AU: His Final Conquest

Buck.. Twisted felt her heart drop into her already queasy stomach as she heard Vermillion smirk, "Very good. Your skills are improving." His eyes roamed over to the tree where the grey mare had steeled herself for a fight but had not yet revealed herself. "Well, looks like we need shelter, gentlecolts. Let's get moving, shall we? Otherwise it's gonna be a long night." Vermillion winked at the tree and turned away, breaking off logs from trees around them to help make the shelter.

Twisted's ears flattened against her head as she narrowed her eyes at the group. What the buck was he playing at? If he knew then why.. Why keep her trapped in this tree all night? Wait... Twisted's eyes widened at the next thought that crossed her mind, ' he wants me trapped.. He wants me to come willingly..' whether or not it was because he didn't want to rip her from the tree or if he didn't want to hurt her was unclear but she was stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one.

On one hoof... She could try to run once they fell asleep but she knew Vermillion well enough he would have some kind of guard. She felt like she would have the best chance with the lanky unicorn or the bulky pegasus though they both had their strengths as well as the weaknesses. Astral would be easy to over power if she could some how disable the magic element of that fight and the bulky pegasus had a high chance of being a weak flyer due to his size but she'd been surprised before and in her current condition she couldn't say she'd be any faster.

In the end, Twisted rest her forehead to the inside of the bark, tired and hungry as she listened to the group scuffle around outside to make their shelter. She kept her wings in place as she closed her eyes, the sound of rainfall and rumbling thunder lulling her into a sleep she hadn't experienced in quite sometime.

"Twist?" The mare's head shot up as she was suddenly in her living room, her eyes wide as she stared into the cerulean eyes of her friend. She recoiled a bit at the sight, the tan unicorn's face twisted with concern as he looked her over, "Are you okay? What's wrong?" He reached out with a hoof that she flinched at, wiping away the tears she hadn't noticed overflowing before he embraced her.

Twisted froze in the embrace, her eyes wide as she tried to relax in this dream, despite how painful it was to see knowing what was coming. It didn't take too long before her walls collapsed, the mare burying her head into the crook of Vermillion's neck as the tears fell freely, sobs shaking the small mare as she let her dream relieve her loneliness. "Shh... It's okay." She could hear the small smile in his voice as he ran his hoof over her mane in an effort to comfort the distressed mare.

"It's okay, Twist. I'm here. I'm here..-"

The clap of thunder shook the trees as her eyes flew open to darkness, her tears carrying back to consciousness as she stared at the dirty tree trunk she was sitting in. She bit her lip, stifling the sobs that shook her as she fought to get control of herself again, her ears perking at the sound of hooves. "You get some rest. I'll take next watch." a voice-- Astral's voice if she recalled-- spoke as he moved towards her tree.

The fur pin pricked up her spine as he leaned against the tree trunk, his shoulder touching her wings before he quickly pulled it away and turned to look at his comrades, "...Sorry." He apologized in a hushed tone, "..I know you're there.." He said softly, looking up at the canopy above him, drops of rain slipping through and wetting his mane, "..If what he said is true.. Why don't you let us help you..?" Astral asked, not really expecting a response from the mare he guarded.

Twist wiped her eyes, unsure what this unicorn was playing at but also knew she could take him easily if he tried anything, "...I don't want to be near him." a soft voice replied from behind him, making him jump a bit.

He turned his head and looked at the bark-- no, wings. He tilted his head, looking at the change in pattern of the tree he was leaning on and smirked a bit at her camouflage. "..why? He wants to help you, doesn't he..?"

"Oh please. He's not Vermillion Prose anymore.. What he wants to do is cage me.."

"Cage you? I thought you were sick?"

She scoffed quietly, "..I am. But I'd rather die than go back to that dungeon.."

"I don't think he'd--"

"He would. He tried already once."

Astral paused, scanning the group of sleeping stallions before his eyes landed on his leader. Vermillion's eyes were closed though he was sure he wasn't sleeping; he hardly did when he was out in the field. Most of the guard wouldn't dare cross him but.. Astral couldn't go against his code; He wanted to help ponies. That's why he had joined the guard, despite the rumors of their King being possessed, because he wanted to make a difference in Equestria. The unicorn's ears flicked back as he processed his thoughts and, as he got back up to 'make his rounds' around the perimeter, he muttered a soft, "...run." as he walked off, his mind made up.