” The mare began to move upon him.
“Where is she?” repeated again from her throat.
“What? No time for polite conversation? You’re not nearly as kind as the papers led me to beli-” A sharp pain grew in one half of his face as he fell to the floor. Then, just as suddenly, he felt himself being lifted just before his back was slammed into the wall behind him. He now locked gazes with his attacker.
“WHERE IS SHE?!” Once again, the sound of his amusement flooded through the room. He ended his fit of laughter for but a moment to relay a simple message.
“Often, our greatest dreams are shrouded by our worst nightmares.”
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“Get out of the way,” roared a blue pegasus at two ponies keeping watch over an uninteresting metal door.
“I’m sorry, Miss Dash, but Miss Fluttershy asked not to be disturbed during the interrogation.” The green stallion maintained his position.
“And since when does Fluttershy interrogate?” She turned to regard the other pony watching over the prison, who had thus far remained silent. She stood before him and stared into his eyes, attempting to get some read on him. Her actions weren’t met with even a hint of acknowledgement. Rainbow’s brows rose as she reached a startling epiphany.
“She… she ‘Stared’ him.” The three mares behind her gasped. Fluttershy swore to never use that on a pony. Rainbow walked back to the door and gave the obstacle in her path the most menacing leer she could muster, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Move… NOW!” The stallion prepared to step aside, but stopped as he heard a door behind him creak open. A yellow pony looked over the crowd amassed before her.
“I know where she is.”
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Deep in the heart of the notorious Everfree Forest, a lone violet light glowed through the trees, guiding a lavender unicorn through the darkness.
Author's Note
Finally, this story is over!!!