Thunder was rolling through the trees as I cantered home, it wasn't a special day, just another walk in the woods on what was a bright and sunny day only hours ago. I guess the pegasi let a few drifters float out of town again.
I don't mind the rain, I could just fly up and clear myself a little patch if I really wanted, but why ruin such a nice shower? I love the feeling of the water and the sound off the trees. It's odd, I suppose given my status but why shouldn't I enjoy nature? While other ponies cower away in their homes I tempt
the lightning around me.
The raindrops were bounding off of the branches that would normally shield me from the harsh sun; I thanked the clouds for completing that task today, anything that gets between it and I will be welcomed as far as I'm concerned.
It isn't that I hate the sun; I would be a fool to think we could go without it, a true nightmare once again. But when you make a habit of being hated by everyone around you the idea starts to sink in, and you find yourself hating all that they enjoy.
The wind twisted the branches above me, I fluttered my wings, they would need some care after this cleared up. I turned toward my small home and trotted lazily, I was in no rush. The rain had already soaked me and there was nothing waiting on my return.
A flash caught the sky, one of the dozens and I counted off for the thunder to shake me. I wasn't disappointed as always, the powerful wave pulsed through the trees and hit me like a wall. Stopping for a second I savored the feeling of the shaking ground before continuing.
My hoofs started sinking into the softening ground, while I enjoy storms, spending an hour flaking mud off of myself was not in my plans. I pulled what was left of my energy and fluttered into the air and above the trees. I was immediately met with a sight I can never forget, and that I had no trouble adjusting to in my new home. For as far as I could see in every direction there was grey ceiling rolling across green tree tops. A tribute to me I assumed. Another fit of lightning pierced the sky in various places, some a little close for comfort. The undeniable smell of charred wood met me at this altitude. I saw a flash in the distance, a chariot that had attracted a little more attention in the storm and was fluttering about in an attempt to push higher, poor fools. They should have known better than to face the might of a true storm, ponies forget sometimes; they forget that outside of their little bubble of protection lies a world ready to tear them down, a world where happiness doesn't earn your life-right. Tempt nature in its true form and you will regret it.
I could see my home in the distance, or rather, what was left of a home once. Now just a broken shell consisting of a few walls and a half effort on a roof. It was the only thing I could rely on in this world, the only thing that had ever offered me some type of familiar comfort in a black world. It held what was the beginning of my life, and kept out what I had left behind a lifetime ago.
Well, for a while anyway...
~~~~~
It was a slow thud at first, a sickening pop here and there, a scream that echoed. Oh how it cursed my thoughts that night, reverberating through my skull and making my mane stand on end. I pulled my wings closer, reviling in the warmth they might offer, another disappointment. I felt my friends die around me, heartless slaughter they didn't deserve. My head pounded.
It screamed again, breaking my thoughts with its wail, I could feel death around me. I could always feel it coming and going, an unfortunate part of what was it? That special talent we are supposed to have. Whatever, I hated it; I hated my pain, I hated those around me and I hated that scream.
Constantly, day or night, if there was a moment of peace in my life it would be met with horror on a greater scale. That scream, coming and going, coming and going... It drove me insane, it drove my thoughts black ask I watched their bodies break. A shiver here, a grunt there and I was back in the present, nothing but rain cascading around the broken home. I might gather some sleep if I try, perhaps tonight I won't be forced to see the nightmares of the ponies around me.
Another wail, a pained cry and a sob met my ears. I felt my ear twitch and rotate, focusing in without my consent. My hoofs grew cold, I lost the feeling in their tips and my head pounded. Again, a weak cry and a wail.
I lifted my head off the ground, something was wrong. That was no scream, not like my friends'. This was different, slower and much, much more painful. I couldn't help but strain my ears for another glimpse of the sound. The rain crashed against the thin roof making it impossible to track.
A sob, extremely faint, like that of a creature that knows death is coming. It was scared; I latched to the feeling, damn this power. Why could I not have been blessed with a talent of woodworking so I could fix this home? Or gardening so I could finally eat, no fate would only serve correctly if I was cursed to feel pain and death. My mind latched onto the sob, it pulled the pain with it, causing my limbs to stiffen under the stress. I felt cold suddenly, far too cold for my own comfort, I felt as if icy mud were caked to my body. It was clear now, the fear pierced my mind.
I heard it, no wait, her crying somewhere. She was close, ending her pain would save my own. It was no happy solution I suppose, but why should it be? I pulled the blade from its place against the wall and stepped back into the storm. I do not enjoy taking the lives of ponies, I have gone without the act for quite a long time now. A record I am sad to stain, but I cannot refuse myself an escape.
The rain had calmed by this time but the air had grown much colder. I needed to finish this task quickly. I started in the direction the wail had come from and hoped I would find the pony before one of the many others in the forest did. Those beast would not allow her the satisfaction of an easy death, that was pain I would never allow myself to go through again...
The rain continued to flow around me in relentless sheets as I walked, unpleasant as the situation was I suppose looking back it was necessary. The injured pony wasn't too far from me; I could feel the dread they put out barraging my skull with each step closer. I felt uneasy, cold and bitter. Occasionally I would hear a whimper through the static of falling water; it was a tool I had grown used to using and it strengthening my direction. My hooves would have ached if I could have felt them this far into my trip. The only company to the dull throb was my long blade bouncing ever so lightly against my side.
I knew I wasn’t far now, my stomach turned up in knots and I felt like vomiting. It almost seemed reasonable to run for the thickest tree and smash my head against it to quite the connection to the condemned pony. I stopped and let out a cold breath, relishing the moment until I was forced back into the mind of my forest’s guest.
Instead I pushed forward, ignoring the numb pain through the woods. Another crack of thunder brought another disembodied whimper to me, every falling drop doubled in feeling across my coat, every brush of wind ghostly to the still air around me. I sped up, trotting through the dense wood. I not far ahead I found an escape; I ducked into a small clearing near a stream I could barely hear over the storm. That's where I found her, at the end of her own pathetic mud trail, slowing inching herself toward a makeshift tent. I moved from her vision, my black form hiding me against the backdrop. A unicorn it looked like, she moved slowly, using what energy she could force to push a little closer to a false salvation.
I pulled my blade out as quietly as I could manage and clipped it to my foreleg, soon she would tire and my mercy could give her final deliverance. I could have felt pity for the young pony; it was a shame to see such a life wasted in these woods. I focused into her mind a little, perhaps drawing some comfort to the surface by getting to know her in a way only I could. She paused for a moment, mid-step in the mud and looked up. Despite the unforgiving rain she lifted her head to the sky, eyes open and fixed on their target.
Me
I froze, feeling a shred of hesitation as our eyes locked. I was suddenly submerged in fear, her fear as she scanned the dark outline of my weapon hanging off my forelimb. I opened my mouth, to this very day I do not know why I did so, I felt the need to apologize, to give some comfort in her final moments of pure terror.
I spoke calmly, a practiced skill for my kind. "It's alright; I'm here to help you." Honestly, it wasn't a lie. I did intend to end her pain, and mine with it.
The mare lowered her eyes and craned her neck to inspect her body, I found myself doing the same. Across her entire body pale blue was matted by dark mud and debris from the ground, her rear leg lay limp and lifeless behind her, digging a shallow trench as she had pulled herself. Her horn lit briefly and quickly died out, any efforts lost in the static of the storm.
"Please..." she choked in a pained breath. I knew what she wanted, but I could not deliver, I had long since exhausted my capability for compassion toward these pathetic creatures. I removed my blade for the time being, if nothing I could fake the gesture for her, she didn't need to know when the end would strike. It didn't go without notice, and to my surprise brought a sly grin to her face.
"heh," she laughed, "Oh, aren't you an interesting..." the mares eyes fell and she fought to regain control as a surge of pain rocked her body, I hid my suffering from her. "...creature?" she finally finished, connecting her gaze with my own once more. "You mean to kill Trixie correct?"
I shouldn't lie, what difference would there have been if I had told her my intentions, she would not understand nor live long enough for it to matter. I answered her simply, "No."
"Do not..." she grunted and her head dropped as she struggled to hold herself up to see me, I dropped to my knees and brought a hoof under her chin. ”Do not... lie... to Trixie..." she almost growled between breaths.
"I felt you coming, I kno-" she lost her grip and faltered. "You want to protect yourself, pathetic creature." Her horn lit once more, weakly forcing her magic through the air and grabbing my weapon.
"Wait! What do you think you are doing?" I jumped back as a haphazard slash was forced in my direction. She was straining under its weight, struggling to keep it aloft.
I stared deep at her, grabbing for anything within her mind that might allow me to end this quickly. A bolt of pure pain rocked my body and she attempted to move her injured lower body, I was consumed by her instantly and allowed my body to falter. The unicorn had doubled what magic I was allowed back onto me, pushing forcefully into my mind, I pity her for what she may have seen still today.
"Trixie cannot be tricked... so easily.” She gave me a wry smile through the pain that rocked us both. “You hide now... But she will find... Uhhg." My blade fell as she slid into the soft ground with a light thud, the loss of magical energy returning us to darkness. I waited for a moment and watched her body rise and fall quickly and sharply under pained breaths. I quickly grabbed my blade away and slid it into its sheath. The weather would have taken care of her for me now had I chose to leave her; while unconscious I was able to escape her pain until the end arrived. She twitched a few times, reactions no doubt to the cold water, I fought myself for a moment,
Damn my weakness…
I grabbed her body and slid her back where my wings might offer some support, flying was in no way an option with this kind of weight, and I would have to walk the path once again. With her shivering body pressed into my back I moved forward, each step forcing my to pull my hoofs from a mud prison.
~~~
I heard a groan from the far side of the room where the pale blue mass laid; my attentions fell to it as they had been the entire night. She shuffled her hoofs across the floor, unable to grip the slick wood and falling. Pale sunlight crept through the cracks in the walls, draping her body in thin streaks; I avoided the light as I walked to her. She must have heard my hoof steps but gave no indication that she was aware of my presence.
"Try not to struggle; the bandages must not be disturbed." I warned calmly, she refused, attempting to roll over toward me. With perhaps more force than necessary I pushed my hoof into her side, careful not to disturb the injuries too much but with more than enough to make my point. She let out a quiet whimper from the pain and lay still again. "Do not move, I will not re-tie those if you ruin them." The gesture worked and she returned to her previous position watching the wall do nothing.
"Where have you taken Trixie?" she asked after a pause.
"To another shelter, yours had flooded."
"Why?"
I paused; she lifted her head slightly but made no effort to move her body.
"What do you mean 'why'?"
"Why did you not kill Trixie?"
Does this stupid mare always refer to herself by name? No matter, a good question deserves a good answer I suppose. "Your injuries are not fatal if given care, I did not want you to attract timber wolves, and they make a mess that I do not wish to deal with."
She dropped her head with a sigh; I turned away from her and trotted out the opening where a door once stood. It was late in the morning but morning none the less; I grabbed a worn pair of worn saddlebags from beside the house and tossed them over my back. Today I would need to go in search of more food; I assumed I would be feeding the unicorn as well now. She had better be worth the trouble.
~~~
I returned a short while later, the sun arching high over my head now and the ground drying around me. Not all good storms can last, shame really. The small shelter had survived once again, taking little damage from the previous night, I could give a better inspection once I was free of my guest. Casually trotting in I dropped the saddlebags onto the floor and turned to the figure laying still by the wall as she had been before. I felt the energy around her pulse steadily, she was awake.
"I brought food; you need to eat if you want to heal." I tossed a pile of berries onto a one of the bowls once left in the house with a few wilted wild flowers and trotted to her, still at her back as she faced the wall. "I know you're awake, you cannot trick me so easily either." I trotted to around the pony to have her face me.
"Now eat, how else are you-" my words caught in the pool of tears slowly gathering in her coat and mane across the floor. She made no effort to look in my direction, simply staring at the floor and occasionally letting out a stifled sob.
I sat the bowl by her head and backed away a few feet. "If you do not eat, you will die."
She said nothing, continuing her blank stare at the floor before us.
"You're welcome" I said flatly, leaving her to the corner. Ponies are weak creatures by nature, I suppose I shouldn't expect any different from this poor excuse of a unicorn. I felt uneasy in the home, a familiar scream echoed in my mind, this time with an accompanying throb, something was coming together, but I couldn’t make out just what yet. I pushed it deep into my mind where I prayed it would die with the remaining bits of my empathy. Something very strange was happening, and this unicorn was an outlet for something even I had learned to fear.
