Entry 7
August 13, 2563 A.H.
05:12
Iris Cam
Security Level: Declassified
No further security enabled.
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"Shit. That's the one word to describe that catastrophic failure. When we left, it was great, for about three miles," Dusty sighs, shaking slightly, though not from the cold, "Then the beast showed its ugly face. Big, probably twenty or so ponies tall. Cerberus. It- It was bucking CERBERUS! Twilight says they must have corrupted him, though he was missing two of his heads. We weren't even sure it was him, until Discord cut off his collar. Apparently these bastards can bend things to their will. Kinda brutal I think." Dusty Tome walked deeper into the cave that had become their temporary hide out, seeing only Discord awake, and, for the first time anyone could remember, he appeared sick and worried. Dusty decided it would be as good a time as any to talk to a mad god.

"How you holding up Discord? Still upset about Flutters?"

"Oh what do you care you little horror? It's not like YOU can fix it, can go back and save her. If I had been three seconds quicker, THREE, she'd still have her other wing, and maybe she wouldn't be lying here almost bleeding to death." With that, Discord falls apart. Literally.

Oops, forgot to mention that. "Discord. Bucking look at me. I'm half metal by choice, almost none of those fancy runes, and you yourself said how terrifying I was. If you really want to help her, then you stop all this Luna damned moping, pull yourself together, and you help fix her. Yes she lost a wing, but she wasn't a good flier to begin with, and barely used them. Make her better ones. Put runes in them. PROTECT HER INSTEAD OF LETTING HER GO OUT AND RISK HER LIFE TO PROTECT YOU!" I finished with a huff, then realize I'm yelling at a GOD, half expecting to boil alive, when he quietly responds.

"You're right."

What? "What?"

"I said you're right. Falling apart now won't help her, or any of you. I'm going to fix her, then all of you. I'm going to make sure that I don't lose the only friends I've ever had, and I'm going to make sure that by the time we're done, NO ONE will EVER try to hurt my little ponies again. and this time? This time I will be the one protecting you all." He finishes seriously and darkly.

Serious? From Discord? This really must have-

-SQEEEAK-

-Almost made him sane. Damnation.

"A rubber chicken, that's a new one," I mutter to myself as I watch him hammer away with a rubber chicken at an impromptu blacksmith shop. "I almost missed the crazy one for a minute there. Oh well, seems like we may have needed that little setback." I almost spin and attack when a small voice tinged with pain surprises me from behind.

"Dusty? Is that you?"

I turn and look to where Fluttershy is laying, and immediately regret the decision. I feel hard tears start to prick my eyes as i see her, bloodied, bruised, broken, and struggling for breath, but still just as beautiful. "Fluttershy, I- I- I can't...." I trail off as she nods in understanding, as i fall to the ground beside her. She uses her good wing to pull me closer, before drawing a labored breath and speaking.

"Dusty, I know why you kept coming by my house, with a different animal and a different question every week. I know how yo ulook at me, and why you fight so hard to make sure I don't have to. The other girls don't see how you stare, but i always noticed, and every day at the same time, I'd always make sure i was there to see you. I like you too, you know, that's why i fought so hard. I saw him lunge for you, and all i could she was an image of you lying dead, and i just...snapped." She finishes quietly, starting to cry softly. before she has another chance to cry or talk again, I kiss her. A soft, lingering kiss that's over far too quickly, before she pulls me in tighter and we fall asleep together, to the sounds of hammering and squeaking, as one final thought surfaces before I'm gone as well.

Every mushroom cloud has it's silver lining.
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End Entry 7

Author's Note

Okay then, that just happened. I tried to steer it well, and hope I did well with that little bombshell there.