War Orphans' Wishesby FireflowerChaptersMetalRustFruitCoreUvulaMuteLocomotionDecelerationTreatsAstringentLightGravityCorporealityPhantasmagoriaMetalAuthor's Note My name is Fireflower and this is my first My Little Pony fanfic sequel that, like its predecessor, is Mature and goes beyond the typical oneshots I'd made from before and using canon characters as human beings instead of their normal forms: this time, I have decided to focus on the others who have grown up over the years, hence the age up; nevertheless, this story will be dealing with heavy subject matter unsuitable for certain readers. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you enjoy this chapter now and stay tuned for future chapters later on. Metal Light in and of itself was capable of traveling to and from anywhere throughout the whole wide world rather almost instantaneously; in addition, it also was accompanied by warmth as well. Because of this, it had unveiled a whole slew of colors coming in many different hues and shades whatsoever, each of them painting the overall landscape in an attempt to provide it some identity. Given the very situation at hand, it was best to assume for the most part that the day was just about to begin; after all, such imagery would be best captured by the observance of the wary one. With the entire sphere rotating on its own axis at a set speed while revolving as well on a different speed, a brand new morning had now started to come about. The spacious blue sky was crystal clear enough to see the golden sun shining brightly about over the silent scope as a flock of birds from various sizes and shades soared across so serenely. Within a rather large dream drop distance was but a civilization already defined in such various materials used to build them from the ground up, most of them all being the ones suitably fittest for the likes of even three little pigs. The calm gentle breeze was surfing onward and about throughout the dirt roads and dusty trails, cutting across the otherwise barren landscape as it got to and from the deserts surrounding them all. In amongst the very background were but a widget series of monoliths each raging with growth and erosion in the process of their trying times as the sun hovered over all of them. Given the handsome size of this town in question, it was likely that there would at least be an utter abundance of many individuals from various demographics whatsoever: age, gender, finances, and social standing being rather nothing short from the standardized metallurgy of life. Out of all the places within this otherwise small area in particular, there was one that stood out amongst the others no less: it was a tall home at first glance, made completely of timber and steel. The hip roof upon itself sloped down on all four of its very corners, providing a standard if diminutive shelter for each and every one of them rather ever so presently for the most part. There were a few shapely yet wholesome windows that while sharing the same geometric structure came in different sizes; of course, they were either closed off or obscured by blinds. Only a singular door had remained there to be a finishing touch as a gateway to this simplistic residence, bearing a fruity color reminiscent of an orange along with its texture and nothing more. Anyways, one of the rays of sunlight managed to pierce through the looking glass within the frame, illuminating a rather small area of it with some distinctiveness. In that very location thereof, it had instantaneously stopped itself against a singular wall; as a result, its color was sparkling about in a faint hue of lavender. Within that small space that lit up in the process, there had remained a rectangular panel with a thick circular dial standing out within the middle of that space. “Bee–dee–deep!” a sound rang out, scaring away the golden silence that once resided within these very confines. It wasn’t long until the repetition of such a mechanical cry became the stimuli that quickly triggered another event to take place at once. Before long, they were sudden footfalls had come about in a slightly reckless abandon, each and every move making contact with the small dimensional boundaries surrounding itself. As the ringing continued itself onward, the noise pollution as of that very moment in time was gradually amplified by the sudden groans belonging to something that proved to be otherwise organic for the most part. Then, some quick footfalls were found to be creaking on and about all at once, its surface area beneath them presumably matching the texture of what was already outside despite being rather minimalistic at best. All that had come about in the process was a sudden grand slam that stopped such a sound, bringing the darkness back to almost complete silence already; of course, it would seem to be short lived. Before long, a loud bump resounded within the darkness followed by a loud shriek, “OH, SON OF A–––!” “Watch the language here…!” a nearby reply had instantaneously interrupted the previous exclamation in a small heartbeat, “you weren’t raised to become a low class loutish lady in the family!” “Sorry, Uncle…!” the previous voice had suddenly said aloud afterwards in a bout of minor embarrassment. It wasn’t long until a singular turn of the dial bathed the space in light, instantaneously chasing away the darkness as it become identified within all due time. The ceiling served as the foundation of such an illumination, suspended by about a few yards from the flooring as it provided guidance quickly. The partitions that currently held up the general composition were all dabbed in a salubrious coating of lavender wallpaper. The flooring itself was already basked in a tufted and orientated carpeting rich with a down–to–earth shade of auburn. The thin ray of sunlight that had already invaded the room was nearly blocked off by some golden curtains facing in the direction of the dial’s present location. A large bed had rested nearby the window frame, donned with a vermillion comforter with white sheets and pillowcase all slightly out of place. A tall dresser stood close by a short nightstand, both of them sharing a matching beige scheme; of the two, only the latter had a slender lamp and a clock standing upon it. In addition, there remained a pair of doors that were standing adjacent from the bedside with a share of wooden knobs. Without any warning whatsoever, a singular hand found itself resting onto one of the items at once: its color and texture reminiscent of a cup filled with some creamy coffee. Some silver locks were shining brightly in the light, reflective of the clouds that obscured the skyward treasured from about as they were tied into a braid reaching past the neckline. Considering that the lids had now become wide open, the weary pupils were surrounded by a royal purple while the brows above them had remained edgy and slanted incline. The owner’s face was surely feminine, possessing a complexion that was smooth and soft like wet clay but otherwise dry for the most part. What had currently draped upon the very body was but a jet black satin camisole and some matching knickers, the former barely covering the navel whereas the latter remained evenly lined. Both of her two own feet were left bare as they had already become nestled in deeply into the flooring at once. Standing up straight away, the silver haired occupant released her grip off of the chronometer and walked towards the dresser in a few seconds. At once, she opened it to pull out a few articles of clothing without hesitation: a green shirt, blue knickers, and some socks; of course, given the current attire thereof, it was only the beginning. Laying them all aside up on the bed, the silver haired occupant placed each of the three within her grasp and started to venture out of the room in due time. With the door shut behind her completely, she turned towards the right side and found another door open ajar; in no time to be wasted whatsoever, the hallway separating between the two of them was not of much concern for walking distance: unlike the room, it was a little small in geometry. The slow yet steady change in temperature being suddenly felt by the silver haired occupant’s feet had currently showed only instantly that its flooring was composed completely of ceramic tiles in a floral arrangement. Instead of a cool color shade from before, its walls were adorned with a hot orange paint, burning brightly like an open flame yet cold to the touch no less. The ceiling however was colored in pastel white and it had but a single lightbulb where the running electricity just brought the area itself up to snuff in visibility alone. Its accommodations thereof were all firmly gathered within her line of eyesight at once: a toilet, a sink, a mirror, a cabinet, a hamper, a closet, and a tub with curtains being the very things that provided such relief in those eyes. At this moment, the silver haired occupant now made it possibly sure enough prevent any unwanted intrusions by locking the door right away already. She went on to the closet door, pulling out a pink towel and an aquamarine washcloth from there within due time at once before turning her attention towards the bathtub. Already made aware of the current attire upon the silver haired occupant’s body, they were completely striped off of there at once; now, the brisk oxygenated atmosphere all around doused the dark bare skin. She soon stepped inside rather slowly and carefully, quickly closing the curtains along as well so as to shut out the cold air before it would even had the slight chance of following after her. The silver haired occupant soon took her dear time as to study what was now directly right in front: the nozzle was guided directly overhead as it hung from the walls with the mixer tap and its three handles rested underneath. Calmly, she started to place her hand on one handle in the middle before arranging the others nearby; before long, a heightened pitch whine was followed by a deluge of water splashing upon the dark skin. As the cheeks upon the face became like garnet, the silver haired observer soon looked around to find a singular white bar of soap and started to expose them item to the downpour at once. Soon, it was wrapped around the aquamarine washcloth and scoured vigorously ‘til some thin line of foam came about in an instant; as a result, a brief sigh of relief escaped from her very lips. Suddenly, a knock on the wooden door nearby caused the silver haired occupant’s ears to resound; quickly, it was followed by a simple yet short speech, “are you in there, Silver Spoon…?” “Yes, I am, Uncle…!” the aforementioned listener replied at once, briefly facing the curtains at once, “just got in the shower…!” “Breakfast will be ready in about fifteen; come on downstairs after you’re finished…” her uncle replied at once. Turning back to face the running showerhead at once, the silver haired occupant only said calmly, “I will…!” Afterwards, only the lukewarm water returned to the most dominate and sole source of sound for Silver Spoon to hear; of course, this alone would not even last. With a washcloth in hand, she touched her ears and dug inside of them with ease, using a single finger to do so before pulling out of there. Now its fabric and foam interfaced with the silver haired user’s face, scrubbing the pores cleanly and intently until it lower itself to the neckline briefly. Silver Spoon started to cover herself with soap underneath the cheekbones and around the arms, slathering spume across every part of the skin over them. Quickly, her moderate yet endowed cleavage was drenched in the same substance that she clothed herself in along with the torso and abdomen. More bubbles even formed as the silver haired occupant had scrubbed her legs and feet from top to bottom in the process. When Silver Spoon became completely covered in the hot white foam, she moved towards the stream and reverted back to her original form at once as the suds simply slithered down into the drain. Afterwards, she had then turned the nozzle off completely all at once, quickly ceasing the concentrated inundation from making such contact with her dark skin within only a scant few seconds. Clad in only liquid moisture and gaseous steam all across the way, the silver haired occupant had now opened the very curtains back up simply to step out of the tub carefully as to avoid a sudden fall. “You’re finished already, Silver Spoon…?” the eponymous individual had listened rather quickly, coming from the door in front of her at once to the point remembering who it had belonged to, “just letting you know I’m about to put the eggs on the griddle now; you want them scrambled or fried, lady?” “Scrambled, sir…!” she had answered soundly while wrapping the pink towel around her very body compactly. As the silver haired occupant started to dry her body off at once, she then had heard her uncle’s reply, “alright then, I’ll be meeting you downstairs when you come out…” Silver Spoon strutted along towards the sink and found a red toothbrush along with some toothpaste resting on the side. As she carefully opened the cap up and placed it on the corner, the tube was lifted off into her grasp, squirting out a deep green semisolid in the process before returning to its previous location; afterwards, the bristles were raised up to her teeth and then they made contact. The silver haired occupant now felt her toothbrush running into the very mouth as it scoured over the enamel at once in such acute angles. Silver Spoon repeatedly circulated onward and about as she had guided the item to every part of her very own teeth within before pulling out from there in due time no less. The faucet within her line of sight was turned on almost instantaneously, giving her an opportunity to spit out the contents that accumulated inside since long before. As the water ran itself down into the drain, the silver haired occupant rinsed away the remaining residuals from the red toothbrush neatly before turning it off. Now Silver Spoon quickly turned her attention towards the hamper, already made aware of the fresh new clothes stacked on top of them she had taken along earlier ago. First, she had begun to put the blue knickers upon her legs and then casted aside the pink towel off at once; soon, she dressed herself in that green shirt as well. Even though that the silver haired occupant was neither in a towel or in the altogether, the ceramic flooring beneath her instantly gave off a reminder to put on some socks at once which she had started to do. Sure enough, it was now time for Silver Spoon to leave the bathroom at once, feeling refreshed and renewed by the very experience thereof. “Hah… what a relief…” she had sighed almost silently to herself all at once, simply feeling satisfied by the small turn of events, “better go put some shoes on before he sees me in my underwear…” The silver haired occupant retraced her steps towards the bedroom and took some time to concentrate on what had already remained inside there all at once. While it may seemed that nothing much had changed at once, the angling of the sunlight however was a different story: it was reduced to a small thin strip barely touching the dial. Silver Spoon quickly noticed rather instantly how the covers were left slightly out of sync but otherwise remained in alignment for the most part. Nevertheless, she then headed towards the double doors nearby and opened them to find an elongated array of combinations that could be worn over her body. Searching away for the one attire in question, the silver haired occupant soon found something upon a hanger: a light blue sweater with long sleeve was now within her grasp; in addition, she even found a taupe skirt to go and accompany it. Just as what was done before only so long ago, Silver Spoon instantly quickly donned the clothing in her grasp at once, covering up her abdomen and the thighs in the process. Tilting her very head only downward, she had quickly found a singular pair of some jet black low cut shoes resting on about amongst the line of footwear underneath in the process. Walking away from the adjacent wardrobe at once, the silver haired occupant went back to the tall dresser and opened it, pulling out a pair of eyeglasses as they now adorned her face in due time. Silver Spoon now went out of the bedroom once again, this time turning to the left and instantly finding a stairway going downward already. Steadily, she soon stepped on and about upon the very ligneous surface and went further onto the beaten path that was taken. As the silver haired occupant made progress fit for an overseas pilgrim, she soon smelled a warm aroma invading both of her nostrils. It wasn’t long at all in the very slightest until Silver Spoon finally reached her destination; compared to what she had seen upstairs, it was by far drastically different in the very slightest. The background overall was made up in an abundance of woodworking in and of themselves, each of them were in such various shades and textures all the more noticeable to the naked eye. There was some thin carpeting that was overlaying the flooring right beneath her very two feet, deep in some cooler colors with some intricate hues that can paint a picture in a lower resolution. Two windows were already well off into the short walking distance, each with their own set of drapes painted in a silken gold fabric compared to one she had her in very bedroom up above. Within the silver haired occupant’s line of eyesight was a large cabinet filled up with some accessories made in various metals and occasionally accompanied by some fabric up on display. “I see that you’re here already, Silver Spoon; I’ve been waiting…” the same voice was heard once more with feeling, prompting the aforementioned listener to turn around and face the speaker at once: its identity belonged to a tall man. A set of some plain dark brown hair had been found to be making its very way down to the nape of the neck; its tresses were already completely free of any and all additional accessories compared to hers. Strafing around these very pupils, there were circles of blue making its way known for the brunette to see the silver haired observer rather clearly enough. On his body was but a simplistic white shirt already being overlaid by a blue vest that was left opened for Silver Spoon to see; in addition, he also had on some gray khakis being held together with only a black belt. A pair of some beige loafers was also being worn by the tall brunette, being only flat and lighter than her current choice of footwear to the point of covering his feet rather completely. In a stark contrast to the silver haired observer’s dark skin, he possessed a rather much brighter complexion from the other side of the spectrum. Fidgeting the bright rimmed glasses, Silver Spoon said to the tall brunette at once, “I’m sorry about what happened earlier…” “Don’t fret over the small stuff here…” he responded calmly with a smile, “let’s head on over to the kitchen now…” “Okay then…” she choked out only hesitantly. As a single hand rested onto the thin shoulder padding of the sweater, the two took the time to walk across the very space they were in; out of the two, the tall brunette spoke, “I can’t believe that you have grown into an adult so fast and in a few short years no less; those parents would have been so proud to see you.” “I know, Uncle…” the silver haired occupant replied, “I just wish that–––” “Say no more; you didn’t deserve to experience what had happened during the war long ago…” he had quickly interrupted, already taking note of Silver Spoon’s slowly growing hesitation at once. At that very point in time, she found the brunette’s calm blue eyes staring into her and had said, “I just gotta ask; why did she had to suffer like this…?” “That’s something I’ll never seem to understand…” he answered, shaking his head in shame, “fighting in a war doesn’t give anyone the right to do such things toward other people, enemy or otherwise…” “Do you suppose that I… could have at least stopped them or… even her somehow, Uncle Silverstar…?” the silver haired occupant had slowly but surely asked the aforementioned listener all at once. The tall brunette broke away from Silver Spoon and sighed softly, “I’m sorry… it would rather be best not to dwell on such things; besides, your mother, may she rest in peace, would have wanted you to live and be happy.” “How…?” she simply stated within a scant few seconds, “how can it ever be possible after what she had done…?” “Like I had said before, we live: it’s what she would have wanted for you to do; besides, the peace we had now obtained thanks to the Princesses shouldn’t ever go to waste lest the same things happen again…” he said to the silver haired female before slowly facing a nearby window at once. As soon as Silverstar stared out into the looking glass, Silver Spoon spoke to him only slowly, “are you okay, sir…?” “Oh, of course I am; now, run along and go eat your breakfast here…” the tall brunette quickly replied, sending her off out of his sight at once, “besides, the sooner the better; after all, we got a long day ahead of us today: no need to be late for the therapist since the Friendship Express will be leaving from Appleloosa here in less than an hour from now.” “You’re right… I’ll be seeing you at table, uncle…” the silver haired female had spoke as her very footfalls slowly subsided into nothingness, no longer being heard by him. As Silverstar stood firmly against the window, he remained calm on the outside but was now in deep though the whole time: it would seem that beneath the still frames of the environment itself, the silent melody whispered into his ears like a liquid snake’s tongue; then, he thought to himself, “so, it’s been years already since this small town had been able to see such a big war at all, let alone all of the homeland no less: I just wish that Serving Spoon was alive instead; her mother was such an positive influence on the young'un…” RustAuthor's Note It's Fireflower again with my first My Little Pony fanfic sequel that, like its predecessor, is Mature and goes beyond the typical oneshots I'd made from before and using canon characters as human beings instead of their normal forms who have grown up over the years; however, this is nonetheless a Mature fanfic for that this chapter here will deal with a certain subject matter considered unsuitable for certain readers. In addition, I would like to take this time to inform you that this chapter is only a flashback and a nightmare too but it can and will bring shock, awe, and outrage out of you in ways too horrible to imagine so it's with a generous heart and mind that yours truly has uploaded another chapter after this as well on the same day no less: for those of you amongst themselves wishing to skip ahead, please do so; I promise, this one will help calm your nerves a bit for the most part. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you can withstand this chapter now and stay tuned for future chapters later on then again, you have but a few options: stop right there and wait, go back to the beginning, or skip ahead to the next chapter; whatever decision you make, I won't blame you but consider yourselves warned. Rust There was a complete absence of light dominated the environment, shrouded in mystery and suspense that relied consistently on the element of the uncertain. While there had remained a likely chance of loneliness filling the air itself at once, the atmosphere was likely enough to clear out within due time for one reason or another. Additionally, even at least a few clues were providing some semblance of substance that dwelled inside even with the lack of a solid terrain, let alone earth. Out of the very few possibilities that were becoming unveiled rather slowly, only one stood out amongst the pitch black darkness: a dark skinned female lain out and about in a slouching slump. Donned upon her very visage was but a singular wide lens pair of eyeglasses with a cerulean frame being held securely in place at once. The dark skinned female had but only a simple teal blouse worn upon her torso, complete with some small red buttons fastening them all the way to the very top. A rubber band was colored in a hue matching that of her very spectacles, tying itself around the silvery tresses as it created a short synthetic tail at the very end but leaving the rest of the top alone to say the very least. A long beige skirt was instantly found to be already adorned firmly around the female’s waistline, bearing the image of fine flowers in the valley. There were even some black shoes worn by her very feet being a few shades rather brighter than the void she was in. “Uh, what in the world is this place; how did I get there all of the sudden and why can’t I even try to stand up all of the sudden…?” the female had groaned at once, struggling quickly to stay conscientious of the situation thereof. As her lively purple eyes had quickly flown wide out in the very open, she began to study the minimal surroundings all across the way. The female had been quick to find that the visibility provided for her was a poor sight for even the sorest of eyes to say the very least. An extremely low pitched droning was already piercing both of her ears with the otherwise occasional whine interspersing along with it as well. The scent was by far nonexistent, save for a rather faint yet pungently acute aroma emerging from beneath the very fabric that the female wore. Although that the jet black void itself had lacked any semblance in substance whatsoever, she could feel a strange barrier behind her responsible for such posture. Because of all these factors, whatever picture that had popped into the female’s mind was far from that of a new morning beyond the horizon. As soon as she started to struggle about, a loud slap was heard followed by a pained shriek, “AAH!” “What the fuck?!” the female soon interjected as she turned to her side within an instant no less, “what’s going on…?” “FUCKING BITCH…!” a loud snarl had come from there, quickly assaulting both her ears all at once as it had an aura of masculinity. As the female became introduced to those new voices, the scream from before subsided into sorrow, sharing the same gender as the former save for a few differences, “why are you doing this; what did I ever even do to you?! I just don’t understand this madness you are bringing here…!” “You think that matters here, tramp?!” the snarling from before had made its way once again, “we’re out in a war stretched out on the home front thanks to people like you supporting that bastard of a Prime Minister Gelatin and everyone out there’s in a panic. Ever since that these subversive fucks had gone and went to kill off the new princess, no one and nothing is ever even safe in the country anymore: the towns, the cities, not even the fucking capital. As far as I am ever even concerned, it’s already only a matter of time until the enemy comes in and tries to even wipe us all out so the least you can do to make up for this mess is to have a moment of your time already…!” “Just because my husband’s a man about town doesn’t mean that he’d supported that maniac one bit; even I didn’t want him on the team…!” the first voice spat back before another slap crackled about at once. “Is that who I think it is… mom…?” the observer listened in as she struggled about some more within the miniaturized space she was already in. The female then shut her eyes briefly upon hearing the sounds of sharp contact being met with haggard yelps; soon, the male voice had snapped back, “SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU BITCH! I had never asked for your second opinion at all here; while you and your fucking kind were all getting fat and happy out on the sidelines, soldiers like myself here have fought and died just to keep the peace from being torn asunder at the seams! We had ended up losing a whole lot of our comrades recently ever since that bombing at the Terminal: my friend, Macintosh, had even went missing and all they found was that fucking slut of a terrorist no longer in the hot seat where she was supposed to!” “I’m sorry about what had happened long ago but it’s not like we’d predicted this would take place…!” the first voice had slowly whimpered about all at once, causing the timid observer to squint and squirm in the process, “besides, why would you just take it out on me if you hate the Prime Minister?” “Mom… what are you even talking about…?” she peeped only quietly, keeping her own voice down as to avoid detection. The female listened to sounds of pain quacking emerging yet again following the slaps as the attacker yelled, “I SAID SHUT UP; IF I HAD WANTED YOUR OPINION, THEN I WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR ONE!” “Hey Dagger…!” another male voice had interjected, bearing more differences compared to the first one, “are you there…?” “Not now, Razor… can’t you see that I am fucking busy with her?!” the aforementioned listener had just spoken back all at once already with some venom instantaneously sustained in its very place. As she began to struggle about upon hearing those two names come into her ears, the other female’s voice now came about, pleading so lugubriously, “please… don’t do this; I beg of you…” “I see then; you realize that the invading army’s gonna be here soon, aren’t you…?” the second male had only replied about within an earshot in due time, “we got bigger fish to fry here anyway…!” “I’m not some fucking retard out here; besides, we still got plenty of time to have some fun with her…” Dagger had quickly spat out while some soft crying had now begun to take place all at once. Razor scoffed and responded to him with a hint of fury, “how…? She’s not the enemy, you know…” “But her husband’s a politician and I have hated them since they had voted for that fucking psycho recently…!” the primary male had instantaneously elaborated all at once in due time no less, “at least with the likes of him now gone out of the way, nothing else won’t even stop us yet…” “I’m telling you: my Trigger never even voted for Gelatin…!” a wail broke out for the very two to hear aloud at once. Despite the sadness that ended up on the air, it had soon fallen on deaf as another crackle was being heard again followed by a rather frustrated grunt, “damn, you’re such a broken record here; you know what I should do to you here? I ought to be wrecking you to pieces for defying me, you dumb bitch…!” “No… please don’t…” the feminine voice murmured about before it had quickly escalated into a pained shriek, “GEERAAAAUUUHHH!” “MOMMY!” the enclosed female cried as she began to hear the attacker grunting ferociously at once; sadly, anything she could even do to break one out from that dark space was rendered moot to say the very least. As she heard the timid crying being let loose into the thin air, Dagger chuckled about darkly at once, “do you like that, you motherfucking cunt; pleased to find that my own huge cock is now the only thing that’s keeping your whore mouth from repeating itself already? You’re such a high priced little whore and I have even fucked a few whores during those very days; it would only seem like yesterday that you couldn’t wait to have another gourmet brunch along with the other sluts.” “STOP…!” his victim had quickly cried out in some pain and agony at once, “YOU’RE HURTING ME ALREADY…!” “CAN IT, YOU BITCH…!” her attacker only spat out, a loud slap was heard once more in an instant, this time with feeling. As she kept on crying about, Razor interjected at once, “Dagger, stop this; you’re going too far…!” “Fuck off, will ya; besides, when I’m through with this shriveled up wench here, she’s gonna wish that she’d ran away at the first opportunity!” the aforementioned voice had just snarled back at his partner already before returning his focus back on target at once, “just look at yourself here, spending your days with other movers and shakers twenty four hours a day, getting full of yourself on some shitty high cuisine, and him almost certainly considering the thought of fucking all of other rich chicks just like you but younger. Just because you’ve gotten all of the jewel encrusted shit here and there with a big ass tax refund doesn’t make you a great fucking citizen; you’re just another two–bit slut with a high maintenance price tag like all the others.” “That’s not true… that’s not true at all… THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE…!” the occupant suddenly screamed rather loudly even though that she had already remained unheard of so to speak; even now, her very eyes became watery at once. Nevertheless, Dagger’s victim wailed at once as she remained at his mercy, “please, I’m bleeding right now…!” “SO FUCKING WHAT, WENCH?!” he screamed all at once before making another slap onto her within only a few seconds, “your own pain is absolutely nothing compared to the recent bloodshed that I had witnessed at the mercy of the enemy we’ve been fighting. Besides, it won’t even be long now until you come like the fast and loose bitch that you truly are and from the way I see it, it’s going to be real soon here. Not all the currency in the whole wide world will ever even make the pain go away for the time being; after all, you ought to be enjoying this right… about…” “HNNAAUNHHHH~!” a weary moan had echoed from the male’s target before quickly downgrading itself back to a rather wheezy struggle for some dense oxygen from the tense atmosphere. A deadened silence had now filled the atmosphere as the shell–shocked listener remained in place with an abundance of changes all throughout the very way. The wide vibrant eyes of a royal purple that circled around were being offset by the faint yet sharp redness that accumulated beyond those irises. The thin silvery hair that was residing upon her head was standing on endwise with some of its thinnest strands already being found to be out of place. The female’s pearly white teeth have even been flashed out and about rather tightly widened about in a short series of chattering against itself. The dark skin already plastered over her very tender face was quickly becoming moistened with teardrops as she sniffled about in the process. The female also felt her ears shaking about as the panting and moaning had now begun to invade both of them all at once. As she had silently sobbed to herself, Dagger laughed maniacally at once and said only coldly, “see, even after all this time and she ends up bursting like a hose, every one of them whores does.” “You’ve had your fun…” a faint gasp escaped before it metamorphosed into a sorrowful howl, “just kill me already…! I don’t want to live in a world where such bastards like you are running the show like this…!” “And then what: I go and end up being one of the same as these very fucks; how about NO?!” the brazen attacker had bellowed as some sharp sturdy footfalls were now just being heard afterwards. A brief silence made its way across the tense and bitter atmosphere before it was shooed out again, this time by Razor who said, “why don’t you do as she says, Dagger; can’t you see that’s what’s she asking for already…?” “And I said ‘absolutely not’ Razor…!” the aforementioned attacker replied, this time rather coolly than before, “besides, she’ll have plenty of time in getting to decide what happens to herself and the way I see it from the looks of it all, it would be best to go ahead and make it quick.” “I hope you… I hope you… I hope you burn for this…” she now cried softly as one set of footfalls from one male became doubled at once, already in the process of leaving her alone all at once. It wasn’t even long until a sudden slam soon made its way across the void as the golden silence slowly but surely returned all at once; at that point in time, the unseen observer had found mercy in both of these tepid ears of hers. For a rather small moment no less, it would have seemed at least that tranquility in and of itself had now returned to the graphic scene all at once, no longer being at the risk of being spirited away by such a noise like the one before. Of course, given what had already happened to have taken place in the distant past short measurements of time itself, not even this very false peace thereof would perhaps barely last to say in the very least whatsoever. The female that heard it all had begun to tremble about and sniffle, silently seeping out some small teardrops from the shaky purple eyes before she had sobbed all at once, “oh, MOTHER WHY…?” Even though that she remained hidden away within the jet black void, her sorrow had become louder each passing second as the system shock became rather all too much to bear for the most part. “Is this it: a future of being subjugated by such injustice from all around; isn’t it what we’ve raised our Silver Spoon to avoid being a part of…?” the eponymous listener heard being choked out in amid the sorrow and anger being expressed in due time, “I glad that she’s not around to see this but I don’t want to wait any longer to tell her what happened to me; in fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if Trigger dumps me aside when he finds out about it. I just hope that whatever happens, he takes good care of her and makes sure that she grows up to be a strong and kind woman than I have been and could be; at this rate, I won’t be able to join them both safely without getting caught in the crossfire.” At that point in time, the observer’s face currently contorted itself into that of horror as she soon heard what had been already said for the most part. Silver Spoon then found her own set of lips quickly quivering about even as the rest of the entire body remained frozen solid in place like an old snake. While she had suddenly stopped crying, her mother nevertheless continued onward where she had left off, shuffling around a bit rather haggardly before some metal started to clink about. “What is she doing; is that…?” was all that Silver Spoon could choke out before the sounds stopped itself in place. By now, only the trembling listener can hear her sob out despite being rather quietly, “goodbye, Silver…” “MOM, DON’T–––” she cried loudly before some wet gurgling had quickly popped up in the mix; now, an aura of learned helplessness already surrounded her as she shook about against the unseen confinements in a blind fury before subsiding already to say just two words: “I’m… sorry…” It was without a doubt that Silver Spoon became truly alone as she were before, wallowing in sorrow upon hearing the whole turn of events unfolding before her very ears; while fortunate to not experience what had occurred, the end of it all refused to paint a picture befitting even so much as a bittersweet symphony. FruitAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter three of my first My Little Pony fanfic sequel that, like its predecessor, is Mature no less on the grounds that a previous chapter had dealt with a heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those certain readers; suffice to say, this was by far a stronger note for many and therefore they were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you've taken up this offer, it was only up to you to do so, nothing more. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you enjoy this chapter now more than the others and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for future chapters later; henceforth, I will leave you with but one saying only: thank you very much. Fruit The light in and of itself had so many properties harbored within it: warmth and guidance to all; of course, there was also another quality that was already revealed by the changing atmosphere. With so much as a keen eye, one can even see it give off some colors in many shades and hues to be seen in there at once; out of these colors, many would be most commonly found on the planet. As a matter of fact, the very soil itself would even serve to provide such a color capable of provide life to those that dwell around its premises thereof so long as the consumers remain wary. With its colors painting the scenery as if it were being done by a legendary professional draughtsman, the burning daylights had become rather emphaticized at once. The spacious cerulean firmament held up an abundance of snow white clouds traversing along with the birds and bugs against the illustrious shine of the golden sun. Within the dream drop distance of life itself was but a large sea of the brilliant green, each fiber of them in various shades and hues creating a bewildering camouflage. The calm gentle breeze traversed throughout the herbage inside of them as the lush landscape remained loud and proud of its structured foundation amongst one another. For every piece of vegetation that dwelled within the brilliant green usually contained a plant capable of providing nourishment or mortality to any being regardless of the circumstances. Given the immense size of such acreage, it would seem that the probability of finding anyone residing in there was rather nonexistent; then again, life was brewing about nonetheless. Anyways, there was at least one tree within the herbage that stood out and about: it was tall and large; unlike the rest of them, this one was serving as an unconventional form of residence. Although that its branches held up the foliage and produced vines like the rest of them had in the acreage, three out of the very five branches had bottles hanging from the ropes rather tightly. Etched into the very bark were only two circular apertures at were peering outward from the tree, both of them serving as windows to the strange yet humble abode out amongst the brilliant green. There was also a ligneous mask that found its own way on top of the brown door as it rested firmly underneath the blossoming foliage which had already provided them some pale shelter. Compare to the rest of the dense forestry, the abnormal structure of this very tree in question was hollowed out; therefore, it was already anomalous enough to serve as a highly established domicile. The very ligneous ceiling in its entirety also had some of the small vials hanging out from there as well, albeit in a rather smaller quantity in comparison to what had already remained on the outside. Buried firmly within the inner walls of the single tree were also some potions and bottles too, except that they were all standing upon a shelf with some vases and books within close proximity of one another. There were only a pair of tall and stout white candles found with the edge of them but they weren’t even lit at this moment in time; of course, that didn’t try to stop the light from travelling deep inside the windowsills. In addition, there were even at least three more masks that clung onto the very upper corners of the foundation thereof, all of which that had been carrying the same form at once but in different styles nonetheless. Resting upon the brown lumber door upon itself was but a small willow hoop with so many intricate strings that intersected with one another in reckless abandonment all throughout the small circle. All that had remained within the very space was a jet black cauldron standing within a diminutive shallow pit, empty and hollow yet capable of holding so much more as the tree currently done already. “Ahh…” a small groan escaped into the atmosphere, emitting from within the confines of the strange home. It wasn’t long until the owner of the organic cry was revealed: a freckled feminine face with a bright complexion had walked out and about into the open. There was a set of some straight hot red hair that already ran past the nape of her neck, its solid color speaking loudly and proudly compared to the rest of the abode. Found upon the very tresses was but a light pink bow resting on them, its fabric being a lighter shade that was juxtaposed along the way. Deeply found within the half–shut eyelids were circles of orange that peered out at the surrounding where the female currently resided in. A dark green dress was already overlaid upon the redhead’s body, its own frilly edges reaching down to her very kneecaps at once. Both of her two feet were already adorned with some sandals that had matched the texture of the premises thereof. In the occupant’s hand was but a slender stick held firmly in place, its flat tip pointing from her grasp at once. At that very moment, she steadily inspected the place throughout with that stick, taking a stand alone against what had come her way. Even though that the vials and cauldron were well within the redhead’s line of sight, they were all blurred a bit in a foggy cloud at an edge. A heavy yet steady breath soon escaped from her plain lips as she maintained some awareness of the texture around. Soon, the trembling redhead felt both of her ears standing on endwise as the sounds of some footfalls made its way known at once followed by a turning latch; as a result, she had turned to the door to find an individual stepping into the fray: it was another female albeit with differences. This one had been walking tall and with skin firmly in the dark, wearing only a face full of confidence and a faint smile being plastered out amongst the tender visage. A calm circuitry of chilled cerulean orbs was found to be peering out into the direction of the younger counterpart’s current standing all at once. The woman had possessed some tresses neatly arranged in a set pattern of both black and white in equal proportions whatsoever, all of which that was straightforward down to the nape of the neck. Her slender frame was covered up by a large brown fabric; in addition, her feet were wearing some sandals as the other albeit in a jet black scheme. As the stick wielding redhead held her composure, the woman calmly chuckled and had said to the former all at once, “Apple Bloom, you are already awake; I had just gotten back from the lake.” “Good Morning, Zecora…” the young female replied steadily as she had yawned, “are ya alright…?” “Nothing but some water to refresh the mind; thanks for the question so kind…” the woman answered back calmly. Apple Bloom began to slide away from Zecora for some room and stretched her arms apart slowly; as the latter had watched on, the former then said, “do you suppose that the zap apples will be coming back to the Everfree forest anytime soon…? Granny Smith, may she rest in peace, used to have my sister and brother harvest these back at the farm where Ah had used to live there.” “I cannot say for sure yet, little one; but as soon as the howl comes, it’ll be done…” the lanky woman sighed as she had slowly placed a hand upon the shorter female’s shoulder, “besides, there’s something about it that I must ask: are you going to be able to go use them for some task…?” “To be honest, yes Zecora: do ya remember that one letter that mah sister Applejack had just sent to you and me back almost a month ago…?” Apple Bloom had slowly answered with a small yawn. Zecora knelt down a bit and responded at once, “as clear as the skies are still blue, ‘tis true for both me and you; the times that we had read and write, our bonds strengthened through and through…” “Her birthday is coming up soon so Ah had thought about making a cake just as a big surprise…” the young redhead said already, “she used to tell us how extremely important it was for us in the family to get every single thing exactly right; Ah had even been able to write down what Ah could remember since the time Ah had started to get mah sight back years ago. I know that things were different back then since we had them growing at our home but I just want to ready for them to show up this time; after all, Ah can’t afford to have Applejack keep feeling sorry for me over some silly war, let alone say it for what happened either. I may have nearly gone blind from the poisoning but I don’t want everyone else to think that I am weak just because of it; besides, I want to move on past the pain and not have to wake up from the nightmares every once or so in a week. Ah–––” “Please try to understand: that’s such a demand…” the woman interjected softly, wiping away a stray tear within due time. Apple Bloom turned away from Zecora’s calm blue eyes to face the vials before returning to have the complementary orange face them back and said, “Ah know that but believe that it’s the only way to let her know that Ah have forgiven her already nonetheless; even so, living with you over the years was a miracle for the both of us. Once upon a time, Ah had always wished and prayed that Sweet Apple Acres would still be standing at the end of the day like it had before; now, Ah am right about sick of crying about what had happened to us. Writing these letters to Applejack back and forth had given us the kind of comfort that lets us made known how we had loved and cherished our bonds as sisters and remind us of the good times we had when we were so close together. Ah would like to at least keep it that way and she would definitely want the same thing as well too; besides, Ah even have mah own share of regrets too and as much as she knows this already, I want to remind her as she did reminded me that we are not alone as we think.” “I can agree with that too, Apple Bloom; all of us came face to face with certain doom…” the woman said calmly before exhaling at once, “nevertheless, your open fate is to just simply wait: your sister’s mind has yet to be mended and you still need to be at least tended; while that your two eyes have started to see a hue, the recovery process isn’t through. The fact that you were nearly dead had left Applejack seeing red: had it not been for a quick time, you’d have been victim of such crime; even as long as I would live, not even I could just forgive. As these memories can go on and on, even hope rests on the horizon: time is moving slowly, but it heals rather surely; soon, the nightmares will bygone as we all hither yon. The present alone is but an opportunity to maintain your sisterly unity: as long as we believe, we don’t have to bereave; the past stays behind while the future goes to unwind. The years we had spent gave us hope, not just simply to cope, but to look away from the slope with a brighter scope: our survival is proof of such things as important as it is for kings lest the fatality from the red string will make us all sprout some wings. As though that such a surprise itself is great, we must both keep ourselves straight.” “If you insist Zecora, then I will try…” the redhead had quickly replied all within due time no less. At this very moment in time, Zecora placed Apple Bloom within a tight embrace and said calmly, “yes you will, won’t be long ‘til…” “In any case, do we still have any ink and paper left…?” the little redhead had asked as she soon started to wipe away her eyes free of liquid, “I want to send out another letter to Applejack today.” “The parchments are due and the ink is too…” the woman answered as she patted the red tresses softly. Soon, a small smile was found upon the young Apple Bloom’s face and she said, “I suppose so; I want to talk to her…” “That I can see; do you want help from me…?” Zecora asked calmly as she slowly broken away from the organic encirclement thereof, “it would be nice that you let me please look this through…” “That’s okay Zecora; I’ve been getting a lot better at writing more clearly since you taught me how to do it again and I can’t wait to tell my sister about what just happened yesterday…” the redhead replied before scurrying away into a nearby crevice underneath the warmly colored mask. The location of where Apple Bloom had gone off into was almost obvious to say the very least: it was a just a room with a small storage space. All that had remained in there was a simple bed resting nearby a window donned in a spotty yellow comforter neatly aligned in place. Only one vial was found inside the very room in question but it happened to be a lot smaller than the others outside overall. As the redhead started to sit down onto the cover, she had found a piece of paper and a feather nearby her line of sight. With the elder woman looking onward, Apple Bloom started to squint at the flat sheet and began to make sense of what she wished which words would appear on there. The redhead took note of the diminutive bottle within the room and opened; afterwards, the tip of the feather landed right into the opening. As she had pulled it out at once, there was a jet black substance emerging from where the unlocked bottle had remained in place that clung to the surface. Slowly and steadily, Apple Bloom soon started to scribble out a simple letter within seconds, slightly set out to script even a short sentence at the summit of the paper sheet. The redhead concentrated even further to detail a symphony of words all upon there from the darkened instrument at once; sure enough, it had now simply read out only two words: “Dear Applejack.” With a deep breath, she moved towards the otherwise uniform parchment and placed a comma at the end upon the upper left hand corner. Apple Bloom pulled the feather away from the sheet before returning it to its surface, constructing some more letters directly below the first batch. Finding the little strength thereof to begin where the redhead had already started off, the synthetic inscription grew steadily onward within each passing seconds given out to her. With the weary eyelids already locked into a tense squint, she started to focus on what was being written down; of course, it wasn’t without a moment of silence to consider a strategy. Aside from a stray blot or two nearby the darken text, Apple Bloom continued to place down some calligraphy upon the white paper with a shred of newfound fortitude within her very grasp. As soon as the redhead was finally finished, he set of sentences had now made itself across by only half, each adorned with a set of rustic neatness being out of place but otherwise easy to read aloud nonetheless. After putting the feather away from the bedside, she started to take some time in studying what had been written down since the beginning: a white sheet of paper that grew beyond simple words. Looking past the indenting, the constrained yet fluid wall of wording was being read by none other than Apple Bloom herself: “I wished that you were there at the air show with me; you could have at least seen it though. My friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo happened to find me there when we had went over to the bayside. We all had thought that we would never see each other again after what had happened to our hometown. Sweetie was able to tell her a joke that made us laugh because of what she was doing with her fingers. Rainbow was also there too; Scootaloo said that she was like the star of the show over there with the flying. I’m happy that you have been getting better over the years now that the war is over; I just hope to see you again face to face. With love and best wishes, XOXO Your Dear Sister, Apple Bloom. P.S. – Zecora says hi.” A flood of tears threatened the moment that the redhead had to herself as it came to call collect upon her visage. Even with the presence of Zecora nearby, Apple Bloom thought to herself as the only person in the whole wide world to be marooned on some remote island. The fact that the redhead was writing such things to her own flesh and blood was proof of how much everything had seemed to change. “Is that blight; are you alright…?” the older woman asked as Apple Bloom hyperventilated a bit at once, “you’re shaking… are you crying…?” “N–n–no… I’m happy… that I’m–––” the redhead had soon suddenly stammered on as she gotten off the bed at once, quickly holding onto Zecora’s body as the former started to weep silently. The older woman took note of the words that were transcribed on a sizeable piece of paper, wary of what the writer had done; slowly, the former was retreating from the sounds and thought to herself, “many moons had passed ever since she’d seen things I would mince: once they were lost and stolen away, yet they found themselves another day; yet, the pain lingers on the two like droplets of dew. The little one mourns for her home as I have after over the loam; such a shame that a small town was being cruelly torn down. Even though that it’s all over, we still being guided by a drover: people grow and pass, the soil becomes like grass, places deteriorate, and ideas lose mass; yet, things remain the same as little as many would claim. Normally, these turn of events had made me crave death but it’s miraculous to hear the little one take her breath; because of that, I am rather grateful of it for even her smile shows some wit. I admire her company and her bravery and yet mourn for her sister’s civility; after all, the worst of their pain had made it far from plain.” Apple Bloom’s silent sobs had now broken Zecora away from the subconscious shielding of hers, prompting the latter to quickly return the hug that the former had already given; now, they were not alone as once previously thought sometime long before in their minds or hearts within the two. CoreAuthor's Note Hello, it's Fireflower as always, ready to give you another chapter to this story on the way: of course, like the second one, this will contain references to certain subject matters and thusly is the reason why this story has been rated M for Mature; the only thing I can say is that I hope you are not under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated. In addition, I would like to take this time to inform you that this chapter is only filled to the brim with nightmare fuel, capable of bring shock, awe, and outrage out of you in ways too horrible to imagine so it's with a generous heart and mind that yours truly has uploaded another chapter after this as well on the same day no less, like before: for those of you amongst themselves wishing to skip ahead, please do so; I promise, this one will help calm your nerves a bit for the most part. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you can withstand this chapter now and stay tuned for future chapters later on then again, you have but a few options: stop right there and wait, go back to the beginning, or skip ahead to the next chapter; whatever decision you make, I won't blame you but consider yourselves warned. Core All throughout the very way, there was only but an abysmal unknown of a rather complete whiteness where such factors of sight, substance, and scent lay buried in obscurities referred to as an ethereal void. The exceptions that started to give out some key clues to the location’s identity were none other than surface, sensitivity, and sound: such were the plain gentle breezes that were being close to comfort anyone that would cross its path. The most important quality that had been able to remain discovered was a far from desolate wasteland that defined the quaint landscape; after all, this bright light all around the way proved to be outright temporary to say the very least. As a matter of fact, there was at least one living being that had stood out and about amongst the void: it was a bright skinned female lying supine even as the wind was still blowing onward. A set of some straight hot red hair was found to be already running past the nape of the neck with its loud and proud color solidly like an old snake slithering upon the solid ground thereof. She’d on a simple white hat that was resting upon the colorful tresses that matched both her belt and blouse adorning the petite body beneath the neckline, its texture refusing to be assimilated into the fold. Resting firmly underneath them both was a long and plain jet black dress that was also being accompanied by a short skirt that stood out in contrast to the blank landscape that she had already been quickly found in. In addition, the redhead had even worn some thick black shoes upon her very feet albeit being a few shades rather brighter than the rest of her current attire thereof. “Applejack…” she had murmured about at once as she slowly opened her eyes of orange at once, signaling an attempt to being conscientious of her current state thereof. When the redhead started coming to her senses, she was surprise to find herself in a rather peculiar location at once as the minimal surroundings all across the way. She was fortunate to find that the visibility already provided for her was beyond exceptional in the very least. The airstreams that were brushing up against her ears were tender and gentle, save for the rustling of leaves dancing about. The scent was bearing the qualities of a crisp and cool breeze over the redhead’s skin that was floating above her current standing at once. Given the fact that the white ethereal void was already lacking any semblance in substance whatsoever, she was able to move about slowly without restriction in the very slightest degree. Because of all these factors that were presented, it was possible for the redhead in question to paint whatever picture that came to her dear mind. As soon as she started to saunter about slowly, a small voice was heard sneaking into her ears as it spoke out, “Apple Bloom…?” “Hmm…” the eponymous listener spoke back, turning around to find that no one was around at all in the slightest, “what…?” “Run away, Apple Bloom… you must run away…!” the voice repeated at once in spite of the inquiry. As the redhead stood out and about in confusion, she heard laughter echoed into her very ears at once; once again, she was aware of her loneliness but this time left an aura of fear all around the way. Trembling about, she slowly asked, “who was that…?” “You must run away at once, Apple Bloom; you don’t want to know what will happen if they catch you…!” the first voice had said to the aforementioned listener rather frantically, “run, they’re going to catch up to you if you don’t…!” “Muahahahaha…!” more laughter had echoed into the redhead’s ears again, this time now increasing in volume no less to the point where the dread had also increased itself in density alongside. Sure enough, she became driven to run off at once, moving into one direction in an attempt to escape the feelings of dread at once, “okay… I gotta get out of here soon… that way no one will get me…” “Apple Bloom, where are you…?” the titular runner quickly heard as it was far different from the first voice that had appealed to her very ears, “don’t you go leaving me high and dry here, sweetie.” “Just run, they’re dangerous…!” the first voice warned the redhead who heeded such short barrage of words. She'd found herself increasing her pace at once, fearful of the rather unknown threat that remained hanging overhead from behind. Despite the fact that nothing would've seemed to be after Apple Bloom, she'd refused to even consider the thought of taking any chances whatsoever. Needless to say, the achromatic aura of dread that was swirling around the timid redhead had refused to stop tailing her in the very slightest. As she kept on running about, the second voice now invaded her ears again, speaking slowly but surely all at once, “what’s wrong, Apple Bloom; don’t you even want to see your big sister Applejack again?” “Applejack…?” was all that the eponymous runner choked out as she started to slow down a bit, “you know where Applejack is…?” “Don’t believe those lies; they just want to trick you into lowering your guard…!” the first voice quickly said as the redhead kept on moving, afraid to turn around and look what would be behind her current location. She hesitated for a moment to contemplate these thoughts: on the one hand, her fears had the possibility to manifest itself within an instant; on the other hand, this had prompted a response, “what about Applejack…?” “Just get away already…!” the first voice echoed back all at once, “it’s just a trick for them, Apple Bloom…!” “BUT WHY?!” the aforementioned listener had then shouted out rather loudly all at once in due time. As the redhead expected an answer, only the second voice was able to coo her trembling ears, “oh, Apple Bloom, what a silly lady…” “I’m not silly… I’m not silly…” she mumbled to herself while running about, the orange eyes shaking and shrinking about in the process, “I just want Applejack back…” “Apple Bloom, watch out…!” a warning ranged into the titular runner’s ears but it was too late; she quickly found herself stumbling over something that sent her face down into the otherwise even terrain. The redhead rubbed her face and started turning around to find what had impeded the pathway; as a result, what she had found caused the face upon the bright skin to contort into sheer horror: it was a blackened corpse smoldering about at once. Given the very size of it, it would perhaps be safe to say that was sharing the same frame as her; of course, the remaining dry weight of it all had presently left a lot of room for guessing about here and there. Despite possessing the texture that bore some damage sustained in a common fire, the fabric it worn was similar to the attire that she wore on her own body; as such, it was easy to assume that the cadaver was of the same gender as well. Some portions of skeletal matter were instantaneously found to be upon the skull and arms while the rest was just a pile of smoke and ashes that lay nearby the burnt yet otherwise identical textiles thereof. The smoldering shoes that were donned upon the corpse’s feet remained still, having been directly fused to the red dead skin trailing up to the wearer’s legs in a series of markings that left behind a brutal picture. Apple Bloom felt her own heart beating against the ribcage underneath the skin, shaking about before suddenly screaming at once, “NO… NO… NO… NO… NO…!” The shock of finding something like this in such a strange area caused the redhead to weep uncontrollably, creating a flood of tears that fell onto the cadaver’s clothes. Even as she shut those orange eyes away with her hands, the image that was burned into them refused to leave the lugubrious Apple Bloom at all. The redhead struggled to wipe her own tears away as she came to find more in their place as they moistened the hands upon them as she wailed all so seamlessly nonetheless. “I’m sorry…” Apple Bloom heard as she lost the strength to resume chase while crying loudly over the charred corpse that tripped her gait; during that time, the voice from before said, “you didn’t have to see this…” “WHY?!” the redhead bawled as she couldn’t bear to open up her eyes back in the midst of such overwhelming sadness. As Apple Bloom stayed put, something had happened: the cadaver struggled to move and said, “don’t cry… it’s not your fault here…” “Who said that…?” the redhead sobbed as her ears perked up to what had already been told at once, “where are you…?” “Right here…” an answer was heard as Apple Bloom slowly opened up her eyes; unfortunately, this was the part where things had gotten worse: she had found herself in front of the corpse, this time with it eyes glowing yellow. At that point, the redhead screamed at the top of her lungs and crawled away from the newly reanimated feature at once, “WHO ARE YOU?!” “Aww, you don’t even remember me, do ya…?” the cadaver cooed at once rather soothingly before casting it aside, “I used to be the one gal that had helped you escape from those bastards before I have gotten burned here; it’s all coming back to you, ain’t it Apple Bloom? All those fucking floors that you used to scrub, the damned whips on your back and hands, the time you were pushed aside onto the ground…” “Stop that already…!” the eponymous listener had cried aloud, shaking her head as she edged away from there at once. Nevertheless, the bright–eyed corpse followed the young observer and had only replied, “why should I want to do that; after all, didn’t I sacrifice my life just to save you so many years ago? Of course, you wouldn’t even seem to understand what I had gone through; besides, I did a lot more than just cooking and cleaning all sorts of shit here and there: I had to give up my own body as well…! I could go into detail about how they made great use of myself but I believe that all you’ll get is the results of what that fucker did to me the minute she tried to take you to your sister…!” “Please… stop saying things like that…!” Apple Bloom wept as she closed her eyes and turned away from the ghastly sight, “Ah didn’t know they would even do such things…!” “Ah, but they did and if it weren’t for me, then you could have end up just like all of the others in the Cavern: a bunch of thieves and whores…!” the cadaver cackled a cacophony of callousness cruelly carved into the redhead’s ears at once. As the cold laughter reached a higher volume, Apple Bloom cried desolately as she shook her head thinking, “no no no, she’s just only lying; but, if that’s the case, then why is it that it sounds so…?” “Deny all you want, Apple Bloom; it ain’t gonna change the fact that you are alive because of me…!” the corpse said to the titular redhead while pointing a finger at her, “besides, you already have someone to live for, am I right…?” “What do you mean by that…?” the young observer had whimpered, reopening her recently shut eyes. The cadaver now moved her own finger away from the trembling Apple Bloom and had quickly answered, “more like ‘who’ exactly to be precise; as a matter of fact, why don’t you go on ahead and ask her already…” “Her…?” was all that the fragile redhead had peeped out as she turned her head away from the cruel giggling ghoulish corpse; upon doing so, the former was met with a heart–stopping sight, “Applejack…?” At this point, the young onlooker came face to face with another being, a female just like herself and the reanimated cadaver but with a different attire instead. A wide brimmed hat was now resting firmly upon Applejack’s golden locks, giving off a shadow that eclipsed over the freckled terracotta skin on her face. The tanned blonde’s body was adorned with a dark blue jacket, already overlaid by a yellow reflective vest that remained open up. Applejack also wore a jet black fabric upon her long legs, reaching down long enough to touch her tall brown boots all at once. “In the flesh and in the blood unlike me, of course…!” the corpse jeered as she started clapping her hands, unsettling Apple Bloom even more. The tanned blonde seemed to have ignored the laughter and said to the redhead at once, “Apple Bloom…” “Applejack…” was all that the young observer could even peep out only slowly in response, “is that you…?” “Apple Bloom…” Applejack repeated anyway, disregarding the question her aforementioned sister had only asked. Slowly regaining her composure, Apple Bloom tried to speak to the tanned blonde upfront again, “Applejack, are you okay…?” “Apple Bloom…” the tall female had called out once more, this time with feeling, “Ah want to ask you something…” “Yeah…” the eponymous redhead replied only reluctantly within due time. All of the sudden, Applejack started to bleed out from her eyes and growled, “DO YA HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT AH HAD TO GO THROUGH SINCE YA GONE AWAY?!” “What?!” the young observer choked out as she retreated from where the tanned blonde stood up, “don’t ya remember what happened? Ah was taken from our home by the bad men who’d killed Granny Smith…” “RIGHT, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…!” Applejack snarled as she moved towards Apple Bloom at once, blood still pouring out of the former’s eyes This sight now made the redhead wince in fear as she stuttered, “w–w–what do you mean, Applejack…?” “THESE BAD MEN DID MORE THAN JUST TAKE YA AWAY FROM ME…!” titular blonde answered at once, her once clean clothes becoming dirtier in the process, “WHILE YOU WERE GONE, THEY’D KILLED OUR WINONA AND THESE BASTARDS TOOK TURNS VIOLATING ME! AH TRIED TO FIGHT BACK AND SAVE YA BUT THEY HURT ME IN WAYS THAT MADE ME THINK ABOUT WHAT YA COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH! EVEN THEN, ALL I HAD EVER WANTED WAS TO FUCKING DIE BECAUSE OF THE THOUGHT THAT YA WERE DEAD BUT THEN I FOUND YA, YA OWN BODY ADVERTISED AS IF YA WERE A COMMON SLAVE! AH HAD FIGURED THAT IF AH HAD CAUGHT UP WITH YA, THEN AH COULD HAVE AT LEAST SAVED YA BUT AH WAS WRONG! THE MOMENT I AH SAW YA AGAIN, YOU WERE LAYING ON THE FLOOR WITH A BOTTLE OF POISON NEARBY; IT MADE ME CRY AGAIN, THIS TIME MUCH MORE THAN WHEN THEY RAVAGED ME LONG AGO BECAUSE OF IT! AH FIGURED THAT THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR ME TO DO NOW WAS TO PUT YOU OUT OF BOTH OUR MISERIES; AS A MATTER OF FACT, MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR ME TO FINISH WHAT AH HAD STARTED!” “Applejack, please Ah beg of you: ya don’t have to do any of this; none of these men didn’t even do anything to me at all…!” the young observer pleaded as the tall woman now stood nearby her at once. Applejack knelt down and stared into Apple Bloom’s orange eyes, the former’s still bleeding out and with a darkened sclera to boot while snorting, “IT’S TOO LATE…!” “Applejack, just stop; Ah am your sister Apple Bloom…!” the aforementioned redhead had responded, “ya can’t do this, ya just can’t…!” “IT DOESN’T MATTER; IT’S ALREADY IN MOTION…!” the tanned blonde spat as she raised up both her hands in the process. Seeing as they were now nearing Apple Bloom’s neckline, she cried out, “well, throw it out of motion; everything is fine…!” “NO… IT’S… NOT…!” Applejack roared as she seized her grip onto her sister at once, “JUST SAY HI TO GRANNY AND BABS WHEN AH GET THROUGH WITH YA…!” “A–pple–jack…!” Apple Bloom stuttered as her neck was now being squeezed by the tanned blonde at once. All that was being done now was Applejack was in the process of strangling her own sister with nothing to stop them. The tanned blonde had wheezed through her bright white fangs while the redhead coughed out from her opened mouth. Applejack found herself tightening her own grip onto Apple Bloom despite the latter’s attempt to put up a struggle. The scent of blood and hot air went up into the redhead’s nostrils as the tanned blonde refused to let go of her anyway. Apple Bloom struggled to speak but the slow decrease in oxygen made any attempt in reaching out to Applejack fail. Even so, the redhead watched as her vision of the ghastly being that was once her sister started to subside into darkness. With Apple Bloom’s pupils now starting to fade out, Applejack murmured maliciously onward, “almost… there…!” “App–le–jack…” the redhead exhaled haggardly as her neck was being tightened by the tanned blonde’s vice grip, “please…” “That’s right… rest in peace… just… like… Granny…!” Applejack growled as a loud snapping crackled popped out into the fold. Sure enough, Apple Bloom was now all alone once more, this time residing onto the surface with blood pooling out her own mouth. The once vibrant eyes of orange that had belonged to the redhead were almost completely devoid of life, save for a fluttering flicker. As she now laid dying, a flood of tears were now staining her weary face as she gurgled about with almost no end in sight at all. At long last, Apple Bloom then breathed out at once with only one thing to say from her own lips, “why…?” UvulaAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter five of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with heavy subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was also by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to that chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now approaching the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year has provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. Uvula The clinging and clanging of such metal gear against itself was heard throughout the cold distance as their innate structures had served to provide the monotone percussion all across the way at once. The identity to this very cause originated from a bell that despite being painted in gold was made of brass, possessing many dents and crack yet capable of withstanding the vibrations and echoes it had gave. It was currently hanging around and about as it swung back and forth in an arc during the aria, already held firmly in place by a pole stretching outward that had been fitted in to touch two opposite sides. Outwith the gargantuan instrument itself was but a large building with most of its external structure tightly resting underneath it as the cacophonous percussion had started to subside altogether in due time. Zoning out up high as at least a few stories tall was a clock displaying a face with an obtuse angle, its arrows pointing to the digits: the long one rested between the two of them whereas the short one was direct. A big red flag was found at the rooftop, already waving around over the wooden shingles that were predominate, save for a glass dome that only served as a skylight to provide some illumination for its denizens. Residing a mere few furlongs from the very entrance was a stone statue in the form of a hippogriff, standing about atop a pedestal upon its hind limbs with both claws clutching onto some air in a tight grip. Kowtowing to all of this and heaven too were many thin blades of green grass with the occasional stone pavement carved into them, a large piece of nature becoming intertwined with an artificial minority. Spreading around were the many people that were currently coming from and going to the structure in their collective vicinity, each varying in such traits and characteristics both superficial and otherwise. One particular figure in question happened to stand out and about amongst the sea of faces, trudging away from the structure that which stood behind upon the unbeaten path out in front all at once. A set of curly locks were found to be separated into two different colors, most of them painted in a royal purple hue whereas the rest were dyed in a hot pink as they had barely made it past her neckline. Running around the two pupils were but a pair of jade orbs and hovering directly above them were some eyebrows already furrowed into a slight incline hanging around and about in the balance. The owner’s face was feminine, possessing a complexion already free of imperfections thereof and came with brightness reminiscent of a peach traversing down the riverside detailed with blush. Her attire, although simplistic was otherwise elaborate for the most part: a dark magenta jacket with matching boots, a striped blouse barely matching the owner’s locks, and bright yellow shorts. Slung over the female’s back was a large orange backpack held together by two thick straps that were being carried around by the owner’s hands as she’d remained still against the mobile crowd around. She stood upright to stare at the scenery in front of her, surrounded by many other faces but unperturbed anyway to scan in the details provided. The heavens above her were white as cotton, devoid of whatever color, imaginable or otherwise that could paint it in any form or fashion whatsoever. In the distance was a large body of water that despite being rather colorless already gave off its true blue state further along the wayside all at once. Aside from the building that was behind the female, there were others as well within the vicinity that had varied in size and texture thereof all around. Resting in front of the rocky pavement she was standing upon, there was also a dirt road in the middle that was filled many kinds of people as well. She even found a few flowers fluttering about in the wind along with some leaves as well, coming around in many colors within the distance. “Sweetie Belle…!” a voice called out amongst the sea of people, bringing the female’s ears to stand out on endwise. It wasn’t long until she had turned to find only one person that stood out and about within the crowd, already throwing a limb upwardly in her vicinity. The fact that such a call was already answered by the female made her identity apparent as she found a bright skinned female just like herself but taller. A tinted silver lining was found to be running right down in the middle of the mauve tresses upon the caller’s head past the nape of her neck further on. Like Sweetie Belle, the woman also had possessed some green eyes as well and in the same shade too no less, another key trait that they’d both shared. A purple sweater was found to be adorned upon the wearer’s body so thick and straight as its sleeves had reached past the length of the listener’s jacket. Circling all around the waistline and legs was but a long green skirt with a floral arrangement at the sides as they were being held up by a goldenrod strap. What was also found upon the bright skinned woman’s feet were but a pair of brown bluchers with some pink socks towering past her very ankles. The observer went towards the caller’s direction and had responded almost instantaneously, “Miss Cheerilee…?” “Sweetie Belle…!” the titular woman called out the female’s name once again, “I’m over here…” “Hello, there…!” the responder replied as she had went over to the caller’s position rather quickly. Sure enough, Sweetie Belle had suddenly jumped upward and hugged Cheerilee tightly with little warning whatsoever: of the two females that were quickly locked into an embrace, the latter spoke once again, “it seems that I had caught you at a very convenient time; how was school today…?” “So–so: we had a test this morning in Remedial Physics class; I don’t think I had done well…” the younger female answered the older counterpart before breaking away all at once, “I could barely even stay awake after lunchtime today, especially in Music Class with Treble Blue: I was worried that he would catch me sleeping again…” “Didn’t you study last night like I had told you…?” Cheerilee asked at once as several people walked by. Sweetie Belle looked away and mumbled, “yeah, but it hasn’t been easy especially considering what had happened over the years…” “I know that but we’re not alone, okay…?” the elder female had responded to her younger counterpart at once, “besides, your parents would’ve wanted the best from you; even your sister Ra–––” “Don’t say that name; I still have nightmares about her…!” Sweetie Belle interjected all too suddenly; soon, she started to walk away already. At that point, Cheerilee followed along and said, "okay, then: back to what I was saying just earlier, I am pretty sure that your mother and father would have wanted you to be the best in spite of the hardships; even your sister had became the best at my age back at the old town…" "It's not just that, Miss Cheerilee…" the young female had said to the aforementioned individual, "it's been a long time since I’ve been able to see my friends again from my old school: Apple Bloom’s still with Zecora, Scootaloo’s living with Rainbow and Soarin, and I don't know what has become of my other classmates. Last time I’d recalled, I believe that Featherweight has become somewhat of a famous journalist after the war ended, the youngest one no less. No one else has been able to check up on Diamond Tiara ever since then and that was after when they had nearly went bankrupt trying to fund the effort." "Oh yeah, now I remember… what a shame for her family’s industries to go out this way: they used to rely on the Apple Family thanks to the Zap Apples; but now that they’re gone, so is our home too…" Sweetie Belle replied slowly as she then stopped in place to face skyward like a sword. Cheerilee caught up in mere seconds and spoke back, “don’t say it like that; you still have a home and it’s not just the very homeland itself where you were born and raised. You have people that love you and care for you; people like me and your friends: Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and her sister Applejack. While that I know that they’re going through the same things that we’re in now, they would have never allowed themselves to just surrender to such notions. Do you remember that fateful day in question when you started to use sign language the first year after the war had finally ended? People who had heard of what you had gone through have all thought about the idea that you would never be able to speak again; yet, you had proved them wrong over time. Besides, the card that you had made for Applejack years ago gave her a reason to keep on living even when the doctors said that she would die in giving birth. That get well card in question was more than just a plea for her to live: it was also a declaration that you made telling whoever was willing to listen that you weren’t going to give up; so, it’d inspired Applejack to see this through to the end. In fact, the sheer discovery that you were still alive in spite of what happened to you during the war inspired me to take you in when no one else could; think of the memories we had shared together after the dust had settled. The questions that I would like to ask are: where do you live, who is looking after you, and what do you want to do with yourself in life?” “I really don’t see where you’re going with this…” the young female answered slowly, “but if there’s anything I would like to do for myself, then I want to see Applejack once again tomorrow…” “Are you sure that you want to go through with this idea…?” the woman had slowly asked all at once. Sweetie Belle turned around to face Cheerilee and answered with a nod before taking off her backpack at once, “why wouldn’t I? Ever since the social that Granny Smith had hosted years ago, I’d been able to consider the thought of letting her take me in as her sister; however, I’d never expected it to go down like that. In fact, I still miss my own family more; even with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo still at my side after all these years, I can’t get the image of my mom and dad out of my head. The way they were when I was there caused me to have nightmares even with the war over; I can still hear them calling out for me to run away to this very day. They usually go away when I’m around Applejack; even though that her sister told me what she tried to do, Apple Bloom forgave her anyway. It’s kind of sweet but sad: the fact that their bond as sisters was able to withstand whatever the world could dish out at them; yet, all that my sister saw was how our lives at our hometown were ruined along with our family as well. Why did they have to come on over and destroy everything that everyone in that town had built; what need was there in ruining the peace we had with that dumb war?! I hate everything that came about because of it: I hate these soldiers that killed my friends; I hate that man who killed my parents; I hate Rarity for trying to kill me; I hate m–––” “It’s okay, Sweetie Belle; you don’t have to blame yourself for any of this…” the tall woman had said as she’d clutched onto the eponymous individual almost instantaneously, “besides, remember what I’d said earlier: you have a lot of people that still care for you, especially Applejack since you wish to see her again. After all, you’re not the very first person to suffer the same fate as all the others had but we can at least take solace in the fact that the war is over and we can use this time to rebuild our lives somehow; for what it’s worth, we can still do this. She was able to do all this when they let her leave the hospital and this was after she’d put the child up for adoption; we’re in this together for the time being so there’s no use in thinking that way, understand…?” “I’m sorry; I’m just still upset about all this, that’s all…” Sweetie Belle wept as she returned the hug. With both females locked into an embrace, Cheerilee also shed some tears as well, barely ignoring her own as she whispered onward, “I know, let’s just go on home and rest for a while; the past week must have been draining for the both of us. Besides, we’re going to be needing all of our strength in making a visit to Applejack should we decide to go through with this very idea; does that sound fair, Sweetie Belle…?” “Okay then, Cheerilee; besides, I’m feeling sleepy already now…” the young responder had yawned, breaking off the hug to wipe away the tears around her very eyes, “I’m starting to get dizzy…” “Do you wish for me to carry you all the way to our house…?” the elder female had asked warmly. Sweetie Belle still retained enough strength to nod off to Cheerilee and replied, “well, I guess so…” “Then the matter is settled: let’s head on home then…” the elder female said before turning around, “you’re gonna have to put the backpack back on for the trip over; no use in carrying it by the hands with me moving around…” “Right then…” the young female said as she wore her little yellow backpack around again where it was. Cheerilee crouched downward and said to Sweetie Belle, “hop to it now; it’s about to get dark soon…” “Yes ma’am…!” the young listener replied, climbing onto her older counterpart’s back at once, “I’m ready…!” “Are you all set there, Sweetie Belle…?” Cheerilee asked, earning a warm hum from the titular passenger at once. It wasn’t long until the tall woman stood straight back up and began to carry onward away from the building that towered over the lot of them. Despite being amongst the sea of people moving on and about around, the two females had their eyes focused on what was currently up ahead. With their collective presence as the main method of keeping each other company, Cheerilee relied on herself to take Sweetie Belle on over. Not wanting to let go and fall to the earth beneath their very feet, the young female had held onto tightly by draping her two arms upon the elder. Cheerilee returned the favor by holding Sweetie Belle’s hands in place along the way but still payed attention to the environment around them. As the young female looked upon the other structures around them on each side, she spoke up at once, “isn’t it nice that we could see the sunset from her on any other clear day, Miss Cheerilee…?” “Maybe for you; I bet that you usually don’t stay around this long to see them when you were young…” the aforementioned individual commented onward, looking upon the grayscale sky above them in the distance, “did your father used to carrying you around when you were a little baby…?” “As far as I can remember, of course he did…” Sweetie Belle had sighed as she held onto Cheerilee tightly. As the tall woman tightly brought her younger counterpart along for the ride, the former had said to the latter rather quickly, “he must have been a great father to the two of you back then, am I right…?” “Yeah, he was…” Sweetie Belle answered Cheerilee as they’d moved across the mobile crowd all at once, "come to think of it, what was your father like when you were young, Miss Cheerilee…?" "A kind visage to come home to, Sweetie Belle: his name was Jupiter Jazz, a member of the Royal Guard for the Princess back when things were peaceful…" the tall woman answered with a faint smile upon her visage. With the eyelids no longer halfway closed, the young female had exclaimed, "you mean to tell me you’d used to live at the capital when you were young; how come you never told us about that…?" "It's actually pretty simple: no one had asked me until now…" Cheerilee giggled at Sweetie Belle as the former still carried the latter onward, "as for your previous question, yes, I did lived in the capital; of course, I wasn't the only daughter that was living with him: like you, I also have a sister, albeit a twin to boot. She's a professional wrestler named Mighty Mystery but her real name is none other than Cherry Blossom herself; we’d both lived there during our childhoods until we became sixteen years old. At that time, we’d decided to go our separate ways from here: I’d travelled down south to pursue my career as a teacher whereas she’d gone westward to find fame and fortune." “But Miss Cheerilee, don’t you get lonely enough that you miss them or your hometown…?” the young passenger had asked instantaneously. All that the tall woman could do was laugh and answered back, “I don’t see whatever kind of reason that anyone else would have if they aren’t; of course, when I’m with you, it’s all that matters…” “You’re wonderful; it’s no secret as to why everyone liked you back before the war came here…” Sweetie Belle yawned as she rested her head upon Cheerilee’s shoulders, “I miss everyone else, my friends, my family…” “I know, Sweetie Belle… I know…” the tall woman had sighed as she focused on what was ahead in walking distance. MuteAuthor's Note Hi there; it's me, Fireflower here once more with an electric feel ready with a new chapter of War Orphans' Wishes on the way: suffice to say, the past chapter from before were by far a somber note for you all and it will only be a taste of what's to come afterwards as I write them all them at my fingertips. As usual, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to ––– you know what? Fk it; you've made it this far so there's no use in me repeating what I had said before in the disclaimers, especially after what y'all had gone through. However, let me just also say that, with many thanks aside, I hope you can be able to stomach this chapter now even more than the others before it and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned though the passing times: a special guest's going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in the chapter below; but, it will only be for a brief moment anyway as we all go on and float onward there. Mute An absolute absence of light currently dominated the rather colorless environment as the otherwise blackened void had already served as an endless source of scarcity and obscurity altogether. Whatever terrain that was within the darkness wasn’t solid like the earthly plane; of course, air itself wasn’t the only thing that existed either, even when they came in the form of gentle breezes that had whispered taboo noises. Nevertheless, it was far from a desolate wasteland that had defined the area; then again, it wouldn’t mean that such a place in question thereof is sustainable for something so simple as growth. Basically, all that resided within the very void was at least one living being, a bright skinned female already lying supine upon itself as the cold wind blowing across her skin. Locks of curly hair were found upon her head in a grave state of chaos and disarray, already running past the nape of the neck as they were separated into two different colors: purple and pink. The inhabitant in question had on a simplistic attire matching her hair: a solid purple dress that had barely reached past the kneecaps and a pair of pink socks upon her very feet. Calmly residing still, she remained where she was, even as the wind and waves moved her to and fro; then, with little warning whatsoever, both of her eyelids flew opened to reveal a pair of jade orbs within. The otherwise golden silence that had surrounded the inhabitant were instantaneously replaced with the startled yet wordless gasps from the owner’s mouth, interspersed with the chorus of splashing. Undoubtedly, she couldn’t help but struggle to stay upward, even though that there was nothing in sight to guide her on a certain path that could take her away from the ambiguous location thereof. “Don’t stop, Sweetie Belle; she’ll be gaining up on you soon…!” a loud voice was heard throughout the vast and infinite space, piercing the ears of the lone inhabitant as she struggled to find the source of such words only to find that loneliness was still all around her to this very moment. Effortlessly, she couldn’t help but move about within the very surface, barely able to pick a course to set upon before starting to take heed of what was said to her as a result of such desperation. Sweetie Belle instantly remained conscious of her attire pulled down by the weight of the compound beneath her as she swam onward within, her strife barely beginning while moving around. Realizing this, the inhabitant had called out into the darkened abyss beyond for dire need of such assistance, only to find neither anyone would answer to it nor were the words strong enough to escape. Battling against the unknown all throughout the way, she had nonetheless resumed her endeavor anyway, remembering what had already been said not too long ago while still unable to choose a set path. Frantically moving forearms in a series of strokes, Sweetie Belle had swam onward to hear laughter in the air: it was initially faint for the most part yet it wasn’t as far away like she’d thought. As a matter of fact, despite the splashing that the swimmer had made in the process, she couldn’t help but listen closely as the leitmotif soon morphed into frantic cackling, increasing in tempo slowly. The sound in particular that she was now paying attention to had gain more volume as well, almost to the point in where it’d seemed to be gaining up on her despite the desperate struggle thereof. Even though that Sweetie Belle was all alone, the newfound chorus of laughter assaulting both of her ears proved to be very exacerbating to be found within the vast unknown place that she was already in. Definitive drones were even more piercing than the enormous ripples of water that the very swimmer had made as she desperately wished for the sounds all around to just go away and leave her be. Gallantly, she kept on going and refused to let the cackles get the best of her; however, they weren’t the only thing that were being heard: cutting into the sinister aria was another voice calling out from the darkness, “what’s the matter, little girl; are you really that afraid of me so much…?” “Hurry, Sweetie Belle…!” the primary voice called out to the listener’s name, “don’t listen to that fiend; get away from him…!” In the midst of thought, Sweetie Belle started to think about the source of such voices but remained wary of her current situation thereof. Not wanting to even risk a simple function ceasing in the sea of darkness within the void, the frantic inhabitant kept on going about her way. Greatly influenced by the rather peculiar voices already invading her ears, she’d just kept swimming onward and made waves in her path. Reality still sank into Sweetie Belle despite her struggles against the liquid she was already submerged into, not wanting to stop in any way. Efforts overall to stop the sole inhabitant from her continuing on did nothing but drive even bigger ripples into the very surface altogether. She kept at it anyway, silently hypothesizing that her sudden inaction would trigger a rather unpleasant surprise in some other form or fashion. Sweetie Belle pondered on the identities of such voices as if she wanted to call out to the most recent one and yet no words came out of her. “Just keep going, Sweetie Belle; don’t let her catch up to you no matter what…!” another voice had echoed, not like the others at first but similar in nature nevertheless: while reminiscent of the secondary voice, it was frantic like the first. Keeping the recent addition in mind, the individual in tow heeded the latest addition with utter determination upon herself. Intensely pushing herself onward was maximizing the dwindling input that she’d possessed within both of these arms. Sweetie Belle swam anyway with the simple words of long before barely leaving her mind as she’d moved further onward. Suddenly, the swimmer soon started to slow down as the strength that resided deep inside her limb had finally dissipated. Laborious breathing escaped from her the minute she’d stopped in place, filled to the brim with exhaustion and devoid of love or joy; of course, this would serve to have a rather startling reaction as another voice spoke to her, sharing the same quality as the predecessor but otherwise different, “there you are, my dear sister…!” Monumentally scared out of the straight and narrow path once taken, Sweetie Belle slowly turned to face the source of such spoken words; however, the moment that she did, both eyes couldn’t believe what they’d seen: it was another female. Both of them had possessed such certain common traits between the two: a bright complexion upon their skin, a set of long flowing hair on their heads, and some cool color shades circling around their pupils. Still, they also had some differences amongst themselves here and there, something that the stagnant swimmer was able to take notice upon this recent discovery that was instantaneously made here and there. Not a second went by for Sweetie Belle as she studied the style of the sudden female that appeared before her all too quickly. For starters, the other female had worn some solid dark purple adorned across the tresses with but a few curls along the very way. Secondly, there was also a great difference in height between the two females: Sweetie Belle was outmatched by a few feet thereof. Third of all, the taller visitor wore a white long–sleeved blouse that was already stained with many tiny patches of red and brown. While the swimmer was made aware of the dark gray skirt around the waistline, the wearer was also barefoot and hovered on above. Sweetie Belle started to look upon the tall visitor in both of the eyes only to find nothing but darkness in and of itself within them. “Oh no…” one of the voices whispered again but none of the females present ever spoke out, not even towards each other, “my baby…” “Please forgive for leaving you be: I never knew that something so horrible like this would even happen to you, Sweetie Belle…!” the tall visitor had wept, still standing over nearby the titular inhabitant. Quizzically, the swimmer was able to notice a drop of orange landing upon the surface and provided color to the otherwise darkened environment. Under a single minute thereof, Sweetie Belle then watched as the void all around her had glowed, bringing light that was once almost nonexistent. Its lack of balance in regards to identity thereof was instantaneously replaced with shades and hues crying out loud with such a solid vision so soon. The only thing that remained unchanged were the presence of the two females that came about in the very area now rife with heat and light altogether. Roused by the sudden change, the swimmer was starting to feel her face contort to a diminutive grin; however, she’d felt her ears standing on endwise as one of the voices from before speak immediately, “don’t even think about touching her, Sweetie Belle; that’s not your sister Rarity at all…! This monster only took the form of her just to lull you in a false sense of security here, just like before: long ago, your sister’s heart gave in to despair after the war had come to our doorstep. With the last vestige of a peaceful life torn asunder by even the most brutal of exploiters galore, you and Rarity were the only ones that survive the horrors brought upon your loving family: of them, she felt the most heartbroken and attempted to do the unthinkable. Capitalizing on your pain and sorrow alongside hers, a ghoul took your sister’s place and had tried to drown you in a lake under the delusion that your misery would subside in a watery tomb.” “Sweetie Belle, look inside yourself; it’s true that these brutes have destroyed our home and killed our mother and father but everything will be okay again…” Rarity’s visage said as she started to kneel towards the titular swimmer, “it’s all over now; we can be free again, just like the old days: we can go buy a small house up in Canterlot and forget the horrid war. Of course, it won’t just be the two of us; we can still make new friends while keeping in touch with our old ones: you’ll be able see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo while I’ll be able to see Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Pinkie. I can see to it that none of those terrible things will never repeat themselves again; no one will ever suffer in the same fashion as we’d experienced years ago ever again.” “That monster is lying to you; don’t trust her…!” the recent voice warned as the two females remained still in the newly colored void. Uncertainty had now dominated the environment that they were in as both of them remained stagnant in their current positions thereof. The timid swimmer was still keeping her head and shoulders above the liquid surface while watching the recent visitor so carefully. In the brief minutes that they’d spent making eye contact with another, Sweetie Belle soon found both of Rarity’s eyes oozing with orange. Voltages of life surging within the swimmer had helped her find the strength to give out a reply; yet, as before, not even a single word would come out of the mouth in the very slightest whatsoever. Within seconds, the visitor’s visage spoke again, “what’s wrong, Sweetie Belle; do you not trust me, your dearest elder sister Rarity…?” Xenon entered and exited the aforementioned individual’s nostrils as she stared at her sister’s form in silence. Intuition was regaining ground deep within as the swimmer recalled the other voices that had spoken to her. “You don’t need to trust her…” the tertiary voice repeated onward to Sweetie Belle, “she has become a bad influence: this ghoul try to drown you once and with the image of your sister no less…” Zoning out and about wasn’t something that the two females had planned on doing altogether, given their current situation thereof. Even though there was nothing in sight at first other than the orange hereon out, the purpose of this chance encounter wasn’t in vain. Reasons for such were without being meaningless in the very least, despite the voices around themselves being so discouraging. Only the swimmer herself had the power to put an end to this encounter in space but not the words to express her reply like before. “You’re not serious considering the thought of believing them, are you Sweetie Belle; I mean who are you willing to believe: an otherworldly trio of some other personas long gone or your sister who’s alive and well in the real world…?” Rarity’s visage cooed as she outstretched a hand towards Sweetie Belle at once. Xenogenic voices buzzed into the swimmer’s ears as she’d eyed the one hand in front of her very carefully: of them, the primary voice struck a chord with the former all at once, “your sister is alive but not here; this figure before you isn’t the same as Rarity herself: even her eyes were more innocent like before…” “Why should you consider listening to them, Sweetie Belle…?” the tall visitor had asked, staring into the jade orb that belonged to the owner in front, “haven’t I been a good sister to you ever since you were little…?” “Venture carefully: there’s almost no telling what she’ll do to the likes of you, especially considering that she’s already taking your sister’s form…” the tertiary voice had warned Sweetie Belle. Understanding the gravity of the situation thereof, the swimmer took the time to back away all at once; this made the environment warm up a shade. Now this had made Rarity’s visage trade in her warm gentle smile for a cool rough frown, complete with a full deluge emerging out the eyes. Instantaneously, the orange tinted liquid had slowly turned into blood, startling the otherwise silent Sweetie Belle who wasn’t even stained at all. This had made the tall visitor angry at the swimmer whom retreated from the tender gesture with the hand not too long ago so easily in the very least. Then, with little warning whatsoever, Rarity’s visage started to take a rather long deep breath; soon, she began to open her mouth to to speak out to Sweetie Belle all too easily in due time, “now I get it: after all that has happened from the moment our parents were slain to that very time, you still don’t trust me in the very least. It seems that memories of these brutes have done to us in that war have clouded your thoughts about me so easily that you were willing to listen to them over me of all people to this very day. Even though that I mourned for your loss as well as mine, you have found no reason to trust me again; this pains me to have such a feeling bored inside by my own sister no less. Nevertheless, it won’t stop us from having to finish what had been already started not too long ago: we’ll reunite with our dear mom and dad once more, this time without anyone stopping us like before.” “Sweetie Belle, get away…!” the first voice yelled into the aforementioned swimmer’s ears, “this is what we’ve been warning you about…!” “Resistance is futile; no more will we have to suffer and the hands of such brutes who damaged us by slaying all we held dear…!” the tall visitor bellowed as she jumped at Sweetie Belle with little warning. Quickly seizing ahold of the neckline, the swimmer started struggling against her sister’s visage as the tertiary voice had shouted loudly at once, “you can do it; we believe in you, Sweetie Belle…!” “Pity, I was expecting less of a fight from you like before but once I’m done, you’ll be able to say hi to our parents once again…!” Rarity’s visage chuckled as her sister’s pupils shrunk greatly. Only the sights and sounds reverberated throughout the recently colored void as the exhibition of strife was unanimous instantaneously. No one was coming to put an end to the tortuous ordeal that was taking place all at once; not a single thing, externally or otherwise, was going to stand in the way of it either. In spite of Sweetie Belle’s desperate attempts to regain control of the situation, her sister’s visage was having none of it. Now it has seemed that the swimmer’s vision was started to constricted, slipping slowly but surely into the darkness that now reminded her of she had recently seen; even so, her mouth opened up to squeak out, “Ra–ri–ty…!” “Must you beg for your worthless life at a time like this…?” the eponymous visage growled, taking on a more ghastly appearance than before, “I bet that bastard should’ve ended you so I wouldn’t have to suffer…!” “LET HER GO ALREADY…!” another voice had quickly bellowed at the two, but the recent command fell on deaf ears. Keeping onto to a sliver of willpower deep within, Sweetie Belle started to cry, her remaining vision tinted with crimson over Rarity’s visage now baring fangs and dementia, the latter laughing wildly, “it’s too late: a few seconds from now, it won’t matter to the both of us; they will be happy to see you again, just like the old days when we’re still one big happy family…!” Just as though it’d seems that the swimmer would succumb to the pain, her sister’s visage changed from delirium to disbelief as the orange oozing from her sockets had widen about. Effortlessly, Sweetie Belle felt the immense pressure upon her throat dissipating almost instantly as her vision came back from the encroaching darkness that once threatened her quickly no less. The once frenzied joy that was already plastered upon the tall visitor’s face not too long ago was slowly replaced with a timid melancholy as she stared at the struggling swimmer all at once. “Is– is– is some– thing wrong…?” Sweetie Belle wheezed as she looked upon Rarity’s visage, the latter now hiding away the shock and sorrow that was now besieging the owner’s hands at once, “Ra–ri–ty…?” “How about it: you can speak again, can’t you…?” the aforementioned visitor slowly squeaked before weeping about all so easily. Gaining back control over breathing, the swimmer edged carefully towards her sister’s position and answered, “what about you…?” “Finally, you can speak again…!” Rarity’s visage sobbed with a hint of joy, slowly evolving into a faint laughter unlike the one from before, “my goodness, the sky’s full of stars; my prayers have been answers: it’s a miracle from Elysium…!” “Eh…” Sweetie Belle muttered in confusion as a reply to her sister’s structureless statement so soon. During the rather sudden change of events thereof, the laugh emitted from Rarity’s visage grew loud as she’d shouted, “MY SISTER IS BACK…!” Cacophony reemerged from the cacheable visitor whose eyes became flooded with a large deluge of orange in a much higher pressure. At that point, the swimmer started to shrink back from her sister’s visage as the laughter grew louder and more disjointed already. Then, without any warning whatsoever, Rarity’s visage disintegrated, her spectral form scattering into such tiny innumerable pieces. At long long, Sweetie Belle was alone just like before albeit with a rather different approach to what had befallen her. Calamities that had once threaten the swimmer went away as she’d stood still in the newly colored void all around. That alone didn’t change the fact that she’d buried her face with both hands, covering up the fear and sorrow deep within. LocomotionAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter seven of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year has provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it because more special guests are going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Locomotion At first glance, it would have seemed that everything was at ease: the atmosphere that had been set in place was losing pressure upon the whole wide world with nothing short of coldness and calculation hereon. There were spacious skies that were white as cotton yet lacked the color normally found on the surface area of assorted sweetness; however, the clouds that dwell amongst themselves came in many shades of gray. Achromatic airstreams that had flown on and about so freely like birds were crispy and cool enough to commute the many different aromas which are climbing aboard from the earthly plane at that very moment. The brilliant green had currently given birth to many different flowers that had already sprouted upward, varying in many shapes, sizes, and colors that bore the organization best befitting a heavenly rainbow. All sounds of music were nothing more of a cacophony chatter from the fauna nearby, most of which originating from a series of tall building here and there in many various tones and pitches so to speak right now. Out of the many whom were traversing in and out of the area, one stood out amongst the others: a lone woman was found staring deep into the overclouded firmament in a rather mesmerizing trance. Her skin was donned in a shade of a dark gamboge coating reminiscent of a timid fawn a few months away from becoming a young buck after the fateful snowstorm minutes after its mother’s death. The woman’s eyes were barely matching the locks of hair upon her head; while both of them were of the same color thereof, the tresses themselves had possessed the most life of the two overall. Upon her body was a simple attire that kept the dark skin warm: a jet black coat matching her very boots, some green shorts barely covering the knees, and some teal socks matching the sleeves. “Yo, Scootaloo; come on, it’s about to rain soon…!” a distant voice was heard but it didn’t originate from the eponymous woman in question. Nevertheless, she’d turned around rather quickly and was greeted with the sight of another individual approaching her way: another woman just like her, albeit with some many significant differences. Scootaloo had instantaneously noticed that the speaker in question had some bright skin worn upon her very face, completely free of blemishes but with a texture that was rougher than the former thereof. The approaching individual had possessed magenta irises shining brightly like diamonds in the rough, taking aim at the woman right in front of her as the gentle breeze wandered all around these two. Like Scootaloo, the bright skinned woman had worn some short hair upon her very head, albeit with more colors than the former and in the form of thin racing stripes resembling the entire spectrum. Unlike the listener, the speaker whom had called out to her just recently had a uniformed attire: a pair of goggles around her neck, a cyan tracksuit with golden lightning bolts, and some light brown shoes. Scootaloo formed a concave contorted into a smile as she began to respond to such a greeting, “Rainbow Dash…!” “We have to head on inside soon; there’s no use in us getting wet…!” the aforementioned woman said as she grabbed onto the other woman’s hand, “now let’s hustle up and head on home now…” “Yes, ma’am…!” Scootaloo had said as she followed Rainbow along without any hesitation whatsoever. The two women scurried off and onward to the next destination just as the skies above them started to rumble about. All winds around the twosome gained enough force to sway the foliage around, despite the silent voices they had made. The birds and bees that had synchronized with one another had fled to safety from the gathering storm that was imminent. After a few seconds had passed, a drop of water started to fall from the monochrome heavens and onto the colored earth. The fresh air that was light and crisp was now lacerated by the heavy downpour, drenching the very flora in the process. Of the two runners who were caught in the soaking rainstorm, only the bright skinned one had exclaimed, “oh shit, we’re gonna get sick unless we better find somewhere to take shelter; Scootaloo, hop on my back: we can be able to make a faster return trip back to the city at this rate…!” “Will do, Rainbow…!” the titular follower replied enthusiastically as she had pulled up the hood from her jacket before climbing towards the leading lady’s shoulders, “anything for my big sister…!” The weight of the world they were in had increased the moment when Scootaloo hitched herself upon Rainbow’s torso as their attire was drenched. The bright skinned woman stood straight back up and began to carry her dark skinned counterpart along for the trip to ride out the storm. With little warning whatsoever, a squall line of thunder boomed above the twosome followed by a flash of lightning as the rain poured upon them. “Oh damn… we ought to find some shelter soon; I don’t want to end up as fried chicken walking…!” Rainbow thought to herself as she watched her line of vision being blanketed by a sudden flash of whiteness. The pitter–patter of falling rain increased in density even with Scootaloo asking, “Rainbow, do you think that we’ll be able to make it back to the city in time to see Soarin’ and Spitfire’s child…?” “Of course, we will: besides, you were happy to be there when Rainflower was born a few years ago…” the eponymous woman answered back, “it won’t be long now before she grows up into a woman just like you are, Scootaloo…” “Let’s hope we will; this forest might not be the Everfree, but I don’t want to die in a place like this with you around watching…” the aforementioned listener replied as she’d looked towards the falling sky. The bright skinned traveler started to pick up the pace and said, “you don’t need to remind me of that day, Scoots; this time’s different…” The sauntering movement Rainbow had engaged in just recently started to pay off as she and her darker skinned counterpart were greeted by the sight of taller structures. The two were in the presence of towering behemoths ruling and governing their own landscape for although they remained divided, their own wielded power was shared. There were two kinds of people with the metropolis: the many pedestrians wandering about in the deluge and the few drivers who’d been carrying their own passengers. The city also had some plant–based lifeforms as well in the vicinity, but they were way less numerous than the flora that Scootaloo had encountered not too long ago. “Ah, it’s great to back…” the bright skinned traveler exhaled as the sight of a yellow carriage came across her, “YO TAXI…!” At that moment, the wheeled mechanism stopped in place, bearing a checkered pattern of a monochrome scheme across its door as the driver was inches away from the two. A mere male of a pale white complexion, he was already lacking the rather lustrous sheen reminiscent of the innumerable clouds all above the very city they were all in. His big hair was neatly adorned in the style of an equilateral yet still curvy afro with each and every single one of his frizzy tresses faintly colored in a peachy bleachy shade. The man’s attire was rather more simpler than the two women: his visor of the same color, a red–hot vest over the white shirt, a pair of sepia khaki, and some dark green sneakers. “Where to…?” were the first words spoken by him as they approached the driver, twitching about in the process. Pulling out a small pouch from the left pocket, Rainbow replied at once, “to the Metropolitian Apartment Complex…!” “Fair enough… just get inside now…” he said, hearing small clinks within the closed textiles upon making contact, courtesy of the bright skinned woman, “we don’t have much time to sit around with the rain and thunder going on…” “I could drink to that…” the dark skinned counterpart chuckled nervously as the thunder roared once more with feeling. It wasn’t long until the two had entered the carriage almost instantaneously as the rainfall alone had increased in its collective velocity. At this moment in time, the driver took off and began to guide the wheeled mechanism all around the city they were already in. Not even the rampant downpour itself alone was enough to impede the new and unbeaten path that he had instantly found himself upon. Inside, Scootaloo looked out from the glass and witnessed a flash of lightning occur before her very eyes; as a result, she’d retreated to Rainbow’s side, prompting the latter to comment on the former’s actions, “whoa, what happened to the fearless fighter from ‘fore…? It’s just a thunderstorm; I’ve been through worse…” “Sorry, its just that they make my ears jump up and pop…” the dark skinned woman answered back as she nestled herself inward, “even with my buds on, it’s like listening to an explosion at close range.” “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna risk losing you ever again; this time, I got your back…” the bright skinned woman replied, giving a hug. With the rain beating against the glass, Scootaloo did nothing more than simply purr, “thanks, Rainbow…” “It’s the least I should do: besides, you were like a sister to me before the damned war and you’re still a sister to me even now…” Rainbow said as she held onto tight while the carriage moved about, “we may not share the same blood, parents, or interests but we have a stronger bond that’s like the friendships we have with all the others. Your own friendship with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, although small in numbers was reminiscent of the one I have with those girls: Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Twilight. The idea that there are certain people in this rotting world who would do such a thing to the likes of you is sickening alone; even what they did barely held a candle to all this. The fact that you’re alive and well today alone is a miracle; because of this outcome, I had made a promise to myself: don’t ever leave you alone in the face of danger ever again. The many years that had already passed us by were but a blessing to us because it had helped us reconnect with other people we had held need and dear and your very survival itself is proof of it alone. As long as we are staying alive and still standing, we’ll never let any of these bastards get the best of us in the very least; as a matter of fact, if it comes down to the same shit from before, then I will do my very damnedest to stick by you to the bitter end. There's is not a chance in Tartarus that I'll afford to risk losing you again forever; I cannot allow it at all in the very least, especially with the likes of you being subjected to what I'd endured.” “We're almost here…” the driver's voice had reached his passengers' ears as the wheeled mechanism found its way past another thoroughfare, the last of which had experienced an increase in chatter. The bright skinned woman peered out from the windowpane and noticed an abundance of pedestrians scurrying about and said, “wow, for such a small city, there's a lot of people here; at least, I can recognize that some of these people used to be from Cloudsdale. So much has changed in such years: the Wonderbolts had to move with the city still rebuilding from the fallen remains after the war; I can't believe that we had invented new things between now and then. Perhaps, here's the place where we can finally catch up on some lost time with many of the remaining team: any second from now, we'll be to make better memories than before the damned mess.” “I'll say; I can't wait to get out of the storm already…” the dark skinned woman had replied as the thunder instantaneously rumbled about for a while, “my ears can't take this kind of abuse any longer…” “I know, Scootaloo… I know…” Rainbow said as they felt the carriage stop almost suddenly in place. Considering that the rainstorm kept on going, the two passengers left to find an enormously tall building locked within their very eyesights. Although predominantly adorned with a creamy white monochromatic scheme, a fraction of its bricks were colored in a baby blue shade. With at least a dozen rows of windows plastered upon the structure, it was safe to say that a fraction of the city's population are living it up. Unbeknownst to either of them, the top of the building had possessed a skylight that was spherical in contrast to its overall cubic state. The only thing their eyes were focused on were a series of potted plants standing firmly near the doorway, few of them carrying a flower wreath. Scootaloo was enamoured by the sight of it all, her pupils expanding with a glittering layer as she spoke of it, “I can't believe that all these people are living in this one building; it's like a hotel hotspot of the city...!” “Not quite, it's still a new addition to the city; they still haven't finished up renovations as far as I know recently…” the bright skinned woman retorted to her darker counterpart, “for all we could be hearing, a series of drills and hammering will be directly right above us, preferably on the third or fourth floor mind you.” “But, Rainbow, wouldn’t Spitfire and Soarin’ be on the second floor anyway…?” Scootaloo interjected as they approached the entrance. The titular woman who opened the door answered back anyway, “true, although I rather that you stay close to me anyway; we’re just going be there for an hour or two until the storm clears up…” “That’s easy for you to say; I never thought that the thunder would end up being this loud to me until now…” the dark skinned woman said as thunder crackled about once more with feeling, “then again, I’m still glad to be alive anyway…” “Me too…” Rainbow replied as she and Scootaloo entered the large building; there the reaction alone to its contents was a direct contrast to the exterior altogether: as such, they were well aware of the blandness. Of course, their collective attention was instantaneously focused all on one man alone already nearby as he had then soon started approaching them both slowly but surely. His skin was a lot like the bright skinned woman who had came in with the darker counterpart, except it was fifty shades darker than the previous male from before no less. The man’s eyes were but a pair of jade orbs that were shining brightly enough to pierce throughout the clouds and see things through to the bitter end altogether. His hair was dark but in a rich shade of blue, brighter and more colorful that the otherwise monochromatic firmament hovering all above themselves that was raining. The man wore an attire that was reminiscent of Rainbow’s tracksuit except more elaborate: aside from his goggles and shirt, a black tie, some gold slacks, and black shoes. From where he had once stood, his height not only surpassed the bright skinned woman’s height by a mere inch, he was also a few feet taller than Scootaloo herself as well. The man pulled out a small smile and called out to the two women at once with his left hand waving about, “hi, girls…!” “Soarin’…!” Rainbow responded rather easily as she had ran towards the eponymous individual without hesitation, “we were both just talking about you earlier; how’s things going with Spitfire…?” “Great, then again, considering that her mother had came by to visit, it was a miracle; we had barely any time to sleep recently…” he answered. The dark skinned woman wiped away her eyes and asked slowly, “what is it like to become a father, sir…?” “A lot more work than my Wonderbolts days: I should’ve taken up Home Ec. before graduating if I knew this would happen one day…” Soarin’ chuckled as he slowly crouched downward to meet Scootaloo at eye level, “of course, I’m not all too surprised by the idea that Rainbow had taken you in as her sister either. I also take that your sense of hearing is still going strong as ever; I wish I could’ve been there and stopped these scumbags from putting the both of you through this nightmare. The fact that these traitors would destroy the crown and country already is repugnant on its own but finding that these criminals would pull something like this on a young girl make me fucking sick.” “Don’t need to remind me about them; even after all these years, I still have flashbacks in my sleep…” the bright skinned woman interjected as she gritted her teeth, the integuments shivering about. A moment of silence was observed by the company of three before being broken by the man in front speaking, “no use in waiting any longer: the others are still waiting for us upstairs; let’s go…” “It’s fine by me…” Rainbow replied as she dragged along her younger charge throughout the floor, “better than standing around and reminiscing of the past, especially after what had happened to us…” “I second that motion…!” Scootaloo chirped quickly, earning some laughter from the remaining two. As they approached a nearby flight of stairs before themselves, the bright skinned woman asked her male counterpart, “by the way, which room are you guys staying in… Room 202 or something…?” “Nah, Room 259…” Soarin’ answered, “although, I’d rather keep my ears plugged around 257 and 258, mostly the former; I remembered that the tenant in one of them just got released from the hospital back in September…” “What’s he like…?” the dark skinned inquired. Before taking the first step, the male responded, “a mystery: he usually has a habit of keeping to himself, never comes out of his room for the most part; had to call the manager on him for making too much noise at night and whatnot.” “I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes when that happens…” Scootaloo said as she climbed the stairway without a hitch, “even before the war, I wouldn’t like it if someone or something was making noise when I’m trying to sleep…” “Who doesn’t; I mean how would that help out anyone anyway…?” Rainbow had retorted as the three of them had just moved on upward and from the ground floor with absolutely no effort whatsoever. Soarin' could do nothing but laugh a bit too loudly before regaining his composure as he said, “suddenly, you have summed up the story of my life: from Wonderbolt to breadwinner in several years flat.” “Let's just go and see what your wife and kid are up to…” the bright skinned woman chuckled as she turned to her darker counterpart, “besides, Rainflower would love to see your face once again…” “I know…” Scootaloo said as she stepped on forward with a huge smile worn proudly upon her face. It wasn't even long until the three of them all had finally reached the second floor, no longer upon a patterned but otherwise unequal inclines. While it had seemed that everything else was the same for the most part, the metallic orchestra was now within reach as their notes travelled. Nevertheless, they were all very aware of how that the miniscule marathon the pedestrians partook in was far from over in the very least. A gauntlet of doorways had stood on both sides within the corridor as the man said, “I will take it from here…” As the dark skinned woman walked alongside with Rainbow, she was calm on the outside but thinking throughout the whole time. With all the buzzing, clanging, and drilling directly over them, Scootaloo grabbed ahold of her ears and covered them very tightly. The only thing that she was able to find a sliver of euphoria were the plastic numerals plastered upon the dank and dire wood, watching each digit increase slowly but surely. “We're almost here, Scoots…” the bright skinned woman announced as their collective movement was coming to a slow down, “we’ve just passed by Room 246; it won’t be long now until we meet them already.” “247… 248… 249…” the dark skinned woman counted off as she moved passed the aforementioned numbers in front of her eyes. Soarin’ soon stopped in place and rapped on the ligneous surface upfront; as a result, he had heard a voice from the other side say, “who is it…?” “It’s Soarin’, Sweetfire…!” the titular man answered with a brief introduction, “I’ve brought company…!” “Sweetfire…?” Scootaloo squeaked in bewilderment as she took note of his newly rose red cheeks nearby. Before long, the dark skinned woman had almost jumped as the small sounds of metal had latched away before the door creaked open, revealing the identity of the speaker in front of the three. Rather than just one person who had asked Soarin’ waiting, there were two more women whom were alike in fair dignity, sharing the same complexion and some orange eyes matching their tresses. As similar as they were to one another, even they had possessed their fair share of significant differences that all of the people had instantaneously taken note of, especially Scootaloo herself no less. Considering the resemblance between the two altogether, there were many things that separated the gingers from one another all too easily. For starters, one of them had a darker color scheme and an elongated style across the tresses whereas the other was kept at a spiky trim. Secondly, there was also a slight difference in height between the two very gingers standing in front of the three no less, off by a few feet. Third of all, one was wearing a thick purple sweater with white buttons whereas the other had a white blouse with a tie dyed in a deep blue. In addition, the tall ginger wore a skirt that was an olive green while all that the shorter counterpart had on were some black pants. Of the two that were present and accounted for, only one of them had already donned some indigo eyeshadow upon her wrinkled face. Even more so, the tall ginger wore pearls upon her ear and neck whereas the shorter counterpart had many medals upon the breast pocket. Rainbow gave a little grin as she started to greet the two tenants in front of her, “hello, Stormy Flare… hey Spitfire…!” “Rainbow Dash, I sure am glad that you made it all the way here; we were worried that you couldn’t make it…” the younger ginger said in response as she had quickly grabbed onto the eponymous visitor’s hand, “I see that you must be soaking wet; want to grab a towel from the bathroom…?” “Yeah sure…” the prism haired woman answered as she walked in through the recently open doorway. Sure enough, the bright skinned man and the polar opposite counterpart followed the three women into the house, finding themselves in a living room. Scootaloo focused her purple eyes upon a nearby table set made up of glass and steel that was holding some candlesticks and some magazines to boot. Standing against the white background that had consisted of walls and a ceiling were a green sofa and some chairs arranged adjacently towards themselves. Some carpeting beneath their very feet were but a luscious orange with a soft texture capable of being continuously impressed upon itself within every step. Simply resting upon the wooden nightstand at the very corner was a lamp with a black telephone hiding underneath its shade nearby the lone windowsill. The dark skinned woman stared at the open window out in front, looking upon the rain soaked street below only to have her concentration broken by a stray voice, “so, young lady, you must be Scootaloo…?” “Huh…?” the aforementioned woman peeped as she turned around to face the elder ginger, “yeah, that’s me…” “I heard from my daughter that her friend was talking about you a lot; however, I have yet to seen you in person…” Stormy Flare said as she slicked Scootaloo on the shoulder, “how are you…?” “Better than ever: with Rainbow Dash at my side, I feel like I can never lose ever again…” the dark skinned woman answered quickly. Within moments, the titular woman had returned to Scootaloo’s side almost rather instantaneously and asked, “so Stormy, what’s it like to be a grandmother and a mom at the same time…?” “It’s wonderful; you should have seen Rainflower take her first step: she managed to stand tall for at least three minutes…” the elder ginger answered as she smile brightly at the prism haired woman, “Soarin’ was so ecstatic to watch her…” “I bet that Granny Smith would’ve loved to meet her, may she rest in peace…” the dark skinned woman had commented onward almost quickly. Rainbow looked upon Scootaloo’s eyes with a somber gaze and said, “yeah, I know: it was a shame when she died in the war, especially since Applejack told me all about it back at the hospital; those fuckers took her family’s lives and turned them into shit. The whole entire Apple clan poured all of their efforts into provide for the country and how were they repaid for their goods and services over their collective lifetimes? They screwed them over and much worse than what that poor woman herself had gone through: children either being sold as slaves or slain on the battlefield, adults being forced to sell off everything and offing themselves, and I heard that Apple Rose died standing up when she heard about her cousin. After the war had ended, Apple Bloom had to go and live with Zecora since her sister tried to strangle her on the account of going blind from the abuse and trauma. As for Sweetie Belle, since both of her parents were murdered, Cheerilee ended up adopting her considering that Rarity went psycho and tried to kill themselves.” “Oh dear, that’s awful…” Stormy Flare gasped, holding up her hand towards her mouth, “are they still doing well…?” “Based on what Apple Bloom had wrote, I don’t see why wouldn’t they: we’d met at Horseshoe Bay last time during the air show a few years ago…” the dark skinned woman had replied quickly all at once. The prism haired woman returned her gaze onto the ginger and said, “anyways, she has once said that we should invite them over for a sleepover sometime soon; what would you do in my shoes…?” “I don’t see any reason why not; they sounded like that they were good friends before then…” Stormy Flare answered as she looked upon Scootaloo with a smile, “besides, it’s been a long time since they had made great memories…” “I’ll say…” Rainbow replied as she turned towards the windowpane nearby themselves, looking at the monochrome stormclouds within the skies. At this moment, Soarin’ had slowly popped back in and asked the three, “who wants some fish and chips for dinner…?” “I could stay for a little while…” the dark skinned woman had slurped about, licking both of her lips in the process, “anything’s better than standing outside in line in the rain to get a cold no less.” “Same here…” the prism haired woman had laughed before subsiding almost instantaneously into the spatial fold of silence. Two of the women now left Rainbow’s side and followed the source of the man’s voice, drawn in by the great expectations thereof no less. The prism haired visitor’s magenta eyes were now focused firmly upon the landscape up in front of her but not the reflections inasmuch. Then, a single teardrop suddenly escapes from her line of eyesight, now becoming rather weary and about ready to avert her very gaze. DecelerationAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter eight of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that this chapter will deal with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this will be by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you're all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you take this offer, it'll only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. However, let me just also say that, with many thanks aside, I hope you can be able to stomach this chapter now even more than the others before it and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned though the passing times; nevertheless, I hope to see you all again soon. Deceleration Apparently, it would seem that a waltz with death was now taking place here and there, populated by many soldiers marching onward to never be seen again. The skies above it all were colored in a bloody red as they were being occupied by the likes of smoky clouds immensely pouring inward at that moment in time. A raging firestorm was already taking place as its uniform contents had blackened and consumed anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its unbeaten path no less. Filling in the role of the gentle breeze were chorus of screams intermixed with the rapid percussion of explosions going off all throughout the very vicinity. The howling screeches of many an aircraft was heard overhead with the golden sun currently watching from afar while sitting upon the log horizon altogether. In the wake of the chaos and disarray, one identity in particular sprang to dear life as a terse gasp lacerated the already wounded atmosphere. The individual’s amethyst orbs were bright but were cluttered with the small pebbles upon the visage as a wayward hand had removed them all. Donned upon the owner’s body was an orange shirt across the torso and a pair of denim shorts centimeters away from the frail kneecaps. Both forearms were bound all the way to the wrists by some white wrappings and the legs had some socks matching such color already. The solid earth below the individual was being assaulted by a series of tremors and explosions from a faraway place, sending the body up. With the skies and the smoke drenching them all at once, the observer started to take a stand and check the surrounding at once. All that was around were various text adorned in many fonts: some were big but others small; either way, they’d said, “RUN”. Alongside such a word in question, pictures of people from all demographics were adorned in tracksuit in a sauntering motion. With little warning whatsoever, the individual’s ears perked up to the sounds of a roaring flame nearby, forcing the legs to scurry off to a nearby exit. The great fires that were being witnessed had instantaneously started to spread as the observer felt the temperatures rise to insurmountable heights. From that perspective of course, it’d have seem to be a pleasure to burn everything in sight, especially for things eaten, blackened, and changed. Because of such dangers thereof, there was no time at all to just stand alone and be consumed as the observer evacuated from the burning complex. Every single part of the individual’s skin was currently secreting an excess of perspiration that soaked throughout the very fabric already being worn. Even so, the tender nostrils had instantaneously taken a whiff of it all and found the overall aroma to be lacking in taste in some form and fashion. After vacating the premises, the observer’s identity was finalized as a female with short hair matching her now tensed amethyst irises. As she was panted heavily, her two eyes were now greeted by a window of opportunity to take sight of what she had been going through. With the fire now escalating into another part of the conflagration almost completely, the observer had no choice but to run away. While doing so, she couldn’t help but wonder in her very mind what had just went on that made such trying things go like this already. Aside from a lone beating heart, the pair of lungs as well were simultaneously going from being small to large in capacity and pressure. While the observer was happily relieved to feel the light wind upon her dark skin, the vast collection of sweat had still refused to leave. “I gotta find Rainbow Dash…” she said, only to find that none of the words spoken in question had reached her ears at all. The observer turned her weary sights onto what was in front; what had been seen was just the same: a scene of uncontrolled chaos descending on each and every corner of the area. A reign of fire and terror had poured down upon the location that she was already in like a set of raging rapids with some scenes of violent explosions and partial nudity to go around. The smoke clouds were already becoming so immense that they were starting to spread around to any and all neighboring boarders in a rather twisted form of osmosis here and there. Debris in every shape, size, and material imaginable littered the streets right up in front of the observer’s eyes as more of it began to join the fray with even the utmost abandonment. Anything else that hadn’t been eventually burned to a crisp was either all boarded up with wooden planks or had broken glass around the windows and doors nearby altogether. Considering the fact that there was no sign of flora native to the currently burning concrete jungle all around her, everything was clear to her that staying here wasn’t an option. Looking upward, the observer had taken the little time whatsoever to see an airplane above her crash into a nearby building almost rather suddenly. The expulsion of heat and light were now convulsing into another cloud of smoke as a large hole was now formed deeply right into the tall structure. It wasn’t long until the floor of glass windows nearby had burst into shards as it rained down from where point of impact had taken place all at once. While the rest of the very building was left intact, parts of it that were affected by the explosion thereof had descended into the ground in due time. Despite being far away, she chose to run off once more, already made aware of the very situation that was apparent. In spite of the destruction that was taking place, the observer had been considered fortunate to find a clear path. She could still smell the smoke and fire forming all around her current location while sauntering off anyway no less. Only the ever present threat of dying altogether had kept her legs moving faster with little to no signs of stopping. By simply moving forward, it was the observer’s sole responsibility to keep herself out of harm’s way completely. Even though that she had kept herself well off at once, her eyes had remained wary of the failing surroundings. Yet, the dangers inherent within were encroaching the timid observer anyway, disregarding her top running speed. Of course, all that changed when she quickly found herself stumbling over something that sent her face down into the pavement: it was another person like her. Given the very size of it altogether, it would perhaps be safe to say that the other individual in question had possessed a larger frame than the observer herself. Like her, the person that she’d tripped over wore some spiky hair; however, rather than simply having purple tresses, the former had five other colors within. The individual’s attire was more elaborate than the observer present: a denim jacket, some black shorts, and a pair of white boots were upon the wearer’s body. One aspect that stood out the most however was a puddle of various liquids that formed between the subject’s legs; it alone had made her face cringe immediately. The observer soon felt her own heart beating rhythmically against the ribcage underneath the skin, shaking about before suddenly trying to find the urge to call out but her words won’t come out. On the other hand, she felt a hand landing on her foot; as a result, she turned to find that it had belonged to the person she had stumbled across earlier crying out to her, “Scootaloo… get away from here…!” “Rainbow Dash…?” the eponymous observer called out in shock while recoiling about, “what’s going on…?” “Get out of here while you still can…!” was all that the haggard individual replied as she showed Scootaloo her face: aside from the unkempt hair, the former had cuts and bruises upon her face, a blackened eye, and some blood around the lips. Shocked by this harrowing discovery, the concerned observer exclaimed, "Rainbow, what happened to you?!" "Never mind about me, just run; these monsters are near…!" the aforementioned woman warned, "just hurry…!" “Rainbow, I–––” were all the words that Scootaloo could even muster up and say as she had suddenly been thrown to the ground without any warning whatsoever. The sudden impact had quickly left the observer into a temporary daze; in addition, she then heard the acute sounds of laughter echoing from all around her at once. Reluctantly, Scootaloo turned around to find that her body was rendered immobile on the account of one dark figure, both eyes leaking out with some lost silver. A loud explosion had popped into her ears as laughter was heard once again before subsiding into some words, “you should’ve taken heed to the whore’s words when you had the chance, little girl.” “What’s going on here; why can’t I move?!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she’d struggled to move around at once, “where are you, Rainbow?!” “Rainbow can’t save you now…!” the laughter roared again despite the titular woman’s anguished retorts being nearby the observer. Even though that Scootaloo was unable to see Rainbow’s body, let alone hear her out of all parties present in the very least, the former wanted out. Of course, the weight of the worldly substances were still too great for even the likes of her to fight off directly; nevertheless, she had kept on trying. Sure enough, Scootaloo’s body then became greatly tired and fatigued to contest to the predicament that she had already found herself recently. Another lone shadow appeared right in front of her, prompting the latter to cry out, “somebody, stop them…!” The shadow that was standing across from Scootaloo’s line of sight started to move, albeit slowly than what she’d initially anticipated. As a result of the abysmal progress, she’d started to struggle once more, only to be quickly greeted with a steel blade nearby her. The sight of its illustrious sheen nearby quickly made the purple irises constricted themselves around Scootaloo’s very own pupils. “Ain’t nobody’s gonna stop us from what we’re going to do to you, especially not while I have some fun with Rainbow Dyke first…!” the voice from behind her had cackled but it didn’t come from the shadow that immobilized the latter, “besides, you two are gonna rather wish that you found shelter instead of us…” “Leave Scootaloo out of this, dammit; she doesn’t need this kind of–––” the eponymous speaker’s demand became cut off by a loud slap. Afterwards, Rainbow attempted to speak once more, only to be interrupted by the same voice from before her turn, “shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch; say another word and the twerp gets it…!” “You bastards wouldn’t dare hurt any of us…!” the observer had instantaneously shouted back in response, “Rainbow’s gonna make you wish that you were dead if anything happens to me, motherf–––” “Dead if anything happens to you; could she still go through with this after what I’m about to do you both…?” the first voice snickered as Scootaloo felt something cold and stationary licking her back. The observer quickly came to find that the knife from earlier was no longer standing nearby her as a sudden hot stroke was felt upon the skin; before long, she’d started to shriek with terror, “AHHHHHH!” “Not so tough now that you’re screaming like the little shrimp you are, ain’t ya?!” the voice sneered as some drops of blood emerged from Scootaloo’s skin, “alright, Master Ardor; start cutting…!” “Hey, don’t you ––– AUGH!” was all that the poor woman could say before the knife above her started to make short work of her dark skin. Scootaloo couldn’t help but scream uncontrollably as the steel tip drew blood from there, the stinging sensation refusing to leave her side. Her amethyst eyes were stretched wide as she was treated to the sight of the lone bystander pointing it all out in regards to her discontent. Scootaloo had struggled to escaped her attacker’s grasp but to no avail on the account of her current predicament beset upon the former. Turning towards the pavement beneath her skin, her vision went narrow and became clouded with tears tugged upon by the gravity at once. Scootaloo’s plight didn’t go unnoticed as she heard the bright skinned woman scream out, “YOU FUCKING BASTARDS ARE GONNA GET IT; I HOPE THAT YOU BURN IN DESPAIR FOR THIS, YOU–––” “Maybe this will shut you up for the time being…!” the voice from behind the woman interrupted, stopping Rainbow’s tirade before continuing where the former had left off, “now then, where was I? Oh yeah… carve a huge fucking billboard into that scrawny shrimp’s back…!” “But Ace, she’s too weak; we don’t have to do this…” another voice echoed into Scootaloo’s ears, but it was directly close by. As the timid captive started to cry, the first voice that had laughed at her spoke to the captor, “forget about it; she won’t survive long…” “I don’t know…” Ardor struggled to speak up all at once, “she’s bleeding pretty badly as we speak, not to mention–––” “Say one more word and I swear, my brother Boone will make you wish you were fucking aborted; do I make myself clear?!” Ace snarled. A brief moment of silence occurs between the two shadows as some explosions broke in the sky right above themselves. Scootaloo was still shedding tears but refused to say another word to either of her tormentors, let alone to the other woman. Knowledge of Rainbow’s current situation, although left ambiguous, was siphoning off whatever courage that had resided. Even the basic thought of attempting an escape by the observer’s own two feet would be wracked with such flaws. Differentiating from either of the two shadows, Ardor and Ace, made little to no difference from Scootaloo’s perspective. Soon, the larger shadow resigned to its fate and returned to restraining the depressive observer reluctantly with a rueful reply, “understood, sir…” “What are you waiting for, a pie in the sky to fall in your lap…?” the slimmer of the two captors demanded, “hack that twerp to bloody pieces…!” “Please… don’t…” Scootaloo squeaked out, only to find her words falls on deaf ears as Ardor placed the edge of his knife upon her skin. The searing sensation started to wreak havoc upon the poor victim’s body as it was followed by streaks of red from every cut currently being made. The pained shrieks that were being made in conjunction with the agonizing cries were like a refrain legato amongst the war–torn battle orchestra. The canvas which was Scootaloo’s back was adorned with numerous lines and curves, its integument subjected to controlled chaos and disarray. The possible explanations that would’ve been provided were like the presence of assisting the likes of these women in particular: none whatsoever. As if feeling every stroke of the knife etching into Scootaloo here and there wasn’t exacerbating in the very least, she had felt her ears stand on endwise to the sounds of laughter echoing; however, rather than originating from Ace himself, it came from in front, sounding off like this: “look at that weepy little midget crying…!” Struggling to concentrate on the new source of cruelty, she came to find that the shadow which had approached her earlier was now accompanied by others that were in many shapes and sizes. Scootaloo was now surrounded by people who used to say that rhyme about sticks and stones as if broken bones would hurt more than the names be calling, despite the knife’s carnage upon her. It wasn’t long until her skin became warm and loose with her own blood, the pained weeping that followed along was drowned out by a surrounding sea of spectators pointing and laughing. Scootaloo barely cared about the sudden appearance of the hecklers since she watched her vision becoming too blurry to pay attention to whatever details each of them would possess anyway. She couldn’t help but cough up a rising storm out from her very mouth, trying to find the strength to call out some words, only to be choked up by the blood regurgitating in the process. “Take it, you little bitch; I hope you like that assplay here…!” a taunt was heard echoing, but it wasn’t directed towards the sad Scootaloo ironically; instead, it was that one particular shadow from before, “so, what’s with her now…?” “I did what you ordered; can we please just leave her alone…?” Ardor answered, his breathing showing signs of staggering about along the way. Whatever relief that the crying victim could feel was suddenly cut off by Ace’s laughter, the latter replying, “not yet, my friend: we still got one more thing to do before we just leave here now…” “What does he mean by that…?” Scootaloo thought to herself silently, worried about what will happen to her next, “he doesn’t––– oh no…!” “You’re not suggesting that, aren’t you: I’ve already followed your order; isn’t that enough for you?!” the bulky shadow exclaimed, confirming the listener’s trepidations almost instantaneously. Ace sent a punch towards Ardor’s lower torso and replied, “I’m sorry, have you forgotten where you are?! I see then: you want her to be left alone; you want her to be left on the street bleeding out…! It was you that carved up so many men and women on the battlefield; it was you that broke their will to fight but you cannot accept it…! You think that this act of disobedience makes you above consequences; have you forgotten that you never had such feelings before then, Ardor, let alone why we’re fighting?!” “I’m not saying that at all; this has gone on far enough already: haven’t you seen what’s going on already?!” the bulky shadow coughed up in retaliation, “the entire damned inhospitable remnant of this very city is collapsing into ruin and we’re supposed to be wasting time on torturing two defenseless women instead of helping them?!” “That’s your crucial flaw as a soldier in this day and age: your quickness to help the innocent has been constantly interfering with seeing at the bigger picture; has it ever occurred to you that they might be spies working to bring down the Princess and the entire homeland she rules over, Ardor?!” Ace screeched at the aforementioned listener at once. The battle–scarred woman felt her amethyst orbs shrink into the encroaching void that was the blackness itself as she thought about the conversation the two shadows were having, “spies; how in the world could any of us be spies?! That’s insane: Rainbow Dash is the most loyal of friends; she would never betray her kind, not even me…” “Even if that’s the case, why couldn’t we simply capture them and take them to the base for interrogation?!” Ardor snapped as he'd looked upon Scootaloo’s bloodstained back and the disheveled bright skinned woman nearby, “at least we would’ve been able to gain some information as to why they’re here rather than risk killing them…!” “They’re spies; do you think that they’d be willing to give up any information on their own free will…?!” the slimmer shadow barked back at his bulkier counterpart, snapping the latter out of his sympathetic gaze he gave to the prone Rainbow. Ardor felt a lump in his throat grow as Ace glared at him, flashing a pair of red glints within the owner’s eyes while the former answered, “well, no, not at–––” “Yeah, exactly…” the slim shadow interrupted before snatching the knife away, “which is why none of them should be able to return alive at all…” “SCOOTALOO…!” the bright skinned woman cried out as the blade sank into the titular individual’s head with a faint squelch. Now the dark skinned woman soon bled out from her very head as Ace pulled from the recent wound that he’d just made already. While that it was unlike the freshly made scars that Ardor had made before not too long ago, this particular attack was all the same. All the damaged that Scootaloo had sustained earlier was undermined by the suddenly quick brutality of the slim shadow’s act. The bulky shadow couldn’t help but flinch at the sight of the poor victim’s bloodstained body, dishing out a restrained sigh, “are you satisfied now; should I go and put the other one out of her misery…?” “No need to: at least this slut had learned a lesson in what we do to enemy spies in our homeland; besides, I’ve felt more alive than ever…!” the slimmer counterpart instantaneously replied with nothing more than a laugh at once, “come on, there’s so much enemy scum to deal with while the war rages on…!” “I – yes, sir…” Ardor said as Ace left both Scootaloo and Rainbow behind in their wake, no longer bothering to deal with them in the very least. Soon, the presence of dark shadows had decrease dramatically, reducing the otherwise populated husk of a dying conurbation back to a few, if any at all whatsoever, people. While the sights and sounds of battle continued onward without their presence, a deadening silence returned to comfort the two women who’d remained here anyway. All that remained were the remnant of what had used to be themselves at once: the bright skinned individual clean but dirtied, her darker counterpart dirty but clean. Presently and accounted for by the state of their predicament thereof, neither Rainbow nor Scootaloo ever regained the strength to move or even say anything at all. Suddenly, a faint and pained cry was heard amongst themselves, lacking in strength but otherwise filled with nothing more than sheer desperation altogether, “sis…” TreatsAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter nine of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the second half of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is coming on: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it because a special guest is going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Treats Pure uncut darkness within was the only way of how the small world works all at large thereof, let alone the real world to say in the very least; as a matter of fact, the former was, by far, indeed the latter and vice versa altogether. The jet black void was all that could be seen but not heard, felt, tasted, or smelled; yet, it can be also sensed as well anyways, devoid of even a modicum of light bearing any hue whatsoever to permeate throughout in its entirety. For a moment, it would had seemed that all was completely lost, its mere fate was already sealed and set in stone to say the least before the very beginning itself; nothing else was going to even change that in even the slightest margin. “NO…!” a loud quick escaped from there, creating an anomaly that gave such a darkness some semblance of life whatsoever: a suddenly new voice being nothing more than ragged panting and wheezing from between intervals; before long, the haphazard breathing had quieted itself down into stabilization. In its place was the frantic shuffling about in a rather somewhat reckless abandon all throughout, each and every move being made already making contact with the small dimensional boundaries surrounding the whole time no less. Next, the sounds of kicking and slapping were being instantaneously muffled and muted upon contact within, perhaps every decibel from the very noise pollution thereof just greatly reduced almost completely in under a minute. Then, there had appeared to be some fabric finding itself brushed up against it all, the jet black void was a witness to many things from within; without warning, footfalls had tapped onto the floor as if the walls were closing in. All that had remained was nothing short of a faint snuffle from the lone occupant, a small snort or two notwithstanding as the oxygen gotten sucked into its nostrils gently, slowly but surely metamorphosing into strained weeping. Suddenly, a loud plop had made itself known rather quickly, resounding against the hard floor upon the surface as the sudden wailing became more ghastly as it were slowly being interrupted by the choking fluids within the larynx. All of the sudden, the pitch black space was quickly illuminated, giving the area some shred of identity to the finite environment almost instantly. A quartet of walls were padded with whiteness was already arranged in a strict pattern to be seen, save for some bars upon a window and a lone door. The floor was aligned in the formation of a checkerboard, save for the squared edges where their dimensions proved themselves to be anything else. Hanging from the ceiling was a diminutive lonely light bulb that had already dispersed so many photons in so little time by a fraction of a second. A simple pair of sandals were found to be resting soundlessly about at one of the corners within the walls laying aside with the heels touching them. The one element that flourished all about the place was oxygen, providing only life and energy to start the day in any form or fashion whatsoever. Of course, there remained one solid figure that sat right directly in the middle, giving off a looming shadow that touched a nearby wall all at once. The individual had possessed a set of crimson locks, reflecting the very light that shown the way all too recently as they’d reached the nape of the neck. Its owner’s face was feminine, possessing a complexion free of all imperfections save for some small tears running upon the pale white integument. Underneath the redhead’s eyelids were a pair of hot pink circles running around the pupils as they were aligned into a rather solemn concave currently. Draped upon the torso was a big gray straightjacket, binding both of her arms around the chest as it was already worn over the thick white gown beneath. The redhead’s bare feet were the only things that had made contact with the cold floor, bound together by a pair of steel fetters all around both ankles. Just as though the sounds of her respiration were all that kept her company, a new sound permeated throughout the dulled atmosphere: the erratic ringing of metal rapidly clanging against another resounded within both eardrums; suddenly, that echo had quickly subsided within due time. As if on cue, the redhead started to face the doorway nearby, looking outwardly out of expectation for some other individual to appear from the opposite side as she had rested upon the wall that stood adjacent to her back, a visage of melancholy now intermixed with trepidation soon. Both of her ears now stood on endwise as a series of footfalls were echoing about, its sound being of softened fabric treading lightly against the hard floor coming from outside the room that she was already in, sitting away from the very egress in preparation for whoever would enter here. As the redhead remained slouched against the wall behind her, the light from the door was then instantaneously obscured, the outsider’s footsteps being replaced by the likes thin metals scraping about in a refrained legato of jingles followed a singular click that made a turnabout. She closed her eyes as the crack in the door had started to grow wider a bit by the second, both ears wriggling about only to hear a tender voice entering them far too quickly, “good morning, Twist…” “Huh…?” the eponymous redhead sighed, regaining the strength to shut out the blackness, “what day ith it…?” “It’s Thursday; you should wash up now…” the visitor answered back, stepping in to face Twist at once. At this moment, the redhead was now in the presence of another figure, the latter possessing a shadow that overtook the former’s body. She was able to find that she and the visitor shared one thing in common: they both had the same gender defining their physiological state. Nevertheless, the two women whom were present had many drastic differences that had already separated themselves rather instantaneously. The figure in question whom had arrived to see Twist stood tall and corpulent, the source of the shadow’s dimensions in which the latter was made aware of. Unlike the redhead’s hair that was thick and frizzy, the visitor happened to possess many thin locks of purple and white tied up into a neat and sizable bun. Eyes belonging to the corpulent woman were a chilled blue, steadily focused upon the frail Twist with a neutral visage, devoid of emotions that the latter wore. The observant visitor had a drastically darker complexion, one that was rather reminiscent of copper alloys within a series of wires birds had resided upon. Compared to the redhead’s attire, the corpulent woman wore a white apron over the purple dress, marked by a single red cross with several hearts around it. Seeing the lone visitor in question appearing made Twist whimper about, “they’re thtill here, aren’t they…?” “The soldiers again already…?” the corpulent woman had asked the tepid redhead, “there’s no one here who could hurt you now…” “At leatht when I’m awake, Thweetheart…” Twist replied, her eyes averting the aforementioned listener’s presence. The visitor disregarded the redhead’s statement and began to approach the latter, speaking calmly, “maybe it’s best that you get some sunlight and fresh air but first, I believe that a little bath is in order…” “What doeth it matter…?” Twist had squeaked out rather slowly, looking away from Sweetheart’s face, “no matter how much or often I clean mythelf, the blood… the blood… it only–––” “Don’t worry about that: the last judgment is all that should matter; by then, you’ll be able to find forgiveness…” the corpulent woman had interrupted, catching the redhead with both arms as the latter wept onward. Twist’s tears touched the woman’s textiles as the former cried, “how… jutht tell me how?! All that I’ll ever be known for is a math murderer and a traitor: I have no home, no friendth; even my mom can’t even vithit or at rather look me in the eye whenever we theem to meet…! The Princeth thould’ve allowed me to be put out of my fucking mithery inthtead; perhapth even Apple Bloom would thleep eathier knowing that a perthon like me won’t haunt the country any longer…!” “Why would you still believe that…?” Sweetheart asked, grasping onto the redhead’s tresses at once, “do you think your death would be something that anyone would’ve been happy to celebrate, let alone satisfied with…?” “Why elthe do I even hate my hair; becauthe the color of the liveth I had taken or the fact I can’t even look in the mirror without being reminded of my crimeth?!” Twist wept inwardly, still troubled. The visitor looked upon the redhead’s face to find tears staining the visage and answered, “you may not have paid attention much often but they’re still people who care about you: while your mother confessed to feeling scared of you, it doesn’t mean that she hates you altogether; in fact, she was scared that you were going to die in this war. Whatever your fears were in that war, hers was similar: you’d thought she was dead and she’d thought of you the same way; the fact that you two had found each other alive was a miracle. I was able to keep a letter that your mom had sent a long time ago: it’s not much but I believe this could help change your mind a bit, besides, it’s not the first letter or the only letter anyway.” “Where ith it; what does it thay…?” Twist instantaneously inquired as she’d watched the Sweetheart pull out a white envelope from the apron’s pocket, “ith that the one you’d just talked about…?” “The one and only; do you still want to read it…?” the visitor had replied the redhead all too quickly. A brief moment of silence made its way in between Twist and Sweetheart, occupying the oxygen they were currently breathing; soon, the former answered, “any more than I wish to see Apple Bloom’s smile again…” “Okay then, but be quick about it; Snowy gets a bit antsy if I don’t finish my job fast enough…” the woman said as she’d started to open the letter right in front of the redhead’s eyes, “the sun’s has just rose from the horizon…” “Thnowy…?” Twist choked out in confusion, a piece of paper slipping out from flat container in its folded form. With a wall of text presented to the redhead, Sweetheart sat down by her side and spoke, “it’s my coworker’s nickname; she’s actually Snowheart…” “You mean the thin nurthe with the makeup upon herthelf…?” Twist replied as she started to concentrate on the paper within the corpulent woman’s grasp, “I thought that her name wath Coldheart…” “That too is also a nickname but don’t even let her hear you say that; she happens to be very defensive about her name…” Sweetheart countered as the redhead struggled to see what was in front. Twist nestled her head towards the words nearby and began to read, “To My Dearest Daughter… I hope that this letter from me finds you well: the fact that you’re not there is nothing short of pure pain straight from the depths of Tartarus itself; of course, constantly reminded of what had been experienced during and after the war is expected. Hearing the other neighbors call me the mother of a mass murderer brought tears to my eyes: I can never forget the day you cried out for me as you were taken to court, treated like some ferocious monster that the papers made you out to be; I never saw you as one though. I wished I could’ve accompanied you on the way to see your friend, Apple Bloom down at the farm that day; at least, we would’ve both been spared of this entire mess but I did not. Now, I see what I have become of myself: a shell constructed of my failures as a mother forced to watch you grow up behind the walls of a sanitarium because of the lives you’d said to have taken during the war. While that I am lucky to not see you be put to death like a common traitor, it makes me wonder about my friend, Derpy and her daughter, Sparkler: the idea that the young lady treated so harshly made me picture your demise. Even I can’t help but feel sorry for Dinky too: the fact that she watched her sister be violated and murdered broke her and narrowly survive her mother strangling her the same way that Apple Bloom was by her own sister made me cry even harder. The days where I held you in your arms since you were born are no more than mere memories of the past, washed away and overshadowed by the present we live in where the future leads to the a cul–de–sac of endless despair. In spite of the blood and tears, there is still hope: your father is working on behalf of the Princess’ scholar, Twilight Sparkle, to have you leave the facility in due time, even though that I feel that neither of us will be around here to hold you again; I just wish that we can be able to put this horrid war behind us. With love and best wishes Mother.” “You see, your parents still love you; that’s all…” the woman sighed as the redhead had reached the end of the letter, “it’s okay, you’re safe now…” “What’s the point: I mean, haven’t you lithtened to what it thaid; why couldn’t they jutht end my thuffering already and be done with it?!” Twist cried as she remained slumped onto the floor, finding a singular hand resting upon her tresses. Looking over to find the paper becoming threatened by the presence of tears, Sweetheart lifted up the note and said to the redhead, “Twist, you were allowed to live for a reason: Princess Celestia believed that the problems caused by the Prime Minister needed peaceful solutions. She said that doing so would take more than just rhetoric and ideals but also compassion and mercy: your survival, as controversial as it was, was to show that it was time to heal the country; after all, you were only a youth at the time. Even the scar over your heart has started to recover: while it had reminded me of the fact that you tried to take your own life, you were granted a second chance in spite of it. What we’re asking is that you let us do our job and help you; you may think that you don’t deserve this opportunity, but it doesn’t mean that you should allow yourself squander it altogether. Let me ask you something, Twist: suppose that you were able to leave this place at any given day, what would you rather do with your life, not just to survive but also how exactly would you make of it?” “Well, before the war, I used to dream of making and thelling candy and other confectionerieth; you can thay that Bon–Bon inthpired me…” the titular woman answered with a smile before returning to frown, “now, with everything that happened here and there, who’d want to buy all that from thomeone with my credentialth…?” “You know, the fact that you told me all this actually reminds me of another woman of similar repute, a young mother specifically…” the corpulent observer said so suddenly, prompting Twist’s ears to stand on endwise. The redhead slowly looked Sweetheart in the eye and asked, “who was the; what wath the like…?” “She was strong and helpful; reminds me of my friend Snowheart: her voice and the eyes were a dead giveaway…” the visitor replied, returning the letter back to the envelope almost immediately, “her name was Applejack…” “You don’t think that–––” Twist attempted to speak, only to find Sweetheart nodding away almost instantaneously. As the corpulent visitor resealed the note back into its proper place, she’d soon said, “yeah… she said that the reason she’d started fighting in that war was to save her young sister, Apple Bloom…” “How could it be pothible?!” the redhead exclaimed all to quickly, “latht time that I’d theen Applejack, I’d thought that the wath dead…” “Quite the contrary; although, here’s some advice if you happen to come across her anytime soon: please don’t touch her skin…” Sweetheart warned as she started to stand up and bring Twist along. The redhead looked away again, this time towards the doorway and responded, “why not, Thweetheart…?” “Two reasons, to be honest…” the eponymous woman had started to explain all at once, “since the war had changed her, she happens to punch out anyone that tries to lay a hand on her; also, she’s been fighting off a disease contracted during the war and it hasn’t been cured completely yet.” “Ith it contagioth…?” Twist asked Sweetheart. The corpulent visitor nodded again and replied, “afraid so; even worse, she passed it on to her child and he’s blind…” “Oh my, that ith awful…” the redhead gasped as she attempted to walk towards the doorway, “I feel thorry for her.” “I know, but don’t let that discourage you; just focus on today and this will all be a distant memory…” Sweetheart spoken to Twist while guiding the way out of the small room they were both once in. A deep breath escaped from the redhead’s lips as she sighed, “I’ll try but I can’t promithe anything…” “Don’t just do it for them; do it for yourself…” the corpulent guide said as they walked away, “that’s all only to be considered important…” “Okay…” Twist whimpered as she was led out of the room, the tears from her pink eyes now evaporating. At this moment onward, the two women followed the new source of light that came into their room. The redhead’s hot pink eyes were now focused firmly upon the new environment that awaited her. The words that Sweetheart had used long ago repeated into Twist's mind as the latter cracked a smile. AstringentAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter ten of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that this chapter will deal with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this will be by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you're all given an option to skip ahead of this chapter like before. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now very close to the end of the story; somehow, the new year had still provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. However, let me just also say that, with many thanks aside, I hope you can be able to stomach this chapter now even more than the others before it and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned though the passing times; nevertheless, I hope to see you all again soon. Astringent The darkness within was solid, devoid of the colors best found in a rainbow both hot and cold along with the light that gave out some guidance. A significantly sickly sweet smelling scent had currently found its way nevertheless, ignorant of the jet black space thanks to its achromatic quality. Overshadowing it all were the percussive choir of shooting strafing about with reckless abandonment as they roared all across the way. Soon, the void that was there then opened up, providing a clear picture as to what had actually laid out in front of the observer. The skies above were a warm mixture of orange and red, the latter being the more potent of the two colors as it set up the frame. A forest of downed trees were instantaneously found surrounding a part of the earth, many of which containing some apples. Resting upon the horizon was a big red barn that had seen better days, the signs of damage being very significant enough at large. The heat of the entire landscape was too high to be in the double digits in the very least, its source being the fire and flames. Even though that the full salvo was further away from the homestead, it didn’t change the fact that danger itself still lurked on. Running amok were the high winds shifting around and about as they had kicked up some bits of dust and debris in the process. A lone individual was found to be amongst the sea of grass and leaves with the occasional apples taking a stand against the chaos and disarray here. The denizen in question had possessed a set of long crimson locks, sharing the same color as the very fruit left lying abandoned upon the solid dirt. The owner’s face was feminine, wearing a complexion that was free of all imperfections save for some patches of soil found upon her very cheeks. Underneath the redhead’s eyelids was a pair of hot pink circles running around both pupils as they were set apart by black shadowy patches too. Her attire was simple: buried within the large brown overcoat donned upon her very body was a peachy bleached blouse and a purple skirt as well. The redhead even wore a pair of black boots, firmly planted several inches away from touching the abandoned apples already away from the trees. She took in a deep breath and smelled the scent of burnt applewood bark and leaves amongst the diatomic oxygen all around the way. The sight of some fire and flames all around gave the redhead reason to be vigilant, avoiding the scorching heat of this environment. A pair of ears currently stood on endwise as she heard gunfire in the distance among the roaring winds and the conflagration around. Recently standing in the soil, the redhead started to run from heat that was lick away her coat with some shelter quickly on her mind. Even though it’d just looked like that she was alone in this forsaken place, there was no need for the likes of her to take any chances. “I hope that thomeone ith home; Mith Thmith thould be there…” the redhead whimpered as she looked towards the barn dead ahead. She couldn’t help but pant and heave as the sounds of conflict grew closer and louder with every single step of the way taken. Despite the solidarity and barrenness of the location that the redhead was found in, she can’t take any time whatsoever to stop. For such large flames that remained far from her ever since, the fact that its own heat refused to leave her side was astonishing. The minute that the redhead reached the doorway, she attempted knock on the wooden partition right in front of her, only to be greeted with a reply almost instantaneously, “it’s open; ya can come in now…” “Huh…?” the listener gasped as she stopped herself from making contact, finding the momentum to reach into her pocket, “who ith there: Mith Thmith…?” “Actually, her granddaughter…” the occupant answered, shocking the redhead who began to pull out a black pistol from underneath her fabric. With the weapon in hand, she stared at it and thought to herself, “Applejack, but that ith impothible: I thought that the wath–––” “It’s okay, Ah will get the door for ya…” the voice on the other end of the door said, bringing the suspicious redhead out of her way of thinking, “why Twist, never thought that ya be showing up here…” “Applejack…?” the eponymous visitor had choked out, staring at sight that she couldn’t believe in the very slightest. It wasn’t long until the redhead was greeted by the sight of a tall, dark, and blonde female, wearing a face full of freckles underneath the jade orbs and a small smile plastered alongside as well. On the occupant’s head was but a light brown hat that was widely brimmed enough to shield her hair from the aerial assault that was further away from where either of the females were standing now. The tanned blonde wore a dark red blouse onto her torso that was overlaying an undersized dark brown vest; the former buttoned carefully to the top whereas the latter left the waistline exposed here. A pair of slacks was found to be already adorning the occupant’s legs, snugly being held firmly in place by a jet black belt fastened with a red buckle in the shape of a big and juicy apple no less. Like Twist, the tanned blonde wore some boots as well but they were thinner in the choice of material and possessing a more colorful shade despite being darker than the latter’s garments thusly. The occupant took note of the redhead’s widened eyelids and mouth agape with the pistol in the latter’s hand, all while responding, “are ya okay, sugarcube? Ya look like that ya seen a ghost here; what’s bothering ya…? Where are ya folks…?” “I wath about to thay the thame thing: what are you doing here…?” Twist stammered at the sight of the tanned blonde directly right in front of her, “I thought that you were… you were… you were–––” “Dead… now how in thunderation did ya get such an idea; why don’t ya come inside for a bit ‘til the whole mess dies down…?” the occupant interrupted, opening the door right in front of the redhead. Twist soon attempted to speak out as the tanned blonde had now lead the way into the big red barn, shaking and sweating about in the process. No longer standing upon the dirt where many of the trees were lying abandoned, the redhead had now stood upon the ligneous floorboards here. A set of furniture such as chairs, a couch, and a table were found in the distance while a lamp was resting on a nightstand was nearby Twist. The very walls around the structure that the two females were in had been adorned with portraits of various individuals from many upbringings. A single piece of illumination was found resting at the corner, standing upwardly nearby the tiny window as it had remained lit to be easily seen. The redhead found a stairway in the distance in where all that had it had led up to was a patch of a jet black void that even she couldn’t make out. Twist looked around and got lost into her thoughts again as she stammered onward, “what in the world ith going on: why ith Applejack thtill at Thweet Apple Acreth of all placeth; where are the otherth…?” “Ah got t’ hand it t’ ya; ya managed t’ do the one thing that Ah had failed to do: avenge mah longsuffering family…” the aforementioned blonde’s voice had went into the redhead’s ears, “Ah bet that ya feel like a hero right now, let alone a million bits to say the least, don’t ya, Twist…?” “What ith the talking about…?” the titular visitor said to herself as she looked around to find the source of the voice thereof. Still gripping the weapon in the right hand, Twist heard Applejack speak, “please, come on upstairs; now that you’re here, Ah want t’ ask ya a question: what did ya think when ya came here? When ya wanted to see yer friend, did ya expected it t’ be like old times, before the whole war?” “More than ever…” the redhead’s response reverberating rapidly, “I thought that the would be alive…” “Ya weren’t the only who believed that; sadly, I wasn’t so lucky…” the tanned blonde had just instantaneously said as Twist soon started to move towards the stairs right up in front of the latter. Stepping up on the ligneous incline, the redhead whimpered about, “w–w–what maketh you thay that…?” “It’s pretty simple, sugarcube…” Applejack answered as Twist climbed up the steps within the homestead, “we’d all lost people we’ve loved…” “What are you talking about…?” the redhead had asked as she hoisted herself over the last of the flight to be greeted with a small hallway. Of the many doors at each side, only one of them was left ajar as it gave off some light from there; as Twist moved forward toward it, she had heard the tanned blonde speak, “no matter how hard Ah had tried, Ah never could escape the reality of what happened here; that was mah downfall. Well, it’s finished anyway: I hope you like what Ah had been doing in mah spare time; as a matter of fact, ya welcome t’ see it now…” The redhead then opened the door to find a bedroom that matched the style and substance of the living room itself that they were once in. Though the ceiling above Twist was already painted uniformly in a true blue scheme, it had remained otherwise barely minimal here. The linear dimensions within the area were painted in various shades of green, all of which were firmly aligned into a rather small pattern. The redhead was instantaneously aware of the armoire nearby standing tall and proud as it had been a part of some other furnishings. The dressers and nightstand sharing the same color scheme possessed more than just clothes: one had a large mirror; the other held a lamp. The most crucial part of them all was the fact that the large bedstead was riddled with numerously small strokes of colors alone. There also remained Applejack resting at the side with a thin paintbrush in hand as she had given the adjacent partition long broad strokes. “What ith going on here: what are you doing, Applejack; where ith Apple Bloom…?” Twist tested the eponymous tenant in question, “have you even bothered to check the air raid thirenth recently…?” “It seems t’ me that yer eyes are opening up: it hurts, don’t it; well, go on… what do ya think…?” the tanned blonde tittered on, pointing to what she had done to the area in front of themselves. The redhead directed herself to the part of the room that the occupant asked of; the former could barely hold in a gasp to such a sight that had shocked her even more. Unlike the walls within the very bedroom, this one was the canvas that had bore witness to the image of many colors painting a sight livelier than the outside world. A set of figures were staring back at the one direction centering on those who watched them, many of which screaming of bloody murder being done against them. Twist started to look more closely to discover that these subjects in question were darkly colored individuals from all ages and both genders with faces devoid of irises. Juxtaposed within the sea of agonized people were of brightly clear skies of whiteness save for the occasional streaks of red and orange in the form of small comets. Even though that they didn’t resemble the physiological state of being that both females had shared, they were nonetheless bleed out in various shades of red. The redhead stood still in silence before starting to regain the strength to speak, “you did all of that…?” “No, you did: yer actions caused the deaths of numerous people…” Applejack answered Twist almost quickly complete with a sneer, “somebody had to pay for yer crimes here; who’s it going t’ be now…?” “Crimeth… Applejack what are you thaying…?” the redhead asked as she attempted to avert her gaze, turning to find that the aforementioned artist was no longer within the former’s line of eyesight. It wasn’t long until Twist was finally alone again naturally, left with the portrait of countless faces glaring onto her as she started to walk away. Only then when her pistol found within the redhead’s grasp did it break, shattering into five easy pieces before the fall to the floorboard did the rest. The sounds of artillery being shot to and from the skies began to grow louder enough to shake the room, scaring Twist out from the area quickly. As soon as the redhead left the bedroom, the door slammed shut behind her with a loud but brief crescendo of a whole note in and of itself thereof. Twist recoiled and attempted to open the doorknob, only to be greeted with the tanned blonde chiding the former, “uh–uh–uh, that’s not the place t’ be here; besides, ya already know what Ah had been doing…” “What do mean by that…?” the redhead responded as she wandered about, “where have you gone…?” “The restroom… Ah need t’ wash up anyway…” Applejack answered as Twist tried to follow the voice nearby. Sure enough, the redhead was guided by another light source pointing towards the end of the hallway opposite of the stairs she had climbed upon. In the midst of the turmoil outside of the barn that the two females were in, Twist was drawn in by the illumination that was more open than before. The redhead was drawn in to the sight and sound what had taken place before, albeit in a more blatant way that she was picking up at in the process. As though the possibilities were hatching within Twist’s brain, she couldn’t help but walk towards the very doorway that stood in front of her. Reminiscing on the early periods of the redhead’s predicament, she finally started to enter the room that the tanned blonde had informed her of. Such was the act that Twist had partaken in as she finally moved forward to the new room within the house with hopes of finding Applejack in due time. The redhead busted on through to the other side as she’d soon found some things that caught her off–guard, more shocking than the bedroom in and of itself. The floors were adorned with footprints caked with mud and blood, staining the tiles with the utmost uncanniness in every single step thereof deep within. The sink was filled with up with brackish water bed that was tinted with a jet black tint and a rim with some color as the drain above it ran a cleaner stream. Though the toilet had the lid placed down but the porcelain texture was oversaturated with numerous crimson streaks as the water poured out from there. The bathtub was covered up with a small pair of pink curtains with a shadow stuck out and about in the process as Twist started guessing almost instantaneously. Soon, the redhead’s temptation gotten the best of her when she had used the left hand to uncover the stationary figure; of course, what had remained to be seen wouldn’t be expected upon making the instantaneous discovery thereof. The identity of the subject that Twist had suddenly uncovered was none other than the tanned blonde herself; however, the latter was extremely different from what the former had seen not too long ago, especially given the facts. One major detail that the startled redhead had quickly found was that Applejack wore not even so much as a single thread of fabric over upon the naked body, just only clad in the cold comforts of the crimson fluid from the waist down. Casing about the utility, Twist had noticed other things that weren’t found upon the tanned blonde before: injuries ranging from a blackened eye, a runny nose, and even some gaps within the set of teeth were telling a tale. Having found Applejack’s figure within the bathtub, the observant redhead’s gaze was turned upon the former’s left arm being submerged into the depths of the otherwise achromatic liquid that was lacking the latter’s solidity. The cold lifeless gaze that was the tanned blonde’s body sent chills up across Twist’s vertebrae, prompting the latter to mewl, “App… le… jack…?” “It seems to me that Ah didn’t make it out at all…” the titular occupant answered, but it didn’t belong to the nude figure in front of the redhead, “nor did you come to help me when I had needed it the most…” “But that’s impossible…” Twist started to reply, turning to find Applejack standing tall and proud with some clothes in contrast to what the former had seen, now greeted by the sight of the latter’s two juxtaposing likeness of one another. With the redhead struggling to process the very realization that was directly right in front of her, the tanned blonde’s clothed form on the right side had countered onward, “oh, Ah can assure ya; it is…” “But how?!” Twist exclaimed as she remained focused on the left where Applejack’s nude form rested upon, “I thaw the men beating you up and taking–––” “All while doing nothing; ya shouldn’t have come here at all on that day…!” the tanned blonde interrupted the redhead. A loud scream was heard, causing Twist to cover her eyes and ears before starting to shout back, “what happened here wath not my fault…!” “Wasn’t it?!” Applejack instantaneously interjected as she had remained unfazed, “none of this wouldn’t have happened if ya had just gone home; but, ya kept on going and for what reason here…?” “I tried to return thomething!” the redhead screamed. The tanned blonde couldn’t help but laugh as she had replied, “Ah, what could ya have hoped t’ return here, a favor…? Yer favors are better off left abandoned elsewhere…!” “Pleathe Applejack…” Twist started to cry out to the eponymous tenant, “thith wath not my fault; I never knew they would do it to you…!” “It takes a strong one to deny what’s in front and if the truth is undeniable, then ya could make yer own; the truth here, missy, is that ya came here today to feel like someone yer not: a heroine…” Applejack said as she had watched the redhead starting to shed some teardrops all at once. A loud explosion resonated from outside the home as Twist struggled to speak, “pleathe, make it thtop…!” “Ah am here because ya couldn’t accept what had happened; it broke ya and ya needed someone to blame, so you cast it on them, a pile of dead soldiers.” the tanned blonde continued to pick up where she had left off, “Ah know the truth is hard to hear, Twist, but it’s time: yer all that’s left and we can’t live like this forever; Ah am going t’ count t’ five then Ah am pulling the trigger.” “You’re not real; thith ith all jutht a nightmare…!” the redhead muttered as she was shook her head. Applejack then pulled out a pistol and asked Twist, “are ya sure? Maybe Ah am one… One!” “No… everything that happened… all of thith… it wath their fault…!” the redhead started to growled, “Apple Bloom didn’t even detherve it…” “If that’s what ya believe, then go save her; otherwise… Two!” the tanned blonde replied, still holding the weapon. Twist turned her gaze from Applejack and started to weep, “I… I didn’t mean for any of it to happen…” “No one ever does, sugarcube…” the tanned blonde sighed slowly with a somber frown as the redhead cried onward, “Three… Four… Is this really what ya want, missy…? So be it… FIVE…!” At that point, Applejack pulled the trigger and a loud bang escaped from the pistol; at the same time, Twist was sent backward across the bathroom tile instantaneously. Left firmly upon the redhead’s body was a rapid incision upon her chest that tore through the fabric which she had worn long ago since she had been awaken to purity. Much of the energy Twist had possessed started to leave her body as she was now writhing upon the floor, the memory of the wound still fresh in both mind and body. All that the redhead could muster up is a cry, “Apple… Bloom…” LightAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter eleven of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the second half of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is coming on: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it because some special guests are going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Light Daylight was now being burned into the minds and bodies of every possible lifeform that had dwelled upon the soil of the turning world, already rotating on its own axis at a set speed while revolving as well on a different one to say the very least; as a result, half of it was already bathed in it. As such, the big blue sky had already become clear enough to see the golden sun shining about over the scope with a flock of birds from various sizes and shades soaring across so serenely that not even gravity alone could ever pull any of them down to earth itself, free from both fear and worry. Within a large dream drop distance was but a small civilization being defined in such various materials used to build them from the ground up, most of them all being the ones suitably fit for the likes of even three little pigs with a not a care in the world for the dangers posed towards them. The calm gentle breeze was now surfing across every one of the grassy knolls, the brilliant green surrounding it all on a solid lower plane of existence even as the dirt road guided its way over from a nearby forest, a curvilinear line worth holding as much as it is and was worth crossing as well. Out amongst the very backgrounds had rested a valley and ridge of smoky mountains already carving themselves a significant piece of the landscape alone, many of which were raging with growth and erosion in the very process of their trying times as the golden sun was hovering over them. With the hustle and bustle about now deep into the flow, the small town was instantaneously filled to the brim with an utter abundance of many people from various demographics: age, gender, finances, and social standing being rather nothing short from the standardized metallurgy of life. One particular place within that town stood out and about in the process: while it wasn’t home in the very least unlike the other residences that were built nearby but nonetheless treated with respect. Standing up from the brilliant green were numerous monochromatic stones carved into various shapes, each of them bearing a name and line of text beneath as clues to who the bearers once were. All that was occupying nearby them were but an arrangement of many flowers made up of various colors and species already planted upon the otherwise fertile soil that was their new home. Many of them that were being observed by some wayward pedestrians remained aware of their purpose within that very space as there were at least some people, either by themselves or in a crowd. Uniting them under one common goal was but a feeling of solidarity and reflection of their lives as they’d stared upon the formations that were sticking out of the very ground they were standing upon. Of the many who’d appeared in attendance, there were at least two people that had stood out and about, standing in front of one particular stone of the finite others. Defined amongst themselves were likenesses in fair dignity, possessing common traits between one another: bright complexions, somber emotions, and an achieved goal. Even so, they still had some significant differences between each other that many observers around themselves would be very quick to notice in a heartbeat no less. Speaking of which, these particular individuals in question had a sense of fashion that was more loud and lively than almost the rest of the common folk themselves whom were also in attendance within the very environment thereof. For starters, one of them had a spiky brown hairstyle matching the masculine ensemble of a trenchcoat that had overlaid the shirt and slacks whereas the other was a simple blonde whose long tresses had matched both eyes of melancholy. Secondly, while the tall man had on a white undershirt beneath the suit and green tie around his very neck, a frilly white dress was found adorned upon the smaller female’s body with a lone black ribbon wrapped around her very abdomen. Third of all, he had but a single timepiece in the tight grip of his left hand made only of metal and glass while she had a bouquet of flowers held in both hands, each of them in various colors wrapped in only a silky monochromatic textile. In addition, even the very footwear that they had on were different, just like themselves as well: the male wore only some solid black bluchers upon himself while the female herself had some light green sandals that were very open instead. “It’s been seven years since you’ve been gone, dear sister; I wish that we could’ve spend more time together as a family…” the young individual sighed sadly as she’d soon planted the nosegay upon flowering ground nearby the stone. The tall man went up to her and placed a hand upon the right shoulder saying, “there was nothing you could’ve done to stop it: you were just a child after all; Sparkler wanted you to live just as much as Derpy did.” “But it’s not fair; why did my sister had to suffer such an indignity…?” she cried, returning the gesture with a hug, “she loved us both, she never even hurt fly, and they couldn’t even see that; all they saw was some toy to be defiled…!” “There, there, Dinky… it’s over now: you’re safe with me now…” he whispered to the eponymous female as he stared at the stone with a tear leaking from out the corner of his right eye. The light winds lapped at their backs as they held tight, her tears soaking into the fabric of the man’s clothing as a leaf surfed on, passing them by. The atmosphere was crisp and warm, a grave contrast to the situation that the two very visitors in question were out amongst as they’d remained firm. The golden rays of sunlight kept them company even though that they were ignored, no doubt caught up in reminiscing of innocent days from the past. Soon, Dinky broke away from his embrace and turned back to location of the floral arrangement with a sob, “goodbye, Sparkler…” “So, what do you want to do next…?” the man asked the blonde female, “we still have some daylight to ourselves; no use in wasting it, my dear niece…” “Well, I would like to see mom again; can we go visit her, uncle…” she had answered only hesitantly. He started to look around and spoke to his niece, “are you really sure about this; do you really want to see her…?” “Yes, uncle…” Dinky replied, “more than ever…” “If you say so…” the man said. The blonde stood upright to stare at the scenery that was provided for the likes of her as a pair of golden eyes had begun to scan in the details all around herself and her uncle. She was already aware of the fact that there were buildings nearby the area that were loaded with people whom were in a much better mood than the likes of her at that moment. A quick glance beyond the sea of rocks and green being traversed by other individuals had already informed Dinky of some houses in every shape and size. Reeling in the melancholy that brought him and the blonde to this place, they had started to set foot away from the ground where the latter had planted the flora above the soil. As they were now in the process of perambulating, she started to break the silence again, “mommy and daddy used to take all us on a picnic nearby the forest every year in the spring, before the whole war; I can even remember the multitude of muffins we had helped her made here and there.” “I know… your father had used to be so happy he’d started to wonder if you were to follow in her footsteps…” the man said as he looked up into the cloud that were passing throughout the firmament above them, “kind of makes me feel sorry for them even more than before, especially my sister…” “But what about father, Uncle; he should be getting out soon, right…?” Dinky asked as she held tightly onto the aforementioned individual. He turned his attention back to his niece and answered, “I wouldn’t count on it: even if he gets pardoned by the Princesses, it won’t change what had become of us; besides, the new prime minister is still angry with what had happened since the war. After all, nobody had considered the possibility that there was a slavery ring going on underneath our noses, let alone Ponet being involved no less.” “Then why won’t we just write him a letter to set him free…?” the young blonde had responded, gripping her uncle’s right hand in a cling, “besides, daddy’s nothing like the monsters they’ve made him out to be, especially considering that–––” “Now, now… let’s not go back to the past and dwell on these things too much; after all, you have so much to live for and so do your sisters…” the man interrupted, bringing her into another embrace once again. Dinky could do nothing but weep, “I understand…” “Now, let’s go; time is of the essence: your mother can’t wait any longer…” he’d said, quickly guiding his niece away from the place they were both at earlier, “no use in wasting it all anyway…” “Okay…” she said. At that very moment, the two kept on moving forward and were surrounded by a series of house, proof alone that they’d entered the town at once. The number of people increased in density as Dinky and her uncle walked about, surrounded by those with a louder sense of fashion than them. Even though that they were within the line of eyesight which had belonged to the numerous passersby, the duo was left alone to their devices. More often than not, the blonde couldn’t help but see a few faces belonging to some shiny happy people they’d came across on their way through. At long last, the two pedestrians came across a large building that was already residing on the outskirts of the town that had remained in the distance. It’d stood up tall and proud, reaching high as at least three stories with a pair of stone chimneys stretched upward but spread far apart in terms of length. The roofing possessed the style similar to the likes of many residences within the adjacent town, albeit composed of ligneous uniformity rather than hay. Standing out above from the very entrance was a red circle with several pink hearts, all of which were separated by a white cross in the very middle of it. Adorned all throughout the structure were but countless windows far and wide, each made of the same material and shape but in different sizes thereof. All that had remained out there in front of them were a pair of olive doors resting underneath an awning, up in front of an earthly trail they stood upon. The man took a glance at her once more and asked, “are you ready, Dinky…?” “Why wouldn’t I…?” the titular companion answered back before moving forward, “let’s go inside now…” It wasn’t long until they traverse through the partition in front of them, greeted by the sight that was cuts above that than the stones within the field. The ceilings were in a brownish shading style, many separated into intersecting but otherwise equal lines with some domed lanterns in the mixture. All the walls within the room the two had entered with a lighter hue than the grass that was left behind in the outside world far and beyond thereof. The beige flooring was interspersed with a set of teal carpeting that looked like it was purchased at a rather fair bargain before being steam cleaned. Every geometric corner nearby the entrance was occupied by a potted plant with an abundance of leaves as spacious to cover the bottom of her shoes. The blonde visitor could also see that many other individuals sitting on olive colored chairs either being the well–adjusted or under the weather. As he’d looked around, there had come the sight of but a single woman from the corner of his left eyeball. She was tall, thin, and dressed in white, just like Dinky was except such attire had been extended. Underneath the white hat, this woman had locks of a pale green, colder than the very scenery itself alone. Her very eyes were but a pair of magenta orbs, already clouded by the drabness of the reality they were in. “Excuse me, miss…” the man had said almost immediately, catching the lone woman’s attention at once. Sure enough, the listener went over to him and replied, “how can I be of assistance for you today…?” “It’s my niece, Dinky: she wants to see her mother today…” the man had answered calmly, “is it possible to do so…?” “And how is she…?” the nurse leveled herself to reach the eponymous youth at once with a small smile. The blonde backed away from the older female with a gasp, “eep…!” “It’s okay there; she’s one of the good guys…” he sighed, calmly comforting his niece, “sorry about that, nurse–––” “Tenderheart, dear sir; what’s your name…?” the woman interjected, introducing herself almost instantly. The man answered, “Turner… Doc Turner…” “I see then…” the nurse said to him all at once, “do you also work here at the hospital as well…?” “Trust me, I’m not that kind of doctor; I’m a scientist…” Turner replied as he’d wiped away the beads of sweat off of his brow. Tenderheart chuckled and then spoke, “I’ll go and lead you both to her; besides, Redheart’s gonna be wondering where I am unless I return…” “Do you know where my mom is…?” Dinky had whimpered at once, “can we see her now, please…?” “I don’t see why not…” the nurse had replied. It wasn’t long until the young blonde had just started to follow after her older counterpart with little warning whatsoever. The tall man couldn’t help but to go on and chase after Dinky the minute that both females had left the lobby all at once. Only then, the volume of people started to become lower than the rest of the town than either of the observers had noticed. Here on out, the young blonde quickly took note of the closed but otherwise benign atmosphere around Tenderheart herself. Within only seconds, the otherwise slow beeline had now met its end, already overtaken by a vastly new area that the three had just walked in. Filling the widened space was many sets of round tables all strewn across from their position, each of which occupied by at least one individual. Above the very occupants were a few wooden fans that spun about from beneath the ceiling in the same speed but lacking all the synchronicity. The walls had but a set of windows providing both light and scenery from the outside world already beyond the very premises to say the least. There was also another hallway in the vicinity where people were also coming from, albeit a bit less numerous than the arrival of the very trio. Even the very flooring possessed less color than the entrance where both visitors arrived at, overwhelmed by a uniformity of such whiteness. As soon as Turner caught up with Dinky, the former had said to the latter, “alright then, let’s stay and wait for your mom…” “Okay, now that it’s out of the way, I’ll go fetch her…” Tenderheart said as she’d started to depart from the patient visitors in question, “hey, Snowheart… tell Derpy that she has some visitors…!” “In a minute…” a lone voice far away from the twosome shouted back in reply, no doubt belonging to the aforementioned listener. With the nurse now out of their eyesight, the tall man talked to his niece, “so here we are now; do you still feel nervous…?” “Mm–hmm… but it doesn’t stop me from loving her anyway; after all, she still misses Sparkler too…” she’d sighed, “don’t you miss her as well…?” “Indeed… there’s not a day that goes by where I stop thinking about her…” he’d answered back while looking around their surroundings only briefly. Dinky started to rest her head upon the plastic surface, yawning about, “I feel so sleepy, uncle… I hope we can see her soon…” “I know… I want to see Derpy too…” Turner had responded, watching the young blonde carefully, “Dinky, stay alert…” “I’ll try…” she’d struggled to speak up at once. As the man looked around once more, he was almost caught off–guard by the sight of two feminine individuals whom were alike in fair dignity at first glance. The only trait that was being possessed amongst them was a bright complexion upon their skin and even that alone wasn’t enough of a difference in the very least. As such, they had more various between one another than he or Dinky even bothered to notice thereof, aside from who was notable in their eyes, especially the latter. Even their own sense of fashion was something that the two visitors here had just used to identify them all at once as of this moment in time. For starters, one of them was a blonde with matching eyes like the young one accompanying Turner whereas the other had some light blue hair. Secondly, the fact a white hat with a red cross was donned upon the icy tresses was irrefutable proof that she was also a nurse, like Tenderheart. While the tall blonde wore a simple white gown, the blue haired individual had a pale yellow ensemble consisting of a blouse, skirt, and slippers. Of the two that had come in visual contact with Dinky and her uncle, only the tall blonde started to speak slowly but softly, “muffin…?” “Mommy…!” the young blonde cried aloud, jumping out of her seat to hug her newfound parent, “I’m so glad to see you again…!” “Oh, Dinky…!” the titular visitor’s mother wept as she’d returned the gesture almost immediately. Soon, the nurse in attendance remained silent and went away, leaving the small party of three alone to their devices as the man had spoken up, “I can see that you’re being treated well, dear sister…” “Mm–hmm… the doctor said that we’ve been able to move past the nightmares…” the tall blonde answered him at once. Turner barely found the strength to place a hand upon Derpy and said, “I wish I could say the same for the others: Chirpy’s still taking their father’s imprisonment very hard; it’s not so much now that everything had changed. I bet that he would’ve been so happy to see those kids growing up, especially Spar–––” “Don’t mention that name around me, please…!” the angry tall blonde interrupted almost instantaneously, “besides, they need to be stronger than me, especially with the war already over…” “Understood…” he’d said, looking towards her daughter with apprehension as she started to look away. Derpy’s lips started to quiver and wept into Turner’s shoulder, “I’m sorry, it’s just that I still can’t of what kind of person my husband was, working alongside with that vile bastard of a commander; and to think that let him raise the others…!” “Ponet’s not as bad as Agar is making him out to be; in fact, it’s not even his fault completely…” the man replied as he held the tall blonde as tightly as possible, “besides, Dinky was talking about writing a letter to set him free earlier today…” “Easier said than done: it took Applejack a few years for her to leave this place and even then she wasn’t allowed to see her sister again…” Derpy sniffled as she’d quickly broken away from his embrace. Turner backed away from the tall blonde and said, “I know but the fact that she’d survived was a miracle; of course, I can’t help but think about her sister as well. The first time that I had met them, I could recall them trying to sell some apples before the war broke out, or rather the young one doing it. She came on a bit strong but I had never expected that something like this would happen to her, losing her eyesight and whatnot; I feel sorry for what she has to go through ever since.” “I’ll say… Dinky would’ve made a great friend with her around if it weren’t for the fighting…” Derpy sighed, looking upon the eponymous young blonde with a solemn look, “I still wish that I could’ve been around to see you grow more often…” “I know, mommy…” the tall blonde’s timid daughter said with some trepidation before hugging her. The tall man looked on once more and had asked Derpy, “so, are you still going to fine all by yourself…?” “Obviously…” the tall blonde instantaneously answered, “Sweetheart even been more open with helping me get past what happened with you–know–who’s you–know–what here and there, and some meds…” “I see then…” he had said almost slowly. It wasn’t long until Derpy had yawned, “goodness, is it almost time for bed…? But it’s the afternoon…” “At least some things don’t change…” Turner had chuckled as Dinky also did the same thing as well, albeit less spontaneously, “DJ is going to need my help back at the house soon, especially with the others.” “I know; wish that I could be there to see them again…” the tall blonde had sighed sadly with newfound tiredness. Grabbing onto the nearby hand of Derpy’s daughter, the tall man had spoke, “don’t worry, you will…” “Dinky, would you kindly please come closer…?” the tall blonde requested, causing the aforementioned counterpart to walk on over to the former’s side at once, “promise me that you’ll stay out of trouble…” “Yes, mommy…” the young blonde had complied, earning a hug in the very process as he had smiled brightly. Sure enough, Turner had started to grab onto Dinky’s hand and said to Derpy, “alright then, I hope that we’ll be able to see you again; of course, I also had something else for you: Dipsy was going to mail this letter earlier this week but I was able to convince to let me do it to save her some time and effort.” “Really, what does it say…?” the tall blonde asked as the tall man pulled out a piece of paper from his brown jacket and gave it to the former, “it’s kind of hard to say something about it without flashing back to the past…” “Perhaps reading it could answer that question; ‘til then, have a nice day…” he’d said as the young blonde was being pulled away from her mother gently. As Dinky started following Turner, all she could do for Derpy was use the free hand to wave and said, “bye, mommy…” “Goodbye, my little muffin…” the tall blonde had responded, standing almost helplessly as her daughter and brother started retreating back to the hallway where the nurse with the teal tresses led the two through, “make us proud, Dinky…!” “I will…!” the titular visitor had shouted back. A small stream of water had started to escape from Derpy’s eyes as she began to hide them right underneath her hand, the letter given to her by none other than himself left unscathed while the handler struggled to stifle a wail at once. Even though that there were others in attendance that were left to their own devices, a few of which with a least a visitor anyway, the tall blonde couldn’t help but feel so alone in this otherwise rather confined space she was in. In what had seemed to be some sort of a great expectation, her silent cries of melancholy were nevertheless left ignored anyway as everyone else meandered onward with their lives, regardless of their overall quality by comparison. Only the piece of paper that Turner talked about was there to keep Derpy company and even that alone wasn’t enough; after all, it was serving as a simple reminder of the very encounter she had with himself and her dearest daughter. Underneath the rather otherwise cleanly sanitized physique that the tall blonde had possessed upon herself, she’d felt as if some tacky compound was dumped onto her very tresses that even the visually impaired would’ve noticed. At long last, Derpy found the strength to whimper, “Sparkler...” GravityAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter twelve of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that this chapter will deal with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; however, this chapter will be ending on a more uplifting note unlike the others, a strange sentiment born from familiarity no less. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now oh so close to the end of the story, mind you; speaking of which, this chapter in particular was originally going to end with Dinky falling into the flames but I'd decided against it and with good reason: even though, it had at least standard three thousand or so words, it did seem like that it was finished so I continued on and tacked on a different end. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it since another special guest is going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Thank you. Gravity All across the very way, there was some darkness already filled to brim with a dank and dire atmosphere where such factors of sight, substance, and scent lay buried in obscurities referred to as an earthly void. The only clue to the rather otherwise unknown environment were the neat placement of such shrubbery, all too fertile and lush with life to the point of producing some flowers rife with many colors and texture. Even so, the very landscape right underneath it was composed of countless acres filled to the brim with sepia soil that had stretched far and wide as it could be seen despite the near lack of visibility thereof. Nevertheless, there was at least one living being that had stood out and about amongst the very plane of existence thereof: a bright skinned female was found sitting within the brilliant green. A set of some straight blonde hair had run past the nape of the neck with its rich and tender fibers glowing about in a direct contrast to the surroundings that the owner was already dwelling. She had worn a plain white tee that was found to be overlaid by a set of denim overalls that was adorning the petite body, possessing a thicker texture and louder color than the undergarment. Upon the blonde’s feet were some big blue boots that had been shaded lighter that her general attire but not as light as the socks that she wore as well, its fabric already halfway past the shins. “Sparkler…” she had murmured about at once as she was started to shaking about only slight as she was rustling some leaves that were dancing in the wind. It wasn’t long until the blonde had started coming to her senses, she was thereof instantaneously surprised to find herself in a rather peculiar location at once as the minimal surroundings all across the way. Even though that there was darkness all around her, the fact that she was able to see the foliage that cloak the female’s body was nevertheless proof alone that eyesight was far from lost, irises matching hair. Direct airstreams were now brushing up against the shrubbery that the blonde had already found herself despite the gentle tenderness, carrying a crispy cool scent of a tangy sweetness that her nose picked up. She couldn’t help but give in to the overwhelming trepidation that was deeply crawling within her integumentary system, the golden locks standing on endwise as if the electrons hiding about were radiating. The blonde started to shake about in attempt to escape the leafy refuge that she had seen as her prison, only to be stopped in place by a loud bloodcurdling scream that was nearby the tight area, “AAAHH…!” “Shut the fuck up, bitch…!” another voice echoed into the now timid listener’s ears, “don’t you let me spoil my fun…!” “NO, PLEASE… DON’T–––” was all that the first voice had cried out for her to hear before it was ended by a throaty gurgle. It wasn’t long until the blonde’s ears were treat to a percussion of grunting and panting, no doubt the work of the secondary voice here. The brief memory of the shrieking that had plagued the listener’s ears forced her eyes shut back up as these factors painted a picture. Only the ingrained surrounding the had cloaked her body divert the actual sight where the very sounds thereof had originated from. Heightened tensions were still stagnating within the observant blonde until the solitary outburst had ended with a resounding moan. When all was said and done, the soloist of sadism had spoke, “man, that was a waste of a good twat; at least her body was still warm though.” “Mommy… Daddy…!” was all that the listener had shouted out at first after a long period of silence, but nobody came, “please…” “Dinky… I’m sorry…” a voice was heard, but the blonde wasn’t the source as she was now already almost to the brink of tears at once. The fainting rattle of the assailant’s victim had drove the listener to burst on out of the large foliage at once, only to be confronted by a heart–stopping sight. A lone woman of a taller build than that of herself was found abandon upon the desolate soil, possessing a darker complexion upon the dirtied skin thereof. The blonde had instantaneously recognized the how the very figure’s hair and eyes radiating with the once majestic purple already stripped of liveliness and style. Although that the woman in her presence was all dressed up, the former’s attire was undone: the top half of the purple jumper torn up and blue knickers exposed. The barefoot status of the figure in question was enough as it were to remind the blonde of the bruises sustained coupled with the wound on the former’s neck. The sight of the exposed woman taken in by the trembling observer’s faltering eyes had now served as the overwhelming pressure that broke the latter almost completely. Even though that the blonde was quick enough to avert her gaze at once, the very sight and sounds from before had now been enough for the weepy young counterpart. All that she could think about was the rather unrestrained level of brutality that she had bore witness to that had fallen upon the unfortunate figure in question earlier ago. At this very moment in time, the blonde in attendance couldn’t help but feel her own heat beating against the ribcage underneath her skin and flesh, unleashing a downpour upon the woman’s lifeless body, “SPARKLER, PLEASE WAKE UP… PLEASE… PLEASE… MOMMY AND DADDY ARE WAITING FOR US…!” “Dinky…!” a loud shout was heard at close range, breaking the eponymous observer out of her trance; sure enough, she started to look around for the new source of this voice, only to have already found the answer in the form of the fallen figure’s newfound movement of the fingers, “go, please… the town is… they’re going to–––” “They’re gonna what––– what are you talking about?!” the blonde was sobbing about as she was caught off–guard by the sudden activity of Sparkler’s bleeding assemblage, prompting the former to back away from the latter whom was once perceived as dead thanks to the recent turn of events thereof. Even with the disheveled state of the woman’s particular dishabille, she had struggled to rise upward and said to Dinky all at once, “fire… they’re going to set fire to the town… sister, please…” “You’re not making sense, Sparkler; who’s ‘they’re’ and why?!” the blonde shrieked as she had struggled to pull onto her aforementioned sister’s arm quickly, “don’t leave me alone like this; let’s go…” “I don’t know… but it’s not going to be safe to stay here any longer; please, your mom needs you to come back…!” the weary woman groaned as she had still felt Dinky attempting to drag the former along anyway. Sparkler’s statement instantaneously fell flat on deaf ears as her sister cried about, “not without you, not like this… we’re sisters and we’re inseparable so that means that no one’s supposed to be left behind or forgotten; it’s what our parents and Uncle Turner had said…! I can’t go on without you at this rate, no matter what happens; I just can’t leave you like this, let alone leave at all…!” “Mom won’t go on… without you either; besides, I’m… going somewhere anyway… but not with you, sister, no thanks to that… brute of a soldier…” Sparkler had slowly gasped as she had grabbed onto the blonde’s arm in response almost immediately, “I had already swore to mom… to keep you safe no matter what: your father may have… brought you into this world… but it’s still my responsibility… as the firstborn of the family… to make sure that… nothing bad happens. Just reach back to mom… and the other… as fast as you can: don’t stop… no matter whatever or whoever… catches sight of you; as a matter of fact, don’t even… approach any of them… at all… It’s okay, Dinky… I don’t care that… we’re different; no one wants to… leave in my place either and… its because that I love you… when mom got married… all that I’d seen was… the end of a nightmare… for her and me. Then, when you were born… all that she had seen… was the beginning… of a fresh start: a loving family… a decent job… and a town… where no one will judge us; even I thought… about making a name… for myself as it… continued onward. Listen to me clearly… mom and dad are… counting on you… more than ever… Dinky, don’t give up… I don’t want her… to think that I had–––” “Sparkler… Sparkler… SPARKLER?!” Dinky cried out, beset by the only breath that her titular sister took before subsiding all at once, the latter’s body now going limp and heavy to the point where the former had lost any reason to continue on. As the light faded from the woman’s amethyst eyes, her lips had curled into a small smile as she had then whisper, “I’m sorry…” “No… no… no… it’s not possible: I won’t believe that you’re gone; IT’S A LIE…!” the blonde had cried out as she had struggled to move her sister’s body once more, this time with feeling, “COME ON, SPARKLER, PLEASE GET UP…!” “Your sister is dead because of you…!” a new voice had now escaped into Dinky’s ears, possessing twice the amount of venom as the tertiary voice but lacking the tenderness of herself and Sparkler. The blonde started to feel the once cold, unmoving, limited animated flesh that had belonged to the woman grow hotter than it were since the latter’s monologue from only seconds ago. Sure enough, Dinky had soon turned around to find a petite vermilion flame already nearby her trembling fingertips, causing the tight grip to be broken away all in due time no less. Under so little time that the blonde had used to starting paying attention once again, her sister had become instantaneously bathed in the growing conflagration before the former. Now it would seem that any and all attempted to preserve Sparkler in her once former glory were rendered futile as she burned brightly and briskly altogether much to Dinky’s horror. As the blonde couldn’t do much besides backing away and watch with tears in her eyes as the large flame crumbled and clicked freely, feasting upon the fallen female’s frail form. Many seconds had passed until the woman in question was reduced to a charred and shrunken amalgamation of fabric and bones, stripping away the color that provided an identity. In course of the overwhelming devastation that had befallen Sparkler, the fire had still raged onward with the smoke and ashes trapped within started to shrink and become blackened. Such a sight alone was all that Dinky took of what had once was her dearest sister laying across the scarce environment, its consumer now started to shift focus almost immediately. The blonde remained speechless save for one word that she had slowly wept in response to the ordeal, “Sparkler…” “Sparkler can’t help you anymore, Twinky; she’s already dead…!” the voice from before had now laughed as the fire before Dinky started to grow at once, “and now, it’s your turn to join her; your spirit is required at the other side…!” “AH…!” the blonde had quickly cried out in pain as the cinders had started tickling her denim overalls, forcing her to back away at once. Of course, as soon as Dinky retreated, the small inferno started gaining some speed at once all while the recent voice cackled in her ears, “run, baby, run…!” “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!” the blonde had shrieked out as she soon started sauntering away from where the woman once laid, gaining a rather massive lead all in due time, “WHERE IS EVERYONE?!” “Go on ahead and run to your mommy and daddy, Dinky; I’m sure that they would be of much better help than that worthless wench of a sister…” the voice guffawed while the flames had grown and started following the eponymous runner. All the melancholy that the blonde had experienced from Sparkler’s predicament was now defaulted back into the trepidation from before, this time in a much greater scale. Even though that Dinky was now running in a straight and narrow line, she had paid close attention to the terrain underneath her very feet so as to not give the fire a chance. In spite of the inner agility within the blonde’s body kicked into overtime, the very conflagration behind her had showed no signs of either ceasing or desisting any time soon at all. Only a memory of the woman’s body being burn reinforced Dinky’s desire of escape, turning a logical reflex into a need for speed surpassed by the likes of amalgamated steel. Under the blonde’s boots, she could feel the ground change in its entirety, the desolate flat soil now replaced by the rocky mountain high that impacted her straightforward path. Despite the large distance that Dinky had traveled so far, she had still watched as the inferno was gaining up on her while whimpering in disbelief, “oh no…” “Oh, yes…” the voice chuckled, now finding its in the conflagration that took the form of a massive lion that growled, “I’m gonna getcha…!” “I'm really scared of heights but not as much as whatever that monster is; I have to climb up: it’s the only way…” the timid blonde had thought to herself silently but quickly, swallowing a lump as she slowly stared at the newly formed geological formation. While Dinky was panting about, she could still hear the flames chasing after her, eating away what little good fortune that remained with reach. At long last, the blonde scrambled to place her hands upon the rocky surface almost quickly, the strength within the legs now channeled to the arms. Latching onto the cracks and bumps within Dinky’s reach was no easy task as she had remained already aware of the consequences awaiting her. Luck and skill were starting to drain away from the frantic blonde’s body as the stress of the running about was taking her toll almost at once. Even though that Dinky did managed to hang on tightly, her heart and mind were starting to racing on further than she had ran long before. Determined to escape the clutch cargo that contained and composed the conflagration, the blonde still hitched herself upward and at the next point. As Dinky found herself yards away from the ground upon, the formation she had started climbing upon started to shake followed by a monotone chorus chanting, “fall…!” “What is this, a rockslide or an earthquake…?” the blonde had grunted with beads of sweat pouring out from her forehead as specks of dust fell on her head, “this can’t be happening to me…!” “FALL…!” the chorus bellowed, gaining an increase in form and volume as it had reached Dinky’s ears at once. The combined forces of heat, gravity, and strain were now counterattacking against the very blonde’s own will to live and performance thereof. Even though that Dinky refused to give the audience what they had wanted of her, both hands started cramping about from the continuous activity. As the blonde still continued onward, even her bright skin was changing to a bloody red during the ordeal, matching the bruises upon the palms. With an outstretching rock within her grasp, Dinky placed her hand upon it at once, only to be rewarded with a loud crack from the immense pressure; soon, gravitational forces succeeded, forcing her on a downward path as she screamed aloud, “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH…!” “YES…!” the fiery onlookers cheer as the blonde fell from the mountainous partition almost instantaneously, “MISFORTUNE AWAITS…!” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!” Dinky screamed as she felt the flames that chased her now waiting to devour her as they had done with Sparkler not too long ago, shutting away her tear–stained eyes almost immediately in due time as she was unprepared for the dolor that had remained. At long last, the blonde felt the solid ground from beneath slammed onto her back but the heat and light didn’t feast upon herself in the very least. While that Dinky was left alone to her devices, she had found herself unable to move, no matter how much effort that was now being put into it all. Only the fire that threatened the blonde’s life remained at her side, surrounding her like people who used to say the line about sticks and stones. Like before, Dinky was shocked, saddened, but most of all, scared, the strength she had put into escaped already reduced to the barest minimum. The blonde couldn’t help but cry from the pain and suffering that she was enduring at this very moment in time, shutting away both of her eyes in a delayed expectation before hearing a tender voice, “sister…” “Huh…?” Dinky whimpered as she had slowly opened her eyes back up once more with feeling, “Sparkler…?” The source of speaker was greeting the blonde not in a fiery blaze but a blinding light that the latter’s matching eyes were able to withstand. The form that was taken in front of Dinky was none other than the woman from earlier all cleaner and shiny than the former remembered. The major difference in the attire that Sparkler wore was not only modest but also in brighter shades resembling of mountainous majesties. The only constant that remained for the woman was the utter lack of shoes from before yet her feet remained suspended in the atmosphere. The face that Sparkler wore was not of the pain and sorrow but that of concern and elation, free of the material wound inflicted beneath her. “Dinky…” was all that the ethereal woman said, the fire and flame dispersing back into nothingness while leaving the aforementioned onlooker be. The sight and sound of Sparkler’s new form, coupled with the suddenly forced disappearance of the conflagration brought joy and tears to the blonde who found the strength to raise her arms out to reach for the former and cried out, “sister…!” “It’s like want I had said before: I’d made a promise to mom that I will protect to protect you; besides, it’s what big sisters are supposed to do…” the woman in white replied as she had soon slowly descended to return the gesture almost immediately, “goodbye, Dinky. I will always be with you…” At that moment, the two were drawn into an embrace, there hands now upon each others backs as they had held on tightly. Dinky had felt traces of tender tears falling from the corner of Sparkler’s eyes even though that both of them were smiling. Just as the blonde was comforted by the woman, the latter had started to fade away almost out of the former’s sight already. Reopening Dinky’s eyes, she was treated to the sight of Sparkler’s form returning to nothing, save for a cloud of photons. “Sparkler…” the blonde cried out once more, this time with feeling as the last of the ethereal light had now disintegrated before both her very eyes but nobody came. CorporealityAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter twelve of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that the last chapter has dealt with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; however, it has also ended on a more uplifting note unlike the others, a strange sentiment born from familiarity no less for reasons already explained. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now oh so close to the end of the story, mind you; speaking of which, this chapter is going to feature a character from the merchandise who has yet to appear in the show so far: while I would've told you the identity of the seventh main character, classifying her as an other was the only logical clue that I could give. Nevertheless, two special guests are going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this penultimate chapter below: as such, I hope you would enjoy what I have brought to you for I deeply regret leaving you all to hang long than I had intended; in any case, like regularly and especially previously, stay gold. Corporeality It was a dark and stormy day but still possessed the light that was hidden away from the eyes of its own observers whom were now running about at this moment in time thereof. The silver linings that could have been easily found as the shine in the storm were overshadowed by the outpouring of rainwater that fell onto the solid ground almost immediately. Some sounds of thunder that had rolled about within the vast storm clouds while refrained waves of lightning carved its way throughout with blinding speed and synchronicity. Unbound by the vast spaciousness of the very atmosphere, the cluster of grays and whites with the occasional colors spread further apart all over the lands and waters underneath. Kiloliters worth of rain had already saturated the terrain, many square acres of it all were gaining the very texture that was more malleable than even stone and metal themselves. Accompanying the rain and thunder were the howling winds now moving the grass and trees that had already completed the interactive orchestra for the surrounding environment. Speaking of the environment in question, it was nothing short of an open field resting upon a flat terrain with some fences around the rectangular area. A pair of large wooden gazebos were found standing nearby the openings of which where people would traverse to and from at any given time thereof. The large playground at one nearby corner, a scene of pastel colored wonder, was already soaked with the overwhelming moisture, swings and all. Only the trees that had remained stood their collective ground tall and proud against the rain and winds but even they weren’t remaining unperturbed. Many square acres worth of space were starting to collect a large amount of water in the process to the point of making a swimming pool in the grass. In the midst of the scenery were but a few individuals take shelter from the pouring deluge, their integuments and clothing unscathed for the most part. Of the few personnel found within the pavilion, there was the sight of at least three females who were perhaps alike in fair dignity at first glance. All three of them had possessed a few common traits: long flowing hair in more than just a single color and a look of dismay were all being worn. They nevertheless possessed many significant differences amongst themselves that the average observer would’ve easily taken notice of already. The first of the females, bright skinned and with but a clear complexion, was staring out into the heavy downpour with her golden eyes riddled with water as well. She had possessed a spiky set of minty tresses already eclipsing by the lack of light being shed upon herself despite having some whiteness right in the middle. Upon the female’s body was but a simple attire: a bright yellow sweater and some dark purple skirt with some matching leggings barely covering both her feet. The second of the feminine trio, also bright skinned but wearing a faint tan, had wore some true blue eyes all staring at the ligneous ceiling to hear the rain pounding. Her long and coiled hair was but a clashing of the darkest cold blue and lightest hot pink vying for dominance all across the very way with only depth and texture. Even the female’s own attire was also very simplistic to a fault but rather more uniform as well: an all–white ensemble consisting of a blouse, shorts, socks and boots. The last of these was literally not like the others: aside from being shorter, she had but a darker complexion and some aquamarine orbs focused onto the plastic table. Also, her hair was a scene with a clashing of colors as well, albeit with only three hues of purple, pink, and aqua neatly curled up past the nape of the neckline alone. Upon this female’s very body was an enormous baby blue pinafore with a pair matching shoes to go along with the rather spacious form of clothing in and of itself. “It happened again…!” the woman in white worded out at once, her face straighten and narrowed by the pitter–patter of raindrops above themselves. The other woman stared into the moistening landscape started to cry softly, “rain, rain, go away… come again another day…” “It has been raining a lot lately…” the smaller female sighed as she’d stood up and nudged the standing bystander’s shoulder, “Bon–Bon, do you think it’s possible that it will rain again next week…?” “I can’t answer that question, Star Dreams; not even Lyra knows about it…” the target titular woman in white replied, slightly flinching at the roar of thunder above the trio cutting into the rain. The sight of the prostrate observer nearby prompted the blue female to call out to the former at once, “Lyra…?” “Rain, rain, go away… come again another day…” the aforementioned onlooker had repeated, unfazed by the blowback of the deluge carried away by the howling winds around her face, “rain, rain, go away… come again another day…” “Lyra…” Star Dreams said once more, this time breaking away from Bon–Bon to approach the eponymous witness. Once again, the prostrate woman had ignored the smaller female and began to weep again, “rain, rain, go aw–––” “Lyra, please…” Star Dreams quickly interrupted as she’d then hugged the titular observer, “get up…” “Huh… Star…?” the taller counterpart slowly choked out when she’d soon felt a warm sensation at her shoulders, no doubt the work of the aforementioned youth’s hands already nearby at the former’s side. The standing woman in white had felt only tempted to join the two other females as the driving rainstorm above themselves raged onward with but little signs of ceasing to be anyway. In contrast, Bon–Bon still watched Lyra and Star Dreams all too closely from but a small cold distance only silently as they’d remained keenly aware of each other’s’ presence no less. While the females were safe in one another’s company, only the woman in white had remained nothing but cautious as she could now feel her own hair currently standing on endwise. Alone as they were but also together as well, even though with two of the females in question now firmly in the line of Bon–Bon’s eyesight, she was nevertheless careful for them. Zigzags of white hot lightning soon flashed before their own eyes almost instantaneously as it was then followed by yet another round of thunder that had also pounded the very ears. Just when it had seemed like that the woman in white was about to say something, the blue female became the first to break the silence, immediately but calmly speaking into the taller counterpart’s ears, “please…” “Star Dreams… what are you doing here; where am I…?” Lyra peeped as she had faced the eponymous youth at once, “what with all this rain…?” “Don’t you remember… we’d decided to go up to the capital for vacation, Lyra; can’t you recall of it…?” Bon–Bon answered, now finding the strength within herself to approach the two all at once. It wasn’t long until Star Dreams joined in as well, “you were talking about how you wanted to go home for the weekend since last Tuesday so Bon–Bon and I were trying to raise some money getting to the capital by selling some candy…” “Last Tuesday…?” the prostrate woman had only struggled to speak to the titular bystander rather clearly at once, “is that so…?” “Yeah… I thought that we could afford a nice change of scenery to ease our minds: Appleloosa may be big enough to raise a family but the capital seemed like a return to the past; plus, there would’ve been a chance that you could run into your old friends again…” the woman in white answered with a faint and nervous but calm grin. Lyra began to face Bon–Bon already with confusion replying at once, “what old friends…? They’d never returned here to begin with…” “Only one… Twilight Sparkle; she came back to her old home in the city since Golden Oak Library had burned to the ground that night…” the woman in white countered, “they had said that it was the work of a saboteur that came here earlier; ever since that fateful day, one of the Princesses took her all the way to the city right up north of the building. Her parents had said that her upper body had sustained second– to third–degree burns: it was like looking at skeleton that reminded them of her brother, a captain of the guard; of course, he’s also alive though I wish the same could be said for his wife. Some guy by the name of Mercury Promenade blew up the wedding reception years ago and killed Princess Cadence; I was there when it had happened that day too: some shrapnel had ended up etched into the abdomen and cause her to bleed out. Anyways, Shining Armor tried to take his own life but his sister was there for him, trying not to let himself give on life because of it; she wasn’t alone though since she had friends back at home: Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and even Moondancer had came to their side. Even though that it had been a long time since they’d met again, they were able to catch up on old times, talking about what they did; as a matter of fact, Twilight even mentioned your name when you’d met with Applejack then.” “Applejack… did I do that…?” the sitting woman had said slowly as the downpour started to slack up at once. Bon–Bon nodded her head in confirmation and said, “yeah, Doctor Stable told me about the progress you’ve made since our first visit…” “Yeah… she talked to me about why you were there that day…” the smaller female had also chimed in, still remaining crouched all right by at Lyra’s side, “she’d also told me how great of a person you were anyway, always wearing that smile in and out of bed every day to enjoy the best of life…” “Really…?” the sitting listener had replied. Star Dreams had still hugged Lyra tightly and continued onward with the tète–a–tète at once, “yeah, Bon–Bon said that you were once a bright and bubbly woman, always full of life and love. She had seen you as a free–spirit, ready, willing, and able to take on the day by being willing to just try out some new things. The very quality that Bon–Bon had like about you the very most was how you’d made her smile once again when she’d wanted to give up on something.” “Smile…?” the wayward listener said as she had still remained aware of the smaller female, “isn’t that what Pinkie Pie does…?” “Yes, but not as much as you did: your happy face convinced me to smile again; it reminded me of my own mom and dad…!” Star Dreams cried into Lyra’s sweater, the former’s tears soaking into the latter more quickly than the rain itself. Another flash of lightning had appeared before themselves as the supine observer whimpered, “mom and dad…? I had a mom and dad…” “So did I and Star Dreams had them too…” the woman in white worded herself out once more with feeling, moving forward to the two in question, “just because that we had lost them both doesn’t mean that we should be losing our way either: they didn’t bring us into this world just so they can leave us behind without knowing what to do from here. They would have wanted us all to not give up on ourselves even though that they’re no longer with us; just think back to the very time when Missus Smith raised all three of her grandchildren and had to take care of the farm. The Apples may be the largest family here in the very homeland but we’re also a family living here too: you, me, and her; even though that we’re different from certain other families, it doesn’t change the fact that we care for each other very greatly. All that I must ask of you, Lyra… please don’t forget what you once were nor what we still are; your mom and dad didn’t want you to forsake your happiness because of every horrible thing that had happened recently. Don’t just do it for yourself, do it for your neighbors, do it for your friends, do it for her, do it for me…” “Bon–Bon…” Lyra had called out only quietly to the eponymous observer in but a faint and careless whisper no less. At this point in time, the smaller female looked into the golden eyes of the taller counterpart and pleaded at once, “please…” “You guys, I…” Lyra had struggled to speak out once more, this time with only but feelings of acquired apprehension in place of matching melancholy from much earlier before, “I don’t know what else to say about it…” “There’s no need to say anything; we both love you far too much to risk letting you throw your own life away…!” Bon–Bon soon bawled out as she had now finally made her way to the two at once, letting loosely but a thin stream of tears out from the corners of her very eyes almost rather immediately. Sure enough, the three females were currently joined up in a loving embrace, uncaring of the rain and lightning that had started to decrease in frequency already. Although that the water and air were being blown around into their faces, they were all found to be down on the ground anyways, smiles plastered upon them. The very trepidation that was holding all of the three in place in the wooden pavilion earlier was now quickly substituted with only but elation for one another. Finally, the supine woman started to return the gesture all at once and cried happily ever the after, “I love you both too…!” “Oh, Lyra…!” the woman in white wildly wailed as she had instantaneously nuzzled up to the aforementioned individual, gripping onto to the latter’s back, “I hate what this war has done to us all and what it’s doing to you especially: you deserve a whole lot better than what these fiends have done to you. I want the old Lyra back, the one that was happy, the one that was never afraid to start the day, the one that never even had to take medicine now and then. I know that no matter how hard I wish to go back to the old days when everything had made sense, not even the archaic research done by Starswirl the Bearded would make that happen. Still, that doesn’t mean that you should give up on trying to be happy again, even after everything that happened to the likes of us because of the war alone. You’re still surrounded by people that love and care for you, Lyra, even though that we aren’t biological family: friends like the very ones that you still have to this day, people like me who still can’t on without the likes of you, and even Star Dreams who needs love the most.” “Please, Lyra… listen to what she’s saying: I know that I’m not old enough to understand and everything that happens in this world but that doesn’t mean that I’m alone either; when I’m with you, I feel safe knowing that all the bad things that happen won’t befall upon the both of us, just like how mommy and daddy kept me safe when they were alive…” the titular tyro told the target. The eponymous crier could barely believe what her smaller counterpart gave out: it would seem that for a brief second that the visage of the former remained in place of the latter had flashed before the reflections within the golden eyes themselves; soon enough, some words escaped from the mouth all at once, “oh, Star Dreams…” “We can still see facets of the old you shining thru despite everything that happened: you’d even mustered the strength to read her a bedtime story nightly even in the midst of a thunderstorm…” Bon–Bon said as she had held onto Lyra tightly, tears still flowing throughout the face faster that the rain itself, “I’ll admit there have been times that I’d wanted to give up on life especially before the war had came to our doorstep. Growing up in the countryside, I was still struggling to make so much as a meager living for myself since I’d left my mother’s home; from the day I’d met you, I felt as if the strength that had left me came back. Even now, I’ve already swore to myself not to go back to the very times that I’d struggled in my life following that particular day thereof; I’ve cared about moving forward for the sake of my friends, especially you, and now her as well. I had risked my own life trying to rescue you, not only just because of that silent vow but also because I had believed that you would do the same and I will risk my life again to rescue Star Dreams just as much as you would. The challenges that we have all faced together were unforgettable because of the collective experiences we had learned and the people that we had encountered in the very process overall and her joining us along to face many more is proof of that. The only option we have to deal with them, successfully or otherwise, is to move forward and brave the next challenge with a head upon the shoulders and keep your mind and heart clear of darkness.” “How can I do that when it’s all around us, Bon–Bon…?” the wailing woman had asked the aforementioned onlooker. The woman in white placed her hand on the back of Lyra’s head and said, “trust me on this one: Princess Celestia had made a promise to make sure that this homeland of our won’t be torn apart again like before. She has been able to keep us subjects happy and prosperous for a lot longer than we’d ever been even born so we still have faith in her ruling to this day. All that she wants from us to do from here on out is stay determined and preserve like the others have in restoring order.” “But what do you mean by that?!” the timid crier shrieked aloud, sending the smaller counterpart back with little warning whatsoever, “don’t be naive… where is your mind?! Open your eyes; can’t you see what had happened?! This world has been set on fire because of bastards like Gelatin…!” “You’re right: it'd been on fire and I don’t know how many tears had to be shed to put them all out but if there’s one thing that I'd learned ever since the war to our neck of the woods, then it’s that life is too precious to be taken in meaningless conflict or thrown away as soon as its quality is degraded…” Bon–Bon answered back. Lyra calmed back down once more but still wept about anyway, turning her gaze away from both nearby females, “what are you saying…?” “Think back to the time when we’d first gotten separated: I’d once thought that you’d died in the blast when the town was getting bombarded years ago; yet, the day I’d seen you again left me with my stomach turning about…” the woman in white pleaded, struggling to regain the crying listener’s attention, “the way that you were being treated made me feel so guilty about the times I'd raised my own voice at you, like I'd wanted to cry alongside you because of the very pain that had been dealt by these monsters. It was times like this that had made me realize the very importance of our friendship and what I had felt like needed to be done: unless that I save you, I’ll go down and take as many soldiers with me, including your tormentors as well. Ever since that fateful day when the war had ended, every time that we had slept together I can recall many of the nightmares that had been causing you to scream yourself awake and cry right directly into my arms. As much as I can barely stand the ordeal you’d ended up going through here and there, I knew that it wouldn’t be right to leave you in such a state but I also realized that there would come a time that you would end up destroying yourself even when I’m already around. The only way you would have gotten some hope of recovery was with doctors and nurses because seeing you in a dreadful manner any further on that day made me realize how weak I was in the very end and–––” “Don’t ever say such disgusting things…!” Lyra lamented loudly, languishing about in the longstanding lachrymose and lackadaisical lag. Bon–Bon was startled by the interruption and had attempted to continue speaking, “what do you mean by that…? I wasn’t trying to make you relive every aspect of the past, especially considering–––” “That’s besides the point, dammit: how could you ever call yourself a weakling?!” the lugubrious lounger lectured about a laconic legato, “I’m the one they’ve decided to use and abuse me to no end in sight, I’m the one who couldn’t run fast enough from them, I’m the one who got beaten up for talking back and screaming…! If anything, I was weak and this entire ordeal proved to me how and why; even I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have been ever since you’d saved me! I was so happy to see your face again: home was awful then, here’s being awful now; I thought that going back to the past would mean never having to think about the war but now things are becoming awful. Is it… just me…?” “Why, of course not: being weak had nothing to with our homeland going to war at all; it was just the stupidity and selfishness of our Prime Minister and the corrupt soldiers that made it awful…!” the woman in white had replied, already on the verge of being infected by the rather overwhelming melancholy. Lyra had snuffled about and turned to face Bon–Bon once again to speak out, albeit steadily, “not even our Princess Celestia could have seen all of this coming but that doesn’t even make her an incompetent ruler any more than the war could have made you a weakling; so what you’re saying is that we’re not unworthy of living at all…?” “Lyra, please… think about what you’re saying overall: people back in our town had made us feel welcome and happy to be alive; even though that we were different to one another, it didn’t change a thing as to how we had felt about each other…” the woman in white steadily said to the eponymous listener, “our way of living may be different from before but it won’t stop us from spending another moment together like we’ve usually done. Compare to what this war had done with you and her parents, I can take solace in the fact that neither of you have been dirtied yourselves like I had. Not even your night terrors can faze me at all as long I’m still here; as a matter of fact, I suffer from them too: the sheer thought of you dying kept me appreciative our company. The fact that we had stayed strong in spite of it all is a miracle in the very least: the least we can do is cherish it and use it as an opportunity to enjoy life together with one another, especially for her sake.” “I’ll… try… for you… and for… Star Dreams…” the laconic lounger exhaled about, just as the rain had now subsided. Bon–Bon smiled before kissing Lyra and said, “and that’s all that’s needed at this time…” “Look, mummy…!” Star Dreams interjected, pointing towards the firmament above themselves, “there’s an airplane up in the sky…!” "Where…?" the minted mumbler mulled on, looking for the object in question. The small witness stretched her hand towards the sky and answered, "right up there…!" "Oh, there it is…!" Lyra laughed as she'd now seen the flying machine in action, "I wonder if I can fly…" "Me too, Lyra… me too…" the woman in white sighed as she turned away from both females at once, wiping away the tears the clogged up her sights recently. While Star Dreams laughed and commented on the state of affairs yet to be deleted by a young comet, Bon–Bon barely paid attention to the sun coming out of the silver linings. The minty fresh lounger stood up and began to follow the younger counterpart outside into the wet grass, their legato of laughter lampooning the long forgotten lugubriousness. PhantasmagoriaAuthor's Note Hello there and welcome back once more to yet another new chapter of War Orphans' Wishes, the sequel to one certain story out of many of my craft to go above and beyond the oneshots I've given you since the inception of my presence; suffice to say, the past chapters from before were by far a strong note for y'all which had given a taste of what had came earlier on but I'm happy to tell you that this will be the final one. As such, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the the new year and a new month with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now; in addition, I'd also like to apologize for not doing so in time as usual since this chapter here was hard enough to write down given the whole turn of events I'd made yet after all this madness we'd made it through like before. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you can find some joy in this chapter now more than in the others before them enough to have the strength in finding some happiness because some special guests are going to be joining our fateful protagonist in the final chapter below; henceforth, I will leave y'all with much to say significantly: thank you very much for sticking around to the very end, I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting for it to happen, and more importantly, farewell once again. Phantasmagoria An absolute absence of light currently dominated the otherwise almost colorless environment; of course, that didn’t mean that it was lonely or without some semblance of substance of sound in the very least. Even so, there was almost no way whatsoever that it was either a solid vision of terrain or even of earthly ground to say thereof; not helping matters was the endless legato of airstreams mixing in with rain. Only the sea of countless debris was there, being easily perceived as scary due to the ambiguity concerning whatever lifeform thereof dwelt within the obstinately jet black void of the flotsam and jetsam. Nevertheless, the very dangers themselves were already still ubiquitous overall because of these minimal traits, lacking of both safety and security while seemingly filled to the brim with endless freedom here. Resting out and about amongst the dark oceanic terrain was a lone individual resting upon a wooden board swimmingly all along without any signs of stopping in the very least whatsoever. The occupant in question had some dark skin that had possessed a feminine structure, with the complexion and texture of an elaborately made antique furniture made solely with wood overall. A set of multicolored locks had made its way from the very darkness thereof, providing some form of illumination with three hues of purple, pink, and aqua neatly curled up past the neckline. Even though that she wasn’t moving on her own free will, her eyes were starting to open up, revealing a pair of turquoise orbs circling around the pupils despite the narrow viewpoint thereof. Worn over the female’s body was a snow white blouse that was moistened by the overabundance of water that had almost drowned her because of it, despite the fact her head was above anyway. “Uhh…!” a soft gasp was emitted from her, creating an anomaly that gave such a darkness some semblance of life whatsoever: the suddenly new voice being nothing more than ragged panting and wheezing from between intervals; before long, the haphazard breathing had been quieted down into stabilization. In the course of the raging waters thereof, the timid female had started climbing aboard the lone debris was spacious enough to support her rather lanky weight that was held down by the overall achromatic liquid within the very void itself and roaring winds that were pushing them to and fro with reckless abandon. Directionless and without any means of her own to gain a set course in the making, she couldn’t help but being silent even against the pitter–patter of precipitation pouring down from above; of course, the observer curled up, expecting a flashing bolt of lightning to be interspersed almost instantaneously no less. Rather than even so much as a brief rumble of thunder even joining the meteorological orchestra however, nothing much overall had ever happened: no flora to be in awe of, no fauna to approach the female, not even the distant sounds other than the storm itself that she could’ve heard from any angle or trajectory. The female couldn’t help but weep, her tears besieging the darkened skin as they were already assaulted by the rampant rainstorm as she remained unaware of the rising wave charging at her back. Sure enough, the raging waters that carried the seemingly countless debris grew tall and wide, creating a shadow that had towered over her body, prompting the observer to turn around all at once. Undertaken by the overwhelming amount of the dark liquid, the female was swept off of the wooden raft and into the briny deep that was now surrounding her from every single dimension here. Now, it seems that her only objective that came to mind was to not only swim back up to the surface but also stay above the water as long as she can until something would come across for help. As the female was currently climbing away from the darkest depth of the environment at hand, she had left a trail of bubbles in her wake that had moved higher and faster, a sign of urgency at hand. Many cubic centimeters of the otherwise achromatic liquid were starting to work against her as she had started to get closer onward for the much needed oxygen that was slowly now within reach. In due time, the female was successful: although that she had struggled to breathe after being compelled to hold herself in, the excess of air entering the lungs was more than enough to satisfy her. Like before, she was able to grab ahold of something that would already fulfill her expectations; however, it was a lot different from the wooden raft that she was previously resting upon: it was stony and lonesome, almost resonating with the likes of her from long before here. One crucial detail that had caught the female off–guard was that the surface was far from solid, compared to the rather ligneous texture that she had found her own hands resting upon a long time ago: its newest mass of matter has some silky stands that had resembled hair. Not only that, she had found a small a set of a few fine flowers flowing freely against the airstreams, all of them different with their own stems refusing to kowtow against the storm as the petals were constantly changing their own colors each and every passing second. Even so, the very female in question had been currently greeted by the sight of another figure at close range: like herself, the other straggler was already sharing the same gender and skin complexion along such simplistic attire dampened by the atmospheric phenomenon. Of course, it was almost instantaneously clear that the very females themselves alone had their own differences in the very least. The perfect stranger that was just now lurking about had some long tresses of solid gold already running past the nape of the neck. Draped over the individual’s body was a true blue ensemble of a jacket and skirt, both of which were made of the same material. The haphazard onlooker remained still, already able to hear the stranger crying quietly, “Apple Bloom…” “Apple Bloom…?” the younger individual had thought to herself, “I think heard of that name; who was she…?” “Ah should have been stronger enough to save you; Ah don’t even know why these bastards would do this t’ all of us: Granny, Big Mac, Babs, Braeburn, but mostly you, Apple Bloom…!” the other female cried aloud, a flash of lightning crackling about against the formerly darkened firmament. The onlooker then said to herself calmly, “Applejack…?” “Hmm…” a whimper escaped from the stranger’s mouth, causing the younger female to gasp silently while the thunder roared aloud, “wha…?” “Oh, no…” the onlooker squeaked. It wasn’t long until the eponymous individual turned around and started to face the younger counterpart almost immediately. Catching the onlooker off–guard, the tall womanly figure otherwise known as Applejack took a hard look at the former at once. Even though the youth in question was able to resist the temptation of simply screaming loudly, she couldn’t help but feel aghast. Sure enough, the sad stranger had started stuttering slowly, “is that ya Star Dreams; is this me…?” “Applejack…?” the aforementioned straggler sputtered to the titular target, “what is going on…?” “Mah sister, have ya seen her…?” the woman gasped about, her breath shaking about with reckless abandonment rivaling a deadbeat panda of a reluctant father. The younger onlooker shook her head and had replied only hesitantly, “no, I don’t know what you’re talking about…” “Apple Bloom: she remembered going to school with ya a few years ago…!” Applejack exclaimed as another flash of lightning brightened the sky above, “Ah want to know if ya had seen her at all recently…!” “No, I’m sorry; I wish I did…” Star Dreams had answered back almost instantaneously, her head dropping down away from the pensive stranger. As soon thunder roared once again, two streams of red were currently pouring straight throughout Applejack’s cheeks as she began to growl about slowly but surely, “then ya no better than the other bastards…!” “Wha?!” the younger observer replied, now greeted by sight of the stranger’s new facial structure: the origins of the crimson streaks pointed to the blackened eyes matching the irises, complimented by the open mouth filled to the brim with carnassial triangular dentition, “Applejack?!” “That fucking war has made us all look weak and powerless, just like that damned excuse of a stage magician: the fact that ya even alive and breathing here and now is a mockery of the fact that Apple Bloom is out of mah reach once again; as a matter of fact, Ah oughta put ya out of both of our miseries while there is still time…!” the eponymous straggler roared loudly at once. Within so much as little warning whatsoever, Star Dreams was tackled back into the dark and lonely water, resurfacing almost immediately to find herself blocked off from the structure as she sputtered about, “hah… hah… HELP ME…!” “No one’s coming to save ya, just like the others: Apple Bloom, Babs, they’re all fucking gone because of weaklings like me…!” the belligerent battler bawled out, “there’s no room in this accursed world for any of us: we only exist as food for the strong and even our Princess Celestia knows this; stop resisting and it’ll be over soon…!” “Mommy… daddy…!” the young individual gargled as Applejack wrapped her own hands around the former’s neckline extremely tightly with water pouring into the mouth with every desperate struggle. The vice–grip right around Star Dreams had straightaway increased about in pressure as the stranger yelled intently, “don’t worry, ya’ll be able to see them again as soon as Ah am done with ya, missy…!” “Ackkkkk…!” the young victim had gagged as her vision started to blur, the sight of her bloodied attacker decreasing in focus, “ahhhh…!” “UNHAND THAT HELPLESS CHARGE, THY WARPED CARICATURE…!” a loud voice had boomed, belonging to neither of the female figures in question. Almost instantaneously, the attacker otherwise known as Applejack had spontaneously combusted, rays of light emerging from her body as she screamed about. The matching attire that the tanned figure had worn was starting to singe about as the flames begun consuming her while leaving Star Dreams unharmed in the process. Even though that they were both in a seemingly endless body of water, only Applejack herself was already disintegrating as she was burned up into absolute oblivion. When the belligerent battler disappeared in a mass of heat and light, the young occupant gasped for oxygen once more for feeling, attempting to find the source of the mysterious articulation. It wasn’t long until Star Dreams was accompanied another female figure descending from the firmament almost immediately, the latter’s complexion already being about fifty shades darker. Glimmering about in the cold distance was but a pair of cyan irises glowing about alongside with the rest of the owner’s eyes, illuminating the area where the young witness had remained. The descendant’s elongated hair was now flowing into the soft wind, sparkling about as each and every one of its tresses were a bluish tint with both lighter and darker hues vying for laterality. Aside from the small obsidian tiara matching the widely wide crescent necklace, the new visitor wore a long shimmering dress that was colored in a dark pink scheme and achromatic slippers. Star Dreams was in awe of this rather magnificent sight but had only found the strength to say a few words, “who are you…?” “‘Tis I, Princess Luna, the one and only sister of Princess Celestia…” the aforementioned visitor introduced herself to the youth as a tender smile had appeared to be worn upon the visage, “the bridge betwixt both the dream world and the real world by which where the people slumber and wake respectively…” “What happened…?” Star Dreams gasped frantically as she had struggled to stay above the water like she had done a long time ago. The princess knelt towards the youth and answered, “‘tis only a nocturnal terror, a rather normal occurrence for the young such as thyself, dear child; in fact, it possesses only but a few similarities to those of both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle some time ago ever since the conflict’s twilight.” “What do you mean, your highness…?” Star Dreams asked as Luna had quickly pulled her out from the splashing waters, “what does my dream have in common with those you’d mentioned just recently…?” “The war against out homeland has changed them and their siblings: on certain nights, they find themselves besieged by the presence of their sisters, or rather, their caricatures on the verge of betraying their bonds of bloodline by staining their hands; in thy case, thou hast been attacked by one otherwise envisioned as Applejack…” the princess said as the raging storm began to subside. The recent memory of the titular terror brought a chill up the youth’s spine as she stuttered, “but how does Applejack happen to fit into all of this…?” “‘Tis very obvious: thou were the first friend of Apple Bloom, a kind and gentle soul, years before war were declared; she hast invited thee into her home for a slumber party in the weekend a month since the commencement of thy pedagogy…” Luna had begun to explain all this to Star Dreams all at once, “a fresh face into the community prior to the arrival of mine sister’s protégé. I can also remember the sense of trepidation and loneliness that held thyself in bondage, ringing back to the time when Twilight had retreated into her studies rather than integrate with her peers at the capital. Despite all that, thou were willing take her up on that gesture of hospitality; to them, thou became like a part of the family and even more: Applejack was even more than willing to extend her sisterly influence unto thyself. Ever since that fateful day, thou hast gained a boon worth of confidence to adapt and overcome the passing school daze that afflicted thy peers, seconds passing into minutes, then hours, and finally days, more than willing to wish that thou weren’t an only child.” “Why Applejack: what did I do to deserve this; what did they do to deserve this…?” the young observer wept, her tears falling onto the still water. The princess placed a hand upon Star Dreams’ shoulder and sighed, “nothing at all in the very least; the things that were done unto both thy friend and her sister were all the more tragic: one devoid of sight and comfort from their kin, the other rueful and ruminating on her young born in the vestry…” “‘Born in the vestry…?’” the youth had repeated out of only confusion, “what does even that mean…?” “Let’s just say that the circumstances regarding the child’s birth began on a rather heavy note…” Luna answered Star Dreams almost immediately. As if things were all quiet on the western front, a pained cry had invaded the youth’s ears, shrinking her irises as the right hand was being held onto by the princess. Before long, the otherwise overextending oceans had become a sterile solid state society, various contraptions and mechanisms at the adjacent partitions within their sights. Cacophonies of beeping now echoed into their ears before subsiding into a rather acute piercing whine, interspersed with rampant wailing that was different from before. Defined by the disconsolate outlook of things, a small mass of people in front of the two females had broken formation, each with various traits and similarities thereof. Emerging out amongst the band of seven was but a diminutive infant already being cleaned of its reddish tint as the latter was instantaneously compelled to cry profusely. As the atmosphere’s new identity became finalized, Star Dreams then asked, “where are we: what is this place; who are these people…?” “This is the hospital, an ephemeral habitation for the sick and feeble masses: Applejack was amongst them, bringing forth her sickly young at this very particular moment…” Luna asked, pointing to sight of a single lifeless woman, “this otherwise selfless act of bringing life into this troubled world hast nearly costed her own; even she understood the aftereffects from it all…” “Sweetheart… let’s just stop: it’s over already; focus on the child…” one of the voices said, belonging to a feminine figure all dressed in white. Another figure in white, also female yet stockier turned to the young newborn in accordance to such a command; the observant youth asked the princess, “what is wrong with him; why is the lady tending to the baby…?” “The child is unwell: a pox was inherited from his afflicted mother, another victim of this recent strife…” Luna replied rather hesitantly, a tear escaping from the eye as Sweetheart clothed the weak toddler, “this illness hast thereof already deprived him of his sight due to the severity of Applejack’s plight.” “How sad…” Star Dreams had sighed as the infant was now being cared for by the several people in attendance. The princess then grabbed the youth by the shoulder and said, “however, there is a rather haply pleasant conclusion to that heavy affair: both she and her child survived because of a miracle: Applejack was able to be revivified and he was able to live past infancy. Of course, considering the transgressions committed against herself and her sister Apple Bloom, the child hast to be raised by a different matriarch, the same way thou is being reared by thy own caretakers who took office. Even though your differences were apparent, the result was as clear: the struggle between our homeland and the foreign legions were the source of this grave tragedy; as such, the warrant for thy safety is to be upheld.” “If that’s the case, then what happened to the child…?” Star Dreams asked as she’d listened to the newborn nearby them, “surely he would’ve been able to have a mother and father like I have had.” “Only one: Fluttershy wont to the responsibility of looking after him, most befitting of a kind soul out of all that circle of friends mostly…” Luna said as the environment all around the twosome had begun to dissipate at once. It wasn’t long until they were alone again, the youth quickly breaking the golden silence asking, “what is she like…?” “A true friend and a more charitable example of the homeland’s ideals: earlier, she hast only desired to tend to the fauna that coexist with us to this very day…” the princess had answered, “for a while, it hast seemed to be rather decent and noble goal, even more than taking office upon crown and country along with the people who serve them.” “Princess Luna, do you think that I would be able to see her one day…?” Star Dreams sighed as a shooting star streaked away from themselves. The eponymous aristocrat stated, “only if premisses art favorable: whilst that she has managed to find a new home to live in the country, the reluctance to bond with her peers is still stronger than ever; the only exceptions she makes are her friends and family and they know her more than the others.” “I understand…” the youth said as they'd quickly found themselves in the white void, a contrast to the past environments they were both in, “some people want to be alone…” “But don’t fret: as cruel as fate can be, time is a rather compassion force that can heal many wounds; in time, Fluttershy wilst be able to find the courage to love and be loved once more, the same way thou hast be able to do so after all these…” Luna had replied to Star Dreams, smiling greatly than before albeit under control. The youth looked away and began to ponder onward, finding the time and energy to speak at once, “that’s reminds me: I’ve been wondering what had become of Apple Bloom; where is she…?” “In the forest, living alongside Zecora in harmony with nature…” the princess had quickly said, “whilst she hast grown much like thyself, she hast been able to reconnect with other kith and kin.” “I bet I wanna talk to her again; I have so many questions to ask her like what’s it like to live there and what her guardian does…” Star Dreams chirped as Luna began to fade away out of the former’s sight. The princess’ hand still made its way upon the youth’s shoulder before responding, “be still, thou hast plenty of means and opportunity to commit thyself to such tasks whilst awake, preferably following the morrow after…” “I know… it’s just that I thought that I wouldn’t be able to see her again since we’d moved away…” Star Dreams said, “the fact she’d lived…” “‘Twas only a miracle… right now, all that matters to thee is the present; it should be no more important than the past or the hereafter…” Luna interjected softly as she'd currently dissipated completely, leaving the lone youth back to her own devices like long before but still safe and secure nonetheless.
MetalAuthor's Note My name is Fireflower and this is my first My Little Pony fanfic sequel that, like its predecessor, is Mature and goes beyond the typical oneshots I'd made from before and using canon characters as human beings instead of their normal forms: this time, I have decided to focus on the others who have grown up over the years, hence the age up; nevertheless, this story will be dealing with heavy subject matter unsuitable for certain readers. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you enjoy this chapter now and stay tuned for future chapters later on. Metal Light in and of itself was capable of traveling to and from anywhere throughout the whole wide world rather almost instantaneously; in addition, it also was accompanied by warmth as well. Because of this, it had unveiled a whole slew of colors coming in many different hues and shades whatsoever, each of them painting the overall landscape in an attempt to provide it some identity. Given the very situation at hand, it was best to assume for the most part that the day was just about to begin; after all, such imagery would be best captured by the observance of the wary one. With the entire sphere rotating on its own axis at a set speed while revolving as well on a different speed, a brand new morning had now started to come about. The spacious blue sky was crystal clear enough to see the golden sun shining brightly about over the silent scope as a flock of birds from various sizes and shades soared across so serenely. Within a rather large dream drop distance was but a civilization already defined in such various materials used to build them from the ground up, most of them all being the ones suitably fittest for the likes of even three little pigs. The calm gentle breeze was surfing onward and about throughout the dirt roads and dusty trails, cutting across the otherwise barren landscape as it got to and from the deserts surrounding them all. In amongst the very background were but a widget series of monoliths each raging with growth and erosion in the process of their trying times as the sun hovered over all of them. Given the handsome size of this town in question, it was likely that there would at least be an utter abundance of many individuals from various demographics whatsoever: age, gender, finances, and social standing being rather nothing short from the standardized metallurgy of life. Out of all the places within this otherwise small area in particular, there was one that stood out amongst the others no less: it was a tall home at first glance, made completely of timber and steel. The hip roof upon itself sloped down on all four of its very corners, providing a standard if diminutive shelter for each and every one of them rather ever so presently for the most part. There were a few shapely yet wholesome windows that while sharing the same geometric structure came in different sizes; of course, they were either closed off or obscured by blinds. Only a singular door had remained there to be a finishing touch as a gateway to this simplistic residence, bearing a fruity color reminiscent of an orange along with its texture and nothing more. Anyways, one of the rays of sunlight managed to pierce through the looking glass within the frame, illuminating a rather small area of it with some distinctiveness. In that very location thereof, it had instantaneously stopped itself against a singular wall; as a result, its color was sparkling about in a faint hue of lavender. Within that small space that lit up in the process, there had remained a rectangular panel with a thick circular dial standing out within the middle of that space. “Bee–dee–deep!” a sound rang out, scaring away the golden silence that once resided within these very confines. It wasn’t long until the repetition of such a mechanical cry became the stimuli that quickly triggered another event to take place at once. Before long, they were sudden footfalls had come about in a slightly reckless abandon, each and every move making contact with the small dimensional boundaries surrounding itself. As the ringing continued itself onward, the noise pollution as of that very moment in time was gradually amplified by the sudden groans belonging to something that proved to be otherwise organic for the most part. Then, some quick footfalls were found to be creaking on and about all at once, its surface area beneath them presumably matching the texture of what was already outside despite being rather minimalistic at best. All that had come about in the process was a sudden grand slam that stopped such a sound, bringing the darkness back to almost complete silence already; of course, it would seem to be short lived. Before long, a loud bump resounded within the darkness followed by a loud shriek, “OH, SON OF A–––!” “Watch the language here…!” a nearby reply had instantaneously interrupted the previous exclamation in a small heartbeat, “you weren’t raised to become a low class loutish lady in the family!” “Sorry, Uncle…!” the previous voice had suddenly said aloud afterwards in a bout of minor embarrassment. It wasn’t long until a singular turn of the dial bathed the space in light, instantaneously chasing away the darkness as it become identified within all due time. The ceiling served as the foundation of such an illumination, suspended by about a few yards from the flooring as it provided guidance quickly. The partitions that currently held up the general composition were all dabbed in a salubrious coating of lavender wallpaper. The flooring itself was already basked in a tufted and orientated carpeting rich with a down–to–earth shade of auburn. The thin ray of sunlight that had already invaded the room was nearly blocked off by some golden curtains facing in the direction of the dial’s present location. A large bed had rested nearby the window frame, donned with a vermillion comforter with white sheets and pillowcase all slightly out of place. A tall dresser stood close by a short nightstand, both of them sharing a matching beige scheme; of the two, only the latter had a slender lamp and a clock standing upon it. In addition, there remained a pair of doors that were standing adjacent from the bedside with a share of wooden knobs. Without any warning whatsoever, a singular hand found itself resting onto one of the items at once: its color and texture reminiscent of a cup filled with some creamy coffee. Some silver locks were shining brightly in the light, reflective of the clouds that obscured the skyward treasured from about as they were tied into a braid reaching past the neckline. Considering that the lids had now become wide open, the weary pupils were surrounded by a royal purple while the brows above them had remained edgy and slanted incline. The owner’s face was surely feminine, possessing a complexion that was smooth and soft like wet clay but otherwise dry for the most part. What had currently draped upon the very body was but a jet black satin camisole and some matching knickers, the former barely covering the navel whereas the latter remained evenly lined. Both of her two own feet were left bare as they had already become nestled in deeply into the flooring at once. Standing up straight away, the silver haired occupant released her grip off of the chronometer and walked towards the dresser in a few seconds. At once, she opened it to pull out a few articles of clothing without hesitation: a green shirt, blue knickers, and some socks; of course, given the current attire thereof, it was only the beginning. Laying them all aside up on the bed, the silver haired occupant placed each of the three within her grasp and started to venture out of the room in due time. With the door shut behind her completely, she turned towards the right side and found another door open ajar; in no time to be wasted whatsoever, the hallway separating between the two of them was not of much concern for walking distance: unlike the room, it was a little small in geometry. The slow yet steady change in temperature being suddenly felt by the silver haired occupant’s feet had currently showed only instantly that its flooring was composed completely of ceramic tiles in a floral arrangement. Instead of a cool color shade from before, its walls were adorned with a hot orange paint, burning brightly like an open flame yet cold to the touch no less. The ceiling however was colored in pastel white and it had but a single lightbulb where the running electricity just brought the area itself up to snuff in visibility alone. Its accommodations thereof were all firmly gathered within her line of eyesight at once: a toilet, a sink, a mirror, a cabinet, a hamper, a closet, and a tub with curtains being the very things that provided such relief in those eyes. At this moment, the silver haired occupant now made it possibly sure enough prevent any unwanted intrusions by locking the door right away already. She went on to the closet door, pulling out a pink towel and an aquamarine washcloth from there within due time at once before turning her attention towards the bathtub. Already made aware of the current attire upon the silver haired occupant’s body, they were completely striped off of there at once; now, the brisk oxygenated atmosphere all around doused the dark bare skin. She soon stepped inside rather slowly and carefully, quickly closing the curtains along as well so as to shut out the cold air before it would even had the slight chance of following after her. The silver haired occupant soon took her dear time as to study what was now directly right in front: the nozzle was guided directly overhead as it hung from the walls with the mixer tap and its three handles rested underneath. Calmly, she started to place her hand on one handle in the middle before arranging the others nearby; before long, a heightened pitch whine was followed by a deluge of water splashing upon the dark skin. As the cheeks upon the face became like garnet, the silver haired observer soon looked around to find a singular white bar of soap and started to expose them item to the downpour at once. Soon, it was wrapped around the aquamarine washcloth and scoured vigorously ‘til some thin line of foam came about in an instant; as a result, a brief sigh of relief escaped from her very lips. Suddenly, a knock on the wooden door nearby caused the silver haired occupant’s ears to resound; quickly, it was followed by a simple yet short speech, “are you in there, Silver Spoon…?” “Yes, I am, Uncle…!” the aforementioned listener replied at once, briefly facing the curtains at once, “just got in the shower…!” “Breakfast will be ready in about fifteen; come on downstairs after you’re finished…” her uncle replied at once. Turning back to face the running showerhead at once, the silver haired occupant only said calmly, “I will…!” Afterwards, only the lukewarm water returned to the most dominate and sole source of sound for Silver Spoon to hear; of course, this alone would not even last. With a washcloth in hand, she touched her ears and dug inside of them with ease, using a single finger to do so before pulling out of there. Now its fabric and foam interfaced with the silver haired user’s face, scrubbing the pores cleanly and intently until it lower itself to the neckline briefly. Silver Spoon started to cover herself with soap underneath the cheekbones and around the arms, slathering spume across every part of the skin over them. Quickly, her moderate yet endowed cleavage was drenched in the same substance that she clothed herself in along with the torso and abdomen. More bubbles even formed as the silver haired occupant had scrubbed her legs and feet from top to bottom in the process. When Silver Spoon became completely covered in the hot white foam, she moved towards the stream and reverted back to her original form at once as the suds simply slithered down into the drain. Afterwards, she had then turned the nozzle off completely all at once, quickly ceasing the concentrated inundation from making such contact with her dark skin within only a scant few seconds. Clad in only liquid moisture and gaseous steam all across the way, the silver haired occupant had now opened the very curtains back up simply to step out of the tub carefully as to avoid a sudden fall. “You’re finished already, Silver Spoon…?” the eponymous individual had listened rather quickly, coming from the door in front of her at once to the point remembering who it had belonged to, “just letting you know I’m about to put the eggs on the griddle now; you want them scrambled or fried, lady?” “Scrambled, sir…!” she had answered soundly while wrapping the pink towel around her very body compactly. As the silver haired occupant started to dry her body off at once, she then had heard her uncle’s reply, “alright then, I’ll be meeting you downstairs when you come out…” Silver Spoon strutted along towards the sink and found a red toothbrush along with some toothpaste resting on the side. As she carefully opened the cap up and placed it on the corner, the tube was lifted off into her grasp, squirting out a deep green semisolid in the process before returning to its previous location; afterwards, the bristles were raised up to her teeth and then they made contact. The silver haired occupant now felt her toothbrush running into the very mouth as it scoured over the enamel at once in such acute angles. Silver Spoon repeatedly circulated onward and about as she had guided the item to every part of her very own teeth within before pulling out from there in due time no less. The faucet within her line of sight was turned on almost instantaneously, giving her an opportunity to spit out the contents that accumulated inside since long before. As the water ran itself down into the drain, the silver haired occupant rinsed away the remaining residuals from the red toothbrush neatly before turning it off. Now Silver Spoon quickly turned her attention towards the hamper, already made aware of the fresh new clothes stacked on top of them she had taken along earlier ago. First, she had begun to put the blue knickers upon her legs and then casted aside the pink towel off at once; soon, she dressed herself in that green shirt as well. Even though that the silver haired occupant was neither in a towel or in the altogether, the ceramic flooring beneath her instantly gave off a reminder to put on some socks at once which she had started to do. Sure enough, it was now time for Silver Spoon to leave the bathroom at once, feeling refreshed and renewed by the very experience thereof. “Hah… what a relief…” she had sighed almost silently to herself all at once, simply feeling satisfied by the small turn of events, “better go put some shoes on before he sees me in my underwear…” The silver haired occupant retraced her steps towards the bedroom and took some time to concentrate on what had already remained inside there all at once. While it may seemed that nothing much had changed at once, the angling of the sunlight however was a different story: it was reduced to a small thin strip barely touching the dial. Silver Spoon quickly noticed rather instantly how the covers were left slightly out of sync but otherwise remained in alignment for the most part. Nevertheless, she then headed towards the double doors nearby and opened them to find an elongated array of combinations that could be worn over her body. Searching away for the one attire in question, the silver haired occupant soon found something upon a hanger: a light blue sweater with long sleeve was now within her grasp; in addition, she even found a taupe skirt to go and accompany it. Just as what was done before only so long ago, Silver Spoon instantly quickly donned the clothing in her grasp at once, covering up her abdomen and the thighs in the process. Tilting her very head only downward, she had quickly found a singular pair of some jet black low cut shoes resting on about amongst the line of footwear underneath in the process. Walking away from the adjacent wardrobe at once, the silver haired occupant went back to the tall dresser and opened it, pulling out a pair of eyeglasses as they now adorned her face in due time. Silver Spoon now went out of the bedroom once again, this time turning to the left and instantly finding a stairway going downward already. Steadily, she soon stepped on and about upon the very ligneous surface and went further onto the beaten path that was taken. As the silver haired occupant made progress fit for an overseas pilgrim, she soon smelled a warm aroma invading both of her nostrils. It wasn’t long at all in the very slightest until Silver Spoon finally reached her destination; compared to what she had seen upstairs, it was by far drastically different in the very slightest. The background overall was made up in an abundance of woodworking in and of themselves, each of them were in such various shades and textures all the more noticeable to the naked eye. There was some thin carpeting that was overlaying the flooring right beneath her very two feet, deep in some cooler colors with some intricate hues that can paint a picture in a lower resolution. Two windows were already well off into the short walking distance, each with their own set of drapes painted in a silken gold fabric compared to one she had her in very bedroom up above. Within the silver haired occupant’s line of eyesight was a large cabinet filled up with some accessories made in various metals and occasionally accompanied by some fabric up on display. “I see that you’re here already, Silver Spoon; I’ve been waiting…” the same voice was heard once more with feeling, prompting the aforementioned listener to turn around and face the speaker at once: its identity belonged to a tall man. A set of some plain dark brown hair had been found to be making its very way down to the nape of the neck; its tresses were already completely free of any and all additional accessories compared to hers. Strafing around these very pupils, there were circles of blue making its way known for the brunette to see the silver haired observer rather clearly enough. On his body was but a simplistic white shirt already being overlaid by a blue vest that was left opened for Silver Spoon to see; in addition, he also had on some gray khakis being held together with only a black belt. A pair of some beige loafers was also being worn by the tall brunette, being only flat and lighter than her current choice of footwear to the point of covering his feet rather completely. In a stark contrast to the silver haired observer’s dark skin, he possessed a rather much brighter complexion from the other side of the spectrum. Fidgeting the bright rimmed glasses, Silver Spoon said to the tall brunette at once, “I’m sorry about what happened earlier…” “Don’t fret over the small stuff here…” he responded calmly with a smile, “let’s head on over to the kitchen now…” “Okay then…” she choked out only hesitantly. As a single hand rested onto the thin shoulder padding of the sweater, the two took the time to walk across the very space they were in; out of the two, the tall brunette spoke, “I can’t believe that you have grown into an adult so fast and in a few short years no less; those parents would have been so proud to see you.” “I know, Uncle…” the silver haired occupant replied, “I just wish that–––” “Say no more; you didn’t deserve to experience what had happened during the war long ago…” he had quickly interrupted, already taking note of Silver Spoon’s slowly growing hesitation at once. At that very point in time, she found the brunette’s calm blue eyes staring into her and had said, “I just gotta ask; why did she had to suffer like this…?” “That’s something I’ll never seem to understand…” he answered, shaking his head in shame, “fighting in a war doesn’t give anyone the right to do such things toward other people, enemy or otherwise…” “Do you suppose that I… could have at least stopped them or… even her somehow, Uncle Silverstar…?” the silver haired occupant had slowly but surely asked the aforementioned listener all at once. The tall brunette broke away from Silver Spoon and sighed softly, “I’m sorry… it would rather be best not to dwell on such things; besides, your mother, may she rest in peace, would have wanted you to live and be happy.” “How…?” she simply stated within a scant few seconds, “how can it ever be possible after what she had done…?” “Like I had said before, we live: it’s what she would have wanted for you to do; besides, the peace we had now obtained thanks to the Princesses shouldn’t ever go to waste lest the same things happen again…” he said to the silver haired female before slowly facing a nearby window at once. As soon as Silverstar stared out into the looking glass, Silver Spoon spoke to him only slowly, “are you okay, sir…?” “Oh, of course I am; now, run along and go eat your breakfast here…” the tall brunette quickly replied, sending her off out of his sight at once, “besides, the sooner the better; after all, we got a long day ahead of us today: no need to be late for the therapist since the Friendship Express will be leaving from Appleloosa here in less than an hour from now.” “You’re right… I’ll be seeing you at table, uncle…” the silver haired female had spoke as her very footfalls slowly subsided into nothingness, no longer being heard by him. As Silverstar stood firmly against the window, he remained calm on the outside but was now in deep though the whole time: it would seem that beneath the still frames of the environment itself, the silent melody whispered into his ears like a liquid snake’s tongue; then, he thought to himself, “so, it’s been years already since this small town had been able to see such a big war at all, let alone all of the homeland no less: I just wish that Serving Spoon was alive instead; her mother was such an positive influence on the young'un…”
RustAuthor's Note It's Fireflower again with my first My Little Pony fanfic sequel that, like its predecessor, is Mature and goes beyond the typical oneshots I'd made from before and using canon characters as human beings instead of their normal forms who have grown up over the years; however, this is nonetheless a Mature fanfic for that this chapter here will deal with a certain subject matter considered unsuitable for certain readers. In addition, I would like to take this time to inform you that this chapter is only a flashback and a nightmare too but it can and will bring shock, awe, and outrage out of you in ways too horrible to imagine so it's with a generous heart and mind that yours truly has uploaded another chapter after this as well on the same day no less: for those of you amongst themselves wishing to skip ahead, please do so; I promise, this one will help calm your nerves a bit for the most part. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you can withstand this chapter now and stay tuned for future chapters later on then again, you have but a few options: stop right there and wait, go back to the beginning, or skip ahead to the next chapter; whatever decision you make, I won't blame you but consider yourselves warned. Rust There was a complete absence of light dominated the environment, shrouded in mystery and suspense that relied consistently on the element of the uncertain. While there had remained a likely chance of loneliness filling the air itself at once, the atmosphere was likely enough to clear out within due time for one reason or another. Additionally, even at least a few clues were providing some semblance of substance that dwelled inside even with the lack of a solid terrain, let alone earth. Out of the very few possibilities that were becoming unveiled rather slowly, only one stood out amongst the pitch black darkness: a dark skinned female lain out and about in a slouching slump. Donned upon her very visage was but a singular wide lens pair of eyeglasses with a cerulean frame being held securely in place at once. The dark skinned female had but only a simple teal blouse worn upon her torso, complete with some small red buttons fastening them all the way to the very top. A rubber band was colored in a hue matching that of her very spectacles, tying itself around the silvery tresses as it created a short synthetic tail at the very end but leaving the rest of the top alone to say the very least. A long beige skirt was instantly found to be already adorned firmly around the female’s waistline, bearing the image of fine flowers in the valley. There were even some black shoes worn by her very feet being a few shades rather brighter than the void she was in. “Uh, what in the world is this place; how did I get there all of the sudden and why can’t I even try to stand up all of the sudden…?” the female had groaned at once, struggling quickly to stay conscientious of the situation thereof. As her lively purple eyes had quickly flown wide out in the very open, she began to study the minimal surroundings all across the way. The female had been quick to find that the visibility provided for her was a poor sight for even the sorest of eyes to say the very least. An extremely low pitched droning was already piercing both of her ears with the otherwise occasional whine interspersing along with it as well. The scent was by far nonexistent, save for a rather faint yet pungently acute aroma emerging from beneath the very fabric that the female wore. Although that the jet black void itself had lacked any semblance in substance whatsoever, she could feel a strange barrier behind her responsible for such posture. Because of all these factors, whatever picture that had popped into the female’s mind was far from that of a new morning beyond the horizon. As soon as she started to struggle about, a loud slap was heard followed by a pained shriek, “AAH!” “What the fuck?!” the female soon interjected as she turned to her side within an instant no less, “what’s going on…?” “FUCKING BITCH…!” a loud snarl had come from there, quickly assaulting both her ears all at once as it had an aura of masculinity. As the female became introduced to those new voices, the scream from before subsided into sorrow, sharing the same gender as the former save for a few differences, “why are you doing this; what did I ever even do to you?! I just don’t understand this madness you are bringing here…!” “You think that matters here, tramp?!” the snarling from before had made its way once again, “we’re out in a war stretched out on the home front thanks to people like you supporting that bastard of a Prime Minister Gelatin and everyone out there’s in a panic. Ever since that these subversive fucks had gone and went to kill off the new princess, no one and nothing is ever even safe in the country anymore: the towns, the cities, not even the fucking capital. As far as I am ever even concerned, it’s already only a matter of time until the enemy comes in and tries to even wipe us all out so the least you can do to make up for this mess is to have a moment of your time already…!” “Just because my husband’s a man about town doesn’t mean that he’d supported that maniac one bit; even I didn’t want him on the team…!” the first voice spat back before another slap crackled about at once. “Is that who I think it is… mom…?” the observer listened in as she struggled about some more within the miniaturized space she was already in. The female then shut her eyes briefly upon hearing the sounds of sharp contact being met with haggard yelps; soon, the male voice had snapped back, “SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU BITCH! I had never asked for your second opinion at all here; while you and your fucking kind were all getting fat and happy out on the sidelines, soldiers like myself here have fought and died just to keep the peace from being torn asunder at the seams! We had ended up losing a whole lot of our comrades recently ever since that bombing at the Terminal: my friend, Macintosh, had even went missing and all they found was that fucking slut of a terrorist no longer in the hot seat where she was supposed to!” “I’m sorry about what had happened long ago but it’s not like we’d predicted this would take place…!” the first voice had slowly whimpered about all at once, causing the timid observer to squint and squirm in the process, “besides, why would you just take it out on me if you hate the Prime Minister?” “Mom… what are you even talking about…?” she peeped only quietly, keeping her own voice down as to avoid detection. The female listened to sounds of pain quacking emerging yet again following the slaps as the attacker yelled, “I SAID SHUT UP; IF I HAD WANTED YOUR OPINION, THEN I WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR ONE!” “Hey Dagger…!” another male voice had interjected, bearing more differences compared to the first one, “are you there…?” “Not now, Razor… can’t you see that I am fucking busy with her?!” the aforementioned listener had just spoken back all at once already with some venom instantaneously sustained in its very place. As she began to struggle about upon hearing those two names come into her ears, the other female’s voice now came about, pleading so lugubriously, “please… don’t do this; I beg of you…” “I see then; you realize that the invading army’s gonna be here soon, aren’t you…?” the second male had only replied about within an earshot in due time, “we got bigger fish to fry here anyway…!” “I’m not some fucking retard out here; besides, we still got plenty of time to have some fun with her…” Dagger had quickly spat out while some soft crying had now begun to take place all at once. Razor scoffed and responded to him with a hint of fury, “how…? She’s not the enemy, you know…” “But her husband’s a politician and I have hated them since they had voted for that fucking psycho recently…!” the primary male had instantaneously elaborated all at once in due time no less, “at least with the likes of him now gone out of the way, nothing else won’t even stop us yet…” “I’m telling you: my Trigger never even voted for Gelatin…!” a wail broke out for the very two to hear aloud at once. Despite the sadness that ended up on the air, it had soon fallen on deaf as another crackle was being heard again followed by a rather frustrated grunt, “damn, you’re such a broken record here; you know what I should do to you here? I ought to be wrecking you to pieces for defying me, you dumb bitch…!” “No… please don’t…” the feminine voice murmured about before it had quickly escalated into a pained shriek, “GEERAAAAUUUHHH!” “MOMMY!” the enclosed female cried as she began to hear the attacker grunting ferociously at once; sadly, anything she could even do to break one out from that dark space was rendered moot to say the very least. As she heard the timid crying being let loose into the thin air, Dagger chuckled about darkly at once, “do you like that, you motherfucking cunt; pleased to find that my own huge cock is now the only thing that’s keeping your whore mouth from repeating itself already? You’re such a high priced little whore and I have even fucked a few whores during those very days; it would only seem like yesterday that you couldn’t wait to have another gourmet brunch along with the other sluts.” “STOP…!” his victim had quickly cried out in some pain and agony at once, “YOU’RE HURTING ME ALREADY…!” “CAN IT, YOU BITCH…!” her attacker only spat out, a loud slap was heard once more in an instant, this time with feeling. As she kept on crying about, Razor interjected at once, “Dagger, stop this; you’re going too far…!” “Fuck off, will ya; besides, when I’m through with this shriveled up wench here, she’s gonna wish that she’d ran away at the first opportunity!” the aforementioned voice had just snarled back at his partner already before returning his focus back on target at once, “just look at yourself here, spending your days with other movers and shakers twenty four hours a day, getting full of yourself on some shitty high cuisine, and him almost certainly considering the thought of fucking all of other rich chicks just like you but younger. Just because you’ve gotten all of the jewel encrusted shit here and there with a big ass tax refund doesn’t make you a great fucking citizen; you’re just another two–bit slut with a high maintenance price tag like all the others.” “That’s not true… that’s not true at all… THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE…!” the occupant suddenly screamed rather loudly even though that she had already remained unheard of so to speak; even now, her very eyes became watery at once. Nevertheless, Dagger’s victim wailed at once as she remained at his mercy, “please, I’m bleeding right now…!” “SO FUCKING WHAT, WENCH?!” he screamed all at once before making another slap onto her within only a few seconds, “your own pain is absolutely nothing compared to the recent bloodshed that I had witnessed at the mercy of the enemy we’ve been fighting. Besides, it won’t even be long now until you come like the fast and loose bitch that you truly are and from the way I see it, it’s going to be real soon here. Not all the currency in the whole wide world will ever even make the pain go away for the time being; after all, you ought to be enjoying this right… about…” “HNNAAUNHHHH~!” a weary moan had echoed from the male’s target before quickly downgrading itself back to a rather wheezy struggle for some dense oxygen from the tense atmosphere. A deadened silence had now filled the atmosphere as the shell–shocked listener remained in place with an abundance of changes all throughout the very way. The wide vibrant eyes of a royal purple that circled around were being offset by the faint yet sharp redness that accumulated beyond those irises. The thin silvery hair that was residing upon her head was standing on endwise with some of its thinnest strands already being found to be out of place. The female’s pearly white teeth have even been flashed out and about rather tightly widened about in a short series of chattering against itself. The dark skin already plastered over her very tender face was quickly becoming moistened with teardrops as she sniffled about in the process. The female also felt her ears shaking about as the panting and moaning had now begun to invade both of them all at once. As she had silently sobbed to herself, Dagger laughed maniacally at once and said only coldly, “see, even after all this time and she ends up bursting like a hose, every one of them whores does.” “You’ve had your fun…” a faint gasp escaped before it metamorphosed into a sorrowful howl, “just kill me already…! I don’t want to live in a world where such bastards like you are running the show like this…!” “And then what: I go and end up being one of the same as these very fucks; how about NO?!” the brazen attacker had bellowed as some sharp sturdy footfalls were now just being heard afterwards. A brief silence made its way across the tense and bitter atmosphere before it was shooed out again, this time by Razor who said, “why don’t you do as she says, Dagger; can’t you see that’s what’s she asking for already…?” “And I said ‘absolutely not’ Razor…!” the aforementioned attacker replied, this time rather coolly than before, “besides, she’ll have plenty of time in getting to decide what happens to herself and the way I see it from the looks of it all, it would be best to go ahead and make it quick.” “I hope you… I hope you… I hope you burn for this…” she now cried softly as one set of footfalls from one male became doubled at once, already in the process of leaving her alone all at once. It wasn’t even long until a sudden slam soon made its way across the void as the golden silence slowly but surely returned all at once; at that point in time, the unseen observer had found mercy in both of these tepid ears of hers. For a rather small moment no less, it would have seemed at least that tranquility in and of itself had now returned to the graphic scene all at once, no longer being at the risk of being spirited away by such a noise like the one before. Of course, given what had already happened to have taken place in the distant past short measurements of time itself, not even this very false peace thereof would perhaps barely last to say in the very least whatsoever. The female that heard it all had begun to tremble about and sniffle, silently seeping out some small teardrops from the shaky purple eyes before she had sobbed all at once, “oh, MOTHER WHY…?” Even though that she remained hidden away within the jet black void, her sorrow had become louder each passing second as the system shock became rather all too much to bear for the most part. “Is this it: a future of being subjugated by such injustice from all around; isn’t it what we’ve raised our Silver Spoon to avoid being a part of…?” the eponymous listener heard being choked out in amid the sorrow and anger being expressed in due time, “I glad that she’s not around to see this but I don’t want to wait any longer to tell her what happened to me; in fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if Trigger dumps me aside when he finds out about it. I just hope that whatever happens, he takes good care of her and makes sure that she grows up to be a strong and kind woman than I have been and could be; at this rate, I won’t be able to join them both safely without getting caught in the crossfire.” At that point in time, the observer’s face currently contorted itself into that of horror as she soon heard what had been already said for the most part. Silver Spoon then found her own set of lips quickly quivering about even as the rest of the entire body remained frozen solid in place like an old snake. While she had suddenly stopped crying, her mother nevertheless continued onward where she had left off, shuffling around a bit rather haggardly before some metal started to clink about. “What is she doing; is that…?” was all that Silver Spoon could choke out before the sounds stopped itself in place. By now, only the trembling listener can hear her sob out despite being rather quietly, “goodbye, Silver…” “MOM, DON’T–––” she cried loudly before some wet gurgling had quickly popped up in the mix; now, an aura of learned helplessness already surrounded her as she shook about against the unseen confinements in a blind fury before subsiding already to say just two words: “I’m… sorry…” It was without a doubt that Silver Spoon became truly alone as she were before, wallowing in sorrow upon hearing the whole turn of events unfolding before her very ears; while fortunate to not experience what had occurred, the end of it all refused to paint a picture befitting even so much as a bittersweet symphony.
FruitAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter three of my first My Little Pony fanfic sequel that, like its predecessor, is Mature no less on the grounds that a previous chapter had dealt with a heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those certain readers; suffice to say, this was by far a stronger note for many and therefore they were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you've taken up this offer, it was only up to you to do so, nothing more. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you enjoy this chapter now more than the others and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for future chapters later; henceforth, I will leave you with but one saying only: thank you very much. Fruit The light in and of itself had so many properties harbored within it: warmth and guidance to all; of course, there was also another quality that was already revealed by the changing atmosphere. With so much as a keen eye, one can even see it give off some colors in many shades and hues to be seen in there at once; out of these colors, many would be most commonly found on the planet. As a matter of fact, the very soil itself would even serve to provide such a color capable of provide life to those that dwell around its premises thereof so long as the consumers remain wary. With its colors painting the scenery as if it were being done by a legendary professional draughtsman, the burning daylights had become rather emphaticized at once. The spacious cerulean firmament held up an abundance of snow white clouds traversing along with the birds and bugs against the illustrious shine of the golden sun. Within the dream drop distance of life itself was but a large sea of the brilliant green, each fiber of them in various shades and hues creating a bewildering camouflage. The calm gentle breeze traversed throughout the herbage inside of them as the lush landscape remained loud and proud of its structured foundation amongst one another. For every piece of vegetation that dwelled within the brilliant green usually contained a plant capable of providing nourishment or mortality to any being regardless of the circumstances. Given the immense size of such acreage, it would seem that the probability of finding anyone residing in there was rather nonexistent; then again, life was brewing about nonetheless. Anyways, there was at least one tree within the herbage that stood out and about: it was tall and large; unlike the rest of them, this one was serving as an unconventional form of residence. Although that its branches held up the foliage and produced vines like the rest of them had in the acreage, three out of the very five branches had bottles hanging from the ropes rather tightly. Etched into the very bark were only two circular apertures at were peering outward from the tree, both of them serving as windows to the strange yet humble abode out amongst the brilliant green. There was also a ligneous mask that found its own way on top of the brown door as it rested firmly underneath the blossoming foliage which had already provided them some pale shelter. Compare to the rest of the dense forestry, the abnormal structure of this very tree in question was hollowed out; therefore, it was already anomalous enough to serve as a highly established domicile. The very ligneous ceiling in its entirety also had some of the small vials hanging out from there as well, albeit in a rather smaller quantity in comparison to what had already remained on the outside. Buried firmly within the inner walls of the single tree were also some potions and bottles too, except that they were all standing upon a shelf with some vases and books within close proximity of one another. There were only a pair of tall and stout white candles found with the edge of them but they weren’t even lit at this moment in time; of course, that didn’t try to stop the light from travelling deep inside the windowsills. In addition, there were even at least three more masks that clung onto the very upper corners of the foundation thereof, all of which that had been carrying the same form at once but in different styles nonetheless. Resting upon the brown lumber door upon itself was but a small willow hoop with so many intricate strings that intersected with one another in reckless abandonment all throughout the small circle. All that had remained within the very space was a jet black cauldron standing within a diminutive shallow pit, empty and hollow yet capable of holding so much more as the tree currently done already. “Ahh…” a small groan escaped into the atmosphere, emitting from within the confines of the strange home. It wasn’t long until the owner of the organic cry was revealed: a freckled feminine face with a bright complexion had walked out and about into the open. There was a set of some straight hot red hair that already ran past the nape of her neck, its solid color speaking loudly and proudly compared to the rest of the abode. Found upon the very tresses was but a light pink bow resting on them, its fabric being a lighter shade that was juxtaposed along the way. Deeply found within the half–shut eyelids were circles of orange that peered out at the surrounding where the female currently resided in. A dark green dress was already overlaid upon the redhead’s body, its own frilly edges reaching down to her very kneecaps at once. Both of her two feet were already adorned with some sandals that had matched the texture of the premises thereof. In the occupant’s hand was but a slender stick held firmly in place, its flat tip pointing from her grasp at once. At that very moment, she steadily inspected the place throughout with that stick, taking a stand alone against what had come her way. Even though that the vials and cauldron were well within the redhead’s line of sight, they were all blurred a bit in a foggy cloud at an edge. A heavy yet steady breath soon escaped from her plain lips as she maintained some awareness of the texture around. Soon, the trembling redhead felt both of her ears standing on endwise as the sounds of some footfalls made its way known at once followed by a turning latch; as a result, she had turned to the door to find an individual stepping into the fray: it was another female albeit with differences. This one had been walking tall and with skin firmly in the dark, wearing only a face full of confidence and a faint smile being plastered out amongst the tender visage. A calm circuitry of chilled cerulean orbs was found to be peering out into the direction of the younger counterpart’s current standing all at once. The woman had possessed some tresses neatly arranged in a set pattern of both black and white in equal proportions whatsoever, all of which that was straightforward down to the nape of the neck. Her slender frame was covered up by a large brown fabric; in addition, her feet were wearing some sandals as the other albeit in a jet black scheme. As the stick wielding redhead held her composure, the woman calmly chuckled and had said to the former all at once, “Apple Bloom, you are already awake; I had just gotten back from the lake.” “Good Morning, Zecora…” the young female replied steadily as she had yawned, “are ya alright…?” “Nothing but some water to refresh the mind; thanks for the question so kind…” the woman answered back calmly. Apple Bloom began to slide away from Zecora for some room and stretched her arms apart slowly; as the latter had watched on, the former then said, “do you suppose that the zap apples will be coming back to the Everfree forest anytime soon…? Granny Smith, may she rest in peace, used to have my sister and brother harvest these back at the farm where Ah had used to live there.” “I cannot say for sure yet, little one; but as soon as the howl comes, it’ll be done…” the lanky woman sighed as she had slowly placed a hand upon the shorter female’s shoulder, “besides, there’s something about it that I must ask: are you going to be able to go use them for some task…?” “To be honest, yes Zecora: do ya remember that one letter that mah sister Applejack had just sent to you and me back almost a month ago…?” Apple Bloom had slowly answered with a small yawn. Zecora knelt down a bit and responded at once, “as clear as the skies are still blue, ‘tis true for both me and you; the times that we had read and write, our bonds strengthened through and through…” “Her birthday is coming up soon so Ah had thought about making a cake just as a big surprise…” the young redhead said already, “she used to tell us how extremely important it was for us in the family to get every single thing exactly right; Ah had even been able to write down what Ah could remember since the time Ah had started to get mah sight back years ago. I know that things were different back then since we had them growing at our home but I just want to ready for them to show up this time; after all, Ah can’t afford to have Applejack keep feeling sorry for me over some silly war, let alone say it for what happened either. I may have nearly gone blind from the poisoning but I don’t want everyone else to think that I am weak just because of it; besides, I want to move on past the pain and not have to wake up from the nightmares every once or so in a week. Ah–––” “Please try to understand: that’s such a demand…” the woman interjected softly, wiping away a stray tear within due time. Apple Bloom turned away from Zecora’s calm blue eyes to face the vials before returning to have the complementary orange face them back and said, “Ah know that but believe that it’s the only way to let her know that Ah have forgiven her already nonetheless; even so, living with you over the years was a miracle for the both of us. Once upon a time, Ah had always wished and prayed that Sweet Apple Acres would still be standing at the end of the day like it had before; now, Ah am right about sick of crying about what had happened to us. Writing these letters to Applejack back and forth had given us the kind of comfort that lets us made known how we had loved and cherished our bonds as sisters and remind us of the good times we had when we were so close together. Ah would like to at least keep it that way and she would definitely want the same thing as well too; besides, Ah even have mah own share of regrets too and as much as she knows this already, I want to remind her as she did reminded me that we are not alone as we think.” “I can agree with that too, Apple Bloom; all of us came face to face with certain doom…” the woman said calmly before exhaling at once, “nevertheless, your open fate is to just simply wait: your sister’s mind has yet to be mended and you still need to be at least tended; while that your two eyes have started to see a hue, the recovery process isn’t through. The fact that you were nearly dead had left Applejack seeing red: had it not been for a quick time, you’d have been victim of such crime; even as long as I would live, not even I could just forgive. As these memories can go on and on, even hope rests on the horizon: time is moving slowly, but it heals rather surely; soon, the nightmares will bygone as we all hither yon. The present alone is but an opportunity to maintain your sisterly unity: as long as we believe, we don’t have to bereave; the past stays behind while the future goes to unwind. The years we had spent gave us hope, not just simply to cope, but to look away from the slope with a brighter scope: our survival is proof of such things as important as it is for kings lest the fatality from the red string will make us all sprout some wings. As though that such a surprise itself is great, we must both keep ourselves straight.” “If you insist Zecora, then I will try…” the redhead had quickly replied all within due time no less. At this very moment in time, Zecora placed Apple Bloom within a tight embrace and said calmly, “yes you will, won’t be long ‘til…” “In any case, do we still have any ink and paper left…?” the little redhead had asked as she soon started to wipe away her eyes free of liquid, “I want to send out another letter to Applejack today.” “The parchments are due and the ink is too…” the woman answered as she patted the red tresses softly. Soon, a small smile was found upon the young Apple Bloom’s face and she said, “I suppose so; I want to talk to her…” “That I can see; do you want help from me…?” Zecora asked calmly as she slowly broken away from the organic encirclement thereof, “it would be nice that you let me please look this through…” “That’s okay Zecora; I’ve been getting a lot better at writing more clearly since you taught me how to do it again and I can’t wait to tell my sister about what just happened yesterday…” the redhead replied before scurrying away into a nearby crevice underneath the warmly colored mask. The location of where Apple Bloom had gone off into was almost obvious to say the very least: it was a just a room with a small storage space. All that had remained in there was a simple bed resting nearby a window donned in a spotty yellow comforter neatly aligned in place. Only one vial was found inside the very room in question but it happened to be a lot smaller than the others outside overall. As the redhead started to sit down onto the cover, she had found a piece of paper and a feather nearby her line of sight. With the elder woman looking onward, Apple Bloom started to squint at the flat sheet and began to make sense of what she wished which words would appear on there. The redhead took note of the diminutive bottle within the room and opened; afterwards, the tip of the feather landed right into the opening. As she had pulled it out at once, there was a jet black substance emerging from where the unlocked bottle had remained in place that clung to the surface. Slowly and steadily, Apple Bloom soon started to scribble out a simple letter within seconds, slightly set out to script even a short sentence at the summit of the paper sheet. The redhead concentrated even further to detail a symphony of words all upon there from the darkened instrument at once; sure enough, it had now simply read out only two words: “Dear Applejack.” With a deep breath, she moved towards the otherwise uniform parchment and placed a comma at the end upon the upper left hand corner. Apple Bloom pulled the feather away from the sheet before returning it to its surface, constructing some more letters directly below the first batch. Finding the little strength thereof to begin where the redhead had already started off, the synthetic inscription grew steadily onward within each passing seconds given out to her. With the weary eyelids already locked into a tense squint, she started to focus on what was being written down; of course, it wasn’t without a moment of silence to consider a strategy. Aside from a stray blot or two nearby the darken text, Apple Bloom continued to place down some calligraphy upon the white paper with a shred of newfound fortitude within her very grasp. As soon as the redhead was finally finished, he set of sentences had now made itself across by only half, each adorned with a set of rustic neatness being out of place but otherwise easy to read aloud nonetheless. After putting the feather away from the bedside, she started to take some time in studying what had been written down since the beginning: a white sheet of paper that grew beyond simple words. Looking past the indenting, the constrained yet fluid wall of wording was being read by none other than Apple Bloom herself: “I wished that you were there at the air show with me; you could have at least seen it though. My friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo happened to find me there when we had went over to the bayside. We all had thought that we would never see each other again after what had happened to our hometown. Sweetie was able to tell her a joke that made us laugh because of what she was doing with her fingers. Rainbow was also there too; Scootaloo said that she was like the star of the show over there with the flying. I’m happy that you have been getting better over the years now that the war is over; I just hope to see you again face to face. With love and best wishes, XOXO Your Dear Sister, Apple Bloom. P.S. – Zecora says hi.” A flood of tears threatened the moment that the redhead had to herself as it came to call collect upon her visage. Even with the presence of Zecora nearby, Apple Bloom thought to herself as the only person in the whole wide world to be marooned on some remote island. The fact that the redhead was writing such things to her own flesh and blood was proof of how much everything had seemed to change. “Is that blight; are you alright…?” the older woman asked as Apple Bloom hyperventilated a bit at once, “you’re shaking… are you crying…?” “N–n–no… I’m happy… that I’m–––” the redhead had soon suddenly stammered on as she gotten off the bed at once, quickly holding onto Zecora’s body as the former started to weep silently. The older woman took note of the words that were transcribed on a sizeable piece of paper, wary of what the writer had done; slowly, the former was retreating from the sounds and thought to herself, “many moons had passed ever since she’d seen things I would mince: once they were lost and stolen away, yet they found themselves another day; yet, the pain lingers on the two like droplets of dew. The little one mourns for her home as I have after over the loam; such a shame that a small town was being cruelly torn down. Even though that it’s all over, we still being guided by a drover: people grow and pass, the soil becomes like grass, places deteriorate, and ideas lose mass; yet, things remain the same as little as many would claim. Normally, these turn of events had made me crave death but it’s miraculous to hear the little one take her breath; because of that, I am rather grateful of it for even her smile shows some wit. I admire her company and her bravery and yet mourn for her sister’s civility; after all, the worst of their pain had made it far from plain.” Apple Bloom’s silent sobs had now broken Zecora away from the subconscious shielding of hers, prompting the latter to quickly return the hug that the former had already given; now, they were not alone as once previously thought sometime long before in their minds or hearts within the two.
CoreAuthor's Note Hello, it's Fireflower as always, ready to give you another chapter to this story on the way: of course, like the second one, this will contain references to certain subject matters and thusly is the reason why this story has been rated M for Mature; the only thing I can say is that I hope you are not under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated. In addition, I would like to take this time to inform you that this chapter is only filled to the brim with nightmare fuel, capable of bring shock, awe, and outrage out of you in ways too horrible to imagine so it's with a generous heart and mind that yours truly has uploaded another chapter after this as well on the same day no less, like before: for those of you amongst themselves wishing to skip ahead, please do so; I promise, this one will help calm your nerves a bit for the most part. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you can withstand this chapter now and stay tuned for future chapters later on then again, you have but a few options: stop right there and wait, go back to the beginning, or skip ahead to the next chapter; whatever decision you make, I won't blame you but consider yourselves warned. Core All throughout the very way, there was only but an abysmal unknown of a rather complete whiteness where such factors of sight, substance, and scent lay buried in obscurities referred to as an ethereal void. The exceptions that started to give out some key clues to the location’s identity were none other than surface, sensitivity, and sound: such were the plain gentle breezes that were being close to comfort anyone that would cross its path. The most important quality that had been able to remain discovered was a far from desolate wasteland that defined the quaint landscape; after all, this bright light all around the way proved to be outright temporary to say the very least. As a matter of fact, there was at least one living being that had stood out and about amongst the void: it was a bright skinned female lying supine even as the wind was still blowing onward. A set of some straight hot red hair was found to be already running past the nape of the neck with its loud and proud color solidly like an old snake slithering upon the solid ground thereof. She’d on a simple white hat that was resting upon the colorful tresses that matched both her belt and blouse adorning the petite body beneath the neckline, its texture refusing to be assimilated into the fold. Resting firmly underneath them both was a long and plain jet black dress that was also being accompanied by a short skirt that stood out in contrast to the blank landscape that she had already been quickly found in. In addition, the redhead had even worn some thick black shoes upon her very feet albeit being a few shades rather brighter than the rest of her current attire thereof. “Applejack…” she had murmured about at once as she slowly opened her eyes of orange at once, signaling an attempt to being conscientious of her current state thereof. When the redhead started coming to her senses, she was surprise to find herself in a rather peculiar location at once as the minimal surroundings all across the way. She was fortunate to find that the visibility already provided for her was beyond exceptional in the very least. The airstreams that were brushing up against her ears were tender and gentle, save for the rustling of leaves dancing about. The scent was bearing the qualities of a crisp and cool breeze over the redhead’s skin that was floating above her current standing at once. Given the fact that the white ethereal void was already lacking any semblance in substance whatsoever, she was able to move about slowly without restriction in the very slightest degree. Because of all these factors that were presented, it was possible for the redhead in question to paint whatever picture that came to her dear mind. As soon as she started to saunter about slowly, a small voice was heard sneaking into her ears as it spoke out, “Apple Bloom…?” “Hmm…” the eponymous listener spoke back, turning around to find that no one was around at all in the slightest, “what…?” “Run away, Apple Bloom… you must run away…!” the voice repeated at once in spite of the inquiry. As the redhead stood out and about in confusion, she heard laughter echoed into her very ears at once; once again, she was aware of her loneliness but this time left an aura of fear all around the way. Trembling about, she slowly asked, “who was that…?” “You must run away at once, Apple Bloom; you don’t want to know what will happen if they catch you…!” the first voice had said to the aforementioned listener rather frantically, “run, they’re going to catch up to you if you don’t…!” “Muahahahaha…!” more laughter had echoed into the redhead’s ears again, this time now increasing in volume no less to the point where the dread had also increased itself in density alongside. Sure enough, she became driven to run off at once, moving into one direction in an attempt to escape the feelings of dread at once, “okay… I gotta get out of here soon… that way no one will get me…” “Apple Bloom, where are you…?” the titular runner quickly heard as it was far different from the first voice that had appealed to her very ears, “don’t you go leaving me high and dry here, sweetie.” “Just run, they’re dangerous…!” the first voice warned the redhead who heeded such short barrage of words. She'd found herself increasing her pace at once, fearful of the rather unknown threat that remained hanging overhead from behind. Despite the fact that nothing would've seemed to be after Apple Bloom, she'd refused to even consider the thought of taking any chances whatsoever. Needless to say, the achromatic aura of dread that was swirling around the timid redhead had refused to stop tailing her in the very slightest. As she kept on running about, the second voice now invaded her ears again, speaking slowly but surely all at once, “what’s wrong, Apple Bloom; don’t you even want to see your big sister Applejack again?” “Applejack…?” was all that the eponymous runner choked out as she started to slow down a bit, “you know where Applejack is…?” “Don’t believe those lies; they just want to trick you into lowering your guard…!” the first voice quickly said as the redhead kept on moving, afraid to turn around and look what would be behind her current location. She hesitated for a moment to contemplate these thoughts: on the one hand, her fears had the possibility to manifest itself within an instant; on the other hand, this had prompted a response, “what about Applejack…?” “Just get away already…!” the first voice echoed back all at once, “it’s just a trick for them, Apple Bloom…!” “BUT WHY?!” the aforementioned listener had then shouted out rather loudly all at once in due time. As the redhead expected an answer, only the second voice was able to coo her trembling ears, “oh, Apple Bloom, what a silly lady…” “I’m not silly… I’m not silly…” she mumbled to herself while running about, the orange eyes shaking and shrinking about in the process, “I just want Applejack back…” “Apple Bloom, watch out…!” a warning ranged into the titular runner’s ears but it was too late; she quickly found herself stumbling over something that sent her face down into the otherwise even terrain. The redhead rubbed her face and started turning around to find what had impeded the pathway; as a result, what she had found caused the face upon the bright skin to contort into sheer horror: it was a blackened corpse smoldering about at once. Given the very size of it, it would perhaps be safe to say that was sharing the same frame as her; of course, the remaining dry weight of it all had presently left a lot of room for guessing about here and there. Despite possessing the texture that bore some damage sustained in a common fire, the fabric it worn was similar to the attire that she wore on her own body; as such, it was easy to assume that the cadaver was of the same gender as well. Some portions of skeletal matter were instantaneously found to be upon the skull and arms while the rest was just a pile of smoke and ashes that lay nearby the burnt yet otherwise identical textiles thereof. The smoldering shoes that were donned upon the corpse’s feet remained still, having been directly fused to the red dead skin trailing up to the wearer’s legs in a series of markings that left behind a brutal picture. Apple Bloom felt her own heart beating against the ribcage underneath the skin, shaking about before suddenly screaming at once, “NO… NO… NO… NO… NO…!” The shock of finding something like this in such a strange area caused the redhead to weep uncontrollably, creating a flood of tears that fell onto the cadaver’s clothes. Even as she shut those orange eyes away with her hands, the image that was burned into them refused to leave the lugubrious Apple Bloom at all. The redhead struggled to wipe her own tears away as she came to find more in their place as they moistened the hands upon them as she wailed all so seamlessly nonetheless. “I’m sorry…” Apple Bloom heard as she lost the strength to resume chase while crying loudly over the charred corpse that tripped her gait; during that time, the voice from before said, “you didn’t have to see this…” “WHY?!” the redhead bawled as she couldn’t bear to open up her eyes back in the midst of such overwhelming sadness. As Apple Bloom stayed put, something had happened: the cadaver struggled to move and said, “don’t cry… it’s not your fault here…” “Who said that…?” the redhead sobbed as her ears perked up to what had already been told at once, “where are you…?” “Right here…” an answer was heard as Apple Bloom slowly opened up her eyes; unfortunately, this was the part where things had gotten worse: she had found herself in front of the corpse, this time with it eyes glowing yellow. At that point, the redhead screamed at the top of her lungs and crawled away from the newly reanimated feature at once, “WHO ARE YOU?!” “Aww, you don’t even remember me, do ya…?” the cadaver cooed at once rather soothingly before casting it aside, “I used to be the one gal that had helped you escape from those bastards before I have gotten burned here; it’s all coming back to you, ain’t it Apple Bloom? All those fucking floors that you used to scrub, the damned whips on your back and hands, the time you were pushed aside onto the ground…” “Stop that already…!” the eponymous listener had cried aloud, shaking her head as she edged away from there at once. Nevertheless, the bright–eyed corpse followed the young observer and had only replied, “why should I want to do that; after all, didn’t I sacrifice my life just to save you so many years ago? Of course, you wouldn’t even seem to understand what I had gone through; besides, I did a lot more than just cooking and cleaning all sorts of shit here and there: I had to give up my own body as well…! I could go into detail about how they made great use of myself but I believe that all you’ll get is the results of what that fucker did to me the minute she tried to take you to your sister…!” “Please… stop saying things like that…!” Apple Bloom wept as she closed her eyes and turned away from the ghastly sight, “Ah didn’t know they would even do such things…!” “Ah, but they did and if it weren’t for me, then you could have end up just like all of the others in the Cavern: a bunch of thieves and whores…!” the cadaver cackled a cacophony of callousness cruelly carved into the redhead’s ears at once. As the cold laughter reached a higher volume, Apple Bloom cried desolately as she shook her head thinking, “no no no, she’s just only lying; but, if that’s the case, then why is it that it sounds so…?” “Deny all you want, Apple Bloom; it ain’t gonna change the fact that you are alive because of me…!” the corpse said to the titular redhead while pointing a finger at her, “besides, you already have someone to live for, am I right…?” “What do you mean by that…?” the young observer had whimpered, reopening her recently shut eyes. The cadaver now moved her own finger away from the trembling Apple Bloom and had quickly answered, “more like ‘who’ exactly to be precise; as a matter of fact, why don’t you go on ahead and ask her already…” “Her…?” was all that the fragile redhead had peeped out as she turned her head away from the cruel giggling ghoulish corpse; upon doing so, the former was met with a heart–stopping sight, “Applejack…?” At this point, the young onlooker came face to face with another being, a female just like herself and the reanimated cadaver but with a different attire instead. A wide brimmed hat was now resting firmly upon Applejack’s golden locks, giving off a shadow that eclipsed over the freckled terracotta skin on her face. The tanned blonde’s body was adorned with a dark blue jacket, already overlaid by a yellow reflective vest that remained open up. Applejack also wore a jet black fabric upon her long legs, reaching down long enough to touch her tall brown boots all at once. “In the flesh and in the blood unlike me, of course…!” the corpse jeered as she started clapping her hands, unsettling Apple Bloom even more. The tanned blonde seemed to have ignored the laughter and said to the redhead at once, “Apple Bloom…” “Applejack…” was all that the young observer could even peep out only slowly in response, “is that you…?” “Apple Bloom…” Applejack repeated anyway, disregarding the question her aforementioned sister had only asked. Slowly regaining her composure, Apple Bloom tried to speak to the tanned blonde upfront again, “Applejack, are you okay…?” “Apple Bloom…” the tall female had called out once more, this time with feeling, “Ah want to ask you something…” “Yeah…” the eponymous redhead replied only reluctantly within due time. All of the sudden, Applejack started to bleed out from her eyes and growled, “DO YA HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT AH HAD TO GO THROUGH SINCE YA GONE AWAY?!” “What?!” the young observer choked out as she retreated from where the tanned blonde stood up, “don’t ya remember what happened? Ah was taken from our home by the bad men who’d killed Granny Smith…” “RIGHT, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…!” Applejack snarled as she moved towards Apple Bloom at once, blood still pouring out of the former’s eyes This sight now made the redhead wince in fear as she stuttered, “w–w–what do you mean, Applejack…?” “THESE BAD MEN DID MORE THAN JUST TAKE YA AWAY FROM ME…!” titular blonde answered at once, her once clean clothes becoming dirtier in the process, “WHILE YOU WERE GONE, THEY’D KILLED OUR WINONA AND THESE BASTARDS TOOK TURNS VIOLATING ME! AH TRIED TO FIGHT BACK AND SAVE YA BUT THEY HURT ME IN WAYS THAT MADE ME THINK ABOUT WHAT YA COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH! EVEN THEN, ALL I HAD EVER WANTED WAS TO FUCKING DIE BECAUSE OF THE THOUGHT THAT YA WERE DEAD BUT THEN I FOUND YA, YA OWN BODY ADVERTISED AS IF YA WERE A COMMON SLAVE! AH HAD FIGURED THAT IF AH HAD CAUGHT UP WITH YA, THEN AH COULD HAVE AT LEAST SAVED YA BUT AH WAS WRONG! THE MOMENT I AH SAW YA AGAIN, YOU WERE LAYING ON THE FLOOR WITH A BOTTLE OF POISON NEARBY; IT MADE ME CRY AGAIN, THIS TIME MUCH MORE THAN WHEN THEY RAVAGED ME LONG AGO BECAUSE OF IT! AH FIGURED THAT THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR ME TO DO NOW WAS TO PUT YOU OUT OF BOTH OUR MISERIES; AS A MATTER OF FACT, MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR ME TO FINISH WHAT AH HAD STARTED!” “Applejack, please Ah beg of you: ya don’t have to do any of this; none of these men didn’t even do anything to me at all…!” the young observer pleaded as the tall woman now stood nearby her at once. Applejack knelt down and stared into Apple Bloom’s orange eyes, the former’s still bleeding out and with a darkened sclera to boot while snorting, “IT’S TOO LATE…!” “Applejack, just stop; Ah am your sister Apple Bloom…!” the aforementioned redhead had responded, “ya can’t do this, ya just can’t…!” “IT DOESN’T MATTER; IT’S ALREADY IN MOTION…!” the tanned blonde spat as she raised up both her hands in the process. Seeing as they were now nearing Apple Bloom’s neckline, she cried out, “well, throw it out of motion; everything is fine…!” “NO… IT’S… NOT…!” Applejack roared as she seized her grip onto her sister at once, “JUST SAY HI TO GRANNY AND BABS WHEN AH GET THROUGH WITH YA…!” “A–pple–jack…!” Apple Bloom stuttered as her neck was now being squeezed by the tanned blonde at once. All that was being done now was Applejack was in the process of strangling her own sister with nothing to stop them. The tanned blonde had wheezed through her bright white fangs while the redhead coughed out from her opened mouth. Applejack found herself tightening her own grip onto Apple Bloom despite the latter’s attempt to put up a struggle. The scent of blood and hot air went up into the redhead’s nostrils as the tanned blonde refused to let go of her anyway. Apple Bloom struggled to speak but the slow decrease in oxygen made any attempt in reaching out to Applejack fail. Even so, the redhead watched as her vision of the ghastly being that was once her sister started to subside into darkness. With Apple Bloom’s pupils now starting to fade out, Applejack murmured maliciously onward, “almost… there…!” “App–le–jack…” the redhead exhaled haggardly as her neck was being tightened by the tanned blonde’s vice grip, “please…” “That’s right… rest in peace… just… like… Granny…!” Applejack growled as a loud snapping crackled popped out into the fold. Sure enough, Apple Bloom was now all alone once more, this time residing onto the surface with blood pooling out her own mouth. The once vibrant eyes of orange that had belonged to the redhead were almost completely devoid of life, save for a fluttering flicker. As she now laid dying, a flood of tears were now staining her weary face as she gurgled about with almost no end in sight at all. At long last, Apple Bloom then breathed out at once with only one thing to say from her own lips, “why…?”
UvulaAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter five of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with heavy subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was also by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to that chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. As always, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to Lauren Faust and Hasbro; however, this concept of my fanfic belongs to me so I will say this line one time only: please do not steal this story or I will sue. I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now approaching the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year has provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. Uvula The clinging and clanging of such metal gear against itself was heard throughout the cold distance as their innate structures had served to provide the monotone percussion all across the way at once. The identity to this very cause originated from a bell that despite being painted in gold was made of brass, possessing many dents and crack yet capable of withstanding the vibrations and echoes it had gave. It was currently hanging around and about as it swung back and forth in an arc during the aria, already held firmly in place by a pole stretching outward that had been fitted in to touch two opposite sides. Outwith the gargantuan instrument itself was but a large building with most of its external structure tightly resting underneath it as the cacophonous percussion had started to subside altogether in due time. Zoning out up high as at least a few stories tall was a clock displaying a face with an obtuse angle, its arrows pointing to the digits: the long one rested between the two of them whereas the short one was direct. A big red flag was found at the rooftop, already waving around over the wooden shingles that were predominate, save for a glass dome that only served as a skylight to provide some illumination for its denizens. Residing a mere few furlongs from the very entrance was a stone statue in the form of a hippogriff, standing about atop a pedestal upon its hind limbs with both claws clutching onto some air in a tight grip. Kowtowing to all of this and heaven too were many thin blades of green grass with the occasional stone pavement carved into them, a large piece of nature becoming intertwined with an artificial minority. Spreading around were the many people that were currently coming from and going to the structure in their collective vicinity, each varying in such traits and characteristics both superficial and otherwise. One particular figure in question happened to stand out and about amongst the sea of faces, trudging away from the structure that which stood behind upon the unbeaten path out in front all at once. A set of curly locks were found to be separated into two different colors, most of them painted in a royal purple hue whereas the rest were dyed in a hot pink as they had barely made it past her neckline. Running around the two pupils were but a pair of jade orbs and hovering directly above them were some eyebrows already furrowed into a slight incline hanging around and about in the balance. The owner’s face was feminine, possessing a complexion already free of imperfections thereof and came with brightness reminiscent of a peach traversing down the riverside detailed with blush. Her attire, although simplistic was otherwise elaborate for the most part: a dark magenta jacket with matching boots, a striped blouse barely matching the owner’s locks, and bright yellow shorts. Slung over the female’s back was a large orange backpack held together by two thick straps that were being carried around by the owner’s hands as she’d remained still against the mobile crowd around. She stood upright to stare at the scenery in front of her, surrounded by many other faces but unperturbed anyway to scan in the details provided. The heavens above her were white as cotton, devoid of whatever color, imaginable or otherwise that could paint it in any form or fashion whatsoever. In the distance was a large body of water that despite being rather colorless already gave off its true blue state further along the wayside all at once. Aside from the building that was behind the female, there were others as well within the vicinity that had varied in size and texture thereof all around. Resting in front of the rocky pavement she was standing upon, there was also a dirt road in the middle that was filled many kinds of people as well. She even found a few flowers fluttering about in the wind along with some leaves as well, coming around in many colors within the distance. “Sweetie Belle…!” a voice called out amongst the sea of people, bringing the female’s ears to stand out on endwise. It wasn’t long until she had turned to find only one person that stood out and about within the crowd, already throwing a limb upwardly in her vicinity. The fact that such a call was already answered by the female made her identity apparent as she found a bright skinned female just like herself but taller. A tinted silver lining was found to be running right down in the middle of the mauve tresses upon the caller’s head past the nape of her neck further on. Like Sweetie Belle, the woman also had possessed some green eyes as well and in the same shade too no less, another key trait that they’d both shared. A purple sweater was found to be adorned upon the wearer’s body so thick and straight as its sleeves had reached past the length of the listener’s jacket. Circling all around the waistline and legs was but a long green skirt with a floral arrangement at the sides as they were being held up by a goldenrod strap. What was also found upon the bright skinned woman’s feet were but a pair of brown bluchers with some pink socks towering past her very ankles. The observer went towards the caller’s direction and had responded almost instantaneously, “Miss Cheerilee…?” “Sweetie Belle…!” the titular woman called out the female’s name once again, “I’m over here…” “Hello, there…!” the responder replied as she had went over to the caller’s position rather quickly. Sure enough, Sweetie Belle had suddenly jumped upward and hugged Cheerilee tightly with little warning whatsoever: of the two females that were quickly locked into an embrace, the latter spoke once again, “it seems that I had caught you at a very convenient time; how was school today…?” “So–so: we had a test this morning in Remedial Physics class; I don’t think I had done well…” the younger female answered the older counterpart before breaking away all at once, “I could barely even stay awake after lunchtime today, especially in Music Class with Treble Blue: I was worried that he would catch me sleeping again…” “Didn’t you study last night like I had told you…?” Cheerilee asked at once as several people walked by. Sweetie Belle looked away and mumbled, “yeah, but it hasn’t been easy especially considering what had happened over the years…” “I know that but we’re not alone, okay…?” the elder female had responded to her younger counterpart at once, “besides, your parents would’ve wanted the best from you; even your sister Ra–––” “Don’t say that name; I still have nightmares about her…!” Sweetie Belle interjected all too suddenly; soon, she started to walk away already. At that point, Cheerilee followed along and said, "okay, then: back to what I was saying just earlier, I am pretty sure that your mother and father would have wanted you to be the best in spite of the hardships; even your sister had became the best at my age back at the old town…" "It's not just that, Miss Cheerilee…" the young female had said to the aforementioned individual, "it's been a long time since I’ve been able to see my friends again from my old school: Apple Bloom’s still with Zecora, Scootaloo’s living with Rainbow and Soarin, and I don't know what has become of my other classmates. Last time I’d recalled, I believe that Featherweight has become somewhat of a famous journalist after the war ended, the youngest one no less. No one else has been able to check up on Diamond Tiara ever since then and that was after when they had nearly went bankrupt trying to fund the effort." "Oh yeah, now I remember… what a shame for her family’s industries to go out this way: they used to rely on the Apple Family thanks to the Zap Apples; but now that they’re gone, so is our home too…" Sweetie Belle replied slowly as she then stopped in place to face skyward like a sword. Cheerilee caught up in mere seconds and spoke back, “don’t say it like that; you still have a home and it’s not just the very homeland itself where you were born and raised. You have people that love you and care for you; people like me and your friends: Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and her sister Applejack. While that I know that they’re going through the same things that we’re in now, they would have never allowed themselves to just surrender to such notions. Do you remember that fateful day in question when you started to use sign language the first year after the war had finally ended? People who had heard of what you had gone through have all thought about the idea that you would never be able to speak again; yet, you had proved them wrong over time. Besides, the card that you had made for Applejack years ago gave her a reason to keep on living even when the doctors said that she would die in giving birth. That get well card in question was more than just a plea for her to live: it was also a declaration that you made telling whoever was willing to listen that you weren’t going to give up; so, it’d inspired Applejack to see this through to the end. In fact, the sheer discovery that you were still alive in spite of what happened to you during the war inspired me to take you in when no one else could; think of the memories we had shared together after the dust had settled. The questions that I would like to ask are: where do you live, who is looking after you, and what do you want to do with yourself in life?” “I really don’t see where you’re going with this…” the young female answered slowly, “but if there’s anything I would like to do for myself, then I want to see Applejack once again tomorrow…” “Are you sure that you want to go through with this idea…?” the woman had slowly asked all at once. Sweetie Belle turned around to face Cheerilee and answered with a nod before taking off her backpack at once, “why wouldn’t I? Ever since the social that Granny Smith had hosted years ago, I’d been able to consider the thought of letting her take me in as her sister; however, I’d never expected it to go down like that. In fact, I still miss my own family more; even with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo still at my side after all these years, I can’t get the image of my mom and dad out of my head. The way they were when I was there caused me to have nightmares even with the war over; I can still hear them calling out for me to run away to this very day. They usually go away when I’m around Applejack; even though that her sister told me what she tried to do, Apple Bloom forgave her anyway. It’s kind of sweet but sad: the fact that their bond as sisters was able to withstand whatever the world could dish out at them; yet, all that my sister saw was how our lives at our hometown were ruined along with our family as well. Why did they have to come on over and destroy everything that everyone in that town had built; what need was there in ruining the peace we had with that dumb war?! I hate everything that came about because of it: I hate these soldiers that killed my friends; I hate that man who killed my parents; I hate Rarity for trying to kill me; I hate m–––” “It’s okay, Sweetie Belle; you don’t have to blame yourself for any of this…” the tall woman had said as she’d clutched onto the eponymous individual almost instantaneously, “besides, remember what I’d said earlier: you have a lot of people that still care for you, especially Applejack since you wish to see her again. After all, you’re not the very first person to suffer the same fate as all the others had but we can at least take solace in the fact that the war is over and we can use this time to rebuild our lives somehow; for what it’s worth, we can still do this. She was able to do all this when they let her leave the hospital and this was after she’d put the child up for adoption; we’re in this together for the time being so there’s no use in thinking that way, understand…?” “I’m sorry; I’m just still upset about all this, that’s all…” Sweetie Belle wept as she returned the hug. With both females locked into an embrace, Cheerilee also shed some tears as well, barely ignoring her own as she whispered onward, “I know, let’s just go on home and rest for a while; the past week must have been draining for the both of us. Besides, we’re going to be needing all of our strength in making a visit to Applejack should we decide to go through with this very idea; does that sound fair, Sweetie Belle…?” “Okay then, Cheerilee; besides, I’m feeling sleepy already now…” the young responder had yawned, breaking off the hug to wipe away the tears around her very eyes, “I’m starting to get dizzy…” “Do you wish for me to carry you all the way to our house…?” the elder female had asked warmly. Sweetie Belle still retained enough strength to nod off to Cheerilee and replied, “well, I guess so…” “Then the matter is settled: let’s head on home then…” the elder female said before turning around, “you’re gonna have to put the backpack back on for the trip over; no use in carrying it by the hands with me moving around…” “Right then…” the young female said as she wore her little yellow backpack around again where it was. Cheerilee crouched downward and said to Sweetie Belle, “hop to it now; it’s about to get dark soon…” “Yes ma’am…!” the young listener replied, climbing onto her older counterpart’s back at once, “I’m ready…!” “Are you all set there, Sweetie Belle…?” Cheerilee asked, earning a warm hum from the titular passenger at once. It wasn’t long until the tall woman stood straight back up and began to carry onward away from the building that towered over the lot of them. Despite being amongst the sea of people moving on and about around, the two females had their eyes focused on what was currently up ahead. With their collective presence as the main method of keeping each other company, Cheerilee relied on herself to take Sweetie Belle on over. Not wanting to let go and fall to the earth beneath their very feet, the young female had held onto tightly by draping her two arms upon the elder. Cheerilee returned the favor by holding Sweetie Belle’s hands in place along the way but still payed attention to the environment around them. As the young female looked upon the other structures around them on each side, she spoke up at once, “isn’t it nice that we could see the sunset from her on any other clear day, Miss Cheerilee…?” “Maybe for you; I bet that you usually don’t stay around this long to see them when you were young…” the aforementioned individual commented onward, looking upon the grayscale sky above them in the distance, “did your father used to carrying you around when you were a little baby…?” “As far as I can remember, of course he did…” Sweetie Belle had sighed as she held onto Cheerilee tightly. As the tall woman tightly brought her younger counterpart along for the ride, the former had said to the latter rather quickly, “he must have been a great father to the two of you back then, am I right…?” “Yeah, he was…” Sweetie Belle answered Cheerilee as they’d moved across the mobile crowd all at once, "come to think of it, what was your father like when you were young, Miss Cheerilee…?" "A kind visage to come home to, Sweetie Belle: his name was Jupiter Jazz, a member of the Royal Guard for the Princess back when things were peaceful…" the tall woman answered with a faint smile upon her visage. With the eyelids no longer halfway closed, the young female had exclaimed, "you mean to tell me you’d used to live at the capital when you were young; how come you never told us about that…?" "It's actually pretty simple: no one had asked me until now…" Cheerilee giggled at Sweetie Belle as the former still carried the latter onward, "as for your previous question, yes, I did lived in the capital; of course, I wasn't the only daughter that was living with him: like you, I also have a sister, albeit a twin to boot. She's a professional wrestler named Mighty Mystery but her real name is none other than Cherry Blossom herself; we’d both lived there during our childhoods until we became sixteen years old. At that time, we’d decided to go our separate ways from here: I’d travelled down south to pursue my career as a teacher whereas she’d gone westward to find fame and fortune." “But Miss Cheerilee, don’t you get lonely enough that you miss them or your hometown…?” the young passenger had asked instantaneously. All that the tall woman could do was laugh and answered back, “I don’t see whatever kind of reason that anyone else would have if they aren’t; of course, when I’m with you, it’s all that matters…” “You’re wonderful; it’s no secret as to why everyone liked you back before the war came here…” Sweetie Belle yawned as she rested her head upon Cheerilee’s shoulders, “I miss everyone else, my friends, my family…” “I know, Sweetie Belle… I know…” the tall woman had sighed as she focused on what was ahead in walking distance.
MuteAuthor's Note Hi there; it's me, Fireflower here once more with an electric feel ready with a new chapter of War Orphans' Wishes on the way: suffice to say, the past chapter from before were by far a somber note for you all and it will only be a taste of what's to come afterwards as I write them all them at my fingertips. As usual, My Little Pony, or rather Friendship Is Magic, including its settings and characters belong to ––– you know what? Fk it; you've made it this far so there's no use in me repeating what I had said before in the disclaimers, especially after what y'all had gone through. However, let me just also say that, with many thanks aside, I hope you can be able to stomach this chapter now even more than the others before it and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned though the passing times: a special guest's going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in the chapter below; but, it will only be for a brief moment anyway as we all go on and float onward there. Mute An absolute absence of light currently dominated the rather colorless environment as the otherwise blackened void had already served as an endless source of scarcity and obscurity altogether. Whatever terrain that was within the darkness wasn’t solid like the earthly plane; of course, air itself wasn’t the only thing that existed either, even when they came in the form of gentle breezes that had whispered taboo noises. Nevertheless, it was far from a desolate wasteland that had defined the area; then again, it wouldn’t mean that such a place in question thereof is sustainable for something so simple as growth. Basically, all that resided within the very void was at least one living being, a bright skinned female already lying supine upon itself as the cold wind blowing across her skin. Locks of curly hair were found upon her head in a grave state of chaos and disarray, already running past the nape of the neck as they were separated into two different colors: purple and pink. The inhabitant in question had on a simplistic attire matching her hair: a solid purple dress that had barely reached past the kneecaps and a pair of pink socks upon her very feet. Calmly residing still, she remained where she was, even as the wind and waves moved her to and fro; then, with little warning whatsoever, both of her eyelids flew opened to reveal a pair of jade orbs within. The otherwise golden silence that had surrounded the inhabitant were instantaneously replaced with the startled yet wordless gasps from the owner’s mouth, interspersed with the chorus of splashing. Undoubtedly, she couldn’t help but struggle to stay upward, even though that there was nothing in sight to guide her on a certain path that could take her away from the ambiguous location thereof. “Don’t stop, Sweetie Belle; she’ll be gaining up on you soon…!” a loud voice was heard throughout the vast and infinite space, piercing the ears of the lone inhabitant as she struggled to find the source of such words only to find that loneliness was still all around her to this very moment. Effortlessly, she couldn’t help but move about within the very surface, barely able to pick a course to set upon before starting to take heed of what was said to her as a result of such desperation. Sweetie Belle instantly remained conscious of her attire pulled down by the weight of the compound beneath her as she swam onward within, her strife barely beginning while moving around. Realizing this, the inhabitant had called out into the darkened abyss beyond for dire need of such assistance, only to find neither anyone would answer to it nor were the words strong enough to escape. Battling against the unknown all throughout the way, she had nonetheless resumed her endeavor anyway, remembering what had already been said not too long ago while still unable to choose a set path. Frantically moving forearms in a series of strokes, Sweetie Belle had swam onward to hear laughter in the air: it was initially faint for the most part yet it wasn’t as far away like she’d thought. As a matter of fact, despite the splashing that the swimmer had made in the process, she couldn’t help but listen closely as the leitmotif soon morphed into frantic cackling, increasing in tempo slowly. The sound in particular that she was now paying attention to had gain more volume as well, almost to the point in where it’d seemed to be gaining up on her despite the desperate struggle thereof. Even though that Sweetie Belle was all alone, the newfound chorus of laughter assaulting both of her ears proved to be very exacerbating to be found within the vast unknown place that she was already in. Definitive drones were even more piercing than the enormous ripples of water that the very swimmer had made as she desperately wished for the sounds all around to just go away and leave her be. Gallantly, she kept on going and refused to let the cackles get the best of her; however, they weren’t the only thing that were being heard: cutting into the sinister aria was another voice calling out from the darkness, “what’s the matter, little girl; are you really that afraid of me so much…?” “Hurry, Sweetie Belle…!” the primary voice called out to the listener’s name, “don’t listen to that fiend; get away from him…!” In the midst of thought, Sweetie Belle started to think about the source of such voices but remained wary of her current situation thereof. Not wanting to even risk a simple function ceasing in the sea of darkness within the void, the frantic inhabitant kept on going about her way. Greatly influenced by the rather peculiar voices already invading her ears, she’d just kept swimming onward and made waves in her path. Reality still sank into Sweetie Belle despite her struggles against the liquid she was already submerged into, not wanting to stop in any way. Efforts overall to stop the sole inhabitant from her continuing on did nothing but drive even bigger ripples into the very surface altogether. She kept at it anyway, silently hypothesizing that her sudden inaction would trigger a rather unpleasant surprise in some other form or fashion. Sweetie Belle pondered on the identities of such voices as if she wanted to call out to the most recent one and yet no words came out of her. “Just keep going, Sweetie Belle; don’t let her catch up to you no matter what…!” another voice had echoed, not like the others at first but similar in nature nevertheless: while reminiscent of the secondary voice, it was frantic like the first. Keeping the recent addition in mind, the individual in tow heeded the latest addition with utter determination upon herself. Intensely pushing herself onward was maximizing the dwindling input that she’d possessed within both of these arms. Sweetie Belle swam anyway with the simple words of long before barely leaving her mind as she’d moved further onward. Suddenly, the swimmer soon started to slow down as the strength that resided deep inside her limb had finally dissipated. Laborious breathing escaped from her the minute she’d stopped in place, filled to the brim with exhaustion and devoid of love or joy; of course, this would serve to have a rather startling reaction as another voice spoke to her, sharing the same quality as the predecessor but otherwise different, “there you are, my dear sister…!” Monumentally scared out of the straight and narrow path once taken, Sweetie Belle slowly turned to face the source of such spoken words; however, the moment that she did, both eyes couldn’t believe what they’d seen: it was another female. Both of them had possessed such certain common traits between the two: a bright complexion upon their skin, a set of long flowing hair on their heads, and some cool color shades circling around their pupils. Still, they also had some differences amongst themselves here and there, something that the stagnant swimmer was able to take notice upon this recent discovery that was instantaneously made here and there. Not a second went by for Sweetie Belle as she studied the style of the sudden female that appeared before her all too quickly. For starters, the other female had worn some solid dark purple adorned across the tresses with but a few curls along the very way. Secondly, there was also a great difference in height between the two females: Sweetie Belle was outmatched by a few feet thereof. Third of all, the taller visitor wore a white long–sleeved blouse that was already stained with many tiny patches of red and brown. While the swimmer was made aware of the dark gray skirt around the waistline, the wearer was also barefoot and hovered on above. Sweetie Belle started to look upon the tall visitor in both of the eyes only to find nothing but darkness in and of itself within them. “Oh no…” one of the voices whispered again but none of the females present ever spoke out, not even towards each other, “my baby…” “Please forgive for leaving you be: I never knew that something so horrible like this would even happen to you, Sweetie Belle…!” the tall visitor had wept, still standing over nearby the titular inhabitant. Quizzically, the swimmer was able to notice a drop of orange landing upon the surface and provided color to the otherwise darkened environment. Under a single minute thereof, Sweetie Belle then watched as the void all around her had glowed, bringing light that was once almost nonexistent. Its lack of balance in regards to identity thereof was instantaneously replaced with shades and hues crying out loud with such a solid vision so soon. The only thing that remained unchanged were the presence of the two females that came about in the very area now rife with heat and light altogether. Roused by the sudden change, the swimmer was starting to feel her face contort to a diminutive grin; however, she’d felt her ears standing on endwise as one of the voices from before speak immediately, “don’t even think about touching her, Sweetie Belle; that’s not your sister Rarity at all…! This monster only took the form of her just to lull you in a false sense of security here, just like before: long ago, your sister’s heart gave in to despair after the war had come to our doorstep. With the last vestige of a peaceful life torn asunder by even the most brutal of exploiters galore, you and Rarity were the only ones that survive the horrors brought upon your loving family: of them, she felt the most heartbroken and attempted to do the unthinkable. Capitalizing on your pain and sorrow alongside hers, a ghoul took your sister’s place and had tried to drown you in a lake under the delusion that your misery would subside in a watery tomb.” “Sweetie Belle, look inside yourself; it’s true that these brutes have destroyed our home and killed our mother and father but everything will be okay again…” Rarity’s visage said as she started to kneel towards the titular swimmer, “it’s all over now; we can be free again, just like the old days: we can go buy a small house up in Canterlot and forget the horrid war. Of course, it won’t just be the two of us; we can still make new friends while keeping in touch with our old ones: you’ll be able see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo while I’ll be able to see Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Pinkie. I can see to it that none of those terrible things will never repeat themselves again; no one will ever suffer in the same fashion as we’d experienced years ago ever again.” “That monster is lying to you; don’t trust her…!” the recent voice warned as the two females remained still in the newly colored void. Uncertainty had now dominated the environment that they were in as both of them remained stagnant in their current positions thereof. The timid swimmer was still keeping her head and shoulders above the liquid surface while watching the recent visitor so carefully. In the brief minutes that they’d spent making eye contact with another, Sweetie Belle soon found both of Rarity’s eyes oozing with orange. Voltages of life surging within the swimmer had helped her find the strength to give out a reply; yet, as before, not even a single word would come out of the mouth in the very slightest whatsoever. Within seconds, the visitor’s visage spoke again, “what’s wrong, Sweetie Belle; do you not trust me, your dearest elder sister Rarity…?” Xenon entered and exited the aforementioned individual’s nostrils as she stared at her sister’s form in silence. Intuition was regaining ground deep within as the swimmer recalled the other voices that had spoken to her. “You don’t need to trust her…” the tertiary voice repeated onward to Sweetie Belle, “she has become a bad influence: this ghoul try to drown you once and with the image of your sister no less…” Zoning out and about wasn’t something that the two females had planned on doing altogether, given their current situation thereof. Even though there was nothing in sight at first other than the orange hereon out, the purpose of this chance encounter wasn’t in vain. Reasons for such were without being meaningless in the very least, despite the voices around themselves being so discouraging. Only the swimmer herself had the power to put an end to this encounter in space but not the words to express her reply like before. “You’re not serious considering the thought of believing them, are you Sweetie Belle; I mean who are you willing to believe: an otherworldly trio of some other personas long gone or your sister who’s alive and well in the real world…?” Rarity’s visage cooed as she outstretched a hand towards Sweetie Belle at once. Xenogenic voices buzzed into the swimmer’s ears as she’d eyed the one hand in front of her very carefully: of them, the primary voice struck a chord with the former all at once, “your sister is alive but not here; this figure before you isn’t the same as Rarity herself: even her eyes were more innocent like before…” “Why should you consider listening to them, Sweetie Belle…?” the tall visitor had asked, staring into the jade orb that belonged to the owner in front, “haven’t I been a good sister to you ever since you were little…?” “Venture carefully: there’s almost no telling what she’ll do to the likes of you, especially considering that she’s already taking your sister’s form…” the tertiary voice had warned Sweetie Belle. Understanding the gravity of the situation thereof, the swimmer took the time to back away all at once; this made the environment warm up a shade. Now this had made Rarity’s visage trade in her warm gentle smile for a cool rough frown, complete with a full deluge emerging out the eyes. Instantaneously, the orange tinted liquid had slowly turned into blood, startling the otherwise silent Sweetie Belle who wasn’t even stained at all. This had made the tall visitor angry at the swimmer whom retreated from the tender gesture with the hand not too long ago so easily in the very least. Then, with little warning whatsoever, Rarity’s visage started to take a rather long deep breath; soon, she began to open her mouth to to speak out to Sweetie Belle all too easily in due time, “now I get it: after all that has happened from the moment our parents were slain to that very time, you still don’t trust me in the very least. It seems that memories of these brutes have done to us in that war have clouded your thoughts about me so easily that you were willing to listen to them over me of all people to this very day. Even though that I mourned for your loss as well as mine, you have found no reason to trust me again; this pains me to have such a feeling bored inside by my own sister no less. Nevertheless, it won’t stop us from having to finish what had been already started not too long ago: we’ll reunite with our dear mom and dad once more, this time without anyone stopping us like before.” “Sweetie Belle, get away…!” the first voice yelled into the aforementioned swimmer’s ears, “this is what we’ve been warning you about…!” “Resistance is futile; no more will we have to suffer and the hands of such brutes who damaged us by slaying all we held dear…!” the tall visitor bellowed as she jumped at Sweetie Belle with little warning. Quickly seizing ahold of the neckline, the swimmer started struggling against her sister’s visage as the tertiary voice had shouted loudly at once, “you can do it; we believe in you, Sweetie Belle…!” “Pity, I was expecting less of a fight from you like before but once I’m done, you’ll be able to say hi to our parents once again…!” Rarity’s visage chuckled as her sister’s pupils shrunk greatly. Only the sights and sounds reverberated throughout the recently colored void as the exhibition of strife was unanimous instantaneously. No one was coming to put an end to the tortuous ordeal that was taking place all at once; not a single thing, externally or otherwise, was going to stand in the way of it either. In spite of Sweetie Belle’s desperate attempts to regain control of the situation, her sister’s visage was having none of it. Now it has seemed that the swimmer’s vision was started to constricted, slipping slowly but surely into the darkness that now reminded her of she had recently seen; even so, her mouth opened up to squeak out, “Ra–ri–ty…!” “Must you beg for your worthless life at a time like this…?” the eponymous visage growled, taking on a more ghastly appearance than before, “I bet that bastard should’ve ended you so I wouldn’t have to suffer…!” “LET HER GO ALREADY…!” another voice had quickly bellowed at the two, but the recent command fell on deaf ears. Keeping onto to a sliver of willpower deep within, Sweetie Belle started to cry, her remaining vision tinted with crimson over Rarity’s visage now baring fangs and dementia, the latter laughing wildly, “it’s too late: a few seconds from now, it won’t matter to the both of us; they will be happy to see you again, just like the old days when we’re still one big happy family…!” Just as though it’d seems that the swimmer would succumb to the pain, her sister’s visage changed from delirium to disbelief as the orange oozing from her sockets had widen about. Effortlessly, Sweetie Belle felt the immense pressure upon her throat dissipating almost instantly as her vision came back from the encroaching darkness that once threatened her quickly no less. The once frenzied joy that was already plastered upon the tall visitor’s face not too long ago was slowly replaced with a timid melancholy as she stared at the struggling swimmer all at once. “Is– is– is some– thing wrong…?” Sweetie Belle wheezed as she looked upon Rarity’s visage, the latter now hiding away the shock and sorrow that was now besieging the owner’s hands at once, “Ra–ri–ty…?” “How about it: you can speak again, can’t you…?” the aforementioned visitor slowly squeaked before weeping about all so easily. Gaining back control over breathing, the swimmer edged carefully towards her sister’s position and answered, “what about you…?” “Finally, you can speak again…!” Rarity’s visage sobbed with a hint of joy, slowly evolving into a faint laughter unlike the one from before, “my goodness, the sky’s full of stars; my prayers have been answers: it’s a miracle from Elysium…!” “Eh…” Sweetie Belle muttered in confusion as a reply to her sister’s structureless statement so soon. During the rather sudden change of events thereof, the laugh emitted from Rarity’s visage grew loud as she’d shouted, “MY SISTER IS BACK…!” Cacophony reemerged from the cacheable visitor whose eyes became flooded with a large deluge of orange in a much higher pressure. At that point, the swimmer started to shrink back from her sister’s visage as the laughter grew louder and more disjointed already. Then, without any warning whatsoever, Rarity’s visage disintegrated, her spectral form scattering into such tiny innumerable pieces. At long long, Sweetie Belle was alone just like before albeit with a rather different approach to what had befallen her. Calamities that had once threaten the swimmer went away as she’d stood still in the newly colored void all around. That alone didn’t change the fact that she’d buried her face with both hands, covering up the fear and sorrow deep within.
LocomotionAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter seven of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year has provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it because more special guests are going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Locomotion At first glance, it would have seemed that everything was at ease: the atmosphere that had been set in place was losing pressure upon the whole wide world with nothing short of coldness and calculation hereon. There were spacious skies that were white as cotton yet lacked the color normally found on the surface area of assorted sweetness; however, the clouds that dwell amongst themselves came in many shades of gray. Achromatic airstreams that had flown on and about so freely like birds were crispy and cool enough to commute the many different aromas which are climbing aboard from the earthly plane at that very moment. The brilliant green had currently given birth to many different flowers that had already sprouted upward, varying in many shapes, sizes, and colors that bore the organization best befitting a heavenly rainbow. All sounds of music were nothing more of a cacophony chatter from the fauna nearby, most of which originating from a series of tall building here and there in many various tones and pitches so to speak right now. Out of the many whom were traversing in and out of the area, one stood out amongst the others: a lone woman was found staring deep into the overclouded firmament in a rather mesmerizing trance. Her skin was donned in a shade of a dark gamboge coating reminiscent of a timid fawn a few months away from becoming a young buck after the fateful snowstorm minutes after its mother’s death. The woman’s eyes were barely matching the locks of hair upon her head; while both of them were of the same color thereof, the tresses themselves had possessed the most life of the two overall. Upon her body was a simple attire that kept the dark skin warm: a jet black coat matching her very boots, some green shorts barely covering the knees, and some teal socks matching the sleeves. “Yo, Scootaloo; come on, it’s about to rain soon…!” a distant voice was heard but it didn’t originate from the eponymous woman in question. Nevertheless, she’d turned around rather quickly and was greeted with the sight of another individual approaching her way: another woman just like her, albeit with some many significant differences. Scootaloo had instantaneously noticed that the speaker in question had some bright skin worn upon her very face, completely free of blemishes but with a texture that was rougher than the former thereof. The approaching individual had possessed magenta irises shining brightly like diamonds in the rough, taking aim at the woman right in front of her as the gentle breeze wandered all around these two. Like Scootaloo, the bright skinned woman had worn some short hair upon her very head, albeit with more colors than the former and in the form of thin racing stripes resembling the entire spectrum. Unlike the listener, the speaker whom had called out to her just recently had a uniformed attire: a pair of goggles around her neck, a cyan tracksuit with golden lightning bolts, and some light brown shoes. Scootaloo formed a concave contorted into a smile as she began to respond to such a greeting, “Rainbow Dash…!” “We have to head on inside soon; there’s no use in us getting wet…!” the aforementioned woman said as she grabbed onto the other woman’s hand, “now let’s hustle up and head on home now…” “Yes, ma’am…!” Scootaloo had said as she followed Rainbow along without any hesitation whatsoever. The two women scurried off and onward to the next destination just as the skies above them started to rumble about. All winds around the twosome gained enough force to sway the foliage around, despite the silent voices they had made. The birds and bees that had synchronized with one another had fled to safety from the gathering storm that was imminent. After a few seconds had passed, a drop of water started to fall from the monochrome heavens and onto the colored earth. The fresh air that was light and crisp was now lacerated by the heavy downpour, drenching the very flora in the process. Of the two runners who were caught in the soaking rainstorm, only the bright skinned one had exclaimed, “oh shit, we’re gonna get sick unless we better find somewhere to take shelter; Scootaloo, hop on my back: we can be able to make a faster return trip back to the city at this rate…!” “Will do, Rainbow…!” the titular follower replied enthusiastically as she had pulled up the hood from her jacket before climbing towards the leading lady’s shoulders, “anything for my big sister…!” The weight of the world they were in had increased the moment when Scootaloo hitched herself upon Rainbow’s torso as their attire was drenched. The bright skinned woman stood straight back up and began to carry her dark skinned counterpart along for the trip to ride out the storm. With little warning whatsoever, a squall line of thunder boomed above the twosome followed by a flash of lightning as the rain poured upon them. “Oh damn… we ought to find some shelter soon; I don’t want to end up as fried chicken walking…!” Rainbow thought to herself as she watched her line of vision being blanketed by a sudden flash of whiteness. The pitter–patter of falling rain increased in density even with Scootaloo asking, “Rainbow, do you think that we’ll be able to make it back to the city in time to see Soarin’ and Spitfire’s child…?” “Of course, we will: besides, you were happy to be there when Rainflower was born a few years ago…” the eponymous woman answered back, “it won’t be long now before she grows up into a woman just like you are, Scootaloo…” “Let’s hope we will; this forest might not be the Everfree, but I don’t want to die in a place like this with you around watching…” the aforementioned listener replied as she’d looked towards the falling sky. The bright skinned traveler started to pick up the pace and said, “you don’t need to remind me of that day, Scoots; this time’s different…” The sauntering movement Rainbow had engaged in just recently started to pay off as she and her darker skinned counterpart were greeted by the sight of taller structures. The two were in the presence of towering behemoths ruling and governing their own landscape for although they remained divided, their own wielded power was shared. There were two kinds of people with the metropolis: the many pedestrians wandering about in the deluge and the few drivers who’d been carrying their own passengers. The city also had some plant–based lifeforms as well in the vicinity, but they were way less numerous than the flora that Scootaloo had encountered not too long ago. “Ah, it’s great to back…” the bright skinned traveler exhaled as the sight of a yellow carriage came across her, “YO TAXI…!” At that moment, the wheeled mechanism stopped in place, bearing a checkered pattern of a monochrome scheme across its door as the driver was inches away from the two. A mere male of a pale white complexion, he was already lacking the rather lustrous sheen reminiscent of the innumerable clouds all above the very city they were all in. His big hair was neatly adorned in the style of an equilateral yet still curvy afro with each and every single one of his frizzy tresses faintly colored in a peachy bleachy shade. The man’s attire was rather more simpler than the two women: his visor of the same color, a red–hot vest over the white shirt, a pair of sepia khaki, and some dark green sneakers. “Where to…?” were the first words spoken by him as they approached the driver, twitching about in the process. Pulling out a small pouch from the left pocket, Rainbow replied at once, “to the Metropolitian Apartment Complex…!” “Fair enough… just get inside now…” he said, hearing small clinks within the closed textiles upon making contact, courtesy of the bright skinned woman, “we don’t have much time to sit around with the rain and thunder going on…” “I could drink to that…” the dark skinned counterpart chuckled nervously as the thunder roared once more with feeling. It wasn’t long until the two had entered the carriage almost instantaneously as the rainfall alone had increased in its collective velocity. At this moment in time, the driver took off and began to guide the wheeled mechanism all around the city they were already in. Not even the rampant downpour itself alone was enough to impede the new and unbeaten path that he had instantly found himself upon. Inside, Scootaloo looked out from the glass and witnessed a flash of lightning occur before her very eyes; as a result, she’d retreated to Rainbow’s side, prompting the latter to comment on the former’s actions, “whoa, what happened to the fearless fighter from ‘fore…? It’s just a thunderstorm; I’ve been through worse…” “Sorry, its just that they make my ears jump up and pop…” the dark skinned woman answered back as she nestled herself inward, “even with my buds on, it’s like listening to an explosion at close range.” “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna risk losing you ever again; this time, I got your back…” the bright skinned woman replied, giving a hug. With the rain beating against the glass, Scootaloo did nothing more than simply purr, “thanks, Rainbow…” “It’s the least I should do: besides, you were like a sister to me before the damned war and you’re still a sister to me even now…” Rainbow said as she held onto tight while the carriage moved about, “we may not share the same blood, parents, or interests but we have a stronger bond that’s like the friendships we have with all the others. Your own friendship with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, although small in numbers was reminiscent of the one I have with those girls: Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Twilight. The idea that there are certain people in this rotting world who would do such a thing to the likes of you is sickening alone; even what they did barely held a candle to all this. The fact that you’re alive and well today alone is a miracle; because of this outcome, I had made a promise to myself: don’t ever leave you alone in the face of danger ever again. The many years that had already passed us by were but a blessing to us because it had helped us reconnect with other people we had held need and dear and your very survival itself is proof of it alone. As long as we are staying alive and still standing, we’ll never let any of these bastards get the best of us in the very least; as a matter of fact, if it comes down to the same shit from before, then I will do my very damnedest to stick by you to the bitter end. There's is not a chance in Tartarus that I'll afford to risk losing you again forever; I cannot allow it at all in the very least, especially with the likes of you being subjected to what I'd endured.” “We're almost here…” the driver's voice had reached his passengers' ears as the wheeled mechanism found its way past another thoroughfare, the last of which had experienced an increase in chatter. The bright skinned woman peered out from the windowpane and noticed an abundance of pedestrians scurrying about and said, “wow, for such a small city, there's a lot of people here; at least, I can recognize that some of these people used to be from Cloudsdale. So much has changed in such years: the Wonderbolts had to move with the city still rebuilding from the fallen remains after the war; I can't believe that we had invented new things between now and then. Perhaps, here's the place where we can finally catch up on some lost time with many of the remaining team: any second from now, we'll be to make better memories than before the damned mess.” “I'll say; I can't wait to get out of the storm already…” the dark skinned woman had replied as the thunder instantaneously rumbled about for a while, “my ears can't take this kind of abuse any longer…” “I know, Scootaloo… I know…” Rainbow said as they felt the carriage stop almost suddenly in place. Considering that the rainstorm kept on going, the two passengers left to find an enormously tall building locked within their very eyesights. Although predominantly adorned with a creamy white monochromatic scheme, a fraction of its bricks were colored in a baby blue shade. With at least a dozen rows of windows plastered upon the structure, it was safe to say that a fraction of the city's population are living it up. Unbeknownst to either of them, the top of the building had possessed a skylight that was spherical in contrast to its overall cubic state. The only thing their eyes were focused on were a series of potted plants standing firmly near the doorway, few of them carrying a flower wreath. Scootaloo was enamoured by the sight of it all, her pupils expanding with a glittering layer as she spoke of it, “I can't believe that all these people are living in this one building; it's like a hotel hotspot of the city...!” “Not quite, it's still a new addition to the city; they still haven't finished up renovations as far as I know recently…” the bright skinned woman retorted to her darker counterpart, “for all we could be hearing, a series of drills and hammering will be directly right above us, preferably on the third or fourth floor mind you.” “But, Rainbow, wouldn’t Spitfire and Soarin’ be on the second floor anyway…?” Scootaloo interjected as they approached the entrance. The titular woman who opened the door answered back anyway, “true, although I rather that you stay close to me anyway; we’re just going be there for an hour or two until the storm clears up…” “That’s easy for you to say; I never thought that the thunder would end up being this loud to me until now…” the dark skinned woman said as thunder crackled about once more with feeling, “then again, I’m still glad to be alive anyway…” “Me too…” Rainbow replied as she and Scootaloo entered the large building; there the reaction alone to its contents was a direct contrast to the exterior altogether: as such, they were well aware of the blandness. Of course, their collective attention was instantaneously focused all on one man alone already nearby as he had then soon started approaching them both slowly but surely. His skin was a lot like the bright skinned woman who had came in with the darker counterpart, except it was fifty shades darker than the previous male from before no less. The man’s eyes were but a pair of jade orbs that were shining brightly enough to pierce throughout the clouds and see things through to the bitter end altogether. His hair was dark but in a rich shade of blue, brighter and more colorful that the otherwise monochromatic firmament hovering all above themselves that was raining. The man wore an attire that was reminiscent of Rainbow’s tracksuit except more elaborate: aside from his goggles and shirt, a black tie, some gold slacks, and black shoes. From where he had once stood, his height not only surpassed the bright skinned woman’s height by a mere inch, he was also a few feet taller than Scootaloo herself as well. The man pulled out a small smile and called out to the two women at once with his left hand waving about, “hi, girls…!” “Soarin’…!” Rainbow responded rather easily as she had ran towards the eponymous individual without hesitation, “we were both just talking about you earlier; how’s things going with Spitfire…?” “Great, then again, considering that her mother had came by to visit, it was a miracle; we had barely any time to sleep recently…” he answered. The dark skinned woman wiped away her eyes and asked slowly, “what is it like to become a father, sir…?” “A lot more work than my Wonderbolts days: I should’ve taken up Home Ec. before graduating if I knew this would happen one day…” Soarin’ chuckled as he slowly crouched downward to meet Scootaloo at eye level, “of course, I’m not all too surprised by the idea that Rainbow had taken you in as her sister either. I also take that your sense of hearing is still going strong as ever; I wish I could’ve been there and stopped these scumbags from putting the both of you through this nightmare. The fact that these traitors would destroy the crown and country already is repugnant on its own but finding that these criminals would pull something like this on a young girl make me fucking sick.” “Don’t need to remind me about them; even after all these years, I still have flashbacks in my sleep…” the bright skinned woman interjected as she gritted her teeth, the integuments shivering about. A moment of silence was observed by the company of three before being broken by the man in front speaking, “no use in waiting any longer: the others are still waiting for us upstairs; let’s go…” “It’s fine by me…” Rainbow replied as she dragged along her younger charge throughout the floor, “better than standing around and reminiscing of the past, especially after what had happened to us…” “I second that motion…!” Scootaloo chirped quickly, earning some laughter from the remaining two. As they approached a nearby flight of stairs before themselves, the bright skinned woman asked her male counterpart, “by the way, which room are you guys staying in… Room 202 or something…?” “Nah, Room 259…” Soarin’ answered, “although, I’d rather keep my ears plugged around 257 and 258, mostly the former; I remembered that the tenant in one of them just got released from the hospital back in September…” “What’s he like…?” the dark skinned inquired. Before taking the first step, the male responded, “a mystery: he usually has a habit of keeping to himself, never comes out of his room for the most part; had to call the manager on him for making too much noise at night and whatnot.” “I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes when that happens…” Scootaloo said as she climbed the stairway without a hitch, “even before the war, I wouldn’t like it if someone or something was making noise when I’m trying to sleep…” “Who doesn’t; I mean how would that help out anyone anyway…?” Rainbow had retorted as the three of them had just moved on upward and from the ground floor with absolutely no effort whatsoever. Soarin' could do nothing but laugh a bit too loudly before regaining his composure as he said, “suddenly, you have summed up the story of my life: from Wonderbolt to breadwinner in several years flat.” “Let's just go and see what your wife and kid are up to…” the bright skinned woman chuckled as she turned to her darker counterpart, “besides, Rainflower would love to see your face once again…” “I know…” Scootaloo said as she stepped on forward with a huge smile worn proudly upon her face. It wasn't even long until the three of them all had finally reached the second floor, no longer upon a patterned but otherwise unequal inclines. While it had seemed that everything else was the same for the most part, the metallic orchestra was now within reach as their notes travelled. Nevertheless, they were all very aware of how that the miniscule marathon the pedestrians partook in was far from over in the very least. A gauntlet of doorways had stood on both sides within the corridor as the man said, “I will take it from here…” As the dark skinned woman walked alongside with Rainbow, she was calm on the outside but thinking throughout the whole time. With all the buzzing, clanging, and drilling directly over them, Scootaloo grabbed ahold of her ears and covered them very tightly. The only thing that she was able to find a sliver of euphoria were the plastic numerals plastered upon the dank and dire wood, watching each digit increase slowly but surely. “We're almost here, Scoots…” the bright skinned woman announced as their collective movement was coming to a slow down, “we’ve just passed by Room 246; it won’t be long now until we meet them already.” “247… 248… 249…” the dark skinned woman counted off as she moved passed the aforementioned numbers in front of her eyes. Soarin’ soon stopped in place and rapped on the ligneous surface upfront; as a result, he had heard a voice from the other side say, “who is it…?” “It’s Soarin’, Sweetfire…!” the titular man answered with a brief introduction, “I’ve brought company…!” “Sweetfire…?” Scootaloo squeaked in bewilderment as she took note of his newly rose red cheeks nearby. Before long, the dark skinned woman had almost jumped as the small sounds of metal had latched away before the door creaked open, revealing the identity of the speaker in front of the three. Rather than just one person who had asked Soarin’ waiting, there were two more women whom were alike in fair dignity, sharing the same complexion and some orange eyes matching their tresses. As similar as they were to one another, even they had possessed their fair share of significant differences that all of the people had instantaneously taken note of, especially Scootaloo herself no less. Considering the resemblance between the two altogether, there were many things that separated the gingers from one another all too easily. For starters, one of them had a darker color scheme and an elongated style across the tresses whereas the other was kept at a spiky trim. Secondly, there was also a slight difference in height between the two very gingers standing in front of the three no less, off by a few feet. Third of all, one was wearing a thick purple sweater with white buttons whereas the other had a white blouse with a tie dyed in a deep blue. In addition, the tall ginger wore a skirt that was an olive green while all that the shorter counterpart had on were some black pants. Of the two that were present and accounted for, only one of them had already donned some indigo eyeshadow upon her wrinkled face. Even more so, the tall ginger wore pearls upon her ear and neck whereas the shorter counterpart had many medals upon the breast pocket. Rainbow gave a little grin as she started to greet the two tenants in front of her, “hello, Stormy Flare… hey Spitfire…!” “Rainbow Dash, I sure am glad that you made it all the way here; we were worried that you couldn’t make it…” the younger ginger said in response as she had quickly grabbed onto the eponymous visitor’s hand, “I see that you must be soaking wet; want to grab a towel from the bathroom…?” “Yeah sure…” the prism haired woman answered as she walked in through the recently open doorway. Sure enough, the bright skinned man and the polar opposite counterpart followed the three women into the house, finding themselves in a living room. Scootaloo focused her purple eyes upon a nearby table set made up of glass and steel that was holding some candlesticks and some magazines to boot. Standing against the white background that had consisted of walls and a ceiling were a green sofa and some chairs arranged adjacently towards themselves. Some carpeting beneath their very feet were but a luscious orange with a soft texture capable of being continuously impressed upon itself within every step. Simply resting upon the wooden nightstand at the very corner was a lamp with a black telephone hiding underneath its shade nearby the lone windowsill. The dark skinned woman stared at the open window out in front, looking upon the rain soaked street below only to have her concentration broken by a stray voice, “so, young lady, you must be Scootaloo…?” “Huh…?” the aforementioned woman peeped as she turned around to face the elder ginger, “yeah, that’s me…” “I heard from my daughter that her friend was talking about you a lot; however, I have yet to seen you in person…” Stormy Flare said as she slicked Scootaloo on the shoulder, “how are you…?” “Better than ever: with Rainbow Dash at my side, I feel like I can never lose ever again…” the dark skinned woman answered quickly. Within moments, the titular woman had returned to Scootaloo’s side almost rather instantaneously and asked, “so Stormy, what’s it like to be a grandmother and a mom at the same time…?” “It’s wonderful; you should have seen Rainflower take her first step: she managed to stand tall for at least three minutes…” the elder ginger answered as she smile brightly at the prism haired woman, “Soarin’ was so ecstatic to watch her…” “I bet that Granny Smith would’ve loved to meet her, may she rest in peace…” the dark skinned woman had commented onward almost quickly. Rainbow looked upon Scootaloo’s eyes with a somber gaze and said, “yeah, I know: it was a shame when she died in the war, especially since Applejack told me all about it back at the hospital; those fuckers took her family’s lives and turned them into shit. The whole entire Apple clan poured all of their efforts into provide for the country and how were they repaid for their goods and services over their collective lifetimes? They screwed them over and much worse than what that poor woman herself had gone through: children either being sold as slaves or slain on the battlefield, adults being forced to sell off everything and offing themselves, and I heard that Apple Rose died standing up when she heard about her cousin. After the war had ended, Apple Bloom had to go and live with Zecora since her sister tried to strangle her on the account of going blind from the abuse and trauma. As for Sweetie Belle, since both of her parents were murdered, Cheerilee ended up adopting her considering that Rarity went psycho and tried to kill themselves.” “Oh dear, that’s awful…” Stormy Flare gasped, holding up her hand towards her mouth, “are they still doing well…?” “Based on what Apple Bloom had wrote, I don’t see why wouldn’t they: we’d met at Horseshoe Bay last time during the air show a few years ago…” the dark skinned woman had replied quickly all at once. The prism haired woman returned her gaze onto the ginger and said, “anyways, she has once said that we should invite them over for a sleepover sometime soon; what would you do in my shoes…?” “I don’t see any reason why not; they sounded like that they were good friends before then…” Stormy Flare answered as she looked upon Scootaloo with a smile, “besides, it’s been a long time since they had made great memories…” “I’ll say…” Rainbow replied as she turned towards the windowpane nearby themselves, looking at the monochrome stormclouds within the skies. At this moment, Soarin’ had slowly popped back in and asked the three, “who wants some fish and chips for dinner…?” “I could stay for a little while…” the dark skinned woman had slurped about, licking both of her lips in the process, “anything’s better than standing outside in line in the rain to get a cold no less.” “Same here…” the prism haired woman had laughed before subsiding almost instantaneously into the spatial fold of silence. Two of the women now left Rainbow’s side and followed the source of the man’s voice, drawn in by the great expectations thereof no less. The prism haired visitor’s magenta eyes were now focused firmly upon the landscape up in front of her but not the reflections inasmuch. Then, a single teardrop suddenly escapes from her line of eyesight, now becoming rather weary and about ready to avert her very gaze.
DecelerationAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter eight of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that this chapter will deal with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this will be by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you're all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you take this offer, it'll only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the halfway region of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. However, let me just also say that, with many thanks aside, I hope you can be able to stomach this chapter now even more than the others before it and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned though the passing times; nevertheless, I hope to see you all again soon. Deceleration Apparently, it would seem that a waltz with death was now taking place here and there, populated by many soldiers marching onward to never be seen again. The skies above it all were colored in a bloody red as they were being occupied by the likes of smoky clouds immensely pouring inward at that moment in time. A raging firestorm was already taking place as its uniform contents had blackened and consumed anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its unbeaten path no less. Filling in the role of the gentle breeze were chorus of screams intermixed with the rapid percussion of explosions going off all throughout the very vicinity. The howling screeches of many an aircraft was heard overhead with the golden sun currently watching from afar while sitting upon the log horizon altogether. In the wake of the chaos and disarray, one identity in particular sprang to dear life as a terse gasp lacerated the already wounded atmosphere. The individual’s amethyst orbs were bright but were cluttered with the small pebbles upon the visage as a wayward hand had removed them all. Donned upon the owner’s body was an orange shirt across the torso and a pair of denim shorts centimeters away from the frail kneecaps. Both forearms were bound all the way to the wrists by some white wrappings and the legs had some socks matching such color already. The solid earth below the individual was being assaulted by a series of tremors and explosions from a faraway place, sending the body up. With the skies and the smoke drenching them all at once, the observer started to take a stand and check the surrounding at once. All that was around were various text adorned in many fonts: some were big but others small; either way, they’d said, “RUN”. Alongside such a word in question, pictures of people from all demographics were adorned in tracksuit in a sauntering motion. With little warning whatsoever, the individual’s ears perked up to the sounds of a roaring flame nearby, forcing the legs to scurry off to a nearby exit. The great fires that were being witnessed had instantaneously started to spread as the observer felt the temperatures rise to insurmountable heights. From that perspective of course, it’d have seem to be a pleasure to burn everything in sight, especially for things eaten, blackened, and changed. Because of such dangers thereof, there was no time at all to just stand alone and be consumed as the observer evacuated from the burning complex. Every single part of the individual’s skin was currently secreting an excess of perspiration that soaked throughout the very fabric already being worn. Even so, the tender nostrils had instantaneously taken a whiff of it all and found the overall aroma to be lacking in taste in some form and fashion. After vacating the premises, the observer’s identity was finalized as a female with short hair matching her now tensed amethyst irises. As she was panted heavily, her two eyes were now greeted by a window of opportunity to take sight of what she had been going through. With the fire now escalating into another part of the conflagration almost completely, the observer had no choice but to run away. While doing so, she couldn’t help but wonder in her very mind what had just went on that made such trying things go like this already. Aside from a lone beating heart, the pair of lungs as well were simultaneously going from being small to large in capacity and pressure. While the observer was happily relieved to feel the light wind upon her dark skin, the vast collection of sweat had still refused to leave. “I gotta find Rainbow Dash…” she said, only to find that none of the words spoken in question had reached her ears at all. The observer turned her weary sights onto what was in front; what had been seen was just the same: a scene of uncontrolled chaos descending on each and every corner of the area. A reign of fire and terror had poured down upon the location that she was already in like a set of raging rapids with some scenes of violent explosions and partial nudity to go around. The smoke clouds were already becoming so immense that they were starting to spread around to any and all neighboring boarders in a rather twisted form of osmosis here and there. Debris in every shape, size, and material imaginable littered the streets right up in front of the observer’s eyes as more of it began to join the fray with even the utmost abandonment. Anything else that hadn’t been eventually burned to a crisp was either all boarded up with wooden planks or had broken glass around the windows and doors nearby altogether. Considering the fact that there was no sign of flora native to the currently burning concrete jungle all around her, everything was clear to her that staying here wasn’t an option. Looking upward, the observer had taken the little time whatsoever to see an airplane above her crash into a nearby building almost rather suddenly. The expulsion of heat and light were now convulsing into another cloud of smoke as a large hole was now formed deeply right into the tall structure. It wasn’t long until the floor of glass windows nearby had burst into shards as it rained down from where point of impact had taken place all at once. While the rest of the very building was left intact, parts of it that were affected by the explosion thereof had descended into the ground in due time. Despite being far away, she chose to run off once more, already made aware of the very situation that was apparent. In spite of the destruction that was taking place, the observer had been considered fortunate to find a clear path. She could still smell the smoke and fire forming all around her current location while sauntering off anyway no less. Only the ever present threat of dying altogether had kept her legs moving faster with little to no signs of stopping. By simply moving forward, it was the observer’s sole responsibility to keep herself out of harm’s way completely. Even though that she had kept herself well off at once, her eyes had remained wary of the failing surroundings. Yet, the dangers inherent within were encroaching the timid observer anyway, disregarding her top running speed. Of course, all that changed when she quickly found herself stumbling over something that sent her face down into the pavement: it was another person like her. Given the very size of it altogether, it would perhaps be safe to say that the other individual in question had possessed a larger frame than the observer herself. Like her, the person that she’d tripped over wore some spiky hair; however, rather than simply having purple tresses, the former had five other colors within. The individual’s attire was more elaborate than the observer present: a denim jacket, some black shorts, and a pair of white boots were upon the wearer’s body. One aspect that stood out the most however was a puddle of various liquids that formed between the subject’s legs; it alone had made her face cringe immediately. The observer soon felt her own heart beating rhythmically against the ribcage underneath the skin, shaking about before suddenly trying to find the urge to call out but her words won’t come out. On the other hand, she felt a hand landing on her foot; as a result, she turned to find that it had belonged to the person she had stumbled across earlier crying out to her, “Scootaloo… get away from here…!” “Rainbow Dash…?” the eponymous observer called out in shock while recoiling about, “what’s going on…?” “Get out of here while you still can…!” was all that the haggard individual replied as she showed Scootaloo her face: aside from the unkempt hair, the former had cuts and bruises upon her face, a blackened eye, and some blood around the lips. Shocked by this harrowing discovery, the concerned observer exclaimed, "Rainbow, what happened to you?!" "Never mind about me, just run; these monsters are near…!" the aforementioned woman warned, "just hurry…!" “Rainbow, I–––” were all the words that Scootaloo could even muster up and say as she had suddenly been thrown to the ground without any warning whatsoever. The sudden impact had quickly left the observer into a temporary daze; in addition, she then heard the acute sounds of laughter echoing from all around her at once. Reluctantly, Scootaloo turned around to find that her body was rendered immobile on the account of one dark figure, both eyes leaking out with some lost silver. A loud explosion had popped into her ears as laughter was heard once again before subsiding into some words, “you should’ve taken heed to the whore’s words when you had the chance, little girl.” “What’s going on here; why can’t I move?!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she’d struggled to move around at once, “where are you, Rainbow?!” “Rainbow can’t save you now…!” the laughter roared again despite the titular woman’s anguished retorts being nearby the observer. Even though that Scootaloo was unable to see Rainbow’s body, let alone hear her out of all parties present in the very least, the former wanted out. Of course, the weight of the worldly substances were still too great for even the likes of her to fight off directly; nevertheless, she had kept on trying. Sure enough, Scootaloo’s body then became greatly tired and fatigued to contest to the predicament that she had already found herself recently. Another lone shadow appeared right in front of her, prompting the latter to cry out, “somebody, stop them…!” The shadow that was standing across from Scootaloo’s line of sight started to move, albeit slowly than what she’d initially anticipated. As a result of the abysmal progress, she’d started to struggle once more, only to be quickly greeted with a steel blade nearby her. The sight of its illustrious sheen nearby quickly made the purple irises constricted themselves around Scootaloo’s very own pupils. “Ain’t nobody’s gonna stop us from what we’re going to do to you, especially not while I have some fun with Rainbow Dyke first…!” the voice from behind her had cackled but it didn’t come from the shadow that immobilized the latter, “besides, you two are gonna rather wish that you found shelter instead of us…” “Leave Scootaloo out of this, dammit; she doesn’t need this kind of–––” the eponymous speaker’s demand became cut off by a loud slap. Afterwards, Rainbow attempted to speak once more, only to be interrupted by the same voice from before her turn, “shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch; say another word and the twerp gets it…!” “You bastards wouldn’t dare hurt any of us…!” the observer had instantaneously shouted back in response, “Rainbow’s gonna make you wish that you were dead if anything happens to me, motherf–––” “Dead if anything happens to you; could she still go through with this after what I’m about to do you both…?” the first voice snickered as Scootaloo felt something cold and stationary licking her back. The observer quickly came to find that the knife from earlier was no longer standing nearby her as a sudden hot stroke was felt upon the skin; before long, she’d started to shriek with terror, “AHHHHHH!” “Not so tough now that you’re screaming like the little shrimp you are, ain’t ya?!” the voice sneered as some drops of blood emerged from Scootaloo’s skin, “alright, Master Ardor; start cutting…!” “Hey, don’t you ––– AUGH!” was all that the poor woman could say before the knife above her started to make short work of her dark skin. Scootaloo couldn’t help but scream uncontrollably as the steel tip drew blood from there, the stinging sensation refusing to leave her side. Her amethyst eyes were stretched wide as she was treated to the sight of the lone bystander pointing it all out in regards to her discontent. Scootaloo had struggled to escaped her attacker’s grasp but to no avail on the account of her current predicament beset upon the former. Turning towards the pavement beneath her skin, her vision went narrow and became clouded with tears tugged upon by the gravity at once. Scootaloo’s plight didn’t go unnoticed as she heard the bright skinned woman scream out, “YOU FUCKING BASTARDS ARE GONNA GET IT; I HOPE THAT YOU BURN IN DESPAIR FOR THIS, YOU–––” “Maybe this will shut you up for the time being…!” the voice from behind the woman interrupted, stopping Rainbow’s tirade before continuing where the former had left off, “now then, where was I? Oh yeah… carve a huge fucking billboard into that scrawny shrimp’s back…!” “But Ace, she’s too weak; we don’t have to do this…” another voice echoed into Scootaloo’s ears, but it was directly close by. As the timid captive started to cry, the first voice that had laughed at her spoke to the captor, “forget about it; she won’t survive long…” “I don’t know…” Ardor struggled to speak up all at once, “she’s bleeding pretty badly as we speak, not to mention–––” “Say one more word and I swear, my brother Boone will make you wish you were fucking aborted; do I make myself clear?!” Ace snarled. A brief moment of silence occurs between the two shadows as some explosions broke in the sky right above themselves. Scootaloo was still shedding tears but refused to say another word to either of her tormentors, let alone to the other woman. Knowledge of Rainbow’s current situation, although left ambiguous, was siphoning off whatever courage that had resided. Even the basic thought of attempting an escape by the observer’s own two feet would be wracked with such flaws. Differentiating from either of the two shadows, Ardor and Ace, made little to no difference from Scootaloo’s perspective. Soon, the larger shadow resigned to its fate and returned to restraining the depressive observer reluctantly with a rueful reply, “understood, sir…” “What are you waiting for, a pie in the sky to fall in your lap…?” the slimmer of the two captors demanded, “hack that twerp to bloody pieces…!” “Please… don’t…” Scootaloo squeaked out, only to find her words falls on deaf ears as Ardor placed the edge of his knife upon her skin. The searing sensation started to wreak havoc upon the poor victim’s body as it was followed by streaks of red from every cut currently being made. The pained shrieks that were being made in conjunction with the agonizing cries were like a refrain legato amongst the war–torn battle orchestra. The canvas which was Scootaloo’s back was adorned with numerous lines and curves, its integument subjected to controlled chaos and disarray. The possible explanations that would’ve been provided were like the presence of assisting the likes of these women in particular: none whatsoever. As if feeling every stroke of the knife etching into Scootaloo here and there wasn’t exacerbating in the very least, she had felt her ears stand on endwise to the sounds of laughter echoing; however, rather than originating from Ace himself, it came from in front, sounding off like this: “look at that weepy little midget crying…!” Struggling to concentrate on the new source of cruelty, she came to find that the shadow which had approached her earlier was now accompanied by others that were in many shapes and sizes. Scootaloo was now surrounded by people who used to say that rhyme about sticks and stones as if broken bones would hurt more than the names be calling, despite the knife’s carnage upon her. It wasn’t long until her skin became warm and loose with her own blood, the pained weeping that followed along was drowned out by a surrounding sea of spectators pointing and laughing. Scootaloo barely cared about the sudden appearance of the hecklers since she watched her vision becoming too blurry to pay attention to whatever details each of them would possess anyway. She couldn’t help but cough up a rising storm out from her very mouth, trying to find the strength to call out some words, only to be choked up by the blood regurgitating in the process. “Take it, you little bitch; I hope you like that assplay here…!” a taunt was heard echoing, but it wasn’t directed towards the sad Scootaloo ironically; instead, it was that one particular shadow from before, “so, what’s with her now…?” “I did what you ordered; can we please just leave her alone…?” Ardor answered, his breathing showing signs of staggering about along the way. Whatever relief that the crying victim could feel was suddenly cut off by Ace’s laughter, the latter replying, “not yet, my friend: we still got one more thing to do before we just leave here now…” “What does he mean by that…?” Scootaloo thought to herself silently, worried about what will happen to her next, “he doesn’t––– oh no…!” “You’re not suggesting that, aren’t you: I’ve already followed your order; isn’t that enough for you?!” the bulky shadow exclaimed, confirming the listener’s trepidations almost instantaneously. Ace sent a punch towards Ardor’s lower torso and replied, “I’m sorry, have you forgotten where you are?! I see then: you want her to be left alone; you want her to be left on the street bleeding out…! It was you that carved up so many men and women on the battlefield; it was you that broke their will to fight but you cannot accept it…! You think that this act of disobedience makes you above consequences; have you forgotten that you never had such feelings before then, Ardor, let alone why we’re fighting?!” “I’m not saying that at all; this has gone on far enough already: haven’t you seen what’s going on already?!” the bulky shadow coughed up in retaliation, “the entire damned inhospitable remnant of this very city is collapsing into ruin and we’re supposed to be wasting time on torturing two defenseless women instead of helping them?!” “That’s your crucial flaw as a soldier in this day and age: your quickness to help the innocent has been constantly interfering with seeing at the bigger picture; has it ever occurred to you that they might be spies working to bring down the Princess and the entire homeland she rules over, Ardor?!” Ace screeched at the aforementioned listener at once. The battle–scarred woman felt her amethyst orbs shrink into the encroaching void that was the blackness itself as she thought about the conversation the two shadows were having, “spies; how in the world could any of us be spies?! That’s insane: Rainbow Dash is the most loyal of friends; she would never betray her kind, not even me…” “Even if that’s the case, why couldn’t we simply capture them and take them to the base for interrogation?!” Ardor snapped as he'd looked upon Scootaloo’s bloodstained back and the disheveled bright skinned woman nearby, “at least we would’ve been able to gain some information as to why they’re here rather than risk killing them…!” “They’re spies; do you think that they’d be willing to give up any information on their own free will…?!” the slimmer shadow barked back at his bulkier counterpart, snapping the latter out of his sympathetic gaze he gave to the prone Rainbow. Ardor felt a lump in his throat grow as Ace glared at him, flashing a pair of red glints within the owner’s eyes while the former answered, “well, no, not at–––” “Yeah, exactly…” the slim shadow interrupted before snatching the knife away, “which is why none of them should be able to return alive at all…” “SCOOTALOO…!” the bright skinned woman cried out as the blade sank into the titular individual’s head with a faint squelch. Now the dark skinned woman soon bled out from her very head as Ace pulled from the recent wound that he’d just made already. While that it was unlike the freshly made scars that Ardor had made before not too long ago, this particular attack was all the same. All the damaged that Scootaloo had sustained earlier was undermined by the suddenly quick brutality of the slim shadow’s act. The bulky shadow couldn’t help but flinch at the sight of the poor victim’s bloodstained body, dishing out a restrained sigh, “are you satisfied now; should I go and put the other one out of her misery…?” “No need to: at least this slut had learned a lesson in what we do to enemy spies in our homeland; besides, I’ve felt more alive than ever…!” the slimmer counterpart instantaneously replied with nothing more than a laugh at once, “come on, there’s so much enemy scum to deal with while the war rages on…!” “I – yes, sir…” Ardor said as Ace left both Scootaloo and Rainbow behind in their wake, no longer bothering to deal with them in the very least. Soon, the presence of dark shadows had decrease dramatically, reducing the otherwise populated husk of a dying conurbation back to a few, if any at all whatsoever, people. While the sights and sounds of battle continued onward without their presence, a deadening silence returned to comfort the two women who’d remained here anyway. All that remained were the remnant of what had used to be themselves at once: the bright skinned individual clean but dirtied, her darker counterpart dirty but clean. Presently and accounted for by the state of their predicament thereof, neither Rainbow nor Scootaloo ever regained the strength to move or even say anything at all. Suddenly, a faint and pained cry was heard amongst themselves, lacking in strength but otherwise filled with nothing more than sheer desperation altogether, “sis…”
TreatsAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter nine of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the second half of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is coming on: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it because a special guest is going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Treats Pure uncut darkness within was the only way of how the small world works all at large thereof, let alone the real world to say in the very least; as a matter of fact, the former was, by far, indeed the latter and vice versa altogether. The jet black void was all that could be seen but not heard, felt, tasted, or smelled; yet, it can be also sensed as well anyways, devoid of even a modicum of light bearing any hue whatsoever to permeate throughout in its entirety. For a moment, it would had seemed that all was completely lost, its mere fate was already sealed and set in stone to say the least before the very beginning itself; nothing else was going to even change that in even the slightest margin. “NO…!” a loud quick escaped from there, creating an anomaly that gave such a darkness some semblance of life whatsoever: a suddenly new voice being nothing more than ragged panting and wheezing from between intervals; before long, the haphazard breathing had quieted itself down into stabilization. In its place was the frantic shuffling about in a rather somewhat reckless abandon all throughout, each and every move being made already making contact with the small dimensional boundaries surrounding the whole time no less. Next, the sounds of kicking and slapping were being instantaneously muffled and muted upon contact within, perhaps every decibel from the very noise pollution thereof just greatly reduced almost completely in under a minute. Then, there had appeared to be some fabric finding itself brushed up against it all, the jet black void was a witness to many things from within; without warning, footfalls had tapped onto the floor as if the walls were closing in. All that had remained was nothing short of a faint snuffle from the lone occupant, a small snort or two notwithstanding as the oxygen gotten sucked into its nostrils gently, slowly but surely metamorphosing into strained weeping. Suddenly, a loud plop had made itself known rather quickly, resounding against the hard floor upon the surface as the sudden wailing became more ghastly as it were slowly being interrupted by the choking fluids within the larynx. All of the sudden, the pitch black space was quickly illuminated, giving the area some shred of identity to the finite environment almost instantly. A quartet of walls were padded with whiteness was already arranged in a strict pattern to be seen, save for some bars upon a window and a lone door. The floor was aligned in the formation of a checkerboard, save for the squared edges where their dimensions proved themselves to be anything else. Hanging from the ceiling was a diminutive lonely light bulb that had already dispersed so many photons in so little time by a fraction of a second. A simple pair of sandals were found to be resting soundlessly about at one of the corners within the walls laying aside with the heels touching them. The one element that flourished all about the place was oxygen, providing only life and energy to start the day in any form or fashion whatsoever. Of course, there remained one solid figure that sat right directly in the middle, giving off a looming shadow that touched a nearby wall all at once. The individual had possessed a set of crimson locks, reflecting the very light that shown the way all too recently as they’d reached the nape of the neck. Its owner’s face was feminine, possessing a complexion free of all imperfections save for some small tears running upon the pale white integument. Underneath the redhead’s eyelids were a pair of hot pink circles running around the pupils as they were aligned into a rather solemn concave currently. Draped upon the torso was a big gray straightjacket, binding both of her arms around the chest as it was already worn over the thick white gown beneath. The redhead’s bare feet were the only things that had made contact with the cold floor, bound together by a pair of steel fetters all around both ankles. Just as though the sounds of her respiration were all that kept her company, a new sound permeated throughout the dulled atmosphere: the erratic ringing of metal rapidly clanging against another resounded within both eardrums; suddenly, that echo had quickly subsided within due time. As if on cue, the redhead started to face the doorway nearby, looking outwardly out of expectation for some other individual to appear from the opposite side as she had rested upon the wall that stood adjacent to her back, a visage of melancholy now intermixed with trepidation soon. Both of her ears now stood on endwise as a series of footfalls were echoing about, its sound being of softened fabric treading lightly against the hard floor coming from outside the room that she was already in, sitting away from the very egress in preparation for whoever would enter here. As the redhead remained slouched against the wall behind her, the light from the door was then instantaneously obscured, the outsider’s footsteps being replaced by the likes thin metals scraping about in a refrained legato of jingles followed a singular click that made a turnabout. She closed her eyes as the crack in the door had started to grow wider a bit by the second, both ears wriggling about only to hear a tender voice entering them far too quickly, “good morning, Twist…” “Huh…?” the eponymous redhead sighed, regaining the strength to shut out the blackness, “what day ith it…?” “It’s Thursday; you should wash up now…” the visitor answered back, stepping in to face Twist at once. At this moment, the redhead was now in the presence of another figure, the latter possessing a shadow that overtook the former’s body. She was able to find that she and the visitor shared one thing in common: they both had the same gender defining their physiological state. Nevertheless, the two women whom were present had many drastic differences that had already separated themselves rather instantaneously. The figure in question whom had arrived to see Twist stood tall and corpulent, the source of the shadow’s dimensions in which the latter was made aware of. Unlike the redhead’s hair that was thick and frizzy, the visitor happened to possess many thin locks of purple and white tied up into a neat and sizable bun. Eyes belonging to the corpulent woman were a chilled blue, steadily focused upon the frail Twist with a neutral visage, devoid of emotions that the latter wore. The observant visitor had a drastically darker complexion, one that was rather reminiscent of copper alloys within a series of wires birds had resided upon. Compared to the redhead’s attire, the corpulent woman wore a white apron over the purple dress, marked by a single red cross with several hearts around it. Seeing the lone visitor in question appearing made Twist whimper about, “they’re thtill here, aren’t they…?” “The soldiers again already…?” the corpulent woman had asked the tepid redhead, “there’s no one here who could hurt you now…” “At leatht when I’m awake, Thweetheart…” Twist replied, her eyes averting the aforementioned listener’s presence. The visitor disregarded the redhead’s statement and began to approach the latter, speaking calmly, “maybe it’s best that you get some sunlight and fresh air but first, I believe that a little bath is in order…” “What doeth it matter…?” Twist had squeaked out rather slowly, looking away from Sweetheart’s face, “no matter how much or often I clean mythelf, the blood… the blood… it only–––” “Don’t worry about that: the last judgment is all that should matter; by then, you’ll be able to find forgiveness…” the corpulent woman had interrupted, catching the redhead with both arms as the latter wept onward. Twist’s tears touched the woman’s textiles as the former cried, “how… jutht tell me how?! All that I’ll ever be known for is a math murderer and a traitor: I have no home, no friendth; even my mom can’t even vithit or at rather look me in the eye whenever we theem to meet…! The Princeth thould’ve allowed me to be put out of my fucking mithery inthtead; perhapth even Apple Bloom would thleep eathier knowing that a perthon like me won’t haunt the country any longer…!” “Why would you still believe that…?” Sweetheart asked, grasping onto the redhead’s tresses at once, “do you think your death would be something that anyone would’ve been happy to celebrate, let alone satisfied with…?” “Why elthe do I even hate my hair; becauthe the color of the liveth I had taken or the fact I can’t even look in the mirror without being reminded of my crimeth?!” Twist wept inwardly, still troubled. The visitor looked upon the redhead’s face to find tears staining the visage and answered, “you may not have paid attention much often but they’re still people who care about you: while your mother confessed to feeling scared of you, it doesn’t mean that she hates you altogether; in fact, she was scared that you were going to die in this war. Whatever your fears were in that war, hers was similar: you’d thought she was dead and she’d thought of you the same way; the fact that you two had found each other alive was a miracle. I was able to keep a letter that your mom had sent a long time ago: it’s not much but I believe this could help change your mind a bit, besides, it’s not the first letter or the only letter anyway.” “Where ith it; what does it thay…?” Twist instantaneously inquired as she’d watched the Sweetheart pull out a white envelope from the apron’s pocket, “ith that the one you’d just talked about…?” “The one and only; do you still want to read it…?” the visitor had replied the redhead all too quickly. A brief moment of silence made its way in between Twist and Sweetheart, occupying the oxygen they were currently breathing; soon, the former answered, “any more than I wish to see Apple Bloom’s smile again…” “Okay then, but be quick about it; Snowy gets a bit antsy if I don’t finish my job fast enough…” the woman said as she’d started to open the letter right in front of the redhead’s eyes, “the sun’s has just rose from the horizon…” “Thnowy…?” Twist choked out in confusion, a piece of paper slipping out from flat container in its folded form. With a wall of text presented to the redhead, Sweetheart sat down by her side and spoke, “it’s my coworker’s nickname; she’s actually Snowheart…” “You mean the thin nurthe with the makeup upon herthelf…?” Twist replied as she started to concentrate on the paper within the corpulent woman’s grasp, “I thought that her name wath Coldheart…” “That too is also a nickname but don’t even let her hear you say that; she happens to be very defensive about her name…” Sweetheart countered as the redhead struggled to see what was in front. Twist nestled her head towards the words nearby and began to read, “To My Dearest Daughter… I hope that this letter from me finds you well: the fact that you’re not there is nothing short of pure pain straight from the depths of Tartarus itself; of course, constantly reminded of what had been experienced during and after the war is expected. Hearing the other neighbors call me the mother of a mass murderer brought tears to my eyes: I can never forget the day you cried out for me as you were taken to court, treated like some ferocious monster that the papers made you out to be; I never saw you as one though. I wished I could’ve accompanied you on the way to see your friend, Apple Bloom down at the farm that day; at least, we would’ve both been spared of this entire mess but I did not. Now, I see what I have become of myself: a shell constructed of my failures as a mother forced to watch you grow up behind the walls of a sanitarium because of the lives you’d said to have taken during the war. While that I am lucky to not see you be put to death like a common traitor, it makes me wonder about my friend, Derpy and her daughter, Sparkler: the idea that the young lady treated so harshly made me picture your demise. Even I can’t help but feel sorry for Dinky too: the fact that she watched her sister be violated and murdered broke her and narrowly survive her mother strangling her the same way that Apple Bloom was by her own sister made me cry even harder. The days where I held you in your arms since you were born are no more than mere memories of the past, washed away and overshadowed by the present we live in where the future leads to the a cul–de–sac of endless despair. In spite of the blood and tears, there is still hope: your father is working on behalf of the Princess’ scholar, Twilight Sparkle, to have you leave the facility in due time, even though that I feel that neither of us will be around here to hold you again; I just wish that we can be able to put this horrid war behind us. With love and best wishes Mother.” “You see, your parents still love you; that’s all…” the woman sighed as the redhead had reached the end of the letter, “it’s okay, you’re safe now…” “What’s the point: I mean, haven’t you lithtened to what it thaid; why couldn’t they jutht end my thuffering already and be done with it?!” Twist cried as she remained slumped onto the floor, finding a singular hand resting upon her tresses. Looking over to find the paper becoming threatened by the presence of tears, Sweetheart lifted up the note and said to the redhead, “Twist, you were allowed to live for a reason: Princess Celestia believed that the problems caused by the Prime Minister needed peaceful solutions. She said that doing so would take more than just rhetoric and ideals but also compassion and mercy: your survival, as controversial as it was, was to show that it was time to heal the country; after all, you were only a youth at the time. Even the scar over your heart has started to recover: while it had reminded me of the fact that you tried to take your own life, you were granted a second chance in spite of it. What we’re asking is that you let us do our job and help you; you may think that you don’t deserve this opportunity, but it doesn’t mean that you should allow yourself squander it altogether. Let me ask you something, Twist: suppose that you were able to leave this place at any given day, what would you rather do with your life, not just to survive but also how exactly would you make of it?” “Well, before the war, I used to dream of making and thelling candy and other confectionerieth; you can thay that Bon–Bon inthpired me…” the titular woman answered with a smile before returning to frown, “now, with everything that happened here and there, who’d want to buy all that from thomeone with my credentialth…?” “You know, the fact that you told me all this actually reminds me of another woman of similar repute, a young mother specifically…” the corpulent observer said so suddenly, prompting Twist’s ears to stand on endwise. The redhead slowly looked Sweetheart in the eye and asked, “who was the; what wath the like…?” “She was strong and helpful; reminds me of my friend Snowheart: her voice and the eyes were a dead giveaway…” the visitor replied, returning the letter back to the envelope almost immediately, “her name was Applejack…” “You don’t think that–––” Twist attempted to speak, only to find Sweetheart nodding away almost instantaneously. As the corpulent visitor resealed the note back into its proper place, she’d soon said, “yeah… she said that the reason she’d started fighting in that war was to save her young sister, Apple Bloom…” “How could it be pothible?!” the redhead exclaimed all to quickly, “latht time that I’d theen Applejack, I’d thought that the wath dead…” “Quite the contrary; although, here’s some advice if you happen to come across her anytime soon: please don’t touch her skin…” Sweetheart warned as she started to stand up and bring Twist along. The redhead looked away again, this time towards the doorway and responded, “why not, Thweetheart…?” “Two reasons, to be honest…” the eponymous woman had started to explain all at once, “since the war had changed her, she happens to punch out anyone that tries to lay a hand on her; also, she’s been fighting off a disease contracted during the war and it hasn’t been cured completely yet.” “Ith it contagioth…?” Twist asked Sweetheart. The corpulent visitor nodded again and replied, “afraid so; even worse, she passed it on to her child and he’s blind…” “Oh my, that ith awful…” the redhead gasped as she attempted to walk towards the doorway, “I feel thorry for her.” “I know, but don’t let that discourage you; just focus on today and this will all be a distant memory…” Sweetheart spoken to Twist while guiding the way out of the small room they were both once in. A deep breath escaped from the redhead’s lips as she sighed, “I’ll try but I can’t promithe anything…” “Don’t just do it for them; do it for yourself…” the corpulent guide said as they walked away, “that’s all only to be considered important…” “Okay…” Twist whimpered as she was led out of the room, the tears from her pink eyes now evaporating. At this moment onward, the two women followed the new source of light that came into their room. The redhead’s hot pink eyes were now focused firmly upon the new environment that awaited her. The words that Sweetheart had used long ago repeated into Twist's mind as the latter cracked a smile.
AstringentAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter ten of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that this chapter will deal with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this will be by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you're all given an option to skip ahead of this chapter like before. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now very close to the end of the story; somehow, the new year had still provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. However, let me just also say that, with many thanks aside, I hope you can be able to stomach this chapter now even more than the others before it and still have the strength to continue onward in staying tuned though the passing times; nevertheless, I hope to see you all again soon. Astringent The darkness within was solid, devoid of the colors best found in a rainbow both hot and cold along with the light that gave out some guidance. A significantly sickly sweet smelling scent had currently found its way nevertheless, ignorant of the jet black space thanks to its achromatic quality. Overshadowing it all were the percussive choir of shooting strafing about with reckless abandonment as they roared all across the way. Soon, the void that was there then opened up, providing a clear picture as to what had actually laid out in front of the observer. The skies above were a warm mixture of orange and red, the latter being the more potent of the two colors as it set up the frame. A forest of downed trees were instantaneously found surrounding a part of the earth, many of which containing some apples. Resting upon the horizon was a big red barn that had seen better days, the signs of damage being very significant enough at large. The heat of the entire landscape was too high to be in the double digits in the very least, its source being the fire and flames. Even though that the full salvo was further away from the homestead, it didn’t change the fact that danger itself still lurked on. Running amok were the high winds shifting around and about as they had kicked up some bits of dust and debris in the process. A lone individual was found to be amongst the sea of grass and leaves with the occasional apples taking a stand against the chaos and disarray here. The denizen in question had possessed a set of long crimson locks, sharing the same color as the very fruit left lying abandoned upon the solid dirt. The owner’s face was feminine, wearing a complexion that was free of all imperfections save for some patches of soil found upon her very cheeks. Underneath the redhead’s eyelids was a pair of hot pink circles running around both pupils as they were set apart by black shadowy patches too. Her attire was simple: buried within the large brown overcoat donned upon her very body was a peachy bleached blouse and a purple skirt as well. The redhead even wore a pair of black boots, firmly planted several inches away from touching the abandoned apples already away from the trees. She took in a deep breath and smelled the scent of burnt applewood bark and leaves amongst the diatomic oxygen all around the way. The sight of some fire and flames all around gave the redhead reason to be vigilant, avoiding the scorching heat of this environment. A pair of ears currently stood on endwise as she heard gunfire in the distance among the roaring winds and the conflagration around. Recently standing in the soil, the redhead started to run from heat that was lick away her coat with some shelter quickly on her mind. Even though it’d just looked like that she was alone in this forsaken place, there was no need for the likes of her to take any chances. “I hope that thomeone ith home; Mith Thmith thould be there…” the redhead whimpered as she looked towards the barn dead ahead. She couldn’t help but pant and heave as the sounds of conflict grew closer and louder with every single step of the way taken. Despite the solidarity and barrenness of the location that the redhead was found in, she can’t take any time whatsoever to stop. For such large flames that remained far from her ever since, the fact that its own heat refused to leave her side was astonishing. The minute that the redhead reached the doorway, she attempted knock on the wooden partition right in front of her, only to be greeted with a reply almost instantaneously, “it’s open; ya can come in now…” “Huh…?” the listener gasped as she stopped herself from making contact, finding the momentum to reach into her pocket, “who ith there: Mith Thmith…?” “Actually, her granddaughter…” the occupant answered, shocking the redhead who began to pull out a black pistol from underneath her fabric. With the weapon in hand, she stared at it and thought to herself, “Applejack, but that ith impothible: I thought that the wath–––” “It’s okay, Ah will get the door for ya…” the voice on the other end of the door said, bringing the suspicious redhead out of her way of thinking, “why Twist, never thought that ya be showing up here…” “Applejack…?” the eponymous visitor had choked out, staring at sight that she couldn’t believe in the very slightest. It wasn’t long until the redhead was greeted by the sight of a tall, dark, and blonde female, wearing a face full of freckles underneath the jade orbs and a small smile plastered alongside as well. On the occupant’s head was but a light brown hat that was widely brimmed enough to shield her hair from the aerial assault that was further away from where either of the females were standing now. The tanned blonde wore a dark red blouse onto her torso that was overlaying an undersized dark brown vest; the former buttoned carefully to the top whereas the latter left the waistline exposed here. A pair of slacks was found to be already adorning the occupant’s legs, snugly being held firmly in place by a jet black belt fastened with a red buckle in the shape of a big and juicy apple no less. Like Twist, the tanned blonde wore some boots as well but they were thinner in the choice of material and possessing a more colorful shade despite being darker than the latter’s garments thusly. The occupant took note of the redhead’s widened eyelids and mouth agape with the pistol in the latter’s hand, all while responding, “are ya okay, sugarcube? Ya look like that ya seen a ghost here; what’s bothering ya…? Where are ya folks…?” “I wath about to thay the thame thing: what are you doing here…?” Twist stammered at the sight of the tanned blonde directly right in front of her, “I thought that you were… you were… you were–––” “Dead… now how in thunderation did ya get such an idea; why don’t ya come inside for a bit ‘til the whole mess dies down…?” the occupant interrupted, opening the door right in front of the redhead. Twist soon attempted to speak out as the tanned blonde had now lead the way into the big red barn, shaking and sweating about in the process. No longer standing upon the dirt where many of the trees were lying abandoned, the redhead had now stood upon the ligneous floorboards here. A set of furniture such as chairs, a couch, and a table were found in the distance while a lamp was resting on a nightstand was nearby Twist. The very walls around the structure that the two females were in had been adorned with portraits of various individuals from many upbringings. A single piece of illumination was found resting at the corner, standing upwardly nearby the tiny window as it had remained lit to be easily seen. The redhead found a stairway in the distance in where all that had it had led up to was a patch of a jet black void that even she couldn’t make out. Twist looked around and got lost into her thoughts again as she stammered onward, “what in the world ith going on: why ith Applejack thtill at Thweet Apple Acreth of all placeth; where are the otherth…?” “Ah got t’ hand it t’ ya; ya managed t’ do the one thing that Ah had failed to do: avenge mah longsuffering family…” the aforementioned blonde’s voice had went into the redhead’s ears, “Ah bet that ya feel like a hero right now, let alone a million bits to say the least, don’t ya, Twist…?” “What ith the talking about…?” the titular visitor said to herself as she looked around to find the source of the voice thereof. Still gripping the weapon in the right hand, Twist heard Applejack speak, “please, come on upstairs; now that you’re here, Ah want t’ ask ya a question: what did ya think when ya came here? When ya wanted to see yer friend, did ya expected it t’ be like old times, before the whole war?” “More than ever…” the redhead’s response reverberating rapidly, “I thought that the would be alive…” “Ya weren’t the only who believed that; sadly, I wasn’t so lucky…” the tanned blonde had just instantaneously said as Twist soon started to move towards the stairs right up in front of the latter. Stepping up on the ligneous incline, the redhead whimpered about, “w–w–what maketh you thay that…?” “It’s pretty simple, sugarcube…” Applejack answered as Twist climbed up the steps within the homestead, “we’d all lost people we’ve loved…” “What are you talking about…?” the redhead had asked as she hoisted herself over the last of the flight to be greeted with a small hallway. Of the many doors at each side, only one of them was left ajar as it gave off some light from there; as Twist moved forward toward it, she had heard the tanned blonde speak, “no matter how hard Ah had tried, Ah never could escape the reality of what happened here; that was mah downfall. Well, it’s finished anyway: I hope you like what Ah had been doing in mah spare time; as a matter of fact, ya welcome t’ see it now…” The redhead then opened the door to find a bedroom that matched the style and substance of the living room itself that they were once in. Though the ceiling above Twist was already painted uniformly in a true blue scheme, it had remained otherwise barely minimal here. The linear dimensions within the area were painted in various shades of green, all of which were firmly aligned into a rather small pattern. The redhead was instantaneously aware of the armoire nearby standing tall and proud as it had been a part of some other furnishings. The dressers and nightstand sharing the same color scheme possessed more than just clothes: one had a large mirror; the other held a lamp. The most crucial part of them all was the fact that the large bedstead was riddled with numerously small strokes of colors alone. There also remained Applejack resting at the side with a thin paintbrush in hand as she had given the adjacent partition long broad strokes. “What ith going on here: what are you doing, Applejack; where ith Apple Bloom…?” Twist tested the eponymous tenant in question, “have you even bothered to check the air raid thirenth recently…?” “It seems t’ me that yer eyes are opening up: it hurts, don’t it; well, go on… what do ya think…?” the tanned blonde tittered on, pointing to what she had done to the area in front of themselves. The redhead directed herself to the part of the room that the occupant asked of; the former could barely hold in a gasp to such a sight that had shocked her even more. Unlike the walls within the very bedroom, this one was the canvas that had bore witness to the image of many colors painting a sight livelier than the outside world. A set of figures were staring back at the one direction centering on those who watched them, many of which screaming of bloody murder being done against them. Twist started to look more closely to discover that these subjects in question were darkly colored individuals from all ages and both genders with faces devoid of irises. Juxtaposed within the sea of agonized people were of brightly clear skies of whiteness save for the occasional streaks of red and orange in the form of small comets. Even though that they didn’t resemble the physiological state of being that both females had shared, they were nonetheless bleed out in various shades of red. The redhead stood still in silence before starting to regain the strength to speak, “you did all of that…?” “No, you did: yer actions caused the deaths of numerous people…” Applejack answered Twist almost quickly complete with a sneer, “somebody had to pay for yer crimes here; who’s it going t’ be now…?” “Crimeth… Applejack what are you thaying…?” the redhead asked as she attempted to avert her gaze, turning to find that the aforementioned artist was no longer within the former’s line of eyesight. It wasn’t long until Twist was finally alone again naturally, left with the portrait of countless faces glaring onto her as she started to walk away. Only then when her pistol found within the redhead’s grasp did it break, shattering into five easy pieces before the fall to the floorboard did the rest. The sounds of artillery being shot to and from the skies began to grow louder enough to shake the room, scaring Twist out from the area quickly. As soon as the redhead left the bedroom, the door slammed shut behind her with a loud but brief crescendo of a whole note in and of itself thereof. Twist recoiled and attempted to open the doorknob, only to be greeted with the tanned blonde chiding the former, “uh–uh–uh, that’s not the place t’ be here; besides, ya already know what Ah had been doing…” “What do mean by that…?” the redhead responded as she wandered about, “where have you gone…?” “The restroom… Ah need t’ wash up anyway…” Applejack answered as Twist tried to follow the voice nearby. Sure enough, the redhead was guided by another light source pointing towards the end of the hallway opposite of the stairs she had climbed upon. In the midst of the turmoil outside of the barn that the two females were in, Twist was drawn in by the illumination that was more open than before. The redhead was drawn in to the sight and sound what had taken place before, albeit in a more blatant way that she was picking up at in the process. As though the possibilities were hatching within Twist’s brain, she couldn’t help but walk towards the very doorway that stood in front of her. Reminiscing on the early periods of the redhead’s predicament, she finally started to enter the room that the tanned blonde had informed her of. Such was the act that Twist had partaken in as she finally moved forward to the new room within the house with hopes of finding Applejack in due time. The redhead busted on through to the other side as she’d soon found some things that caught her off–guard, more shocking than the bedroom in and of itself. The floors were adorned with footprints caked with mud and blood, staining the tiles with the utmost uncanniness in every single step thereof deep within. The sink was filled with up with brackish water bed that was tinted with a jet black tint and a rim with some color as the drain above it ran a cleaner stream. Though the toilet had the lid placed down but the porcelain texture was oversaturated with numerous crimson streaks as the water poured out from there. The bathtub was covered up with a small pair of pink curtains with a shadow stuck out and about in the process as Twist started guessing almost instantaneously. Soon, the redhead’s temptation gotten the best of her when she had used the left hand to uncover the stationary figure; of course, what had remained to be seen wouldn’t be expected upon making the instantaneous discovery thereof. The identity of the subject that Twist had suddenly uncovered was none other than the tanned blonde herself; however, the latter was extremely different from what the former had seen not too long ago, especially given the facts. One major detail that the startled redhead had quickly found was that Applejack wore not even so much as a single thread of fabric over upon the naked body, just only clad in the cold comforts of the crimson fluid from the waist down. Casing about the utility, Twist had noticed other things that weren’t found upon the tanned blonde before: injuries ranging from a blackened eye, a runny nose, and even some gaps within the set of teeth were telling a tale. Having found Applejack’s figure within the bathtub, the observant redhead’s gaze was turned upon the former’s left arm being submerged into the depths of the otherwise achromatic liquid that was lacking the latter’s solidity. The cold lifeless gaze that was the tanned blonde’s body sent chills up across Twist’s vertebrae, prompting the latter to mewl, “App… le… jack…?” “It seems to me that Ah didn’t make it out at all…” the titular occupant answered, but it didn’t belong to the nude figure in front of the redhead, “nor did you come to help me when I had needed it the most…” “But that’s impossible…” Twist started to reply, turning to find Applejack standing tall and proud with some clothes in contrast to what the former had seen, now greeted by the sight of the latter’s two juxtaposing likeness of one another. With the redhead struggling to process the very realization that was directly right in front of her, the tanned blonde’s clothed form on the right side had countered onward, “oh, Ah can assure ya; it is…” “But how?!” Twist exclaimed as she remained focused on the left where Applejack’s nude form rested upon, “I thaw the men beating you up and taking–––” “All while doing nothing; ya shouldn’t have come here at all on that day…!” the tanned blonde interrupted the redhead. A loud scream was heard, causing Twist to cover her eyes and ears before starting to shout back, “what happened here wath not my fault…!” “Wasn’t it?!” Applejack instantaneously interjected as she had remained unfazed, “none of this wouldn’t have happened if ya had just gone home; but, ya kept on going and for what reason here…?” “I tried to return thomething!” the redhead screamed. The tanned blonde couldn’t help but laugh as she had replied, “Ah, what could ya have hoped t’ return here, a favor…? Yer favors are better off left abandoned elsewhere…!” “Pleathe Applejack…” Twist started to cry out to the eponymous tenant, “thith wath not my fault; I never knew they would do it to you…!” “It takes a strong one to deny what’s in front and if the truth is undeniable, then ya could make yer own; the truth here, missy, is that ya came here today to feel like someone yer not: a heroine…” Applejack said as she had watched the redhead starting to shed some teardrops all at once. A loud explosion resonated from outside the home as Twist struggled to speak, “pleathe, make it thtop…!” “Ah am here because ya couldn’t accept what had happened; it broke ya and ya needed someone to blame, so you cast it on them, a pile of dead soldiers.” the tanned blonde continued to pick up where she had left off, “Ah know the truth is hard to hear, Twist, but it’s time: yer all that’s left and we can’t live like this forever; Ah am going t’ count t’ five then Ah am pulling the trigger.” “You’re not real; thith ith all jutht a nightmare…!” the redhead muttered as she was shook her head. Applejack then pulled out a pistol and asked Twist, “are ya sure? Maybe Ah am one… One!” “No… everything that happened… all of thith… it wath their fault…!” the redhead started to growled, “Apple Bloom didn’t even detherve it…” “If that’s what ya believe, then go save her; otherwise… Two!” the tanned blonde replied, still holding the weapon. Twist turned her gaze from Applejack and started to weep, “I… I didn’t mean for any of it to happen…” “No one ever does, sugarcube…” the tanned blonde sighed slowly with a somber frown as the redhead cried onward, “Three… Four… Is this really what ya want, missy…? So be it… FIVE…!” At that point, Applejack pulled the trigger and a loud bang escaped from the pistol; at the same time, Twist was sent backward across the bathroom tile instantaneously. Left firmly upon the redhead’s body was a rapid incision upon her chest that tore through the fabric which she had worn long ago since she had been awaken to purity. Much of the energy Twist had possessed started to leave her body as she was now writhing upon the floor, the memory of the wound still fresh in both mind and body. All that the redhead could muster up is a cry, “Apple… Bloom…”
LightAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter eleven of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that a previous chapter has recently dealt with subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; suffice to say, this was by far a strong note for many readers all and therefore you were all given an option to skip ahead to this chapter: whether or not you have taken this offer, it was only up to you to do so nothing more. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the second half of the story's progress; somehow, the new year had provided us with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is coming on: I believe at this rate, everything will make sense soon enough. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it because some special guests are going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Light Daylight was now being burned into the minds and bodies of every possible lifeform that had dwelled upon the soil of the turning world, already rotating on its own axis at a set speed while revolving as well on a different one to say the very least; as a result, half of it was already bathed in it. As such, the big blue sky had already become clear enough to see the golden sun shining about over the scope with a flock of birds from various sizes and shades soaring across so serenely that not even gravity alone could ever pull any of them down to earth itself, free from both fear and worry. Within a large dream drop distance was but a small civilization being defined in such various materials used to build them from the ground up, most of them all being the ones suitably fit for the likes of even three little pigs with a not a care in the world for the dangers posed towards them. The calm gentle breeze was now surfing across every one of the grassy knolls, the brilliant green surrounding it all on a solid lower plane of existence even as the dirt road guided its way over from a nearby forest, a curvilinear line worth holding as much as it is and was worth crossing as well. Out amongst the very backgrounds had rested a valley and ridge of smoky mountains already carving themselves a significant piece of the landscape alone, many of which were raging with growth and erosion in the very process of their trying times as the golden sun was hovering over them. With the hustle and bustle about now deep into the flow, the small town was instantaneously filled to the brim with an utter abundance of many people from various demographics: age, gender, finances, and social standing being rather nothing short from the standardized metallurgy of life. One particular place within that town stood out and about in the process: while it wasn’t home in the very least unlike the other residences that were built nearby but nonetheless treated with respect. Standing up from the brilliant green were numerous monochromatic stones carved into various shapes, each of them bearing a name and line of text beneath as clues to who the bearers once were. All that was occupying nearby them were but an arrangement of many flowers made up of various colors and species already planted upon the otherwise fertile soil that was their new home. Many of them that were being observed by some wayward pedestrians remained aware of their purpose within that very space as there were at least some people, either by themselves or in a crowd. Uniting them under one common goal was but a feeling of solidarity and reflection of their lives as they’d stared upon the formations that were sticking out of the very ground they were standing upon. Of the many who’d appeared in attendance, there were at least two people that had stood out and about, standing in front of one particular stone of the finite others. Defined amongst themselves were likenesses in fair dignity, possessing common traits between one another: bright complexions, somber emotions, and an achieved goal. Even so, they still had some significant differences between each other that many observers around themselves would be very quick to notice in a heartbeat no less. Speaking of which, these particular individuals in question had a sense of fashion that was more loud and lively than almost the rest of the common folk themselves whom were also in attendance within the very environment thereof. For starters, one of them had a spiky brown hairstyle matching the masculine ensemble of a trenchcoat that had overlaid the shirt and slacks whereas the other was a simple blonde whose long tresses had matched both eyes of melancholy. Secondly, while the tall man had on a white undershirt beneath the suit and green tie around his very neck, a frilly white dress was found adorned upon the smaller female’s body with a lone black ribbon wrapped around her very abdomen. Third of all, he had but a single timepiece in the tight grip of his left hand made only of metal and glass while she had a bouquet of flowers held in both hands, each of them in various colors wrapped in only a silky monochromatic textile. In addition, even the very footwear that they had on were different, just like themselves as well: the male wore only some solid black bluchers upon himself while the female herself had some light green sandals that were very open instead. “It’s been seven years since you’ve been gone, dear sister; I wish that we could’ve spend more time together as a family…” the young individual sighed sadly as she’d soon planted the nosegay upon flowering ground nearby the stone. The tall man went up to her and placed a hand upon the right shoulder saying, “there was nothing you could’ve done to stop it: you were just a child after all; Sparkler wanted you to live just as much as Derpy did.” “But it’s not fair; why did my sister had to suffer such an indignity…?” she cried, returning the gesture with a hug, “she loved us both, she never even hurt fly, and they couldn’t even see that; all they saw was some toy to be defiled…!” “There, there, Dinky… it’s over now: you’re safe with me now…” he whispered to the eponymous female as he stared at the stone with a tear leaking from out the corner of his right eye. The light winds lapped at their backs as they held tight, her tears soaking into the fabric of the man’s clothing as a leaf surfed on, passing them by. The atmosphere was crisp and warm, a grave contrast to the situation that the two very visitors in question were out amongst as they’d remained firm. The golden rays of sunlight kept them company even though that they were ignored, no doubt caught up in reminiscing of innocent days from the past. Soon, Dinky broke away from his embrace and turned back to location of the floral arrangement with a sob, “goodbye, Sparkler…” “So, what do you want to do next…?” the man asked the blonde female, “we still have some daylight to ourselves; no use in wasting it, my dear niece…” “Well, I would like to see mom again; can we go visit her, uncle…” she had answered only hesitantly. He started to look around and spoke to his niece, “are you really sure about this; do you really want to see her…?” “Yes, uncle…” Dinky replied, “more than ever…” “If you say so…” the man said. The blonde stood upright to stare at the scenery that was provided for the likes of her as a pair of golden eyes had begun to scan in the details all around herself and her uncle. She was already aware of the fact that there were buildings nearby the area that were loaded with people whom were in a much better mood than the likes of her at that moment. A quick glance beyond the sea of rocks and green being traversed by other individuals had already informed Dinky of some houses in every shape and size. Reeling in the melancholy that brought him and the blonde to this place, they had started to set foot away from the ground where the latter had planted the flora above the soil. As they were now in the process of perambulating, she started to break the silence again, “mommy and daddy used to take all us on a picnic nearby the forest every year in the spring, before the whole war; I can even remember the multitude of muffins we had helped her made here and there.” “I know… your father had used to be so happy he’d started to wonder if you were to follow in her footsteps…” the man said as he looked up into the cloud that were passing throughout the firmament above them, “kind of makes me feel sorry for them even more than before, especially my sister…” “But what about father, Uncle; he should be getting out soon, right…?” Dinky asked as she held tightly onto the aforementioned individual. He turned his attention back to his niece and answered, “I wouldn’t count on it: even if he gets pardoned by the Princesses, it won’t change what had become of us; besides, the new prime minister is still angry with what had happened since the war. After all, nobody had considered the possibility that there was a slavery ring going on underneath our noses, let alone Ponet being involved no less.” “Then why won’t we just write him a letter to set him free…?” the young blonde had responded, gripping her uncle’s right hand in a cling, “besides, daddy’s nothing like the monsters they’ve made him out to be, especially considering that–––” “Now, now… let’s not go back to the past and dwell on these things too much; after all, you have so much to live for and so do your sisters…” the man interrupted, bringing her into another embrace once again. Dinky could do nothing but weep, “I understand…” “Now, let’s go; time is of the essence: your mother can’t wait any longer…” he’d said, quickly guiding his niece away from the place they were both at earlier, “no use in wasting it all anyway…” “Okay…” she said. At that very moment, the two kept on moving forward and were surrounded by a series of house, proof alone that they’d entered the town at once. The number of people increased in density as Dinky and her uncle walked about, surrounded by those with a louder sense of fashion than them. Even though that they were within the line of eyesight which had belonged to the numerous passersby, the duo was left alone to their devices. More often than not, the blonde couldn’t help but see a few faces belonging to some shiny happy people they’d came across on their way through. At long last, the two pedestrians came across a large building that was already residing on the outskirts of the town that had remained in the distance. It’d stood up tall and proud, reaching high as at least three stories with a pair of stone chimneys stretched upward but spread far apart in terms of length. The roofing possessed the style similar to the likes of many residences within the adjacent town, albeit composed of ligneous uniformity rather than hay. Standing out above from the very entrance was a red circle with several pink hearts, all of which were separated by a white cross in the very middle of it. Adorned all throughout the structure were but countless windows far and wide, each made of the same material and shape but in different sizes thereof. All that had remained out there in front of them were a pair of olive doors resting underneath an awning, up in front of an earthly trail they stood upon. The man took a glance at her once more and asked, “are you ready, Dinky…?” “Why wouldn’t I…?” the titular companion answered back before moving forward, “let’s go inside now…” It wasn’t long until they traverse through the partition in front of them, greeted by the sight that was cuts above that than the stones within the field. The ceilings were in a brownish shading style, many separated into intersecting but otherwise equal lines with some domed lanterns in the mixture. All the walls within the room the two had entered with a lighter hue than the grass that was left behind in the outside world far and beyond thereof. The beige flooring was interspersed with a set of teal carpeting that looked like it was purchased at a rather fair bargain before being steam cleaned. Every geometric corner nearby the entrance was occupied by a potted plant with an abundance of leaves as spacious to cover the bottom of her shoes. The blonde visitor could also see that many other individuals sitting on olive colored chairs either being the well–adjusted or under the weather. As he’d looked around, there had come the sight of but a single woman from the corner of his left eyeball. She was tall, thin, and dressed in white, just like Dinky was except such attire had been extended. Underneath the white hat, this woman had locks of a pale green, colder than the very scenery itself alone. Her very eyes were but a pair of magenta orbs, already clouded by the drabness of the reality they were in. “Excuse me, miss…” the man had said almost immediately, catching the lone woman’s attention at once. Sure enough, the listener went over to him and replied, “how can I be of assistance for you today…?” “It’s my niece, Dinky: she wants to see her mother today…” the man had answered calmly, “is it possible to do so…?” “And how is she…?” the nurse leveled herself to reach the eponymous youth at once with a small smile. The blonde backed away from the older female with a gasp, “eep…!” “It’s okay there; she’s one of the good guys…” he sighed, calmly comforting his niece, “sorry about that, nurse–––” “Tenderheart, dear sir; what’s your name…?” the woman interjected, introducing herself almost instantly. The man answered, “Turner… Doc Turner…” “I see then…” the nurse said to him all at once, “do you also work here at the hospital as well…?” “Trust me, I’m not that kind of doctor; I’m a scientist…” Turner replied as he’d wiped away the beads of sweat off of his brow. Tenderheart chuckled and then spoke, “I’ll go and lead you both to her; besides, Redheart’s gonna be wondering where I am unless I return…” “Do you know where my mom is…?” Dinky had whimpered at once, “can we see her now, please…?” “I don’t see why not…” the nurse had replied. It wasn’t long until the young blonde had just started to follow after her older counterpart with little warning whatsoever. The tall man couldn’t help but to go on and chase after Dinky the minute that both females had left the lobby all at once. Only then, the volume of people started to become lower than the rest of the town than either of the observers had noticed. Here on out, the young blonde quickly took note of the closed but otherwise benign atmosphere around Tenderheart herself. Within only seconds, the otherwise slow beeline had now met its end, already overtaken by a vastly new area that the three had just walked in. Filling the widened space was many sets of round tables all strewn across from their position, each of which occupied by at least one individual. Above the very occupants were a few wooden fans that spun about from beneath the ceiling in the same speed but lacking all the synchronicity. The walls had but a set of windows providing both light and scenery from the outside world already beyond the very premises to say the least. There was also another hallway in the vicinity where people were also coming from, albeit a bit less numerous than the arrival of the very trio. Even the very flooring possessed less color than the entrance where both visitors arrived at, overwhelmed by a uniformity of such whiteness. As soon as Turner caught up with Dinky, the former had said to the latter, “alright then, let’s stay and wait for your mom…” “Okay, now that it’s out of the way, I’ll go fetch her…” Tenderheart said as she’d started to depart from the patient visitors in question, “hey, Snowheart… tell Derpy that she has some visitors…!” “In a minute…” a lone voice far away from the twosome shouted back in reply, no doubt belonging to the aforementioned listener. With the nurse now out of their eyesight, the tall man talked to his niece, “so here we are now; do you still feel nervous…?” “Mm–hmm… but it doesn’t stop me from loving her anyway; after all, she still misses Sparkler too…” she’d sighed, “don’t you miss her as well…?” “Indeed… there’s not a day that goes by where I stop thinking about her…” he’d answered back while looking around their surroundings only briefly. Dinky started to rest her head upon the plastic surface, yawning about, “I feel so sleepy, uncle… I hope we can see her soon…” “I know… I want to see Derpy too…” Turner had responded, watching the young blonde carefully, “Dinky, stay alert…” “I’ll try…” she’d struggled to speak up at once. As the man looked around once more, he was almost caught off–guard by the sight of two feminine individuals whom were alike in fair dignity at first glance. The only trait that was being possessed amongst them was a bright complexion upon their skin and even that alone wasn’t enough of a difference in the very least. As such, they had more various between one another than he or Dinky even bothered to notice thereof, aside from who was notable in their eyes, especially the latter. Even their own sense of fashion was something that the two visitors here had just used to identify them all at once as of this moment in time. For starters, one of them was a blonde with matching eyes like the young one accompanying Turner whereas the other had some light blue hair. Secondly, the fact a white hat with a red cross was donned upon the icy tresses was irrefutable proof that she was also a nurse, like Tenderheart. While the tall blonde wore a simple white gown, the blue haired individual had a pale yellow ensemble consisting of a blouse, skirt, and slippers. Of the two that had come in visual contact with Dinky and her uncle, only the tall blonde started to speak slowly but softly, “muffin…?” “Mommy…!” the young blonde cried aloud, jumping out of her seat to hug her newfound parent, “I’m so glad to see you again…!” “Oh, Dinky…!” the titular visitor’s mother wept as she’d returned the gesture almost immediately. Soon, the nurse in attendance remained silent and went away, leaving the small party of three alone to their devices as the man had spoken up, “I can see that you’re being treated well, dear sister…” “Mm–hmm… the doctor said that we’ve been able to move past the nightmares…” the tall blonde answered him at once. Turner barely found the strength to place a hand upon Derpy and said, “I wish I could say the same for the others: Chirpy’s still taking their father’s imprisonment very hard; it’s not so much now that everything had changed. I bet that he would’ve been so happy to see those kids growing up, especially Spar–––” “Don’t mention that name around me, please…!” the angry tall blonde interrupted almost instantaneously, “besides, they need to be stronger than me, especially with the war already over…” “Understood…” he’d said, looking towards her daughter with apprehension as she started to look away. Derpy’s lips started to quiver and wept into Turner’s shoulder, “I’m sorry, it’s just that I still can’t of what kind of person my husband was, working alongside with that vile bastard of a commander; and to think that let him raise the others…!” “Ponet’s not as bad as Agar is making him out to be; in fact, it’s not even his fault completely…” the man replied as he held the tall blonde as tightly as possible, “besides, Dinky was talking about writing a letter to set him free earlier today…” “Easier said than done: it took Applejack a few years for her to leave this place and even then she wasn’t allowed to see her sister again…” Derpy sniffled as she’d quickly broken away from his embrace. Turner backed away from the tall blonde and said, “I know but the fact that she’d survived was a miracle; of course, I can’t help but think about her sister as well. The first time that I had met them, I could recall them trying to sell some apples before the war broke out, or rather the young one doing it. She came on a bit strong but I had never expected that something like this would happen to her, losing her eyesight and whatnot; I feel sorry for what she has to go through ever since.” “I’ll say… Dinky would’ve made a great friend with her around if it weren’t for the fighting…” Derpy sighed, looking upon the eponymous young blonde with a solemn look, “I still wish that I could’ve been around to see you grow more often…” “I know, mommy…” the tall blonde’s timid daughter said with some trepidation before hugging her. The tall man looked on once more and had asked Derpy, “so, are you still going to fine all by yourself…?” “Obviously…” the tall blonde instantaneously answered, “Sweetheart even been more open with helping me get past what happened with you–know–who’s you–know–what here and there, and some meds…” “I see then…” he had said almost slowly. It wasn’t long until Derpy had yawned, “goodness, is it almost time for bed…? But it’s the afternoon…” “At least some things don’t change…” Turner had chuckled as Dinky also did the same thing as well, albeit less spontaneously, “DJ is going to need my help back at the house soon, especially with the others.” “I know; wish that I could be there to see them again…” the tall blonde had sighed sadly with newfound tiredness. Grabbing onto the nearby hand of Derpy’s daughter, the tall man had spoke, “don’t worry, you will…” “Dinky, would you kindly please come closer…?” the tall blonde requested, causing the aforementioned counterpart to walk on over to the former’s side at once, “promise me that you’ll stay out of trouble…” “Yes, mommy…” the young blonde had complied, earning a hug in the very process as he had smiled brightly. Sure enough, Turner had started to grab onto Dinky’s hand and said to Derpy, “alright then, I hope that we’ll be able to see you again; of course, I also had something else for you: Dipsy was going to mail this letter earlier this week but I was able to convince to let me do it to save her some time and effort.” “Really, what does it say…?” the tall blonde asked as the tall man pulled out a piece of paper from his brown jacket and gave it to the former, “it’s kind of hard to say something about it without flashing back to the past…” “Perhaps reading it could answer that question; ‘til then, have a nice day…” he’d said as the young blonde was being pulled away from her mother gently. As Dinky started following Turner, all she could do for Derpy was use the free hand to wave and said, “bye, mommy…” “Goodbye, my little muffin…” the tall blonde had responded, standing almost helplessly as her daughter and brother started retreating back to the hallway where the nurse with the teal tresses led the two through, “make us proud, Dinky…!” “I will…!” the titular visitor had shouted back. A small stream of water had started to escape from Derpy’s eyes as she began to hide them right underneath her hand, the letter given to her by none other than himself left unscathed while the handler struggled to stifle a wail at once. Even though that there were others in attendance that were left to their own devices, a few of which with a least a visitor anyway, the tall blonde couldn’t help but feel so alone in this otherwise rather confined space she was in. In what had seemed to be some sort of a great expectation, her silent cries of melancholy were nevertheless left ignored anyway as everyone else meandered onward with their lives, regardless of their overall quality by comparison. Only the piece of paper that Turner talked about was there to keep Derpy company and even that alone wasn’t enough; after all, it was serving as a simple reminder of the very encounter she had with himself and her dearest daughter. Underneath the rather otherwise cleanly sanitized physique that the tall blonde had possessed upon herself, she’d felt as if some tacky compound was dumped onto her very tresses that even the visually impaired would’ve noticed. At long last, Derpy found the strength to whimper, “Sparkler...”
GravityAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter twelve of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that this chapter will deal with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; however, this chapter will be ending on a more uplifting note unlike the others, a strange sentiment born from familiarity no less. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now oh so close to the end of the story, mind you; speaking of which, this chapter in particular was originally going to end with Dinky falling into the flames but I'd decided against it and with good reason: even though, it had at least standard three thousand or so words, it did seem like that it was finished so I continued on and tacked on a different end. One last thing before I sign off, I hope you can be surprised about this chapter now even more than the others before it since another special guest is going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this chapter below; but, it will not be the end until otherwise so please stay tuned and enjoy, okay? Thank you. Gravity All across the very way, there was some darkness already filled to brim with a dank and dire atmosphere where such factors of sight, substance, and scent lay buried in obscurities referred to as an earthly void. The only clue to the rather otherwise unknown environment were the neat placement of such shrubbery, all too fertile and lush with life to the point of producing some flowers rife with many colors and texture. Even so, the very landscape right underneath it was composed of countless acres filled to the brim with sepia soil that had stretched far and wide as it could be seen despite the near lack of visibility thereof. Nevertheless, there was at least one living being that had stood out and about amongst the very plane of existence thereof: a bright skinned female was found sitting within the brilliant green. A set of some straight blonde hair had run past the nape of the neck with its rich and tender fibers glowing about in a direct contrast to the surroundings that the owner was already dwelling. She had worn a plain white tee that was found to be overlaid by a set of denim overalls that was adorning the petite body, possessing a thicker texture and louder color than the undergarment. Upon the blonde’s feet were some big blue boots that had been shaded lighter that her general attire but not as light as the socks that she wore as well, its fabric already halfway past the shins. “Sparkler…” she had murmured about at once as she was started to shaking about only slight as she was rustling some leaves that were dancing in the wind. It wasn’t long until the blonde had started coming to her senses, she was thereof instantaneously surprised to find herself in a rather peculiar location at once as the minimal surroundings all across the way. Even though that there was darkness all around her, the fact that she was able to see the foliage that cloak the female’s body was nevertheless proof alone that eyesight was far from lost, irises matching hair. Direct airstreams were now brushing up against the shrubbery that the blonde had already found herself despite the gentle tenderness, carrying a crispy cool scent of a tangy sweetness that her nose picked up. She couldn’t help but give in to the overwhelming trepidation that was deeply crawling within her integumentary system, the golden locks standing on endwise as if the electrons hiding about were radiating. The blonde started to shake about in attempt to escape the leafy refuge that she had seen as her prison, only to be stopped in place by a loud bloodcurdling scream that was nearby the tight area, “AAAHH…!” “Shut the fuck up, bitch…!” another voice echoed into the now timid listener’s ears, “don’t you let me spoil my fun…!” “NO, PLEASE… DON’T–––” was all that the first voice had cried out for her to hear before it was ended by a throaty gurgle. It wasn’t long until the blonde’s ears were treat to a percussion of grunting and panting, no doubt the work of the secondary voice here. The brief memory of the shrieking that had plagued the listener’s ears forced her eyes shut back up as these factors painted a picture. Only the ingrained surrounding the had cloaked her body divert the actual sight where the very sounds thereof had originated from. Heightened tensions were still stagnating within the observant blonde until the solitary outburst had ended with a resounding moan. When all was said and done, the soloist of sadism had spoke, “man, that was a waste of a good twat; at least her body was still warm though.” “Mommy… Daddy…!” was all that the listener had shouted out at first after a long period of silence, but nobody came, “please…” “Dinky… I’m sorry…” a voice was heard, but the blonde wasn’t the source as she was now already almost to the brink of tears at once. The fainting rattle of the assailant’s victim had drove the listener to burst on out of the large foliage at once, only to be confronted by a heart–stopping sight. A lone woman of a taller build than that of herself was found abandon upon the desolate soil, possessing a darker complexion upon the dirtied skin thereof. The blonde had instantaneously recognized the how the very figure’s hair and eyes radiating with the once majestic purple already stripped of liveliness and style. Although that the woman in her presence was all dressed up, the former’s attire was undone: the top half of the purple jumper torn up and blue knickers exposed. The barefoot status of the figure in question was enough as it were to remind the blonde of the bruises sustained coupled with the wound on the former’s neck. The sight of the exposed woman taken in by the trembling observer’s faltering eyes had now served as the overwhelming pressure that broke the latter almost completely. Even though that the blonde was quick enough to avert her gaze at once, the very sight and sounds from before had now been enough for the weepy young counterpart. All that she could think about was the rather unrestrained level of brutality that she had bore witness to that had fallen upon the unfortunate figure in question earlier ago. At this very moment in time, the blonde in attendance couldn’t help but feel her own heat beating against the ribcage underneath her skin and flesh, unleashing a downpour upon the woman’s lifeless body, “SPARKLER, PLEASE WAKE UP… PLEASE… PLEASE… MOMMY AND DADDY ARE WAITING FOR US…!” “Dinky…!” a loud shout was heard at close range, breaking the eponymous observer out of her trance; sure enough, she started to look around for the new source of this voice, only to have already found the answer in the form of the fallen figure’s newfound movement of the fingers, “go, please… the town is… they’re going to–––” “They’re gonna what––– what are you talking about?!” the blonde was sobbing about as she was caught off–guard by the sudden activity of Sparkler’s bleeding assemblage, prompting the former to back away from the latter whom was once perceived as dead thanks to the recent turn of events thereof. Even with the disheveled state of the woman’s particular dishabille, she had struggled to rise upward and said to Dinky all at once, “fire… they’re going to set fire to the town… sister, please…” “You’re not making sense, Sparkler; who’s ‘they’re’ and why?!” the blonde shrieked as she had struggled to pull onto her aforementioned sister’s arm quickly, “don’t leave me alone like this; let’s go…” “I don’t know… but it’s not going to be safe to stay here any longer; please, your mom needs you to come back…!” the weary woman groaned as she had still felt Dinky attempting to drag the former along anyway. Sparkler’s statement instantaneously fell flat on deaf ears as her sister cried about, “not without you, not like this… we’re sisters and we’re inseparable so that means that no one’s supposed to be left behind or forgotten; it’s what our parents and Uncle Turner had said…! I can’t go on without you at this rate, no matter what happens; I just can’t leave you like this, let alone leave at all…!” “Mom won’t go on… without you either; besides, I’m… going somewhere anyway… but not with you, sister, no thanks to that… brute of a soldier…” Sparkler had slowly gasped as she had grabbed onto the blonde’s arm in response almost immediately, “I had already swore to mom… to keep you safe no matter what: your father may have… brought you into this world… but it’s still my responsibility… as the firstborn of the family… to make sure that… nothing bad happens. Just reach back to mom… and the other… as fast as you can: don’t stop… no matter whatever or whoever… catches sight of you; as a matter of fact, don’t even… approach any of them… at all… It’s okay, Dinky… I don’t care that… we’re different; no one wants to… leave in my place either and… its because that I love you… when mom got married… all that I’d seen was… the end of a nightmare… for her and me. Then, when you were born… all that she had seen… was the beginning… of a fresh start: a loving family… a decent job… and a town… where no one will judge us; even I thought… about making a name… for myself as it… continued onward. Listen to me clearly… mom and dad are… counting on you… more than ever… Dinky, don’t give up… I don’t want her… to think that I had–––” “Sparkler… Sparkler… SPARKLER?!” Dinky cried out, beset by the only breath that her titular sister took before subsiding all at once, the latter’s body now going limp and heavy to the point where the former had lost any reason to continue on. As the light faded from the woman’s amethyst eyes, her lips had curled into a small smile as she had then whisper, “I’m sorry…” “No… no… no… it’s not possible: I won’t believe that you’re gone; IT’S A LIE…!” the blonde had cried out as she had struggled to move her sister’s body once more, this time with feeling, “COME ON, SPARKLER, PLEASE GET UP…!” “Your sister is dead because of you…!” a new voice had now escaped into Dinky’s ears, possessing twice the amount of venom as the tertiary voice but lacking the tenderness of herself and Sparkler. The blonde started to feel the once cold, unmoving, limited animated flesh that had belonged to the woman grow hotter than it were since the latter’s monologue from only seconds ago. Sure enough, Dinky had soon turned around to find a petite vermilion flame already nearby her trembling fingertips, causing the tight grip to be broken away all in due time no less. Under so little time that the blonde had used to starting paying attention once again, her sister had become instantaneously bathed in the growing conflagration before the former. Now it would seem that any and all attempted to preserve Sparkler in her once former glory were rendered futile as she burned brightly and briskly altogether much to Dinky’s horror. As the blonde couldn’t do much besides backing away and watch with tears in her eyes as the large flame crumbled and clicked freely, feasting upon the fallen female’s frail form. Many seconds had passed until the woman in question was reduced to a charred and shrunken amalgamation of fabric and bones, stripping away the color that provided an identity. In course of the overwhelming devastation that had befallen Sparkler, the fire had still raged onward with the smoke and ashes trapped within started to shrink and become blackened. Such a sight alone was all that Dinky took of what had once was her dearest sister laying across the scarce environment, its consumer now started to shift focus almost immediately. The blonde remained speechless save for one word that she had slowly wept in response to the ordeal, “Sparkler…” “Sparkler can’t help you anymore, Twinky; she’s already dead…!” the voice from before had now laughed as the fire before Dinky started to grow at once, “and now, it’s your turn to join her; your spirit is required at the other side…!” “AH…!” the blonde had quickly cried out in pain as the cinders had started tickling her denim overalls, forcing her to back away at once. Of course, as soon as Dinky retreated, the small inferno started gaining some speed at once all while the recent voice cackled in her ears, “run, baby, run…!” “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!” the blonde had shrieked out as she soon started sauntering away from where the woman once laid, gaining a rather massive lead all in due time, “WHERE IS EVERYONE?!” “Go on ahead and run to your mommy and daddy, Dinky; I’m sure that they would be of much better help than that worthless wench of a sister…” the voice guffawed while the flames had grown and started following the eponymous runner. All the melancholy that the blonde had experienced from Sparkler’s predicament was now defaulted back into the trepidation from before, this time in a much greater scale. Even though that Dinky was now running in a straight and narrow line, she had paid close attention to the terrain underneath her very feet so as to not give the fire a chance. In spite of the inner agility within the blonde’s body kicked into overtime, the very conflagration behind her had showed no signs of either ceasing or desisting any time soon at all. Only a memory of the woman’s body being burn reinforced Dinky’s desire of escape, turning a logical reflex into a need for speed surpassed by the likes of amalgamated steel. Under the blonde’s boots, she could feel the ground change in its entirety, the desolate flat soil now replaced by the rocky mountain high that impacted her straightforward path. Despite the large distance that Dinky had traveled so far, she had still watched as the inferno was gaining up on her while whimpering in disbelief, “oh no…” “Oh, yes…” the voice chuckled, now finding its in the conflagration that took the form of a massive lion that growled, “I’m gonna getcha…!” “I'm really scared of heights but not as much as whatever that monster is; I have to climb up: it’s the only way…” the timid blonde had thought to herself silently but quickly, swallowing a lump as she slowly stared at the newly formed geological formation. While Dinky was panting about, she could still hear the flames chasing after her, eating away what little good fortune that remained with reach. At long last, the blonde scrambled to place her hands upon the rocky surface almost quickly, the strength within the legs now channeled to the arms. Latching onto the cracks and bumps within Dinky’s reach was no easy task as she had remained already aware of the consequences awaiting her. Luck and skill were starting to drain away from the frantic blonde’s body as the stress of the running about was taking her toll almost at once. Even though that Dinky did managed to hang on tightly, her heart and mind were starting to racing on further than she had ran long before. Determined to escape the clutch cargo that contained and composed the conflagration, the blonde still hitched herself upward and at the next point. As Dinky found herself yards away from the ground upon, the formation she had started climbing upon started to shake followed by a monotone chorus chanting, “fall…!” “What is this, a rockslide or an earthquake…?” the blonde had grunted with beads of sweat pouring out from her forehead as specks of dust fell on her head, “this can’t be happening to me…!” “FALL…!” the chorus bellowed, gaining an increase in form and volume as it had reached Dinky’s ears at once. The combined forces of heat, gravity, and strain were now counterattacking against the very blonde’s own will to live and performance thereof. Even though that Dinky refused to give the audience what they had wanted of her, both hands started cramping about from the continuous activity. As the blonde still continued onward, even her bright skin was changing to a bloody red during the ordeal, matching the bruises upon the palms. With an outstretching rock within her grasp, Dinky placed her hand upon it at once, only to be rewarded with a loud crack from the immense pressure; soon, gravitational forces succeeded, forcing her on a downward path as she screamed aloud, “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH…!” “YES…!” the fiery onlookers cheer as the blonde fell from the mountainous partition almost instantaneously, “MISFORTUNE AWAITS…!” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!” Dinky screamed as she felt the flames that chased her now waiting to devour her as they had done with Sparkler not too long ago, shutting away her tear–stained eyes almost immediately in due time as she was unprepared for the dolor that had remained. At long last, the blonde felt the solid ground from beneath slammed onto her back but the heat and light didn’t feast upon herself in the very least. While that Dinky was left alone to her devices, she had found herself unable to move, no matter how much effort that was now being put into it all. Only the fire that threatened the blonde’s life remained at her side, surrounding her like people who used to say the line about sticks and stones. Like before, Dinky was shocked, saddened, but most of all, scared, the strength she had put into escaped already reduced to the barest minimum. The blonde couldn’t help but cry from the pain and suffering that she was enduring at this very moment in time, shutting away both of her eyes in a delayed expectation before hearing a tender voice, “sister…” “Huh…?” Dinky whimpered as she had slowly opened her eyes back up once more with feeling, “Sparkler…?” The source of speaker was greeting the blonde not in a fiery blaze but a blinding light that the latter’s matching eyes were able to withstand. The form that was taken in front of Dinky was none other than the woman from earlier all cleaner and shiny than the former remembered. The major difference in the attire that Sparkler wore was not only modest but also in brighter shades resembling of mountainous majesties. The only constant that remained for the woman was the utter lack of shoes from before yet her feet remained suspended in the atmosphere. The face that Sparkler wore was not of the pain and sorrow but that of concern and elation, free of the material wound inflicted beneath her. “Dinky…” was all that the ethereal woman said, the fire and flame dispersing back into nothingness while leaving the aforementioned onlooker be. The sight and sound of Sparkler’s new form, coupled with the suddenly forced disappearance of the conflagration brought joy and tears to the blonde who found the strength to raise her arms out to reach for the former and cried out, “sister…!” “It’s like want I had said before: I’d made a promise to mom that I will protect to protect you; besides, it’s what big sisters are supposed to do…” the woman in white replied as she had soon slowly descended to return the gesture almost immediately, “goodbye, Dinky. I will always be with you…” At that moment, the two were drawn into an embrace, there hands now upon each others backs as they had held on tightly. Dinky had felt traces of tender tears falling from the corner of Sparkler’s eyes even though that both of them were smiling. Just as the blonde was comforted by the woman, the latter had started to fade away almost out of the former’s sight already. Reopening Dinky’s eyes, she was treated to the sight of Sparkler’s form returning to nothing, save for a cloud of photons. “Sparkler…” the blonde cried out once more, this time with feeling as the last of the ethereal light had now disintegrated before both her very eyes but nobody came.
CorporealityAuthor's Note Ah, you've made to chapter twelve of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds that the last chapter has dealt with another heavy subject matter proven to be unsuitable for those under eighteen, easily offended, and/or quickly nauseated; however, it has also ended on a more uplifting note unlike the others, a strange sentiment born from familiarity no less for reasons already explained. Aside from disclaimers long ago, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now oh so close to the end of the story, mind you; speaking of which, this chapter is going to feature a character from the merchandise who has yet to appear in the show so far: while I would've told you the identity of the seventh main character, classifying her as an other was the only logical clue that I could give. Nevertheless, two special guests are going to be joining one of our fateful protagonists in this penultimate chapter below: as such, I hope you would enjoy what I have brought to you for I deeply regret leaving you all to hang long than I had intended; in any case, like regularly and especially previously, stay gold. Corporeality It was a dark and stormy day but still possessed the light that was hidden away from the eyes of its own observers whom were now running about at this moment in time thereof. The silver linings that could have been easily found as the shine in the storm were overshadowed by the outpouring of rainwater that fell onto the solid ground almost immediately. Some sounds of thunder that had rolled about within the vast storm clouds while refrained waves of lightning carved its way throughout with blinding speed and synchronicity. Unbound by the vast spaciousness of the very atmosphere, the cluster of grays and whites with the occasional colors spread further apart all over the lands and waters underneath. Kiloliters worth of rain had already saturated the terrain, many square acres of it all were gaining the very texture that was more malleable than even stone and metal themselves. Accompanying the rain and thunder were the howling winds now moving the grass and trees that had already completed the interactive orchestra for the surrounding environment. Speaking of the environment in question, it was nothing short of an open field resting upon a flat terrain with some fences around the rectangular area. A pair of large wooden gazebos were found standing nearby the openings of which where people would traverse to and from at any given time thereof. The large playground at one nearby corner, a scene of pastel colored wonder, was already soaked with the overwhelming moisture, swings and all. Only the trees that had remained stood their collective ground tall and proud against the rain and winds but even they weren’t remaining unperturbed. Many square acres worth of space were starting to collect a large amount of water in the process to the point of making a swimming pool in the grass. In the midst of the scenery were but a few individuals take shelter from the pouring deluge, their integuments and clothing unscathed for the most part. Of the few personnel found within the pavilion, there was the sight of at least three females who were perhaps alike in fair dignity at first glance. All three of them had possessed a few common traits: long flowing hair in more than just a single color and a look of dismay were all being worn. They nevertheless possessed many significant differences amongst themselves that the average observer would’ve easily taken notice of already. The first of the females, bright skinned and with but a clear complexion, was staring out into the heavy downpour with her golden eyes riddled with water as well. She had possessed a spiky set of minty tresses already eclipsing by the lack of light being shed upon herself despite having some whiteness right in the middle. Upon the female’s body was but a simple attire: a bright yellow sweater and some dark purple skirt with some matching leggings barely covering both her feet. The second of the feminine trio, also bright skinned but wearing a faint tan, had wore some true blue eyes all staring at the ligneous ceiling to hear the rain pounding. Her long and coiled hair was but a clashing of the darkest cold blue and lightest hot pink vying for dominance all across the very way with only depth and texture. Even the female’s own attire was also very simplistic to a fault but rather more uniform as well: an all–white ensemble consisting of a blouse, shorts, socks and boots. The last of these was literally not like the others: aside from being shorter, she had but a darker complexion and some aquamarine orbs focused onto the plastic table. Also, her hair was a scene with a clashing of colors as well, albeit with only three hues of purple, pink, and aqua neatly curled up past the nape of the neckline alone. Upon this female’s very body was an enormous baby blue pinafore with a pair matching shoes to go along with the rather spacious form of clothing in and of itself. “It happened again…!” the woman in white worded out at once, her face straighten and narrowed by the pitter–patter of raindrops above themselves. The other woman stared into the moistening landscape started to cry softly, “rain, rain, go away… come again another day…” “It has been raining a lot lately…” the smaller female sighed as she’d stood up and nudged the standing bystander’s shoulder, “Bon–Bon, do you think it’s possible that it will rain again next week…?” “I can’t answer that question, Star Dreams; not even Lyra knows about it…” the target titular woman in white replied, slightly flinching at the roar of thunder above the trio cutting into the rain. The sight of the prostrate observer nearby prompted the blue female to call out to the former at once, “Lyra…?” “Rain, rain, go away… come again another day…” the aforementioned onlooker had repeated, unfazed by the blowback of the deluge carried away by the howling winds around her face, “rain, rain, go away… come again another day…” “Lyra…” Star Dreams said once more, this time breaking away from Bon–Bon to approach the eponymous witness. Once again, the prostrate woman had ignored the smaller female and began to weep again, “rain, rain, go aw–––” “Lyra, please…” Star Dreams quickly interrupted as she’d then hugged the titular observer, “get up…” “Huh… Star…?” the taller counterpart slowly choked out when she’d soon felt a warm sensation at her shoulders, no doubt the work of the aforementioned youth’s hands already nearby at the former’s side. The standing woman in white had felt only tempted to join the two other females as the driving rainstorm above themselves raged onward with but little signs of ceasing to be anyway. In contrast, Bon–Bon still watched Lyra and Star Dreams all too closely from but a small cold distance only silently as they’d remained keenly aware of each other’s’ presence no less. While the females were safe in one another’s company, only the woman in white had remained nothing but cautious as she could now feel her own hair currently standing on endwise. Alone as they were but also together as well, even though with two of the females in question now firmly in the line of Bon–Bon’s eyesight, she was nevertheless careful for them. Zigzags of white hot lightning soon flashed before their own eyes almost instantaneously as it was then followed by yet another round of thunder that had also pounded the very ears. Just when it had seemed like that the woman in white was about to say something, the blue female became the first to break the silence, immediately but calmly speaking into the taller counterpart’s ears, “please…” “Star Dreams… what are you doing here; where am I…?” Lyra peeped as she had faced the eponymous youth at once, “what with all this rain…?” “Don’t you remember… we’d decided to go up to the capital for vacation, Lyra; can’t you recall of it…?” Bon–Bon answered, now finding the strength within herself to approach the two all at once. It wasn’t long until Star Dreams joined in as well, “you were talking about how you wanted to go home for the weekend since last Tuesday so Bon–Bon and I were trying to raise some money getting to the capital by selling some candy…” “Last Tuesday…?” the prostrate woman had only struggled to speak to the titular bystander rather clearly at once, “is that so…?” “Yeah… I thought that we could afford a nice change of scenery to ease our minds: Appleloosa may be big enough to raise a family but the capital seemed like a return to the past; plus, there would’ve been a chance that you could run into your old friends again…” the woman in white answered with a faint and nervous but calm grin. Lyra began to face Bon–Bon already with confusion replying at once, “what old friends…? They’d never returned here to begin with…” “Only one… Twilight Sparkle; she came back to her old home in the city since Golden Oak Library had burned to the ground that night…” the woman in white countered, “they had said that it was the work of a saboteur that came here earlier; ever since that fateful day, one of the Princesses took her all the way to the city right up north of the building. Her parents had said that her upper body had sustained second– to third–degree burns: it was like looking at skeleton that reminded them of her brother, a captain of the guard; of course, he’s also alive though I wish the same could be said for his wife. Some guy by the name of Mercury Promenade blew up the wedding reception years ago and killed Princess Cadence; I was there when it had happened that day too: some shrapnel had ended up etched into the abdomen and cause her to bleed out. Anyways, Shining Armor tried to take his own life but his sister was there for him, trying not to let himself give on life because of it; she wasn’t alone though since she had friends back at home: Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and even Moondancer had came to their side. Even though that it had been a long time since they’d met again, they were able to catch up on old times, talking about what they did; as a matter of fact, Twilight even mentioned your name when you’d met with Applejack then.” “Applejack… did I do that…?” the sitting woman had said slowly as the downpour started to slack up at once. Bon–Bon nodded her head in confirmation and said, “yeah, Doctor Stable told me about the progress you’ve made since our first visit…” “Yeah… she talked to me about why you were there that day…” the smaller female had also chimed in, still remaining crouched all right by at Lyra’s side, “she’d also told me how great of a person you were anyway, always wearing that smile in and out of bed every day to enjoy the best of life…” “Really…?” the sitting listener had replied. Star Dreams had still hugged Lyra tightly and continued onward with the tète–a–tète at once, “yeah, Bon–Bon said that you were once a bright and bubbly woman, always full of life and love. She had seen you as a free–spirit, ready, willing, and able to take on the day by being willing to just try out some new things. The very quality that Bon–Bon had like about you the very most was how you’d made her smile once again when she’d wanted to give up on something.” “Smile…?” the wayward listener said as she had still remained aware of the smaller female, “isn’t that what Pinkie Pie does…?” “Yes, but not as much as you did: your happy face convinced me to smile again; it reminded me of my own mom and dad…!” Star Dreams cried into Lyra’s sweater, the former’s tears soaking into the latter more quickly than the rain itself. Another flash of lightning had appeared before themselves as the supine observer whimpered, “mom and dad…? I had a mom and dad…” “So did I and Star Dreams had them too…” the woman in white worded herself out once more with feeling, moving forward to the two in question, “just because that we had lost them both doesn’t mean that we should be losing our way either: they didn’t bring us into this world just so they can leave us behind without knowing what to do from here. They would have wanted us all to not give up on ourselves even though that they’re no longer with us; just think back to the very time when Missus Smith raised all three of her grandchildren and had to take care of the farm. The Apples may be the largest family here in the very homeland but we’re also a family living here too: you, me, and her; even though that we’re different from certain other families, it doesn’t change the fact that we care for each other very greatly. All that I must ask of you, Lyra… please don’t forget what you once were nor what we still are; your mom and dad didn’t want you to forsake your happiness because of every horrible thing that had happened recently. Don’t just do it for yourself, do it for your neighbors, do it for your friends, do it for her, do it for me…” “Bon–Bon…” Lyra had called out only quietly to the eponymous observer in but a faint and careless whisper no less. At this point in time, the smaller female looked into the golden eyes of the taller counterpart and pleaded at once, “please…” “You guys, I…” Lyra had struggled to speak out once more, this time with only but feelings of acquired apprehension in place of matching melancholy from much earlier before, “I don’t know what else to say about it…” “There’s no need to say anything; we both love you far too much to risk letting you throw your own life away…!” Bon–Bon soon bawled out as she had now finally made her way to the two at once, letting loosely but a thin stream of tears out from the corners of her very eyes almost rather immediately. Sure enough, the three females were currently joined up in a loving embrace, uncaring of the rain and lightning that had started to decrease in frequency already. Although that the water and air were being blown around into their faces, they were all found to be down on the ground anyways, smiles plastered upon them. The very trepidation that was holding all of the three in place in the wooden pavilion earlier was now quickly substituted with only but elation for one another. Finally, the supine woman started to return the gesture all at once and cried happily ever the after, “I love you both too…!” “Oh, Lyra…!” the woman in white wildly wailed as she had instantaneously nuzzled up to the aforementioned individual, gripping onto to the latter’s back, “I hate what this war has done to us all and what it’s doing to you especially: you deserve a whole lot better than what these fiends have done to you. I want the old Lyra back, the one that was happy, the one that was never afraid to start the day, the one that never even had to take medicine now and then. I know that no matter how hard I wish to go back to the old days when everything had made sense, not even the archaic research done by Starswirl the Bearded would make that happen. Still, that doesn’t mean that you should give up on trying to be happy again, even after everything that happened to the likes of us because of the war alone. You’re still surrounded by people that love and care for you, Lyra, even though that we aren’t biological family: friends like the very ones that you still have to this day, people like me who still can’t on without the likes of you, and even Star Dreams who needs love the most.” “Please, Lyra… listen to what she’s saying: I know that I’m not old enough to understand and everything that happens in this world but that doesn’t mean that I’m alone either; when I’m with you, I feel safe knowing that all the bad things that happen won’t befall upon the both of us, just like how mommy and daddy kept me safe when they were alive…” the titular tyro told the target. The eponymous crier could barely believe what her smaller counterpart gave out: it would seem that for a brief second that the visage of the former remained in place of the latter had flashed before the reflections within the golden eyes themselves; soon enough, some words escaped from the mouth all at once, “oh, Star Dreams…” “We can still see facets of the old you shining thru despite everything that happened: you’d even mustered the strength to read her a bedtime story nightly even in the midst of a thunderstorm…” Bon–Bon said as she had held onto Lyra tightly, tears still flowing throughout the face faster that the rain itself, “I’ll admit there have been times that I’d wanted to give up on life especially before the war had came to our doorstep. Growing up in the countryside, I was still struggling to make so much as a meager living for myself since I’d left my mother’s home; from the day I’d met you, I felt as if the strength that had left me came back. Even now, I’ve already swore to myself not to go back to the very times that I’d struggled in my life following that particular day thereof; I’ve cared about moving forward for the sake of my friends, especially you, and now her as well. I had risked my own life trying to rescue you, not only just because of that silent vow but also because I had believed that you would do the same and I will risk my life again to rescue Star Dreams just as much as you would. The challenges that we have all faced together were unforgettable because of the collective experiences we had learned and the people that we had encountered in the very process overall and her joining us along to face many more is proof of that. The only option we have to deal with them, successfully or otherwise, is to move forward and brave the next challenge with a head upon the shoulders and keep your mind and heart clear of darkness.” “How can I do that when it’s all around us, Bon–Bon…?” the wailing woman had asked the aforementioned onlooker. The woman in white placed her hand on the back of Lyra’s head and said, “trust me on this one: Princess Celestia had made a promise to make sure that this homeland of our won’t be torn apart again like before. She has been able to keep us subjects happy and prosperous for a lot longer than we’d ever been even born so we still have faith in her ruling to this day. All that she wants from us to do from here on out is stay determined and preserve like the others have in restoring order.” “But what do you mean by that?!” the timid crier shrieked aloud, sending the smaller counterpart back with little warning whatsoever, “don’t be naive… where is your mind?! Open your eyes; can’t you see what had happened?! This world has been set on fire because of bastards like Gelatin…!” “You’re right: it'd been on fire and I don’t know how many tears had to be shed to put them all out but if there’s one thing that I'd learned ever since the war to our neck of the woods, then it’s that life is too precious to be taken in meaningless conflict or thrown away as soon as its quality is degraded…” Bon–Bon answered back. Lyra calmed back down once more but still wept about anyway, turning her gaze away from both nearby females, “what are you saying…?” “Think back to the time when we’d first gotten separated: I’d once thought that you’d died in the blast when the town was getting bombarded years ago; yet, the day I’d seen you again left me with my stomach turning about…” the woman in white pleaded, struggling to regain the crying listener’s attention, “the way that you were being treated made me feel so guilty about the times I'd raised my own voice at you, like I'd wanted to cry alongside you because of the very pain that had been dealt by these monsters. It was times like this that had made me realize the very importance of our friendship and what I had felt like needed to be done: unless that I save you, I’ll go down and take as many soldiers with me, including your tormentors as well. Ever since that fateful day when the war had ended, every time that we had slept together I can recall many of the nightmares that had been causing you to scream yourself awake and cry right directly into my arms. As much as I can barely stand the ordeal you’d ended up going through here and there, I knew that it wouldn’t be right to leave you in such a state but I also realized that there would come a time that you would end up destroying yourself even when I’m already around. The only way you would have gotten some hope of recovery was with doctors and nurses because seeing you in a dreadful manner any further on that day made me realize how weak I was in the very end and–––” “Don’t ever say such disgusting things…!” Lyra lamented loudly, languishing about in the longstanding lachrymose and lackadaisical lag. Bon–Bon was startled by the interruption and had attempted to continue speaking, “what do you mean by that…? I wasn’t trying to make you relive every aspect of the past, especially considering–––” “That’s besides the point, dammit: how could you ever call yourself a weakling?!” the lugubrious lounger lectured about a laconic legato, “I’m the one they’ve decided to use and abuse me to no end in sight, I’m the one who couldn’t run fast enough from them, I’m the one who got beaten up for talking back and screaming…! If anything, I was weak and this entire ordeal proved to me how and why; even I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have been ever since you’d saved me! I was so happy to see your face again: home was awful then, here’s being awful now; I thought that going back to the past would mean never having to think about the war but now things are becoming awful. Is it… just me…?” “Why, of course not: being weak had nothing to with our homeland going to war at all; it was just the stupidity and selfishness of our Prime Minister and the corrupt soldiers that made it awful…!” the woman in white had replied, already on the verge of being infected by the rather overwhelming melancholy. Lyra had snuffled about and turned to face Bon–Bon once again to speak out, albeit steadily, “not even our Princess Celestia could have seen all of this coming but that doesn’t even make her an incompetent ruler any more than the war could have made you a weakling; so what you’re saying is that we’re not unworthy of living at all…?” “Lyra, please… think about what you’re saying overall: people back in our town had made us feel welcome and happy to be alive; even though that we were different to one another, it didn’t change a thing as to how we had felt about each other…” the woman in white steadily said to the eponymous listener, “our way of living may be different from before but it won’t stop us from spending another moment together like we’ve usually done. Compare to what this war had done with you and her parents, I can take solace in the fact that neither of you have been dirtied yourselves like I had. Not even your night terrors can faze me at all as long I’m still here; as a matter of fact, I suffer from them too: the sheer thought of you dying kept me appreciative our company. The fact that we had stayed strong in spite of it all is a miracle in the very least: the least we can do is cherish it and use it as an opportunity to enjoy life together with one another, especially for her sake.” “I’ll… try… for you… and for… Star Dreams…” the laconic lounger exhaled about, just as the rain had now subsided. Bon–Bon smiled before kissing Lyra and said, “and that’s all that’s needed at this time…” “Look, mummy…!” Star Dreams interjected, pointing towards the firmament above themselves, “there’s an airplane up in the sky…!” "Where…?" the minted mumbler mulled on, looking for the object in question. The small witness stretched her hand towards the sky and answered, "right up there…!" "Oh, there it is…!" Lyra laughed as she'd now seen the flying machine in action, "I wonder if I can fly…" "Me too, Lyra… me too…" the woman in white sighed as she turned away from both females at once, wiping away the tears the clogged up her sights recently. While Star Dreams laughed and commented on the state of affairs yet to be deleted by a young comet, Bon–Bon barely paid attention to the sun coming out of the silver linings. The minty fresh lounger stood up and began to follow the younger counterpart outside into the wet grass, their legato of laughter lampooning the long forgotten lugubriousness.
PhantasmagoriaAuthor's Note Hello there and welcome back once more to yet another new chapter of War Orphans' Wishes, the sequel to one certain story out of many of my craft to go above and beyond the oneshots I've given you since the inception of my presence; suffice to say, the past chapters from before were by far a strong note for y'all which had given a taste of what had came earlier on but I'm happy to tell you that this will be the final one. As such, I want to take the time to say thank you for never pulling out too early since we're now in the the new year and a new month with a new hope to have and hold with tender loving care rather than yet a totally lost cause and the strength to continue onward in staying tuned for the future that is the now; in addition, I'd also like to apologize for not doing so in time as usual since this chapter here was hard enough to write down given the whole turn of events I'd made yet after all this madness we'd made it through like before. Lastly, let me also say that I hope you can find some joy in this chapter now more than in the others before them enough to have the strength in finding some happiness because some special guests are going to be joining our fateful protagonist in the final chapter below; henceforth, I will leave y'all with much to say significantly: thank you very much for sticking around to the very end, I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting for it to happen, and more importantly, farewell once again. Phantasmagoria An absolute absence of light currently dominated the otherwise almost colorless environment; of course, that didn’t mean that it was lonely or without some semblance of substance of sound in the very least. Even so, there was almost no way whatsoever that it was either a solid vision of terrain or even of earthly ground to say thereof; not helping matters was the endless legato of airstreams mixing in with rain. Only the sea of countless debris was there, being easily perceived as scary due to the ambiguity concerning whatever lifeform thereof dwelt within the obstinately jet black void of the flotsam and jetsam. Nevertheless, the very dangers themselves were already still ubiquitous overall because of these minimal traits, lacking of both safety and security while seemingly filled to the brim with endless freedom here. Resting out and about amongst the dark oceanic terrain was a lone individual resting upon a wooden board swimmingly all along without any signs of stopping in the very least whatsoever. The occupant in question had some dark skin that had possessed a feminine structure, with the complexion and texture of an elaborately made antique furniture made solely with wood overall. A set of multicolored locks had made its way from the very darkness thereof, providing some form of illumination with three hues of purple, pink, and aqua neatly curled up past the neckline. Even though that she wasn’t moving on her own free will, her eyes were starting to open up, revealing a pair of turquoise orbs circling around the pupils despite the narrow viewpoint thereof. Worn over the female’s body was a snow white blouse that was moistened by the overabundance of water that had almost drowned her because of it, despite the fact her head was above anyway. “Uhh…!” a soft gasp was emitted from her, creating an anomaly that gave such a darkness some semblance of life whatsoever: the suddenly new voice being nothing more than ragged panting and wheezing from between intervals; before long, the haphazard breathing had been quieted down into stabilization. In the course of the raging waters thereof, the timid female had started climbing aboard the lone debris was spacious enough to support her rather lanky weight that was held down by the overall achromatic liquid within the very void itself and roaring winds that were pushing them to and fro with reckless abandon. Directionless and without any means of her own to gain a set course in the making, she couldn’t help but being silent even against the pitter–patter of precipitation pouring down from above; of course, the observer curled up, expecting a flashing bolt of lightning to be interspersed almost instantaneously no less. Rather than even so much as a brief rumble of thunder even joining the meteorological orchestra however, nothing much overall had ever happened: no flora to be in awe of, no fauna to approach the female, not even the distant sounds other than the storm itself that she could’ve heard from any angle or trajectory. The female couldn’t help but weep, her tears besieging the darkened skin as they were already assaulted by the rampant rainstorm as she remained unaware of the rising wave charging at her back. Sure enough, the raging waters that carried the seemingly countless debris grew tall and wide, creating a shadow that had towered over her body, prompting the observer to turn around all at once. Undertaken by the overwhelming amount of the dark liquid, the female was swept off of the wooden raft and into the briny deep that was now surrounding her from every single dimension here. Now, it seems that her only objective that came to mind was to not only swim back up to the surface but also stay above the water as long as she can until something would come across for help. As the female was currently climbing away from the darkest depth of the environment at hand, she had left a trail of bubbles in her wake that had moved higher and faster, a sign of urgency at hand. Many cubic centimeters of the otherwise achromatic liquid were starting to work against her as she had started to get closer onward for the much needed oxygen that was slowly now within reach. In due time, the female was successful: although that she had struggled to breathe after being compelled to hold herself in, the excess of air entering the lungs was more than enough to satisfy her. Like before, she was able to grab ahold of something that would already fulfill her expectations; however, it was a lot different from the wooden raft that she was previously resting upon: it was stony and lonesome, almost resonating with the likes of her from long before here. One crucial detail that had caught the female off–guard was that the surface was far from solid, compared to the rather ligneous texture that she had found her own hands resting upon a long time ago: its newest mass of matter has some silky stands that had resembled hair. Not only that, she had found a small a set of a few fine flowers flowing freely against the airstreams, all of them different with their own stems refusing to kowtow against the storm as the petals were constantly changing their own colors each and every passing second. Even so, the very female in question had been currently greeted by the sight of another figure at close range: like herself, the other straggler was already sharing the same gender and skin complexion along such simplistic attire dampened by the atmospheric phenomenon. Of course, it was almost instantaneously clear that the very females themselves alone had their own differences in the very least. The perfect stranger that was just now lurking about had some long tresses of solid gold already running past the nape of the neck. Draped over the individual’s body was a true blue ensemble of a jacket and skirt, both of which were made of the same material. The haphazard onlooker remained still, already able to hear the stranger crying quietly, “Apple Bloom…” “Apple Bloom…?” the younger individual had thought to herself, “I think heard of that name; who was she…?” “Ah should have been stronger enough to save you; Ah don’t even know why these bastards would do this t’ all of us: Granny, Big Mac, Babs, Braeburn, but mostly you, Apple Bloom…!” the other female cried aloud, a flash of lightning crackling about against the formerly darkened firmament. The onlooker then said to herself calmly, “Applejack…?” “Hmm…” a whimper escaped from the stranger’s mouth, causing the younger female to gasp silently while the thunder roared aloud, “wha…?” “Oh, no…” the onlooker squeaked. It wasn’t long until the eponymous individual turned around and started to face the younger counterpart almost immediately. Catching the onlooker off–guard, the tall womanly figure otherwise known as Applejack took a hard look at the former at once. Even though the youth in question was able to resist the temptation of simply screaming loudly, she couldn’t help but feel aghast. Sure enough, the sad stranger had started stuttering slowly, “is that ya Star Dreams; is this me…?” “Applejack…?” the aforementioned straggler sputtered to the titular target, “what is going on…?” “Mah sister, have ya seen her…?” the woman gasped about, her breath shaking about with reckless abandonment rivaling a deadbeat panda of a reluctant father. The younger onlooker shook her head and had replied only hesitantly, “no, I don’t know what you’re talking about…” “Apple Bloom: she remembered going to school with ya a few years ago…!” Applejack exclaimed as another flash of lightning brightened the sky above, “Ah want to know if ya had seen her at all recently…!” “No, I’m sorry; I wish I did…” Star Dreams had answered back almost instantaneously, her head dropping down away from the pensive stranger. As soon thunder roared once again, two streams of red were currently pouring straight throughout Applejack’s cheeks as she began to growl about slowly but surely, “then ya no better than the other bastards…!” “Wha?!” the younger observer replied, now greeted by sight of the stranger’s new facial structure: the origins of the crimson streaks pointed to the blackened eyes matching the irises, complimented by the open mouth filled to the brim with carnassial triangular dentition, “Applejack?!” “That fucking war has made us all look weak and powerless, just like that damned excuse of a stage magician: the fact that ya even alive and breathing here and now is a mockery of the fact that Apple Bloom is out of mah reach once again; as a matter of fact, Ah oughta put ya out of both of our miseries while there is still time…!” the eponymous straggler roared loudly at once. Within so much as little warning whatsoever, Star Dreams was tackled back into the dark and lonely water, resurfacing almost immediately to find herself blocked off from the structure as she sputtered about, “hah… hah… HELP ME…!” “No one’s coming to save ya, just like the others: Apple Bloom, Babs, they’re all fucking gone because of weaklings like me…!” the belligerent battler bawled out, “there’s no room in this accursed world for any of us: we only exist as food for the strong and even our Princess Celestia knows this; stop resisting and it’ll be over soon…!” “Mommy… daddy…!” the young individual gargled as Applejack wrapped her own hands around the former’s neckline extremely tightly with water pouring into the mouth with every desperate struggle. The vice–grip right around Star Dreams had straightaway increased about in pressure as the stranger yelled intently, “don’t worry, ya’ll be able to see them again as soon as Ah am done with ya, missy…!” “Ackkkkk…!” the young victim had gagged as her vision started to blur, the sight of her bloodied attacker decreasing in focus, “ahhhh…!” “UNHAND THAT HELPLESS CHARGE, THY WARPED CARICATURE…!” a loud voice had boomed, belonging to neither of the female figures in question. Almost instantaneously, the attacker otherwise known as Applejack had spontaneously combusted, rays of light emerging from her body as she screamed about. The matching attire that the tanned figure had worn was starting to singe about as the flames begun consuming her while leaving Star Dreams unharmed in the process. Even though that they were both in a seemingly endless body of water, only Applejack herself was already disintegrating as she was burned up into absolute oblivion. When the belligerent battler disappeared in a mass of heat and light, the young occupant gasped for oxygen once more for feeling, attempting to find the source of the mysterious articulation. It wasn’t long until Star Dreams was accompanied another female figure descending from the firmament almost immediately, the latter’s complexion already being about fifty shades darker. Glimmering about in the cold distance was but a pair of cyan irises glowing about alongside with the rest of the owner’s eyes, illuminating the area where the young witness had remained. The descendant’s elongated hair was now flowing into the soft wind, sparkling about as each and every one of its tresses were a bluish tint with both lighter and darker hues vying for laterality. Aside from the small obsidian tiara matching the widely wide crescent necklace, the new visitor wore a long shimmering dress that was colored in a dark pink scheme and achromatic slippers. Star Dreams was in awe of this rather magnificent sight but had only found the strength to say a few words, “who are you…?” “‘Tis I, Princess Luna, the one and only sister of Princess Celestia…” the aforementioned visitor introduced herself to the youth as a tender smile had appeared to be worn upon the visage, “the bridge betwixt both the dream world and the real world by which where the people slumber and wake respectively…” “What happened…?” Star Dreams gasped frantically as she had struggled to stay above the water like she had done a long time ago. The princess knelt towards the youth and answered, “‘tis only a nocturnal terror, a rather normal occurrence for the young such as thyself, dear child; in fact, it possesses only but a few similarities to those of both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle some time ago ever since the conflict’s twilight.” “What do you mean, your highness…?” Star Dreams asked as Luna had quickly pulled her out from the splashing waters, “what does my dream have in common with those you’d mentioned just recently…?” “The war against out homeland has changed them and their siblings: on certain nights, they find themselves besieged by the presence of their sisters, or rather, their caricatures on the verge of betraying their bonds of bloodline by staining their hands; in thy case, thou hast been attacked by one otherwise envisioned as Applejack…” the princess said as the raging storm began to subside. The recent memory of the titular terror brought a chill up the youth’s spine as she stuttered, “but how does Applejack happen to fit into all of this…?” “‘Tis very obvious: thou were the first friend of Apple Bloom, a kind and gentle soul, years before war were declared; she hast invited thee into her home for a slumber party in the weekend a month since the commencement of thy pedagogy…” Luna had begun to explain all this to Star Dreams all at once, “a fresh face into the community prior to the arrival of mine sister’s protégé. I can also remember the sense of trepidation and loneliness that held thyself in bondage, ringing back to the time when Twilight had retreated into her studies rather than integrate with her peers at the capital. Despite all that, thou were willing take her up on that gesture of hospitality; to them, thou became like a part of the family and even more: Applejack was even more than willing to extend her sisterly influence unto thyself. Ever since that fateful day, thou hast gained a boon worth of confidence to adapt and overcome the passing school daze that afflicted thy peers, seconds passing into minutes, then hours, and finally days, more than willing to wish that thou weren’t an only child.” “Why Applejack: what did I do to deserve this; what did they do to deserve this…?” the young observer wept, her tears falling onto the still water. The princess placed a hand upon Star Dreams’ shoulder and sighed, “nothing at all in the very least; the things that were done unto both thy friend and her sister were all the more tragic: one devoid of sight and comfort from their kin, the other rueful and ruminating on her young born in the vestry…” “‘Born in the vestry…?’” the youth had repeated out of only confusion, “what does even that mean…?” “Let’s just say that the circumstances regarding the child’s birth began on a rather heavy note…” Luna answered Star Dreams almost immediately. As if things were all quiet on the western front, a pained cry had invaded the youth’s ears, shrinking her irises as the right hand was being held onto by the princess. Before long, the otherwise overextending oceans had become a sterile solid state society, various contraptions and mechanisms at the adjacent partitions within their sights. Cacophonies of beeping now echoed into their ears before subsiding into a rather acute piercing whine, interspersed with rampant wailing that was different from before. Defined by the disconsolate outlook of things, a small mass of people in front of the two females had broken formation, each with various traits and similarities thereof. Emerging out amongst the band of seven was but a diminutive infant already being cleaned of its reddish tint as the latter was instantaneously compelled to cry profusely. As the atmosphere’s new identity became finalized, Star Dreams then asked, “where are we: what is this place; who are these people…?” “This is the hospital, an ephemeral habitation for the sick and feeble masses: Applejack was amongst them, bringing forth her sickly young at this very particular moment…” Luna asked, pointing to sight of a single lifeless woman, “this otherwise selfless act of bringing life into this troubled world hast nearly costed her own; even she understood the aftereffects from it all…” “Sweetheart… let’s just stop: it’s over already; focus on the child…” one of the voices said, belonging to a feminine figure all dressed in white. Another figure in white, also female yet stockier turned to the young newborn in accordance to such a command; the observant youth asked the princess, “what is wrong with him; why is the lady tending to the baby…?” “The child is unwell: a pox was inherited from his afflicted mother, another victim of this recent strife…” Luna replied rather hesitantly, a tear escaping from the eye as Sweetheart clothed the weak toddler, “this illness hast thereof already deprived him of his sight due to the severity of Applejack’s plight.” “How sad…” Star Dreams had sighed as the infant was now being cared for by the several people in attendance. The princess then grabbed the youth by the shoulder and said, “however, there is a rather haply pleasant conclusion to that heavy affair: both she and her child survived because of a miracle: Applejack was able to be revivified and he was able to live past infancy. Of course, considering the transgressions committed against herself and her sister Apple Bloom, the child hast to be raised by a different matriarch, the same way thou is being reared by thy own caretakers who took office. Even though your differences were apparent, the result was as clear: the struggle between our homeland and the foreign legions were the source of this grave tragedy; as such, the warrant for thy safety is to be upheld.” “If that’s the case, then what happened to the child…?” Star Dreams asked as she’d listened to the newborn nearby them, “surely he would’ve been able to have a mother and father like I have had.” “Only one: Fluttershy wont to the responsibility of looking after him, most befitting of a kind soul out of all that circle of friends mostly…” Luna said as the environment all around the twosome had begun to dissipate at once. It wasn’t long until they were alone again, the youth quickly breaking the golden silence asking, “what is she like…?” “A true friend and a more charitable example of the homeland’s ideals: earlier, she hast only desired to tend to the fauna that coexist with us to this very day…” the princess had answered, “for a while, it hast seemed to be rather decent and noble goal, even more than taking office upon crown and country along with the people who serve them.” “Princess Luna, do you think that I would be able to see her one day…?” Star Dreams sighed as a shooting star streaked away from themselves. The eponymous aristocrat stated, “only if premisses art favorable: whilst that she has managed to find a new home to live in the country, the reluctance to bond with her peers is still stronger than ever; the only exceptions she makes are her friends and family and they know her more than the others.” “I understand…” the youth said as they'd quickly found themselves in the white void, a contrast to the past environments they were both in, “some people want to be alone…” “But don’t fret: as cruel as fate can be, time is a rather compassion force that can heal many wounds; in time, Fluttershy wilst be able to find the courage to love and be loved once more, the same way thou hast be able to do so after all these…” Luna had replied to Star Dreams, smiling greatly than before albeit under control. The youth looked away and began to ponder onward, finding the time and energy to speak at once, “that’s reminds me: I’ve been wondering what had become of Apple Bloom; where is she…?” “In the forest, living alongside Zecora in harmony with nature…” the princess had quickly said, “whilst she hast grown much like thyself, she hast been able to reconnect with other kith and kin.” “I bet I wanna talk to her again; I have so many questions to ask her like what’s it like to live there and what her guardian does…” Star Dreams chirped as Luna began to fade away out of the former’s sight. The princess’ hand still made its way upon the youth’s shoulder before responding, “be still, thou hast plenty of means and opportunity to commit thyself to such tasks whilst awake, preferably following the morrow after…” “I know… it’s just that I thought that I wouldn’t be able to see her again since we’d moved away…” Star Dreams said, “the fact she’d lived…” “‘Twas only a miracle… right now, all that matters to thee is the present; it should be no more important than the past or the hereafter…” Luna interjected softly as she'd currently dissipated completely, leaving the lone youth back to her own devices like long before but still safe and secure nonetheless.
