The Other Six

Chapter 4

Prophesy: Cruelty

Flicker was the eldest son of the Eclipse family.  His two brothers had moved to distant cities to live progressive lives while Flicker an his father protected the forest. Despite being a family of pegasi, the Everfar Forest had been their home for generations, the Eclipse family protected its rich history from agriculture and destruction for as long as both existed and they have both sworn to protect it like their fathers before them.

Flicker's great great grandfather loved nature but lived far out in the wasteland. He couldn't afford to move so he took countless plants and seeds from the Everfree Forest, and planted them all around his home. Finally the baron wasteland around his home was teaming with life; the unusual tendencies of the Everfree Forest plants kept the plants alive through the harsh terrain and impossible growing conditions. His great great grandfather affectionately called it the Everfar forest, being that it was a distant spawn of the Everfree Forest.

But, for as long as the forest has been there, some ponies have wanted its destruction. A widely known oil company, The Greased Harness, had been trying to get to the vast oil springs deep below the Everfar Forest. For years Flicker and his father had been driving them off, using every bit of strength to protect their ancestors' treasured forest.

Flicker's mother died when he was very young. She fell victim to a virus that no one understood. The doctors franticly studied her under almost ever method known to ponykind. But she died before they could learn anything about the virus, and now his father has it too. For months the doctors had been going over tests, but still learned very little about the virus. And his father didn't have much time left.

He began to get very ill. Some days his fever would reach temperatures of a hundred and four degrees. He would start shaking uncontrollably, and, on very rare occasions, his tear ducts would leak blood. Flicker had to watch over him carefully to make sure he didn't push himself too far or just fall into another seizure.

Flicker himself had grown into a strong pegasus. His rich yellow coat glistened in the sun, and his thick mahogany  mane was spiked into a mohawk. His cutie mark was of a rich green leaf, representing his love for nature and all its beauty. Flicker sat by his father's bed side with a bowl of cool water and a cloth. He dipped the cloth in the water and reached out to his father.  As he placed the cool wet cloth over his fathers burning forehead, his father let out a painful sigh.

“It's ok dad... you're gunna get better. The doctors are gunna find out whats wrong with you and in no time you'll be up and rarin' to go!” Flicker gave his father gave his father a weak smile. The weak old pegasi used all his strength to look at his son. He deserved that much.

The ground started to shake, the bowl of cold water used to cool his father's forehead fell off Flicker's lap and crashed to the floor. “Not again!” His father also began shaking, Flicker held him tight and looked him in the eye. When his father stopped shaking he stood up and headed to the door, “I'll take care of this!”

He ran outside and saw the colossal machines of destruction approaching. They were massive deforesting machines, operated by two earth ponies each. The giant rollers in the front had spikes ripping and crushing anything in their way. As the machines approached the forest, Flicker ran between them and stood stern and ready.

The two hulking vehicles came to a creaking halt and the passengers stepped out of the vehicles and angrily marched towards the Pegasus. This was not the first time Flicker came between them, he recognized all four of them. This was the first time they ever stepped out of their vehicles though. The four earth ponies circled Flicker until one spoke forward. “We've had enough of you stepping in and guarding those trees!”

Flicker stood his ground, “Sorry, but this is my home... That forest is a symbol of my family.... I can't let you tear it down.”

One of the other workers stepped forward, “We don't care! The boss has wanted that waste of space outa the way for years! Were gunna give you one last warning. Stand aside, and there won't be any trouble!”

The pegasus stood rooted, “Sorry, but I can't do that.” Flicker didn't like fighting, His father taught him how to and he enjoyed practicing, but he never wanted to hurt anyone. Not even the workers, but he knew what needed to be done.

It was a long pause until the worker finally spoke again, “Fine, you leave us no choice hippie!”

The two workers behind him dived to grab him, the pegasus drove his front hooves into the earth and kicked his back feet into the faces of his two attackers. They fell backward as one of the front attackers grabbed Flicker's left hoof and kicked him across the face. Flicker stumbled backward and grabbed his attacker, he launched himself into the air still holding onto the earth pony. He spun and threw him to the ground. The Pegasus dove to the ground and drove his hooves into the fallen colt's ribs, he let out a scream of pain until Flicker kicked him across the face. The final attacker kicked up Flicker's jaw and sent him on his back. The colt dove at the pegasus while he was on the ground but Flicker quickly leaped into the air and dropped into the attacking colt, smashing him into the ground. Flicker delivered quick, powerful kicks to the pinned colts face until he fell limp and unconscious.

The pegasus staggered to his hooves, bruised but victorious. He looked up at the machines and stumbled towards them. He dug through the engine and mechanics of the vehicles and took any useful parts from the machines and limped back home to his father. He threw the metal parts and devices into the shed next to his house and went back inside.

When he reentered his father's room he gave him a shy look, expecting to be schooled or even hit again. “S-sorry dad...” The pegasus gave him a weak smile and sat next to him. A tear ran down his fathers cheek. “Oh dad don't worry... I'm fine, see!?”

The old pegasus looked at his son covered in cuts and bruises, if only he were strong enough to protect his son again. Flicker let out a sigh, “Don't you worry about me dad... I can take em!” He gave him a confident grin but his father only gave him the same tired, concerned look, he didn't have the strength for any other expression. Flicker fought back the tears trying to escape his eyes. He had to be strong. For both of them.

He stood up and headed out the door, “I'm gunna head to bed, goodnight dad.” He turned off the light and left the room. The pegasus stumbled to his room and collapsed on his bead sore and exhausted.

Flicker awoke the next morning sore, dizzy and a pounding headache. He stumbled into his fathers room, “Uhg. Hey dad do we have any medication for a hea...” His eyes snapped open and his headache was suddenly a thing of the past. He dove to his father laying limp on the floor. He picked up the cold body and shook it. “Dad!? Wake up! Dad!” He franticly searched for a pulse but there was no sound or beat, his father was gone.

Tears flowed from the Pegasus's eyes. His hooves shook and his breathing became spastic. He let out a final scream in agony and plea,

“Dad!!!”

The ambulance arrived and carried his father off.  The Pegasus sat on his porch, staring into nothingness. He could hear the police and ambulance colts speaking about him. “Poor kid. First that one's mother and now this. Does Celestia have no mercy?”

That name echoed through his head, Celestia....

A voice shot through his head, “Yes, Celestia...” Flicker shook his head, chasing away the voice.

A doctor startled him in his daze, “May I sit down?” Flicker lazily nodded and the doctor sat beside him. “I am terribly sorry we couldn't make it in time... for either of them...”

Flicker answered but his expression or daze never shifted, “You tried your hardest...” He hung his head, “I forgive you...”

The doctor also hung his head and sighed, “And I feel even more terrible about this but.... last night we discovered the origins of the virus.”

Flicker's ears twitched and his eyes shifted to his visitor, “And?”

The doctor wiped his forehead, “The virus is from a special toxin found in plants. The plant that emits this is only found in the Everfree Forest.... and...”

“The Everfar Forest.” Flicker finished the doctors sentence and felt a pain he had never felt before. It was as if every word the doctor spoke emitted an electric shock connecting straight to his heart. The pegasus looked to the ground in utter agony, he couldn't speak, he couldn't move. His mind was broken.

The doctor stood up and have him a light pat on the back, “I'm sorry...” Flicker never moved. The doctor approached the group, the group all looked at Flicker in pity, “Oh Celestia, why him?”

The name screamed through his head again, Celestia.

The evil, twisted voice returned. “Ah, Celestia! Once again she has taken someone you hold dear. Are you going to swear to be kind again hmmm? How did that work for you the last time?” The voice continued to pry at his emotions while he sat there helpless, “Ever consider giving up on them? What has kindness gotten you?” Flicker bit his lip and started to shake,  “It got you beaten up by brutes and then took away your parents, that's what it gave you!”

The words shot through Flicker like a thousand knives, he cringed at the thought. When he opened his eyes a twisted shadow loomed over him and its manipulating eyes tore through his mind, “In a cruel world like this, a pony's gotta strike back!” The shadow vanished along with the ambulance and the crowd.

The only figures remaining were the four colts he beat up the day before. Flicker had stopped shaking and let go of his lip, but the bitterness of in his eyes stayed and he stood up. All with looks of pity the workers gave him made Flicker sick. He marched towards the colts and they flinched, expecting to get beaten again for showing their faces. Flicker stopped before them baring his teeth in rage. The workers stood their shaking with fear in their eyes. The pegasus pointed towards the forest and looked each colt in the eye with grueling hatred,

“Tear it apart.”