Starheart the Fallen: Reminiscence

Chapter 4

Fates

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"S-Smooze?!" he froze flying down trying to find an escape from the wave. "This creature has a name?!" he thought frantically dodging as he flew under the wave barely dodging as it crash down behind him. "Ha, You damn Smooze!" he shouted looking for another eye to smash. He felt a cold chill as he turned turned his head to see the creature sweeping up over him like a wave once again. sweeping down he flew as fast as he could away. The body of the creature snagging his rear hoof. His eyes widened "LET GO YOU DAMN SMOOZE!" he shouted flapping his wings as hard as her could pulling away, but this creatures grip was impossibly strong. He Winced again as he felt his ankle crack a bit "AGH, Damn thing!" he cursed under his breath his heart jolting when the thing crept up to his wing pulling it back roughly. He thrashed hard in desperation. "LET ME GO" He bit at the Smooze now trying to pull it off him tearing small chunks away and spitting them out ignoring the horribly rancid taste that covered his tongue. He paused as he noticed the triangle the three formed glowed bright like a beacon and shot into the sky as the spell neared completion.

"Nothing can stop the Smooze" the beast called again. As it gave a sickening tug on his wing. He couldn't hold it back this time he let out an ear piercing scream as he felt his wing pull away from his side. He gritted his teeth straining them uncomfortably tears mixing with the blood the still flowed into his eye. He panted as he felt sick and unsteady now, his vision blurring now as nausea rose up in his throat

"S-Smooze" he felt the Smooze's power claw at him his anger starting to numb. He choked out a mouthful of something rancid, too dazed to care if it was bile or blood as he felt the creature give one last Tug and pull his wing from his side with a sickening sound.
The Beacon Released a shock wave that rocked them both causing them to look up at it. He shook his head taking deep breaths again as he closed his eye picturing them. "Luna...Celestia...Starswirl...Everyone" He screamed in his head chanting the names over and over until he felt the fires of searing pain, anger, and determination bring him back from the brink of unconsciousness. He took a few more deep breaths and bit into the The Mass the held him clawing his way out of it's grip and slamming his head against the eye that just opened next to him. "You're ...finished...Smooze" he panted spitting blood at the Eye and clawing at it with his hooves.

Suddenly he felt himself flying involuntarily. He gasped as he realized the beast had thrown him, just in time to slam into the ground. He felt a sickening crack and spat out a mouthful of blood. His vision was fading as he tried to survey the scene. He struggled to his hooves wincing as he felt his cracked ankle take on some weight. His heart sank as he spotted his wing on the ground near him tipped in blood. Feeling more tears mixing with blood and sweat and now dirt as it rolled down his cheek. He took a shaky breath and lifted his head somehow managing to find the beacon of light. The beast was staring at it as it began to pulse. He tried to call out but all that escaped was a cough. He looked up at the beast who was raising an Limb something bright and pointing adorning the top of it as it craned away from the three in an arch.

"Is it gonna, throw something at them?" He tried to make out the object. "Is that?" he staggered spitting something up again with a cough. "My...horn?" he thought and he traced the arch with his eye... "no" He whispered shaking violently as he moved toward the beacon. The massive limb was at its highest point now any second and it'd take its shot. He choked out another sickening cough and broke into a wobbly trot. The beast took it's shot flipping it's limb and launching his horn toward the beacon "It can't take much longer now" he thought frantically " I just have to protect them a little longer" he begged his body to cooperate as he took off toward them "NO!" he shouted as he charged ... He could see the horn flying faster than he ever did on his wings as he shook violently. "Hooves don't fail me now" He begged. Fighting a chuckle with a cough. He could see his horn now and he jumped in front of it. He felt it pierce his flank and his twisted away from the beacon finally collapsing on the ground. He shook and his blood stained vision darkened he didn't have the strength to get up again this time.

"Plea..." *he coughed as he gasped for more air "please...stop..." his eye slowly closed and sound muffled grimly as he spit a bit of blood out with a jolt his eye finally closed and he couldn't hear anything anymore "him" he trailed off and everything faded to dark silence.

"..Sta..."

He winced a bit

"Star...art!"

His furrowed his brow as he strained to listen

"STARHEART!"

He opened his eye and looked up. It was blurry at first but it cleared quickly "C...Celestia?" he tried to sit up

"DON'T MOVE!" Yelled a voice that came into view.

He nodded slightly and lie still "Are...Are we dead?" He blinked taking in the radiant form of Celestia.

She shook her head "No" She smiled "Dear Starheart, Starswirl's spell defeated that creature" she approached and bowed her head down low. "and we Owe you our victory" She said in a melodic tone as she raised herself "If not for your bravery we would never have completed that spell" She sit and her smile faded "Do you" her expression was pained now "do you recall your injuries?"

He closed his eye and opened it again. wincing with a jolt..."Yes" he said through a twinge of pain.

"I am sorry Starheart." She said with a sad tone "If only-"

He sat up gritting his teeth "Stop!" He barked as he laid on his stomach his body screaming in pain. "I did what I had to, to be sure you could save Equestria" he said flatly. "I'd do it again too, as many times as I had to" he bowed his head slightly wincing again "Celestia" He closed his eye again.

Celestia smiled at him standing "Nevertheless, we have prepared you a gift for your heroism" She turned and signaled to a guard who wheeled in a Mannequin with a brilliant Golden suit of armor his wing adorned the Right side and his horn was seated firmly in the head piece along with a brilliant eye piece on the right side. "Starswirl himself enchanted this armor for you" She smiled Weakly "With it you should be able to use your magic again..." she dropped her eyes "Should the need arise" She looked up at him again.

He coughed sending a wave of pain up his body and shook as he climbed off the bed wincing. He stood before Celestia and bowed down low "Thank you for this gift your highness, May the Reign of you and your sister last for all time" He stood again and swayed nearly falling. He felt something brace him and looked to see Celestia's side pressed against his own.

"Thank You Starheart...for protecting us, so we could save our Equestria" She smiled and moved around hugging him lightly.

His eye widened and he winced at her touch. Before he returned the hug.

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