Chapters A young girl opened her eyes to the sunlight. Her hair was black and her eyes were hazel-nut colored, giving her name. She wore a pair of pajamas decorated with teddy bears on the design. A small ribbon and two smaller buttons were at the collar area of her shirt. She got up from her pink bed to get dressed and ready for the day. She put on a pink dress with red lining from the wardrobe and wore her pink slippers. She picked up a small brush from her desk and combed her hair into its straight form.
Her room was a shade of pink. There was a window with a veranda nearby. Beside her bed was a closet with her clothes. A shelf containing various figurines of various creatures and characters sat opposite of her room. The desk she got her comb on had a mirror to allow her to see her reflection.
She exited her bedroom to begin her day. The hallways were long and well-decorated. There were picture frames every now and then of the family, but they all had one thing in common: her mother was in all of them. Underneath some of the pictures was a vase on a table. Some the doors had the names of who slept in them written on a plank that hung on the door.
The staircase was spiral with white steps. The kitchen was white with a sink and the table for making dinner and the oven nearby. The dining room was nearby. It had a lantern hanging above the table.
It was Saturday that time, which meant there was no school for her. She went downstairs and began to have her breakfast of jelly sandwich and cocoa. It was yet another day in her fourth year in life. She had grown up with many changes, but she could never get used to them.
“Early riser, Hazel, that’s a good girl” her mother called her name as she noticed her daughter had already been up early. Her hair color was a cross between brown and blonde. Her eyes were black. She wore a purple dress with flaps on the collar area. Her shoes were lavender. Her name was Deceptive Beauty.
Hazel Nut Vine, or Hazel for short, was part of a family whose mother was very unbelievable. Out of the three, Hazel herself was the youngest. Her brother was the firstborn and her sister’s birth soon followed. She grew up without a father, but her siblings were lucky to meet him. Around public, they all act as though there’s nothing wrong and they’re a perfect family, but it’s all a lie. When they’re all alone at home, that’s when the freaky stuff would occur.
“After you brush your teeth and have your shower, go and wake up your brother and sister, would you?” her mother asked as she prepared her own breakfast.
“Yes, mother” Hazel whispered in a shy tone as she finished washing the dishes and went up to wake her elder siblings.
Hazel made her way up the staircase and prepared herself for the day. She finished brushing her teeth and taking a shower and went to go to her brother and sister’s rooms to wake them up. She first head to the room of her sister, Spring Meadows.
Her sister’s room, though the lights were closed and the curtains were shut to avoid light come in, Hazel could still make out the room by heart. The room was colored spring green. It was very similar to her room, except for the fact that a desk had pictures of her sister standing next to a boy who looked like he could be her boyfriend.
Spring Meadows was sleeping on the bed. A nightcap covered her eyes as she let out a small snore. Her hair was lime green.
Timidly, Hazel made her way to her sister. She was hesitant and scared at first, but she finally started to shake her sister delicately. She then began to whisper, “Sis? Sis, wake up”
“Mm” Spring mumbled as she lifted her nightcap and opened her emerald-colored eyes.
“Mother says it’s time to wake up”
Spring nodded before stretching. “Okay, I’m up”
Hazel went out of the room and closed the door behind her as her sister went to get herself dressed. The youngest child made her way to her brother’s room. Loud snores were heard even from the other side of the door. She had to open the door to complete her task.
The room was cold blue in color. Unlike the other two, this room was all in a mess. A pile of used clothes were stinking in one corner. Hazel herself had to be careful of her step. She finally made her way to her brother, Trey Strongheart. He was sleeping and his tongue lolled out as he snored.
Hazel shook him gently before trying to compete with his snoring. “Big bro, time to wake up!”
“Just five more minutes please” her brother mumbled.
Hazel sighed. She knew there was only one other way to wake her elder brother up. She went over to his messy desk and found it right where she left it the last time it was used. She picked up the blow horn and brought it with her to her brother. Taking a deep breath, she put the horn to her mouth before blowing it as hard as she could. She was out of breath afterward; her body was almost always weaker than her mind.
Luckily, the sound was loud enough to wake Trey up. “Okay! I’m up! I’m up! You had to use the horn again?”
“Sorry” Hazel whispered before putting the horn back where she got it. No doubt, if she needed to use it again, it would still be there. The black- haired girl ran out of the room and closed the door behind her so as to avoid seeing her elder brother in his underwear.
Hazel didn’t care that much about things. Being only four years old, she still had yet to develop her mind. Nonetheless, she could already read and speak. The reading probably came from her bumping into some encyclopedias that must’ve been purposely left by her mother for her to learn about; the animal section was practically her favorite. The part with speaking: It must’ve come from the TV when it played cartoons. She would always listen to those in English and soon learned to speak their words and adopt their fluency.
Hazel soon made her way to her pet, a small rabbit she called Bunny. It was probably her first pet, and she loved it dearly. Whenever she was awake in her cage, she would look at her with its red eyes and wrinkle her nose and whiskers. Hazel, in turn, would just stare at her contently and think it was cute. Though she wanted to touch her or take her out of her cage, her mother wouldn’t allow it.
“Hi Bunny, I brought you some cabbage” she whispered as she put the leafy vegetable to her pet. She didn’t really know if that was cabbage or lettuce, to her those both looked the same and she had yet to learn the difference. Nonetheless, Bunny took it and nibbled it while staring at her.
“Hazel! Come here!” her mother’s voice cried out. She already knew where to go: the kitchen.
“Coming, mom” she then turned to Bunny. “I’ll be back later, okay?”
Her rabbit twitched an ear while eating her treat.
Hazel soon made it to the kitchen and was greeted by her elder brother and sister. It was just sometimes weird around her family, even at breakfast. Her sister was wearing a rosy dress with lace and her slippers had a matching shade with ribbons on the top. Her brother was just in his underwear.
“Hazel, there you are!” her mother called to her. “Come on then, it’s time to dress up”
Hazel nodded silently while waving to her brother and sister before her mother grabbed her hand and dragged her to her room. Compared to the other bedroom, Deceptive’s room was extravagant. It had fancy curtains that had crystal-like roses holding them together. The lantern in her room was decorated with gemstones. The walls were a shade of lavender and the bed had a veil on it. The closet and desk with the mirror was opposite of the room.
On the desk was a lacy white dress with black ribbons. There were supplies for make-up and a ribbon for hair. There were also hair sprays and combs. Beside it all was a camera.
“Put on the dress and I’ll work on your face” Deceptive told her daughter.
Hazel just obeyed meekly. Due to the fact that she was merely a child who still had to develop her mind and was innocent in the head, she was disturbed about the fact that her mother made her dress up infront of her. The dress on, she sat on the bed and let her mother do her face. Her face soon had some bluish eyeliner and she had peach lipstick. Her hair was tied up in a bun. Finally, her mother added a small tiara on her.
“There we go, now give me a smile to the camera” Deceptive said as she positioned her daughter in the area of the room. Her daughter meekly obeyed. She had to do various poses every now and then. The smiling was forced but she tried to make them cute.
It had been like this for a while now. Ever since she started to develop a mind, Deceptive Beauty would enter Hazel into beauty pageants to gain chances of earning money. So far, all it did was make her surrounded by people for photographs. They would parade around her and the other children. But now it was leading to the point that Hazel’s confidence was dwindling from the many cameras. Despite her efforts, her mother still made her join.
“Good, now and clean yourself to normal” Deceptive told her sternly as she started to scan the images.
Hazel washed herself up until she looked back to normal. The make-up was a challenge, but she eventually got it all off her. She combed her hair back to its straight form and put her own clothes back on before returning the dress to her mother.
Later that day, she was walking in the house, about to pick up another book from the shelf when she heard something. It sounded like a creature crying for help, and it was coming from the room they kept Bunny in. Scared, she took a few steps to the door and, with shaky hands, opened it to see something that made her drop the story book she held.
There, infront of her, held by her sister and mother, was her pet rabbit Bunny. She was barely moving anymore, just faint twitching and weak kicks from her left leg. She was bleeding. Her mother held a brush with blood in one hand while her sister held the rabbit.
Hazel let out a faint scream as tears filled her eyes. Bunny, her first pet was dead. She killed at the hands of her own family, the reason she had yet to learn. The little girl tried to run, but she had very small strides. Her mother caught her easily. She had a bottle of a drug in her hand as she held her daughter in place with the other. She forced the drug down through Hazel’s throat, knocking her out unconscious. The last thing she saw before passing out was the remains of her rabbit.
When she woke up, she couldn’t remember a thing.
Author's Note
RIP Bunny
Monday, the start of another week at school. Hazel woke up early and did her morning routine fast. She finished it by putting on her school uniform. It was a white blouse with a Scottish-like skirt that went down two inches below her knees. The blazer was dark blue and had the school’s logo on the left side. Her white socks went up to her knees and her black shoes were plain. Still, she had to wear a small ribbon-clip in her hair. She was now seven years old, currently in Grade 1.
She boarded on the school bus and took her seat. She just watched from the window as the bus drove through the same streets. From her own seat, she was able to hear the different chatters going on in the bus. There were children who were her age just throwing things at each other and speaking non-stop. Some of the brainy ones were reading their books. Others sang nursery songs. The older ones were texting in their phones.
The bus soon finally pulled up at the school. It was a school that had white and red as the main colors. The students got off the bus so as to head to their classrooms. The whole school had some sort of division once you reach Grade 3. By Grade 4, you have to choose a side: Anti or Fan. If one chose Anti, they would retain just their Human form. If they chose Fan, they would gain another form. The lessons were still the same, but there was always hate between the two sides.
Why would the school have this division? Well, I’ll tell you. This whole place is merely a world that reflects our own world. It’s a place in dreamland that had been divided since the creation of a certain show. They call this realm Wonderland. The show was called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
It seemed that after a year since its debut, a new realm had emerged. Here, the ones who were there to first witness the show had all been gathered here to meet with one another. When they had kids, their children also gained a form here as well. The default forms here were human. But once you chose a side, you may gain another. The Bronies and Pegasisters of the Fandom side gained Equestria Girl and Pony Forms. Once you chose a side, you also have chosen who will lead you. The Haters only have one leader while the Fandom has many, but one of them was superior.
If one chose to be a Brony or Pegasister, they would have another division that was meant to keep it all in balance. This one had two parts, Hider and Biter. Hiders are shy and on defense in terms of battle. Biters are confident and on offense. You could either be one or the other, but neither both. Once a child gets older, they take a test that will determine which one they are.
They also had this part in their lives when they would have field trips that would take them to the building that highly resembled an orphanage. The only difference was that this didn’t have orphans; it had creatures called Familiars.
Familiars were creatures that either were also people in real life or some manifestation of imaginative power. Familiars were the type that was able to change into different forms at will. They could float if they had no wings. But a Familiar’s main goal was to find and protect their Partner. When they are adopted by either a Fan or Hater, they call them Partner. Once connected, they will stay with their Partner for their whole time at Wonderland, and their real-life counterparts would be together as well. Partners and Familiars had a special connection: If they try to get separated, the process is painful and could lead to trauma.
One could gain a Familiar if they wanted to once they’re of age. Hazel and kids with her in the same class were now of that age. Once it was already the Assembly Time, those young children lined up and boarded the bus that will take them to that building. Of course, only the ones who wanted a Familiar would go, the ones who didn’t stayed at school and had to do Library work.
“Hazel!” a young voice rang out.
Hazel turned around to see a friendly face coming to her. It was her best friend, Rosette Thorn. She had shiny black hair and equally bright black eyes. By height, she was slightly smaller than Hazel, by an inch. She gave a friendly smile.
“Hello Rosette” Hazel gave a faint smile as well.
“You excited to get one?”
“I guess”
Rosette noticed that the line had now shortened all the way up to the point where she and Hazel were next. Flashing her cheery grin, she asked her taller friend, “Wanna sit next to each other?”
Hazel got shy again. “I guess?”
That was all Rosette needed to hear before she grabbed her bestie’s hand and dragged her up to the bus. She spotted two seats near a window and dragged her and Hazel there. “I call the window seat!” she sat where she claimed. Hazel, still dazed from her friend’s hyperness, just sat beside her without any questions. She carefully moved a stray lock of her hair from her face and back behind her ear.
“You gotta love it when you get shy!” another voice rang out behind them. Rosette looked up while Hazel cringed. It was Crystal Rose, Rosette’s cousin. She had brown hair and her eyes were cool blue. She wore a pair of eyeglasses.
“Crystal, you’re coming to get one too?” the younger cousin asked the older.
“Maybe, maybe not” she then noticed Hazel’s cringing. “Oh, sorry, Hazel. I forgot you’re sensitive to surprises”
“Just sit down” Rosette spoke up.
________________________________________
“Alright, students, you are free to move about in the building, but make sure you stay within the premises so that we may be able to track you. And please keep your IDs on you at all times” the teacher called out to all the students. She had to remind them of the rules.
For most of the students, they all just headed up to the Main Room where the Familiars mostly gathered. Most were excited to just catch a glimpse of one in person. As soon as they entered the room, they were greeted by an array of Familiars whose sizes ranged from big and small. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some were playing with one another. Some were watching videos or playing video games. Others were just doing art or reading.
The students just went around to find an ideal Familiar to be theirs. Some immediately plunged for the water while others were just mild-mannered.
“I’ll see you around, Haze” Rosette said before going off to check around.
Hazel looked around uneasily. She was mostly afraid of a lot of things. Still, she wanted to blend in so she decided to go and start looking around. The Familiars with a spunk personality just wouldn’t do her any good. She went to look for one who was a little subtle and had a gentle personality. Probably one she could relate to. Let’s face it; she was picking someone she would be with forever.
“You’re so weak!” a voice rang out.
Hazel turned her head to see a group of older Familiars who were picking on a smaller one. This little one highly resembled a Katsuma, but her coloring was different. Her fur was mostly yellow and her stripes were orange. Her eyes were cerulean. She had a small blue hat perched on her head.
“Please…stop…” the young creature choked out through the sobs. She was badly bruised on some of her legs. She was very scared.
“Look at you! You really think someone would ever adopt you? You can’t even defend yourself!” the mean Familiars mocked her as they kicked her again.
The young one screamed in pain. “Someone, help me!”
“No one here even likes you! Why did you even want to be a Familiar anyway?” the ringleader kicked her again.
“You can’t protect yourself! How will you protect a Partner if you got one?”
“Just end it! No one would even miss you if you were gone!”
One of them snatched her hat off.
“No! Give it back!” the little one begged, trying to reach for her hat.
“What’s a dusty old hat to you?” the ringleader said before he started to squeeze it.
The young one was beginning to tear up. As much as she tried to hold them back to avoid more insults, but her eyes denied her wishes.
“Oh look! Crybaby’s tears are finally falling!”
“Crybaby! Crybaby!” all of the group chanted together, gesturing tears coming out of eyes and even laughing while pointing at the defenseless Familiar. She stayed there for a bit, trying to stop the tears, but they just kept coming out. Finally, she rose to her paws and limped her way out of the room. The whole group just laughed as she went.
Hazel saw the whole spectacle from afar. She couldn’t just let those mean ones get away with it. She may be a shy kid, but she was never one who would let the cruel get away with their deeds. Taking a deep breath, she gathered up a few remnants of courage.
________________________________________
Hazel told on those Familiars at ease and had to run to find that little one they were picking on. Though she was weak in the body at times, when courage is gathered in her, she is determined to do her task. That task now was to find the young Familiar and help her. She checked around the place for a long time but she had to be fast. Still, she couldn’t find her.
That was when she remembered a God-given gift to her. Her ears were sensitive at hearing and if she concentrated hard enough, she would be able to hear her targets for miles away. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she concentrated on the sounds. She knew the young one was crying so she searched for sobbing. Eventually, her ears locked on the sound. From the direction, it led up to the rooftop. Determined, Hazel ran up the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her.
She finally reached the door that would lead to the rooftop. Still, she didn’t want to frighten an already-scared Familiar. Taking a deep breath to calm herself and catch her breath, she peeked through the door. Her ears locked on the words that the little one was saying.
The young Familiar was crying on the edge of the rooftop. She had been sobbing uncontrollably. It just wasn’t fair to her. It wasn’t her fault she was this weak at the moment. She then pulled out a cracked mini-mirror and parted her lips to reveal small stubs where her fangs for defense should be. Her defenses hadn’t fully developed yet.
“It’s not my fault…it’s theirs” she told herself through the sobs. The little one just sobbed her way through it as she cried over her day.
Hazel looked long and hard at the Familiar and her situation. She and this little one, they were actually almost the same. Each one was fighting their own battle. Like the young one, she was also teased and bullied around most of her life. The bullies of her school would use her head as a bookrest at computer class and would even lift her skirt to show her panties. This young Familiar was being bullied and jeered at for being different and haven’t been able to develop her fangs for defense yet. She saw herself in that Familiar. She wanted to help her. She wanted to save her. She wanted to make sure that those bullies wouldn’t hurt her again. She wanted to get her out of this place.
“No one cares about me…” the little one sniffled. “What if they’re right?”
Hazel’s eyes filled with tears just listening to the Familiar. All this little one wanted was a chance, but no one ever gave her one.
The yellow one felt at her head where her hat was. “It’s even harder if you’re not here anymore with me”. The next thing that happened was that she made her way to the edge of the roof. Her arms spread wide as she neared the edge. Hazel was young but she knew that position, she was gonna end her life.
“Wait!” she called out as she ran out of the door and to the young one.
That stopped the little one just in time. She turned around to see Hazel. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
“Can we talk?” Hazel shyly squeaked out.
The little Familiar hesitated, but nonetheless, agreed. She moved a bit of a distance away from the edge, she could do that later.
“What do you wish to talk about?”
Hazel couldn’t hold herself back anymore before she pulled the Familiar in for a hug. The yellow one didn’t even know what just happened, but her eyes widened from shock. It was then that she felt shaking, and realized that she was crying.
“Please…don’t do this” Hazel spoke through her crying.
“They don’t care about me, no one does” the Familiar said.
“You’re wrong” Hazel then made the Familiar face her. “There are those who care. There are those who want to help you”
“I want to die. I want to leave this body. I want it to end”
“I know that feeling, and you’re not alone in it” Hazel then set the Familiar down and looked her in the eyes before removing her blazer to reveal the bruises on her arms.
The young Familiar stood back in awe. “Who did this?”
Hazel sighed. “My mother”
“I thought I was the only one”
“You never were. So please, don’t jump off the roof”
The young Familiar hesitated but eventually smiled and nodded.
“Don’t worry about those mean Familiars; I told them off to the manager, he’s currently taking care of it”
The Familiar smiled. “Thank you”
“And about your hat?” Hazel then pulled a familiar blue hat out of the hidden pocket she made in her blazer’s sleeve before she put her cover back on. The owner’s eyes widened with happiness when she saw it. “I got it back from them” she smiled before she put the hat on the Familiar’s head.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Hazel. What’s yours?”
“Hester, Hester Hide”
“That’s a nice name”
“Thanks, yours is too”
“Do you want to go around for a bit? The field trip here lasts until our dismissal period and it’s only been an hour since we got here”
Hester smiled. “I’d love that!”
________________________________________
Throughout the entire time Hazel was there at building filled with Familiars and eager children of her age, she spent her time with Hester. She was enjoying her company. The young Familiar had a vast knowledge about things and very skilled in in her craft. Her only problem was that her fangs hadn’t fully developed yet, thus her defenses hadn’t been manifesting yet and the older Familiars would bully her about it. Hazel then shared that her family was practically weird. The two soon found out that they had so much in common.
Finally, Hazel finally spoke up. “Hester, would you mind accompanying me to the Adopting Room?”
“Why?”
“You know how I wanted to find a Familiar as a friend?”
“Yes?”
“I found one, and she’s standing infront of me right now”
Hester beamed. “You mean?”
Hazel nodded before kneeling down and held Hester’s right paw like one who was asking for a proposal. This is a proposal that would connect them together as lifelong friends. “Hester Hide, will you be my Familiar?”
Hester nodded. “Yes”
“Really?”
“Yes! Yes! All I’ve wanted so far in my life here was to find a perfect Partner!”
Hazel nodded before she pulled Hester into a hug. The little Familiar just allowed it as she was carried to the Adopting Room.
________________________________________
Later…
“Shame I couldn’t find the right Familiar for me” Rosette sighed. “Better luck next time, right?”
Hazel nodded, trying to cheer her friend up.
“What about you? Any luck with finding yours?”
“Oh my dear Rosette” Radiance Delight appeared as she circled the two. Radiant red hair was what gave her name and her eyes were glowing yellow. She was one of the bullies who picked on Hazel, and sometimes even Rosette. “If she had one, wouldn’t it be with her right now? I mean, your little friend here could’ve just found a safe corner and waited this one out”
Right then, a blur of yellow flew out of Hazel and grabbed Radiance by the hair and looked like she was about to bit when she was stopped.
“Hester, no!” Hazel called to her Familiar, earning her attention. “Let her go”
The yellow Familiar sighed. She had new rules now. She let go of Radiance, but erased the girl’s memory of that before having her leave to her seat in the bus. The young Familiar then floated in the air and landed on her Partner’s head. Hazel gave her the look, meaning that she wants her to go back in. Hester sighed, but knew it was for safety. She reluctantly went back into her Partner’s body.
Rosette then snapped out of her daze. “What is that? That was cool”
“Thanks. That was my Familiar, Hester Hide. Hester for short. She can sometimes be a little protective”
Years had passed since that day in the Familiar’s Homes. Over the course of that time, Hazel and Hester have both each blossomed in their own ways. They continued to live their lives with each other, but still were under the hold of Hazel’s mother as she started turning her children into pure pawns. That just even strengthened when Hazel and Hester chose to be part of the Fan side, meaning that Hazel herself would soon grow fangs for preparation as Pegasister. On the other hand, both had been developing their other parts in school.
Hester had soon been able to get out of her shell from her fears and stayed with Hazel. She had hidden herself in Hazel’s body at school like any Familiar would do when they were to hide. Her fangs had eventually developed and were now fully grown. As they grew, so did her Familiar power and her defenses.
Hazel has been progressing rather slower in comparison the Hester, but it was progress nonetheless. She had been able to learn about moving forward but was still shy among crowds. If she tried to speak infront of one, it scares her. Her fangs still hadn’t developed, not even little stubs; they were just her canine teeth. She’s still a hiding type who finds solace in Hester’s comforts when she is in her corner. She had been a bit of a target for many bullies around but then, one day, her soul couldn’t take it anymore.
It was the Third Quarter of her year in Grade 5. She wanted it to stop, but not by dying. Hester gave her the push she needed and the courage that was hiding since that day they met. They were in her little corner where she goes to hide during school breaks.
“They want to break you” Hester said as she appeared to Hazel when they were alone in her hiding corner again.
Her Partner’s eyes showed sorrow as she looked up. Eyes were tearing up, but she didn’t want them to fall.
Hester nodded as though she read her Partner’s mind. “They are wrong about everything they said to you. You have friends. You have me. I’m your friend. Rosette is your friend. Crystal is your friend. You have those who care about you. You remember when you told me that those four years ago?”
Hazel looked up, nodding. She did remember.
“I won’t let them break you. It’s time for us to fight…” she lifted Hazel’s face up before using the nickname she gave her. “…my dear Partner”
Hester knew that by this age, she was able to give her Partner a push she needed if she were too afraid or too hesitant about doing something. She did just that to Hazel. The 11-year old girl felt courage starting to build up in her again after such a long time of dormancy and holding. Hazel’s eyes filled with determination and newfound courage.
Hester smirked as she floated up to her friend. “Now let’s go tell on them, shall we, my dear?”
________________________________________
“When was the last time we spoke?” Rosette asked her friend, Loyalty Dash. He was a friend that she and Hazel had in common. He had blue hair and black eyes.
“I don’t know, but you do” he said to answer her query.
Rosette nodded. “I thought she was siding with the evil Pinkamena. It would explain her behavior and distance since she was being somewhat shunned from us. But, I had it all wrong. She was planning a surprise I’m-Sorry Party with the good Pinkamena”
Loyalty nodded as he listened intently. “Tell me everything that happened”
“We caught her alone after she went to hide again. I, Crystal, Daylight, Serene, ironically also Death Trap. We had her pinned to the wall. I used a bit of my power to keep her Familiar from interfering. She seemed scared but also uncertain. She wanted to make a break for it when she heard the bell ring, but we held her down. Then, she fessed it up. All those things she collected from the hidden corners of her ID’s checklist were merely party supplies in disguise. That art and craft thing I thought was something to use against us was part of the props. And when I questioned her about her behavior, she said…” Rosette felt the tears in her eyes.
“Rosette…”
“…’because it was supposed to be a surprise, until you ruined it!’”
“Rosette…”
“She was trying to make amends with us but we denied her chance to do just that. Now, she has been hiding from us. I know that move anywhere; it’s when she thinks we don’t want to see her again so she thinks she’s doing a favor”
Loyalty didn’t waste any more time to pull his friend in for a hug.
“But I see what she deals with in the classroom due to the fact we’re in the same class” Rosette sobbed. “She’s more vulnerable now to Radiance and her gang. She’s even afraid of just talking. I’m even starting to think she’s gone mute”
“There, there”
“ATTENTION, STUDENTS, ATTENTION!”
The loud sounds of the voice caller immediately scared everyone out of what they were doing. Even Rosette and Loyalty snapped out of their state and paid attention. From the sounds of the voice of their principal on the speaker, they can already tell she’s mad.
“Radiance Delight, Death Trap, and Fright Spin, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE LOBBY ROOM NOW! I REPEAT, RADIANCE DELIGHT, DETAH TRAP, AND FRIGHT SPIN, PLEASE PORCEEDTO THE LOBBY ROOM NOW! ”
The sudden volume and tone in the principal’s voice was enough to scare everyone who was present. They were all frightened. They never truly heard that tone used by their principal before. The students that were called immediately dropped what they were doing and started to march to the Lobby Room. Radiance Delight and her friends just walked on in fear.
Death Trap was red-haired and her eyes were black. Fright Spin was yellow-haired and his eyes were black. They followed their leader Radiance as they entered the Lobby Room.
The Lobby was colored creamy white, with the trophies of the school behind the glass cases. Just infront was the office of the Principal Rose Justice. Finally, the door opened and a woman with grey-black hair and black eyes came out of the room. She wore a mahogany vest and white pants. Behind her was a certain shy child, hiding as though for protection.
The trio of bullies seemed to be looking in disbelief. Did their easiest target just learn to speak up and tell on them? Hazel seemed to just hide behind the principal in fear that they would hurt her again. The principal looked at the victim and assured her.
“It’s okay, they won’t hurt you” she whispered, her tone gentle.
Hazel seemed to understand. She went a bit of a distance away from the scene, but stayed close behind the principal. Justice nodded while giving the vulnerable girl a warm smile, which was returned with a small one. She then glared at the trio who were called. All of them looked frightened and looked down. Justice immediately marched up to them.
“Look at me” she commanded them.
They fearfully obeyed, looking up at their school’s authority.
“Do you know why you were called?”
All of them looked up; waiting for the answer they already knew.
“You all were called for violating one of our most important laws: NO Bullying!”
Hazel watched on. In her head, she could feel Hester patting her head. “You’re brave for it, my dear”
“You have all been doing all forms of bullying to one sole target, which is no more than a lonely and shy girl named Hazel Nut Vine. For three whole quarters, she has been holding back her feelings about this treatment towards her. For three whole quarters, she has endured the pain caused by all of you. For three whole quarters, she has been hiding in the hopes she could escape it. I don’t even know how she’s even still alive and not tried suicide now from all you have done to her!”
She then pointed out their actions each. “You, Fright Spin, threw chewed-up pieces of mint at her even though she didn’t do anything to you!”
Fright Spin bit his lip in shame.
“You, Radiance Glow, used her head as a bookrest and it’s even a miracle that she hasn’t had brain damage yet!”
Radiance fidgeted on her arm.
“And you, Death Trap, I expected more from you. You even defended them rather than defending the victim herself. And all because she hides in a corner?!”
Death Trap opened her mouth to speak, but she was cut off by Hazel.
“I hid in corners to console myself” the shy girl confessed, looking away.
Justice nodded while giving the victim a smile. “See? She only does what she does because she was trying to hide from you! We have already lost Jane Rose two months ago by suicide, and I don’t want another causality like that!” she then sighed. “For now, your punishment is suspension form classes for a week, each of you, and you’re al separated. For your entire suspension, you will clean the school as you think about how it would it be like to be in her shoes. And if I ever catch a word of something like this from her or any student again, I’m sending all of you to the Child Rehabilitation Centre!”
They cringed from hearing that organization. The Child Rehabilitation Centre was meant for children who were causing problems. They get taken away from their parents and are to stay there until certain that they have changed. In other words, it’s like a pound for kids.
Justice then looked at Hazel. “Hazel, I’m impressed that you managed to stay strong enough to tell me the issue before you thought of another way to end it. If they do it again, feel free to tell me, okay?” she patted her head.
Hazel nodded with a small smile. She knew she would be free from the pain now.
“Now go to your room, it’s almost time for Assembly”
Hazel nodded before leaving. As she exited the doors of the Lobby and headed to her room, she felt herself skipping happily. She quickly caught herself and started walking normally.
Hester then popped out of her to speak to her. “See, my dear? You have been brave enough to tell the authority. I’m very proud of you, Hazy”
Hester then giggled when she noticed something. “Haze, look at your fangs”
Hazel was confused at first, but that was when she noticed something on her lips. Hester gave her a small mirror, and when she looked, she was surprised to see that her fangs were showing. For many months, she had been waiting for them to appear, and now they finally did. Fangs mostly appear when a Brony or Pegasister has found what was missing in them; Hazel’s guess was that she was missing courage. Fangs could turn into canines when not in use, like a retractable knife. Hester smiled as her partner made her fangs go back into hiding.
Rosette saw the whole thing with Loyalty, but the part with Hester.
“Looks like your friend is learning to fend for herself”
Over the years, Hazel and Hester have been blossoming. The little fight with Hazel and Rosette has died down and are back as friends again. Hester soon developed some type of attitude that was mostly being overprotective. Hazel soon was able to be near the top of the class, she was Top 5 on the list. It meant a lot, not just for her grades, but possibly for her life. Still, no matter what happened, the treatment from her mother Deceptive Beauty would never cease.
Her brother Trey Strongheart hadn’t been doing well. He rarely ever spoke to the family. All he does now was eat and sleep, and play video games. Hester believes that it was his way of escaping the pain, by escaping even life here. Sometimes the younger siblings would envy him as he found a way out.
Her sister Spring Meadows faired nearly no better. Even her lovelife was on the line. Spring now had to wear clothes that seemed rather obscene by the young, at one point she was in the dress of a prostitute. Deceptive’s idea was to plan an arranged marriage between her and a handsome, rich man. When she saw her daughter’s boyfriend wasn’t what she wanted, she made them broke up. Spring cried and ran into her room, but Deceptive broke the door by kicking it. Now, she’s nothing more than a broken-down pawn.
Hazel and Hester haven’t been better. Hester was trapped into a dark room, separated from her Partner, causing severe pain to both. Deceptive soon found out about a Familiar’s abilities to sometimes have visions about the future so she would scare Hester into giving her numbers form dreams. When denied, she causes extreme pain to her and Hazel.
Hazel was almost broken. Every time that Hester was locked in the room, she didn’t just feel physical pain, but also emotional and psychological. She couldn’t show that Deceptive was breaking her down, so she would run in her room and sob right there. Her mother would even hurt her physically, by pinching, slapping, hitting with a newspaper like a dog, even drowning at two points. It even resulted in blood; Hazel walked out with a bleeding nose.
Deceptive Beauty mostly despised innocence. She saw a child’s imaginative power and innocence as something to be destroyed. Made sense since she was dating around for boyfriends and would even drag Hazel along for the ride, while she was still a toddler. Hazel wasn’t even allowed to speak on the dates she was dragged around for; Deceptive would bruise her hand by crushing it tightly.
For the two who were still fighting, let it not be said that all this didn’t come with a few dark results that may stay there for their lives. Hazel soon developed Bipolar Disorder from the trauma; luckily it was a mild type so it wouldn’t be too obvious. Hester, due to trauma caused by being trapped in dark rooms for so long, had developed Schizophrenia. Due to how they knew how Deceptive would react, they kept their problems a secret, only letting it out when alone.
Hester was thinking about Hazel as she was trapped in that dark room. She really hated the isolation and darkness, but she was more worried for her Partner. When she’s not with her, she knew that there is a lot of pain being caused to her. Still, she didn’t give up.
Unlike Deceptive, Hester saw a child’s innocence and imaginative power as something to be treasured and is something pure. She knew that there was barely any hope for the older siblings but her Partner still had a chance. When she is let out of the room, she immediately goes to her Partner to comfort her. It helped to have a Familiar with her.
Hester would comfort her and help her heal. When they knew that Deceptive and the others were asleep, she would stroke her Partner’s hair as she slept and would whisper to her the same comforting words to help ensure good sleep,
“You’re broken. I’m here; I’m still your friend. You still believe that, right?”
Hazel would mostly give a purr from that.
Hester smiled at herself. “I will put you back together”
That was Hester’s promise to Hazel. She would always be there for her. She would always protect her. She would find a way to help her, and her siblings. What was crucial was that she stayed with her Partner at all times to make sure no harm would come to her.
One day, the day seemed to have finally arrived.
Deceptive Beauty soon put up a restaurant nearby the school of the Partner-Familiar duo. She had the two send out around tickets to the opening. The older two were kept around in the restaurant to prepare to be the chefs alongside the mother. Deceptive also got a dog to help, named Whiz, who was half-Rottweiler, half-Dachshund. But then there was something else; Trey, Spring, Hazel, and Hester were not just pawns for the restaurant’s debut, but also for entertainment.
And it never helped that the first two were adults and the third was a bit taller for her age.
It looked like a real-life version of Five Nights Freddy’s. The three kids and the dog were the trapped children, and the mother was the Purple Guy. It only scared Hazel more, making her more prone to breaking down.
Still, there was a chance of revealing what was really going on in the family. It was on the third week, when Hazel and her classmates were having Gym class. She was lucky the changing room only consisted of her, Rosette, and Daylight.
“You better not think of peeking on me, Hazel!” Rosette reminded her bestie from inside her cubicle.
“I would never even think of it!” Hazel responded in her cubicle.
“Both of you better hurry up!” Daylight called from outside the two cubicles. She had blonde hair and her eyes were blue.
Hazel was a little more concentrated on getting the restraints on her off and hidden without anyone noticing more than anything. She still retained scars from her mother’s blows. Deceptive strapped this thing called a back brace on Hazel. Light brown in color; it had straps that would go on her waist, shoulder blades, and then her spine. It was cloth, but it embeds into her shoulder blades during the first few weeks with it on. Due to this, she can’t raise her arms at full length and it hurts when she carried a heavy backpack for too long.
“Peek-a-boo!” Rosette cried as she lifted herself on her tip toes and surprised Hazel from her cubicle.
The child let out a scream. When she realized it was just Rosette, she covered herself with her jacket by holding it across her body. She looked like she was caught in her underwear; practically that was really what it was. Luckily, it was only her back brace that was seen.
“Not cool! Not cool, man!” she cried out as Rosette lowered herself back into her cubicle, a smirk on her face and laughing.
From outside, she could hear Daylight laughing as well. “What’s wrong, Hazel? Feel so molested?”
Hazel’s eyes widened with fear from that experience. He breathing was still unsettled. She felt a faint blush creep on her face. No doubt, it was making her feel that way, and by her own best friend nonetheless! You try being her shoes and tell me what it’s like! She snapped out of it when Hester gave her a mental whisper.
No time for turning red! Change your clothes. Don’t worry about her; I’ll take care of it later.
Hazel nodded before calming down and getting a hold of herself. She put on her shirt to hide her back brace. Still, she heard screaming coming from Daylight. She put her Gym clothes on as fast as she could before Rosette could get another chance. Still, she kept a sweater on to remove later so as to hide her scars.
When she got out of her cubicle, she saw Rosette covering her mouth to avoid laughter because of what she was seeing. Hazel herself covered her mouth to avoid it. Daylight just had a wedgy that went all the way up to her head. The embarrassed girl hid in the cubicle to fix herself.
Rosette and Hazel stifled their laughter into mere giggles.
I told you, my dear
Hazel stopped giggling when she heard that form Hester. She did that? But she didn’t see her come out of her.
“Daylight, what exactly happened?” she asked.
“I was laughing about how Rosette saw you changing, your reaction, and then the next thing I know; someone grabbed my panties and pulled them up to my head!” Daylight yelled from inside.
“Did you catch who it was?” Rosette asked when she recovered herself.
“No, it’s like no one was there at all!”
Hazel’s eyes widened. Was Hester able to learn Invisibility now? If so, why did she use that to get her revenge?
Rosette then turned to the black-haired girl. “Sorry about that, Hazel”
“It’s fine”
“By the way, I couldn’t help but notice something when I peeked on you. Why are you wearing a back brace?”
Hazel turned red from that, and then lost it as she felt fear. No one was supposed to know that, or Deceptive would have her head!
“What back brace?”
“I saw it! You have a back brace strapped on you! Why are you wearing one?”
Hazel bit her lip before looking down.
“Haze, it’s okay. We’re friends. You can tell me”
She couldn’t. If she did, she was good as dead. She got the restraint off her body already to allow her arms to move, but she had to get it back on after the class was over. Still, she felt scared about revealing the truth behind her life and family.
Daylight chose that moment to come out of the cubicle. “Okay, I’m done! What were you two talking about?”
Rosette still stared at Hazel. The shy girl barely looked up before shaking her head at Daylight. “Nothing”
“Okay, then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Daylight said before dragging Rosette to the group. Hazel bit her lip before following them.
A close call! You were lucky today, my dear. You know what would happen to us if she found out!
________________________________________
Later that day…
“Okay, girls, that was a good shot! It’s almost time for your next class. You may now head to the changing rooms to get back into your uniforms” the Gym teacher declared after blowing a final whistle and looking at her wristwatch. All around, there were sweating and tired students everywhere.
Each grabbed their bags containing their uniforms and headed into the changing rooms. Hazel just couldn’t wait to hide her arms again. Whenever they go Gym class, they students and teacher are too preoccupied with the events that they barely even notice the markings on her arms, making it an advantage for her.
“Hazel, there you are!” Rosette called out as she approached her friend.
“Oh, hi Rosette. How was Gym for you?” Hazel asked as they headed to their changing rooms.
“Exhausting. Can you believe running the entire gym floor for about 20 times?” she wiped a bead of sweat with her sleeve.
“Congratulations, I only lasted for about 12”
Rosette nodded as she took a drink from her water bottle. When they got to their cubicles, Rosette, tired as she was, noticed the scars on Hazel’s arms. “What happened there?” she asked her.
“Hmm?”
“Your arms, they have scars”
“Oh, um…” she hid her arms again. “It’s nothing”
Rosette didn’t have a chance to speak when Hazel went into her cubicle. She herself also went into hers.
“Please don’t do that thing from a while ago again”
Rosette chuckled. “I won’t”
________________________________________
Then came the weekend. This was the period of the week that though some may be excited about, it was one of those days that Hazel dreaded. On the weekends, unlike those who get to relax, Hazel has to join in entertaining the guests at Deceptive’s restaurant. Though it was rather a bit of a decent restaurant to go to, it was a minefield to shy people.
They even had to get into uniform. They were mostly orange for the staff that was in the kitchen. But when it came to the entertainers, the kids and dog, they had to feel some shame.
Trey’s outfit was a sailor suit that he hated the most. He was mostly in charge of cooking, but in terms of entertainment, he had to perform Comedy.
Spring’s outfit was mostly a green and flowery dress that went well with her high heels. She also wore heavy make-up. As a chef, she as in charge of desserts. She was practically a waitress, and those who were enjoying her company think of her as a dessert. In performances on stage, she did Drama.
Hazel felt so embarrassed in her princess-like outfit. It was pink dress with red trimmings and a tiara was resting on her head. She wore white gloves and her hair was kept up in a bun. She had to wear silver-colored heels, much to her pain. She wore make-up that disguised her as an adult when she was only a teenager. She was mostly used for picture-taking and greeting as well as taking people to their seats. On stage performances, she would read poetry with a British accent as her siblings reenacted it.
Then came their dog, Whiz. He had to have his fur trimmed in a way that it would not get on the food when he passed by. He wore a waiter’s costume and had a bag that would contain the papers with the orders on his back. When Spring took an order, he was to go to the table and take the order and carry it in his box to the table. He mostly carried around props when it came to entertainment and doesn’t need to be told twice when there’s in need of a trick.
Another thing that went on in the restaurant was that the children would change their names to avoid suspicion, upon order by Deceptive. Trey was called Troy. Spring was called Summer. Hazel was called Hazlet.
I know what you’re thinking, if they didn’t like the act so much, why do they still do it? Well, they have nearly no choice whatsoever. Deceptive learned about charms and spells. Despite choosing the Anti or Hater side, she managed to find a loophole that would allow her to control her pawns.
She found a charm and spell that was designed for some sort of slavery trick. It was called the Aura’s Cell, a green pendant that would quite literally trap the souls of those that it was used on. She used it on her kids and dog, turning them into mindless zombies to be completely obedient into her bidding. It would leave a significant sign that would show, shrunken pupils. But she used contact lens on their eyes to make things less obvious. Her tactic was to get them to go into their suits. And when they were in their outfits, they were put under that spell.
The restaurant’s popularity soon soared due to the fun for all ages to enjoy. In fact, many people tried to steal something to find the key of its popularity. They were unsuccessful as Deceptive added another thing into her pawns’ programming. If they find someone who looks like they are here to sabotage something, they will turn into a somewhat feral state and attack. Its bad enough for it coming from a dog, but if it’s a kid, you’re terrified out of your mind. And in Hazel’s case, she’ll even bite.
Hester had tried reaching out to Hazel even in that state, but what she found was an empty mind. She was soulless. Her Partner’s soul was trapped in an impenetrable wall. The young Familiar would cry her way throughout the day. Still, she didn’t lose hope.
That very Saturday was when Rosette and her family decided to show up and check out the facilities of her best friend’s restaurant. She thought it was a good idea to see her at work because she seemed friendly and smiling all the time.
She really wasn’t prepared for what she really found that fateful day.
As she entered the restaurant, she was greeted by her friend. Right then, she knew something was wrong. The outfit Hazel was in was something she knew she would never feel comfortable in. It was the type of outfit that if she was ever caught in it by her friends, she would blush with embarrassment and hide her face from the crowd.
But that didn’t happen. She just approached with a smile on her face. It wasn’t a forced smile, it seemed natural. Even more peculiar, she didn’t display her timid and shy nature; she seemed rather confident.
“Welcome to Beauteous Restaurant, a place meant for the young and old alike to eat, drink, be merry, and be entertained!” she gave the signature greeting of the restaurant. “I’m Hazlet; please follow me as I guide you to your table”
After she spoke, she turned about face and started walking to the table. Rosette and her family just followed her. Oddly enough, as she walked, she did a catwalk like a model. Now something was up; she hated modeling or anything to do with it, and she hates make-up. When they got to their table, she let them sit down before pouring them a glass of water each. She then rang a bell she carried around to signal Spring to come over.
“Hey Hazel, you alright?” Rosette asked with worry.
She turned her head and smiled. “Of course I am, child. When have I never been?”
Rosette’s jaw dropped nearly all the way to the floor. Did her best friend just call her ‘child’? And did she just talk like an adult woman? She stared worriedly at the seemingly-confused girl who stood beside her.
“Why do you look upset, child? Can I get you something?”
Rosette looked like she was staring at a ghost. “Hazel, it’s me, Rosette. Remember, your best friend?”
________________________________________
In her mind, Hester was watching. She was getting scared all at once as she looked at the mind’s limp figure of Hazel. In her mind, when she was in that spell, her figure was grey and her eyes were lifeless.
Forgive me for this, my dear Partner. But I must act now while I have a chance.
________________________________________
Hester gained temporary control of Hazel’s body. Familiars could do this at times, and she knew Hazel would hate this, but this was an emergency. She leaned into Rosette’s ear, and whispered, “Save us, Rosette! ”
It took a huge amount of her own energy to do an act like that, so it was no surprise that after those words exited her mouth, she retreated back into the safety of Hazel’s body to watch her Partner’s form. Hazel herself just went back into her position form earlier as though nothing happened. And just in time too; Spring had finally arrived to take orders. That was her signal to go and attend to her affairs.
“Welcome to Beauteous Restaurant, may I take your order?” she asked while getting ready with her notepad and pen.
________________________________________
“Everyone, please stay in your seats” Deceptive called out on the microphone as she announced it was the Hourly Entertainment Period. “The show shall begin momentarily”
Rosette sat down in her seat with her family as they waited for the show. She wanted to see her friend. ‘Save us, Rosette’? What did she mean by that? Was someone controlling them into making them act the way they are? Who did they need saving from?
The curtains on the stage parted before the lights turned off. Then, in the darkness, three shadows appeared. One was sitting while the other two were standing. The first light reappeared on Hazel as she sat on a chair with her book of poems in her hands. Two lights then appeared on her brother and sister.
Then the act began as Hazel read the poem, her brother and sister reenacted it. Her sister was the protagonist whilst her brother was the antagonist.
I was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears, Night & morning with my tears: And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night. Till it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine, And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole, When the night had veiled the pole; In the morning glad I see; My foe outstretched beneath the tree
By the time the act was over, Hazel closed her book while her brother lay on the stage as though dead and her sister stood above him as though proud. The lights on stage then turned off as the curtains closed. Then the lights in the whole restaurant came back.
Deceptive then stood on stage, the microphone in her hand as she called for the curtain call. “Bravo! The trick of the hour! Let’s hear for our cast!”
Right after that, the children immediately went behind the curtains again as they readied to hurry back to their positions. Rosette excused herself from her mother by saying she needed to use the restroom. In reality, she only left because now was her chance to catch her glimpse of Hazel and talk to her before the girl went back to her business.
It wasn’t hard to find her backstage. Spring and Trey had already left to take care of their own business. Hazel was putting her book back into the shelf by the time Rosette found her.
“Hazel!” she called to her.
She wasn’t aware that it only made her think she was someone here to sabotage the restaurant. When the black-haired girl turned her head, she saw Rosette as a threat. Eyes turned like a cat’s, as expected, as she let out a snarl.
Rosette flinched at that. She snarled at her. Hazel Nut Vine, her best friend, just snarled at her! She’s seen her have these tendencies at school, but those were more tamed and it was to defend her. This was different; it was more feral and she looked like she meant it. Still, she didn’t back down. She walked over to her now-crouching down friend.
“Hazel, please. I know you this isn’t you. Fight it!”
The only thing it did was make her growl and lunge at her, pinning her to the wall. Rosette looked up to see that some sort of monster had taken over the place of her shy best friend. The eyes that were once filled with a shy and timid demeanor had been replaced by rage and ferocity. Hazel was baring her sharp fangs that had been developing since Grade 5. Rosette knew that she was serious. She tried to struggle against her force, but she was surprisingly strong. She knew that it would mean she was about to get hurt by her friend. Still, she saw a hint of distress in her eyes, as though calling for help.
She had to help her find the strength to break free. “Hazel, I know you’re in there! Whatever’s controlling you, fight it!”
________________________________________
From inside the black-haired girl’s mind, Hester heard it and was trying to get her Partner to regain control of her body.
“Come on, my dear!” she kept shaking her figure. “Your friend’s in trouble!”
Hazel’s grey figure only hung limp.
________________________________________
Hazel hissed in response.
Rosette’s eyes begin to water from the sight.
“Hazel, please”
________________________________________
Hester didn’t give up. She then dragged her Partner’s figure to the area where she was able to view what went on outside. She then lifted her head to see. Hazel’s eyes went around as though dizzy. Eventually they stayed still in one place, right at the screen. Then something happened. When Hazel saw Rosette’s scared face and how she was about to bite her, her eyes returned back to life.
“Rose…ette…” she choked out.
Hester then noticed that Hazel’s figure, her colors, was coming back. Before long, her colors all returned as life inside her eyes came back. Hazel took a deep breath as she regained control of her body.
________________________________________
Rosette cringed in fear and she shut her eyes tightly as Hazel prepared to bite her. She swore those fangs were so sharp that one bite in the neck could kill someone in an instant. She couldn’t believe she was practically gonna die at the hands of her own best friend. She closed her eyes for her fate when all of the sudden, the force applied on her was gone.
She opened her eyes slowly to see that Hazel’s eyes had returned to normal and now displayed a scared emotion. She then backed up, allowing Rosette to move. Her eyes then filled with tears as the make-up applied on her began to get smudged.
“Hazel…”
Before she could get a chance to talk to her, the scared girl ran off. Rosette didn’t waste a second as she chased after her. They dashed through the halls. One was running due to the fear that she lost her friend. The other was running to catch up and help her friend. Still, as she ran, she couldn’t believe what just happened. A while back it seemed there was no hope that she could reach out to her, but at the last minute, she came out of her state just in time. Finally, Hazel ran into the restroom for employees and hid in a cubicle. Rosette went in after her.
The shorter girl looked around and followed the sounds of someone crying. She finally found the cubicle that Hazel was hiding in. Putting her ear against the wall of the cubicle, she heard the sounds of her friend sobbing uncontrollably.
She was hesitant, but she knocked on the door. “Hazel? It’s Rosette”
She only heard sobbing. “Go away! I’m a bad child! A bad one!”
“Hazel, please. Please come out. We can talk about it”
There was sniffling being heard inside. Then the clack of a door was heard. Rosette backed up to see her friend. The door opened and she saw Hazel still crying. Her eyeliner and blush were now smudged from her tears. The crying girl looked down in shame as she sobbed.
“I’m…sorry…” she choked out from the sobs. “I’m so…sorry…”
Rosette knew that tone anywhere. That was her Hazel. She knew that she was scared about how she could’ve hurt or even killed her own best friend.
“I didn’t mean…to hurt you…Rosette…”
She was surprised when her victim pulled her in for a hug. She forgave her? She could’ve killed her, but she still forgave her? She felt the calmness in the hug. There was assurance in it as she felt Rosette apt her back. Scared, but not wanting to seem hostile, Hazel slowly raised her arms to return the hug. They were in that state for a bit, and then Rosette let her go.
Rosette lifted her friend’s face so they were eye to eye. She gave her a warm smile.
“You’re not…mad at me?”
“Hazel, I knew my own best friend would never want to hurt me”
The shy girl let out a sigh of relief. Rosette led her to a nearby bench in the restroom and they sat down together.
“Tell me, who made you do this?”
Hazel sighed. It was time to reveal the truth behind the family.
________________________________________
For the past few minutes, Hazel had been confessing about the works that her mother had done to her and the family. How she took away her confidence. How she broke her sister. How she was kept intact by Hester. How her mother was controlling them through a pendant.
“It has our souls” she added. “But mostly only my brother and sister’s. I managed to retain mine because the effects of the pendant only control those with disorders, not take their souls”
“That would explain the feral behavior. I knew something was up”
“Because I wasn’t acting like myself?”
“No, because you would never dress like a princess in a crowd without feeling shy or scared”
Hazel then noticed her outfit before covering her face. From the trails that her tears peeled away the make-up, one could see a blush of embarrassment creep up on her face as she let out an ‘Eeep!’
Rosette chuckled. “Yep, that’s my Hazel, always hates the make-up”
“What are we gonna do? My mom would kill me when she sees that I smudged my make-up! She’ll find out how half my soul managed to stay in my body!”
“Relax!” Rosette then pulled out a small make-up kit.
Hazel’s jaw dropped. “How do you carry that around?”
“I have my ways” she said before grabbing a wet tissue and handing it to Hazel. “First, clean up your old make-up”
Hazel nodded before doing as she was told. “I’m sorry about almost biting you”
“It’s alright. By the way, how did you find a way to regain control?”
“You can thank Hester for that. She saw everything from her being a Familiar so she dragged my limp soul to where she viewed everything. When I saw what was happening, I was just filled with enough courage to break out of my confinement and regain control over my body” Hazel said as she wiped her face clean.
Rosette nodded. “Good thing you got a Familiar who could do that”
“Yeah” she then cringed.
“What’s wrong?”
Hazel’s eyes turned white, then back to normal as she regained herself. “We have to be quick. It won’t be long before I go back into that zombie-like state called Hazlet”
Rosette grabbed a brush and had Hazel sit still. “Then hold still and we’ll get you back in your disguise in no time”
________________________________________
The duo was lucky that it was Hazel’s rest break that time. Rosette was quick in her work and she finished working on Hazel in a matter of about five minutes. Before long, she looked like her Hazlet self.
“That is so cool” Hazel said while she looked into the mirror. “Thank you”
“My pleasure. Though, I have to ask, you said the pendant, when used on one with a disorder, only controls them but didn’t take their soul, right?”
“Yes?”
“You have a disorder??”
“Yep. The whole trauma had caused me to develop Mild Bipolar Disorder. Hester is a bit Schizophrenic”
“How come we didn’t notice it at school?”
“Mine’s mild so it can’t be too obvious, and Hester could hide. We only ever let it out when alone. Promise you tell anyone?”
“I promise. Let’s go”
Both hurried back to their posts just in time as Hazel went back into her Hazlet manner. Rosette managed to make it back to her family just in time as well.
“Where were you?” her mother asked.
“Talking to my friend”
________________________________________
Hazel’s figure began to turn grey again. She smiled at Hester. “You did well, Hest. You did well”
“My pleasure. Don’t worry, our freedom is near”
“I’ll hold you to that” Hazel said before her eyes turned lifeless again and she was completely grey. Hester pulled her friend close for a hug.
“I promise you”
It was no easy task after the events that transpired on that Saturday. Rosette had been keeping an eye on Hazel to make sure that there were no problems with her so far. And so far, the shy girl had been just the same. She then soon had a bit of a talk with Hester to hear how she deals with these issues. Hester seemed rather a bit indifferent but also somewhat affectionate at times. She discovered that she mostly cared about her Partner more than herself.
They realized that the three must find a way to put an end to all this misery. They have to find a way to snap her brother and sister out of it. Knowing how difficult it would be reach her sister and how her brother rarely ever pays attention, they had to find a well-formulated plan. The dog was no problem; he was just a born follower.
They knew very well that the weekends are the only time that one could ever catch all of them in one place. Plus, Hazel could resist the effects of the spell in the pendant if she tried hard enough. If they could do that, and find a way to reach to the other two, then they may have a chance. Once they are all out of the spell, Rosette could call the police and report about this. Finding a place for the siblings could wait, they needed to get them away from all this pain before more could happen.
Familiars were able to control their Partner’s if needed for a limited time. The last time Hester did that with Hazel was without her consent so she didn’t last long. Now, Hazel was to allow it so that Hester could last longer. Since Familiars were immune to the effects of the Aura’s Cell, it should be easier for her to gain the upper hand in attacking.
Rosette chose the Pegasister side like Hazel and Hester and their friends, and that was coming useful. Bronies and Pegasisters of their age now were able to develop Equestrian Girl magic and can make them useful. Hazel rarely ever used hers and only practiced in private with Hester, but Rosette had been developing hers openly and could now be very advanced in this.
They were backstage again, and it was again Saturday. It was an easy task to snap Hazel out of her Hazlet manner. Now they just had to do the same to Spring and Trey. It was an easy task finding them since there wasn’t much of a business going on. The staff was a good amount so they weren’t needed yet in the kitchen.
“You sure about this?” Hazel asked.
“Just believe this will work, okay?” Rosette watched as the zombie-like brother and sister came close by.
Hazel nodded. She allowed her Hazlet manner to return, but now Hester was in control, and she fared better this time. With her Partner’s approval, this task is now easier for the Familiar to gain temporary control of her body. As Hester gained control over the body, she used the Hazlet manner for her own use.
Spring, in her Summer manner, spotted Rosette backstage with her sister, and saw her as a threat. Her eyes became like a cat’s, as her fangs sharpened. Hester did the same, but this time, she set her attack on Spring. The sisters grappled on to each other, but Hester soon gained the upper hand and pinned down her Partner’s sister.
“Now, Rosette!” she yelled as she held Spring in place.
Rosette nodded as she used her Equestria Girl magic to make a memory of Spring’s past appear. Hazel was able to see most of the events of Spring’s pain when she was awake, but if asleep was Hester’s duty.
Rosette used one that was the very last struggle that Spring ever put up before she succumbed and became a broken-down pawn of their mother. It was the memory of her mother making her and her boyfriend break-up.
________________________________________
“I don’t care what you think you love! You tell that boy to leave now and never come back!” Deceptive Beauty yelled at her daughter Spring Meadows. From the hallways, hiding behind the wall, was Hazel and Hester.
“But, mom, please!” Spring begged. “I love him!”
“No you don’t! I have already found a suitable husband for you! One richer and more handsome!”
“I don’t want to marry someone I don’t even know! If I want to marry, I want to marry for love!”
“If you love me, then you shall abandon that puny excuse of a man!”
“He may have given me more love than you ever did!”
Deceptive huffed before she threw death glare and slapped Spring across the face. She held her stinging check as it burned red. She looked up in tears at her mother, who still gave her a stare like death.
“You will leave that boy and do as I say” she told her sternly.
Not being able to control her emotions anymore, she let out a final yell before running upstairs to her room. She could’ve bumped into Hazel if Hester didn’t pull her out of the way. The angry mother chased after her daughter. There was some sort of crash sound as she ran up. Deceptive ran up to see what happened and it only made her even angrier. When she finally got in her room, she locked the door behind her before burying her face into the pillow.
“GET OUT OF THAT ROOM THIS INSTANT, YOUNG LADY!”
When Deceptive got no response, she began to kick at the door relentlessly. She showed no mercy. She yelled all the way as she kicked. The door was so damaged from the kicking that by the time it was over, there was a giant crack in the door and half the layer was now gone. It’s still there to this day but it covered by a poster.
Hazel knew the risks of what would happen if she went up to see anything, but her own curiosity got the best of her. When she went up, she saw what made the crashing sound a while back. The mirror of her mother was on the floor, all broken into practically a million pieces. No wonder she got so mad she destroyed half the door.
Hazel then noticed that her mother had seen her. Since her Familiar was in her, she was able to see through her mother’s eyes. What she found were rage and coldness. It was like looking into cold mirrors, and she couldn’t find herself in them.
Finally, her mother broke the silence. “Get the broom”
As Hazel went, she failed to notice that Hester had turned invisible and checked on Spring Meadows. She felt the last of her will to struggle for freedom and hope had dwindled. Ever since then, Spring had never been nothing more than a broken pawn. And it was all because of that day. The day that her mother made her unable to feel true love.
________________________________________
Spring felt a string of hope return as half of her soul was freed from the Aura’s Cell. It was not much, but it’s enough to keep her from going into that Summer-manner. Spring’s eyes returned to normal as her fangs went back into their hiding places. When Hester sensed it was safe, she let her go, allowing her to breathe.
Spring immediately broke down in tears as she sank to her knees. It was so unfair. Her mother made her forget that she was the reason she couldn’t freely love. She remembered that the next day, she did break up with her lover. She made her into his broken pawn that does her bidding by force.
“Oh Clyde…” she sobbed, smearing up her make-up.
Hester nodded with Rosette. One down, one to go.
________________________________________
They managed to handle Trey just fine. He was a bit harder to catch since he was both the eldest and he was strong. Though he didn’t really work out that much, he still delivered a punch on Hester that would keep Hazel’s jaw numb from pain. Atleast that would come in handy in later events. Still, they managed to get him to hold still with both efforts from Hester and Spring as Rosette finally made him remember also that day he gave up and hid from reality.
He was a tougher rock, but in the end, they got everyone on the same page. Whiz was no trouble as he was just a dog. They all confessed what Deceptive had done to them. Thought they may not last long with only half a soul, it was enough to hold off until the police would arrive. But before Rosette could make the call, Deceptive finally caught up on them.
She trapped what remained in Trey and Spring that would allow them to even leave the house, same for Hazel. Still, they were more resistant and the dog was now on their side. Deceptive knew she should do worse so she had them sent to the house, all with Rosette.
Not too frightening, but she was busy now. When she gets home, she will have her word and make sure to give them each a punishment worse than anything she had ever done. This time, however, she will also include Rosette, and make hers worse than theirs. And it won’t help that she casted a spell on the house that would prevent them from leaving or even getting a signal to call for help. In other words, when the sun’s down, they’re all doomed.
“Oh, what are we gonna do?!” Spring panicked as they noticed that they were all in Hazel’s room.
“You guys, I can’t get a signal at all!” Rosette called out as she waved her phone around.
“That’s the point!” Hester said as she got out of Hazel. “Deceptive’s taken out the signal here and put up a barrier spell to prevent us from leaving”
“We’re screwed” Troy crossed his arms together.
“Arf!” Whiz barked.
“When mom gets home, we’re all as good as dead!” Spring elaborated.
“But, people will come looking for us, right?” Rosette asked. “I mean, they have to. One missing student and her siblings are suspicious enough but another student? They have to come find us!”
Hazel shook her head as she looked down in shame. “Mom mostly tells us that no one cares about us. That no one would even care if we went missing. Makes sense, all I do is hide and talk with Hest”
“I just cook in the kitchen and be a waitress, but anyone could do that” Spring added.
“Just a chef in a sailor suit, nothing much. Other than that, I just stay out of reality” Troy nodded.
“Arf!” Whiz barked before panting.
“I’m sorry I dragged you into this Rosette” Hazel looked down. “I should’ve just stayed shut to keep you safe”
Rosette went immediately to her friend. “Don’t’ say that”
She then noticed something. Hazel looked like she was turning paler. She looked rather unhealthy now as it looked like she was about to collapse any moment now.
“What’s happening to you?”
Hester provided an answer as she felt at her Partner’s forehead. Surely enough she also began to turn pale herself, but was still strong nonetheless. “The effects of the Aura’s Cell are catching up on her. It can’t really take her soul, but it eventually weakens her. At this rate, she’ll soon fall into a comatose”
Rosette shook her head in disbelief. “No…”
“I know after this, she will make me forget about you, and hurt Hester to the core, maybe even cut her off completely”
“She couldn’t make you forget your best friend…” she then seemed uncertain. “…right?”
Hester floated over to them. “I had to help her remember that he mother was the reason her pet rabbit, and two puppies had died, and that she isn’t really innocent of gore”
Rosette’s jaw dropped all the way to the floor. She did that? If she could do that, then that would mean…no.
Hazel forced a smile. “It’s been nice knowing you though, Rosette. You were my one true friend no matter what”
“And I will always be, just stay awake and with us, Hazel!” Rosette begged as she held her friend’s face up to meet with her eyes.
“You know something, Rose?” Hazel asked as her eyes were barely up. “I sometimes wondered what a limbo-state would be like”
“No, Hazel, please, stay with us”
Hazel forced a small smile. She had gone this far, practically only for this effort to be wasted. Then again, she always thought that no one would worry about her if she ever got hurt. Atleast she got her brother and sister to come out of their pawn-state, even for a bit. And she got to have a wonderful Familiar and had a great bestie. She closed her eyes as sleep came to her.
“Hazel?” Rosette shook her friend, she just hang limp. “Hazel, no! No!”
Hester nuzzled her Partner as she knew it won’t be long before she and the others also follow suit. Whiz let out a whine and lied down as Spring and Troy shared a hug and they turned pale. Rosette laid her friend down as she began to sob. This wasn’t fair; these kids never got to have a normal childhood. They rarely got to feel a normal parental love. She was their hope to help them be freed from this torment, but now this was their last. It was even harder since that one of them was her best friend.
Hester wiped her eye as she looked outside. She noticed something about the barrier. It looked, like it was paler. Wanting to take a chance, she opened the window and put her paw out. Her paw went right through the barrier. As she touched it, she felt something else.
“Hazel?”
Rosette looked up at the Familiar who was calling her friend’s name.
“The barrier, it’s weaker now” Hester spoke up as she pulled her paw back.
Spring tilted her head as she got out of her brother’s embrace. Troy then took Rosette’s phone on the floor; and noticed that it was gaining a faint signal. She went over to the window, and tried to put her hand through the barrier, but she was denied. To her, it was solid wall. Hester did her action again, and it still went how she did the first time.
“It only allows Familiars out now”
“But, you couldn’t do it the first time” Troy pointed out.
“No, I couldn’t. Not until…” she then realized it. “…Hazel”
Rosette covered her mouth.
“It’s her consciousness. With her unconscious, it allows me to break out. But not for long” she felt the barrier harden at her touch again.
“What if we go unconscious as well?” Spring suggested. “Maybe if you have the consciousness of three kids, you’ll have enough to hold the barrier long enough for Rosette to call for help”
“I don’t know; it’s too risky” Hester pointed out.
“Let’s do it” Rosette spoke up.
The young Familiar was shocked as she nearly dropped her jaw. “WHAT?!”
Rosette looked up, wiping her tears away. “I came here to help three children, a Familiar, and a dog escape their abuse, and that’s what I’m to do. When I first met Hazel, I thought she was just naturally shy. But then I saw the truth, she’s been restrained, forced, and even scarred. I thought she wouldn’t be able to survive for long, but she was a fighter by just resisting suicide. I came this far with her and Hester’s help, now I must finish this. The only question is, are you willing?”
The two siblings, dog, and Familiar all looked to one another, as though for approval. They all wanted this pain to end. They wanted to have their freedom. All nodded in approval.
Rosette gave her nod as well. She peered down at her friend. “Don’t worry, Hazel. I’ll get you all out of here”
It was a bit of a sacrifice for all of them. Spring and trey were giving up half their souls and fell to the floor as Hazel did earlier. Whiz was told to go and guard the door and hold Deceptive off long enough to allow Rosette to call for help. Hester knew that a Familiar could only hold so much power so she took precaution to make sure she would be able to control this much power from three siblings. Rosette readied her phone. The police were nearby, but they had to be quick. Time was running out. It was near sundown and that would mean they only had a few minutes before Deceptive came, beat Whiz, and caught them.
They got into their posts. Since Troy and sister Spring still had half a soul to keep them standing, they decided to stay on guard as well to hopefully buy more time. Whiz was at the door, guarding. Troy was at the staircase’s base. Spring was guarding the hallway. Rosette, Hester, and Hazel were in the sleeping girls’ room. Hazel was on the floor while Hester starting drawing power from the three siblings as Rosette kept her phone alive.
“Okay, on a count to three, you hold off the barrier while the send the message, got it?” Rosette asked as Hester went infront of the open window.
Hester nodded as she readied her magic.
“Okay, one…”
Whiz sensed the approach of sunset.
“…two…”
Hester prepared herself.
“…three!”
Hester drew enough power from the three siblings and held back the barrier. Her magic struggled against the power as Rosette started to look for the right angle of the signal. She finally found it as the phone finally caught the police’s signal.
“Hello, Police, how may we help you?” the phone rang out.
“You’re calling by phone call? This already hurts!” Hester growled as she struggled.
Rosette put the phone to her ear as she stayed close to the source. “Hello, police yes. I’d like to call for an emergency. Please come here quickly. There’s a mad woman whose abusing her children and she’s gonna kill us! We don’t have much time!”
As Rosette made the phone call, Deceptive finally arrived home. She already heard them making the call and got angry.
That’s it! Forget just the sticks and tasers! She thought. I will make sure they never again see the light of day! Rosette, you’re about to face the same fate!
“Ma’am, where is the address?” the police asked.
“The Mansion in the Woods!” she cried out with the distinct name of the address. Everypony practically knew that there was only one area with that name. The Mansion in the Woods was so named because it was a mansion that was near the woods.
Deceptive kicked the door open, nearly throwing Whiz to the wall. The little dog regained his bearings as he went into attack mode. The woman and the dog fought for a bit, but she soon was able to defeat him by tasing him. The dog down, she left the taser there and started to the stairs.
She was angrier than ever now. Her own children were fighting as her reputation was being destroyed. Spring was a bit of a warrior princess in terms of combat. They had a bit of a katana fight, each wielding one the same as the other. Spring was stalling as long as she could, ignoring how her body was getting weakened with only half a soul to keep up. Still, despite how she wanted to keep awake, her body was failing her and she eventually gave into the pain. For her own safety, Deceptive took her daughter’s own katana and drove it through her hand, making her stuck to the floor.
She kicked the door open, but by that time, Rosette had long ended the call and the police were not far behind. When the door bust open, Rosette screamed in fright as Hester shielded her and Hazel from the splinters and hid, dragging them with her magic, under the bed. Hazel was still out so she didn’t know. Hester was already on the verge of collapsing due to the huge amount of energy used.
“Hazel? Rosette? Hester?” the crazed mother called out as she looked around for the remaining three. “Where are you? Playing hide and seek, are we?” she then looked at the desk. “Could they be, behind the desk?” she found nothing. “Could they be, in the closet?” she opened it to only find clothes.
No one make a sound , Hester sent a mental message.
The sudden surprise was enough to make Rosette let out a yelp.
Deceptive heard that and looked under the bed. “Could they be, under the bed?” she then peeked and grinned when she found them. The awake duo screamed as Deceptive began to pull the sleeping Hazel out of the bed. Rosette and Hester tried to keep her with them, but they ended up getting pulled out as well.
Hester lunged at Deceptive and bit on her arm. The angry woman did as much as she could and finally pulled her off but then tased her before she threw the Familiar to the wall, knocking her out unconscious. Rosette then looked up as the crazed mother pulled up a knife.
She closed her eyes as she braced for her fate, but it never came. She opened one eyes and saw that Hazel had woken up and shielded her from the knife with her own body. The look in her eyes was a mix pain and utter fear as she felt that she was gonna die. Still, she found a bit of strength left and head-butted her mother, knocking her down to the floor. She then fell to the floor as she began to cough up blood.
“Hazel!” Rosette went forward, but the wounded girl gestured for her to go. “Hang on!”
“Rosette…go…” she choked out.
“No! I won’t leave you here!”
A groan was heard as they noticed that Deceptive was quick to regain consciousness.
“GO!” Hazel chocked out.
Rosette felt the tears pear up in her eyes. Her friend was dying on the floor and now she was telling her to go on without her? She couldn’t do that. Still, it seemed she had no choice left. And she had none as Hazel, using final bit of Equestrian Girl magic, made her fly out of the room. The last thing the little girl felt before blacking out was satisfaction.
Rosette rose to her feet as she now had no choice but to run and hide until the police and hospital get there. She bit her lip and stopped tears as the faces of her friends passed by her. She had to run as fast as she could to avoid the hands of the crazed mother. She dodged a thrown knife every now. Finally she got out of the house, but the barrier still trapped her within the gates.
She looked up to see the crazed eyes of the insane woman. She had the Aura’s Cell in her hand. She knew what that meant; Deceptive was gonna take her soul and make her like the pawns. She felt that her soul was leaving her body as the pendant began to glow green.
And it all stopped, and she kept her soul. It was a surprise but then they looked to see that Rosette was now in a protective barrier spell. The lights of a group of police cars lit up as sirens were heard. That was when they noticed that the police had arrived, accompanied by an ambulance. Deceptive started backpedalling, but the police had handcuffed her as Rosette stood up, took the pendant from her neck, and smashed it to the ground. Four distinct souls escaped the breaches of the prison and went into the house, back into their proper owners.
“Miss, are you alright?” one of the police asked as they helped her up.
“I’m fine, but there are three kids and dog in there! I think they’re bleeding to death!”
The staff of the hospital nodded as they went in to do their work. They ran as fast as they can, bringing along stretchers and bandages and first aid kits to help. Rosette watched as they went and found the victims, her only hope was that they would still live.
________________________________________
Darkness. That was all Hazel saw after she closed her eyes from blood loss. She saw just a dark space. No sound. No sight. Everything was just pitch black. Was she dead? She thought she was. But then she heard a sound.
Hello? Ma’am?
She slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry at first, but she was soon able to see. She saw the face of a woman who worked for the hospital. Her ears perked up at the sounds of wheels and sirens.
“Ma’am, can you hear me?” the woman asked her when she noticed she was awake. “What’s your name?”
“Hazel…Nut…Vine…” she choked out weakly.
“Okay, Hazel, don’t worry. You’re safe now” the woman assured her as she put a gas mask on her mouth.
Hazel’s head was too heavy for her to lift for now and she didn’t have much strength. Her eyes were still able to move so she scanned everything with them. Looking up, she saw her siblings and dog were each on a stretcher, bandaged and breathing through gas masks as they were attached to a life support machine.
Her eyes darted to her left to see that her mother was handcuffed and put into a straightjacket and into a van for the insane as she protested violently. Right beside Hazel was her Familiar Hester, who was already healing but in the same state as she was.
She then moved her eyes around and found Rosette. She saw her friend was looking at her as though to make sure. Though she has fears in her eyes, she gave her a small smile. Hazel returned it, as though thanking her, before closing her eyes to get some rest.
With her own bit of strength, Hester gave Rosette a mental message.
Thank you
Hazel and her family had been taken into hospital care, mostly in the Intensive Care Unit due to the severity of their injuries. The dog was quick to recover and he was kept in the Foster Section of the nearby pet shop until the owners came for him. The others were practically in comatose due to the amount of blood loss. It was a surprise to the doctors when they found that Hazel had been recovering faster than her brother or sister, like her Familiar. Her stab to the chest was life-threatening and may have killed her, but she managed to cling on for life.
Soon enough, Hazel and Hester woke up. They were first the first two to come out of a coma among the family. Both were visited by Rosette and their friends mostly on weekends when there was no school. They were excused from the missed out projects and were able to do the make-up ones while looking for something to do. Hester was already able to move out of her bed but her Partner was still bedridden until the wound completely heals. Aside from the staff that regularly checked on them, the duo was each other’s only company.
Eventually, the brother and sister soon regained consciousness and the duo knew that while she was watching from the TV. Spring already regained her normal and cheery demeanor, and Trey had already started wanting to play video games again.
Deceptive was kept trapped in her cell in prison for years of child abuse and even attempted child murder. She was kept in solitary and labeled under, “Do Not Approach without a Group for Safety”.
Soon enough, they were all discharged from the hospital. They didn’t want to go back to the Mansion as there were too many bad memories in those walls. They took what was really theirs and left the Mansion, filled with only the belongings of their mother. They decided to move into a hotel room for rent until they could already have their own homes. The older two were able to get along pretty well as they were already adults. Hazel was just a young girl who was just recently in her teenage years.
Then came the rule of Knighty as he took charge over the Writers of the Fan side. He was a good leader as he maintained the peace for them all. Hazel and Hester registered themselves under the Writers group. There were advantages for being part of the Fan side. The ones who chose to be a Fan had been able to heal their wounds rather quickly, but if they have scars, it’s stuck. Then, each one had their own house already built up and ready for them to occupy. Each sibling got their own houses as they found a livelihood in each group.
Still, there was the war of the Fans and Haters as it began to go from bad to worse in a way that they couldn’t be put in one room without it resulting into physical violence. Eventually, the Leader of the Antis had begun to pronounce war on them. The only trouble was that if the realm of their Wonderland had descended into war, it would be disastrous for both sides.
Twilight Sparkle and an Alicorn-like Snowdrop had to find a way to keep the Fan side safe and Antis from getting to them. The most reasonable thing to do would be to cast a barrier spell that would be able to keep everyone safe. This spell was a different and unique one. When casted, the only ones who could go in and out of the barrier with no trouble would be the Fans. The Antis will keep out no matter what they try. No one would have to stay up to keep it up. The only problem was that they lacked something, or rather someone, to perform it.
There were three participants needed to make the spell a success. They would need a well-known Canon Alicorn; Twilight was perfect for the part. The second thing needed was a partly-known OC; Snowdrop was perfect for the part. The last thing that was needed was the problem as they couldn’t be found; an alive, even if low-profile, Hidebrit.
Earlier it was mentioned that there were two sides in the Fan side, Hider and Biter. Well, there was only one exception that made its debut and had been scarce ever since. There was a type called Hidebrit, they were a mix of Hider and Biter. They had both the characteristic of both Hider and Biter. The only problem was that Hidebrits were the rarest and only one could exist in this realm at a time. The worst part: the last one died by suicide before anyone, even him, could even find out about that. That Brony’s name was Adam Smith.
The first ones who found out about his status was Snowdrop when winter came and her snowflakes found the truth. Of course, Antis tend to fear for any new Hidebrit. There was a type of thing that they could use that would mean the future of the two sides of Fan and Anti. Ever since Adam, there had been no sightings of any alive Hidebrits since. It got even worse when one of the Antis casted a spell that would trap the Hidebrit Gene and keep it dormant. The only way to activate it was for the bearer to survive an incident that could’ve been fatal twice.
Lacking a Hidebrit, Twilight and Snowdrop had to find another way to keep this safe. They put up a barrier spell, but this version was a weaker one so even is the Fan side could get in, they couldn’t get out and Antis just had to try hard enough. Because of this, atleast one Brony, Pegasister, OC, or Canon Character must stay up to keep the barrier in place. Fortunately, the Antis didn’t know it yet so they were safe for the time being. It was around this time that they were able to get all of the Fan side to come into the safety of the barrier.
“Just a substitute until we find one to help us” Twilight explained as the last Brony and Pegasister made their way into the safety of the barrier.
Snowdrop sighed. “I doubt we’ll ever even find another one. And if we ever did, they’d be dead before we can even find out”
“Have some faith, Snowdrop. And keep your snowflakes moving about to keep watch”
“Won’t need to be told twice”
Down below, amongst those who were moving into their new homes, were Rosette, Hazel, and Hester. Hester was lifting their luggage at ease with her levitation. Hazel’s siblings had already gone into their separate homes that were a few blocks away from one another.
“So you and Hester could live on your own like this?” Rosette asked to make sure.
“Hest and I always tend to act a bit more grown up than our original age, plus we managed to live by Eifos’ teaching us to make clay figurines so they should provide enough for our lives here”
Rosette nodded. “Okay, but if you guys need anything, my house just across the street” she pointed to her house.
Hazel nodded as Hester opened the door of their house and carried the bags inside before perching on her Partner’s shoulder.
“We’ll do, if needed, Rosette” the cheeky Familiar grinned.
The girl gave a smile. “Okay, see you around!”
“Take care!”
“You both too!”
A smile on their faces, the Partner-Familiar duo went into the house to begin their new, freed life. They enrolled into the school that was around in the Fan region so they could finish their studies. They kept visits around their friends and family every now and then to maintain bonds. Still, the scars of their lives were still here to haunt them, both physical and psychological.
The house was just fine for them to live in. The furniture was put there already like every house, courtesy of their Rulers. The living room was fine, complete with a couch, television, coffee table, and computer. The kitchen was already with a desk, kitchen supplies, stove, plates, utensils, water dispenser, and refrigerator. There were two bathrooms, one on the first floor, and another on the second. Empty shelves hung on some of the rooms. There were two bedrooms: One for them and one for any OCs they plan on making.
It was a two-story house rather than a mansion. The house had ordinary lightbulbs rather than the fancy chandeliers in their old house. The walls only had normal paint, not the marble type of the old walls. It had natural fresh air rather than those perfumes Hazel was forced to tolerate until she got a sinus attack. They were sick of fancy stuff from their abuse so it was a relief to finally have some simplicity for once.
They soon finished unpacking their belongings into place. This was the beginning of their freed life away from the torments of the past. Deceptive Beauty couldn’t get to them anymore even if she got out of prison as she was an Anti. Still, the duo was scared of the thought of her even escaping.
When night finally arrived, they went up to their room. Hester lied down beside Hazel like any Familiar would do. Her Partner just held her close like she was holding a teddy bear. They needed some rest; in a week, they would be taking a test that would determine if they’re a Hider or Biter.
A few months passed since Hazel and Hester moved into their new home. They had been going to the school in the area and earned their livelihood through making their figurines and selling them, as well as how Hazel became an apprentice in a part-time job. Still, they were having trouble with their mental issues, meaning the Partner’s Bipolar and the Familiar’s Schizophrenia. They didn’t see much of their brother or sister for a while, practically due to how busy they were with their own jobs. Rosette was there to help them and check on them regularly.
Soon, the school taught them all to turn into their own Pony forms and Equestria Girls forms. Ever since then, the ones who got their forms either always stayed in the Pony or Equestria Girl one. Hazel took her Equestria Girl form, but would sometimes use her Pony one as well.
In Equestria Girl form, she had pale pink skin and straight black hair with a brownish tinge complete with hazel-nut colored eyes. In Pony form, she was a pale pink Pegasus with the same hair color. Her cutie mark: a clay sculpture.
Hazel now wore a simple black dress with equally black shoes. Long, white socks went up to her knees. She kept her little cross necklace. She was now almost always seen in her Equestria Girl form.
Hester still looked pretty much the same. Familiars don’t really change in form like their Partners, except when to turn into smaller animals. Now, she sported a small collar that had a cross on it. She got her cutie mark: a pencil with glowing stars surrounding it. The pencil had two colors: black on one side, white on the other.
Today, they wouldn’t be having a regular class as it was the day for the Section Test. This Test would determine whether one was a Hider or a Biter. This was vitally important in how they needed to make sure that they knew who was for Offense and Defense when war goes on. All the Bronies and Pegasisters and Familiars currently around who haven’t taken the test yet will have it taken today.
It will be done by the Mane Six. Each Brony and Pegasister and Familiar gets to choose who they will go to for the Test. One goes at a time. The walls were sound-proof so only those inside could hear the goings-on. Each of the mane Six will give the person a liquid meant to cause a hallucination that would trigger the beginning of the test. The Mane Six get to watch what goes on in the screen with a wire attached on the person. After the hallucination is over, the member of the Mane Six will determine which side they are.
“If you’re nervous, I could hold you” Hazel spoke to Hester who was sitting beside her.
Her Familiar only scoffed. “Please, you’re the one who’s nervous”
Hazel sighed; that was true. “So, who are going to?”
“I guess it’s either Twilight or Pinkie Pie. What about you?”
“I think I’ll go to Fluttershy”
“Makes sense, it takes one scaredy-cat to understand another”
“Hest!” she playfully punched her arm.
“Ow”
“Next child, the ones available now are Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Rainbow Dash” the loudspeaker rang out.
The Partner-Familiar duo looked to each other before nodding. They stood up and went to their separate Test Rooms. Hazel went to Fluttershy’s and Hester went into Twilight’s. It looked like any other hospital room. The only difference was that the reclining chair was attached to a screen that would monitor what goes on in one’s mind.
Hester entered the room to see Twilight Sparkle herself writing on a clipboard. When the Friendship Princess noticed the Familiar, she gave a warm smile like all the others would do with everyone who went to their room.
“Ah, Hester Hide, correct?” she read the name on the tags everyone was given to identify.
The Familiar nodded.
“As you know, I’m Twilight Sparkle; I’ll be administrating your test. Please, have a seat” she pointed to the reclining chair. Hester did as she was told and sat down. Twilight began to get the hallucinogen for the procedure. “So, Hester, I heard you’re the Familiar of a child named Hazel”
“Yes, that’s true”
“Who is she taking the test with?”
“I saw her go in Fluttershy’s room”
“Makes sense; I did hear that you, her, and her siblings came from an abusive past”
Hester nodded. “Hazel has become a shy baby since she was admitted from the hospital. Our dog, Whiz, was taken by her sister. I’m basically the only one who stays with Hazel all the time”
“I’m really sorry about your pasts”
“It’s fine. It’s just a good thing we haven’t gone mad…yet”
Twilight nodded as she walked back with a small cup filled with a bluish liquid, cringing at the thought. “If you ever do, there’s an asylum being built up soon. They’ll just monitor you depending on your level of insanity. I just hope that it never comes to that”
Twilight then handed Hester the liquid in the cup. The Familiar sighed before drinking down the liquid. The taste reminded her of blueberries. After drinking down the last dropped, she leaned down back into the chair and took a deep breath.
She was expecting to fall asleep like when sleeping drugs were induced, but she seemed wide awake. She looked to her side to see that Twilight was gone. Where was the Alicorn? She didn’t even hear a door close or hoofsteps move.
She decided to get off her chair. She walked around for a bit to go and check around to see if anything’s wrong. What she didn’t expect was that she would run into a clone of herself. She moved a bit to get a better view and the clone just did the same thing with her. It was like she was looking into a mirror. Suddenly, a loud roar rang out. Frightened, the Familiar turned around to see it was one of the creatures that those Antis made to kill Bronies or Pegasisters or Familiars. It was a robotic Creeper-Zombie monster.
Hester began to backpedal when she bumped into her clone. The clone just stood infront of her with a smirk. Why was she smirking? There was a creature designed to kill them just there! Just then, the clone spoke with her voice, “Choose”
Hester noticed she was pointing to something. She turned and saw that it was a sword and a disabling device each on a silver platter.
“Now, before, it’s too late” the clone spoke.
Hester was a bit in a dilemma at that time due to her trauma. She was too frozen with fear at that moment. She didn’t know what to do. She was about to grab the sword but the monster had already launched a hand to her area. She dodged but the hand blew up the sword and disabling device. The monster tried to catch her, but she suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline and her fangs sprouted. They were sharper than that of a normal Hider or Biter. She then lunged forward and killed the monster via snapping its neck in half by biting. She let out a feral hiss before landing on the floor.
Hester then woke up with a gasp as she sat herself up in her chair. She looked around to see that she was back in the Testing Room with Twilight. She then realized it was the hallucination for the Test. Before she could react, Twilight got up like a spring after closing the screen.
“Get up! Get up! We have to get you out of here!” she cried as she pulled Hester to her feet and began to start pushing her gently to the door.
“Wait, what?” Hester was confused. Why did she want her to get out and go home? Why did she seem so afraid? Was there something wrong with the test?
Twilight then opened the door and got ready to let Hester out. “You’re going with your Partner, tell people that the serum made you sick, and that I sent you home, got it?”
“Wait, what was my result?”
Twilight stared for a bit before taking a deep breath. “Hider, but also a Biter”
Hester was confused. “I have both?”
Twilight nodded nervously. “Yes”
The Familiar shook her head in disbelief. “That’s impossible”
“No, not impossible. It’s just extremely rare and only one exists in the whole world at a time” the Alicorn took a deep breath before continuing. “They call it Hidebrit”
Hester’s eyes widened in shock. How was that even possible? The Hidebrit Gene can’t go into a Familiar!
“You can’t tell anyone about this. You can’t tell your friends. You can’t tell your Partner. You can’t tell anyone”
“But what am I gonna do? What faction should I go to?”
“Just pick the side you think you’d be better off in. But don’t let anypony know about this. It’s for your own good”
Hester sighed before Twilight let her out and closed the door behind her.
Hester made it to Hazel shortly after her dismissal from the Test. When she heard about it, she got rather worried about how sick she got. Hazel just put Hester to bed and starting making soup. The Familiar sighed; her Partner and she tend to have fits of paranoia. The only difference was that her Partner had only extreme worry while she had those times that she would even hyperventilate.
“Hazel, please, I’m fine” Hester insisted as the Partner put a bowl of soup infront of her.
“I insist. You just said you were sick. And honestly, your forehead was a little hot” she insisted as she took the spoon and blew on it before putting it infront of Hester.
“Atleast let me do it. I’m sick, but that doesn’t mean you have to spoon-feed me”
“Fine”
“Thank you” Hester then took the spoon and began to drink the soup. Hazel just sat on the chair beside the bed and watched her to make sure she was okay. The Familiar stole a faint smile. Her Partner was a bit of a sweetheart at times. “What was your result?”
“Hider. What was yours?”
Hester thought for a bit. She couldn’t tell her true result. “Hider too”
“We’re in the same faction. Knock, Knock”
“Who’s there?”
“Flower”
“Flower who?”
“Flower you today?”
Hester giggled from that joke as Hazel joined her. It was fine at first, but then one of them stopped because she was coughing a bit. It was Hazel. She stopped her laughing and started to cough.
“You okay?”
Hazel felt at her head. “I think I’m gonna puke, Hest”
The Pegasister then covered her mouth as her cheeks swelled and she ran out of the room. A second later, the sound of vomiting was heard. Hester couldn’t help but laugh at that. The sound of Hazel vomiting was somewhat hilarious.
“You okay in there, Hazy?”
“I think so. I’ll be out in a bit” right then, the sound of vomiting came back.
Hester muffled her giggling and continued with her soup. Only when it was done did she get out of the bed and took the bowl over to the sink and cleaned it up while her Partner was in the toilet. She was starting to get worried for the amount of time that Hazel spent in the toilet. She walked back upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Hazy, are you okay? You’ve been in there for a while”
The door opened and Hazel came out of the toilet. She was holding a small object. One look and Hester knew what it was: An OC Pregnancy Test. When a Pegasister or female Familiar deiced on having an OC, there is a stage called OC Pregnancy where they have an OC just floating in their womb. If a single Brony or male Familiar wants an OC, it is born directly without pregnancy. For the females, the OC can be born once they decide it was time for the debut. When Hazel and Hester adjusted to the freed life, Hazel was thinking about OCs because of how they were seen around the block with their Makers.
“I thought Twilight was kidding” Hazel spoke. Hester floated up and took the Pregnancy Test with her paws and saw the result. “I’m OC Pregnant”
That statement was enough to make Hester faint.
Hazel caressed the fur on Hester’s head gently as she sat on the couch. Her unconscious Familiar’s head was resting on her lap. It had been about an hour since she told her the news. It was a surprise for her too when she found that she was OC Pregnant. She suspected something was going on in her since a few days ago, her body started to operate rather differently. She would get cravings, threw up in the morning, and her mood would suddenly shift. At first, she thought it was just her Bipolar Disorder. But, after she took her Test, Fluttershy found that she was not sick, and that was when she told the news. As she pet Hester, she felt a bit of movement going on in her womb. Her hand then rested on that area as she smiled faintly. It was like her OC was aware of her Maker’s reactions.
“I guess that means you’re up, huh?” she spoke softly to the unmade OC. “Mommy just told Mother about you. She’s so excited that she fainted”
Hazel used a calm motherly-like tone. Did she just say Mommy and Mother? She just thought that it may seem appropriate now that it was likely that they were about to be Makers-Mothers. When an OC is born, they call their Maker Mother or Father. The one who made them also refers to them as their child from time to time. Still, the new word was somewhat foreign to her.
It made her think about her past with her own Mother. It made her thought if she was ready or not for the responsibility of an OC. She didn’t grow up with a good mother so how would she know about being one? No, she wasn’t her mother. She would not make the same mistakes with her own OC. She would make sure she lived the childhood she never had.
Just as she thought about it, Hester began to stir on her lap. She peered down as her Familiar started to wake up. “Rise and shine, Hest”
“Oh my head” she whined as her paw rested on her head. “What happened?”
“I told you I was OC Pregnant and you fainted. You’ve been out for like an hour”
Hester felt woozy again, but fought it off. “Wait, you’re really OC Pregnant?”
Hazel nodded, putting a hand on her stomach. “It just moved”
“We’re having our first OC?!”
Hazel nodded excitedly. “Yeah!”
“Awesome!” she tried to sit up and jump around like she did when there was great news, but her head hurt.
Hazel made her lie down again. “You should rest. You hit your head really hard when you fell”
“You know you’ll need a lot of that before it’s born” she placed a paw on her Partner’s stomach to feel a small heartbeat.
Hazel frowned slightly from that.
“What?”
“How am I supposed to take that? It’s not a weight!”
“Not sure if you’ll keep saying that when your womb grows!” Hester chuckled.
That made her glare at her.
“Hey, you know I find the thought of having an OC around will be great! Although, until it’s been born, I’ll keep wondering if you’re either having a Bipolar fit or if it was just the hormones!” Hazel hit her Familiar on the head. “Ow”
“Better not make me angry until then”
“Noted” Hester felt at her head.
“By the way, how do you feel about it?”
“Hmm?”
“About having an OC?”
“Exciting for both of us. You?”
“Only hoping neither of us don’t become like my mom” she looked away sadly from that.
Hester sat up on her Partner’s lap. “You don’t need to worry about Deceptive anymore. She’s not you. She’s not coming back. She can’t come back. It’s all in the past; we only see present and future. And we can start with…” she paused as she put a paw on Hazel’s stomach again, smiling warmly at the feeling of heartbeat in there. “…this”
Hazel smiled from that. It was all just a matter of Design now.
“Hmm, that’s a bit odd” Twilight spoke as she saw the sonogram’s results on the Power Capacity of the OC. It was a week since Hazel announced the news to Hester and now she had to take regular check-ups and take vitamins for the OC. The Power Capacity of an OC was the maximum amount of power that a single OC could carry. Too much would harm it or overload them, and they already saw what would happen if one does that from their experiences with Pony Freaks, most especially Brutalight and Painset.
“What is? Is the OC okay? Is it sick?” Hester was getting easily worried. Hazel followed her gaze to Twilight with worry while lying on the reclining chair.
“No, everything’s fine. The OC is perfectly healthy. Heartbeat is normal. Tested negative for malfunctioning. It’s just…the Power Capacity, it’s extremely high”
“What do you mean?” Hazel asked.
“It’s like your OC is able to withstand extreme power and not have any side effects” Nurse Redheart explained.
“Is it bad?”
“No, not really. Just don’t try to push the Capacity” Redheart then double-checked the chart. “What were your results from the Faction Test?”
“Hider”
“Hider”
“Well, that’s a bit odd”
“Why?”
“The Power Capacity of this OC is like that of an OC that was made by a Hidebrit. But you’re both Hiders, so it’s somewhat different”
Hester and Twilight tensed up from that. Hazel looked at her Familiar with worry.
“Maybe it’s just that strong” Twilight smiled nervously.
“Suppose so. But other than that, the little one is perfectly healthy”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news!” Hazel smiled happily from that. She looked to see that Hester seemed a bit nervous at first but when she was noticed, she gave a faint smile as though to act like nothing was wrong.
Nurse Redheart nodded with a smile. Twilight coughed slightly to get their attention. “Hester Hide, may I have a word with you, in private?”
“Oh, sure, I guess!” the young Familiar nodded while following Twilight before waving at Hazel.
Hester followed Twilight to an empty room before the Alicorn casted a soundproof spell that would assure nothing in the room can be heard from the outside. That set up, they began to talk.
“That was close” Hester spoke scared.
“Too close. I should’ve known that if either of you had an OC floating in your wombs or anything that the Power Capacity may blow your cover”
“Why didn’t you tell me something like this would happen?”
“How long has your Partner been OC Pregnant?”
“From what she told me, a few days ago before we took the Faction test. She went to Fluttershy”
Twilight sighed. “I was hoping it wouldn’t show”
“What do you mean?”
“When I took your Test, I found that the Hidebrit Gene wasn’t activated yet. Remember, the Antis casted a spell that trapped it and now the bearer could only activate it by surviving something fatal twice?”
“Right and I only got past one fatality so far”
“So you only need one more. Just don’t get into anything that would be fatal and that Gene shouldn’t activate. Because if it does, then you’re gonna be possessing your Biter characteristics as well”
“Like what? They can’t be too dangerous, right? I mean, Hazel is still depressed and traumatized so she can’t handle any more stress”
“You’ll just be stronger that you already are, your fangs will be sharper when unsheathed, and you’ll possess abilities from both Factions. But, I don’t know if you’ll be able to handle anything like that, considering almost all the former Hidebrits were either Bronies or Pegasisters. Not one was a Familiar. And Familiars have a weaker Power Capacity than that of Partners so it would be very damaging to you”
“How damaging?”
“Probably enough to kill both you and your reality counterpart”
Hester gasped at that. If this activates and she couldn’t control it, it would kill her. She was scared of death. And what would become of Hazel? She was already unstable from her past; she can’t suffer the loss of her lifelong companion!
“But if you can control it, you’ll only have some disorder”
“Better a disorder than leaving my Hazel behind!”
“You really care about her”
“I’ve been with her since the day she saved me from taking my own life and taking me in as her Familiar. I can’t just leave her when she needs me most”
Twilight nodded.
Hester sighed. “I know you want the Gene to activate”
“What?” Twilight was shocked; how did she know?
“It’s kinda obvious. The barrier spell you and Snowdrop did has to have atleast one person up all night to keep us safe. But the version done with a Hidebrit would be around even without someone up. We would be safe forever. And I know about how you and Snowdrop keep trying to look for the next one”
“I’m sorry, okay? It’s just… we’ve lost so many. But had I known it would be a Familiar with a Partner from a rough past and no one else to turn to, I would have second thoughts. For you, I guess I could wait out another generation”
“Please, Hazel needs me. If I go, then she’ll just lose it”
Twilight nodded. “Be sure to monitor your OC when it’s made. Like the result said, it’s extremely powerful”
“If the Hidebrit Gene does activate, I will control it the best I can”
Twilight nodded. “Just know that all the loss we’ve had with all the Users and OCs have really gotten to us. We can’t lose anymore”
Hester nodded. “Can I atleast tell Hazel? She’s a great secret keeper”
“As long as she stays true to her word”
“You sure you’re alright? You know Nurse Redheart said you need rest” Hester spoke to Hazel while she and the rest of the OC Pregnant Pegasisters were taking a calming walk for the OC to feel at peace.
“I’m fine. I mean, the others here are too, right?”
A nearby Pegasister nodded.
“You see? Hest, you can’t be always so paranoid. I mean, if it wasn’t good for the OC, then none of us would be doing this now!” right then, she felt a bit of movement in her womb again. “She kicked again”
Hester chuckled. “She?”
“It’s a girl”
Hester giggled before putting a paw on her Partner’s stomach. She gasped slightly when she felt a kick. “She’s a ninja”
Right then, a loud scream rang out, drawing their attention. Hazel turned into her Pony form and flew a bit with Hester until they saw why there was someone screaming. It was Party Pop, and she was backpedalling because there was an Anti infront of them all.
Antis were mostly human since they would never even think about looking like a Pony or Equestria Girl. This one had black hair, green eyes, and wore a military suit. Around him were several other Antis.
“Sorry, creeps” the Anti Leader spoke. “But I’m afraid one of you is coming with us”
“I heard screaming!” Pinkie called as she and Spike, Rainbow, Starlight, and Applejack came over. They went infront of the Pegasisters as the Biters surrounded the Hiders.
“Woah, whoa, whoa! Relax, horses!” he spoke again.
“Don’t know how you got in here, but we won’t let you lay a hand on anyone!” Rainbow growled.
“Oh, hold your horses!” a chuckle erupted from his group. “We’re only here to find the Hidebrit, and we’ll be on our way. So, if you could just turn over the little mix, whoever it is, then we’ll be glad to spare these OC Pregnant females”
“We don’t have a Hidebrit anymore. Adam was the last one” Spike declared.
“Ah, but so we heard” he pointed a finger to the baby dragon. “The Gene lived on in one”
Right then, half the Biters just lost control and unsheathed their fangs. One half went on and attacked the enemy, while the other half kept the Hiders safe. When Bronies, Pegasisters, Familiars, OCs, or Canon Characters bite an Anti, it kills the victim immediately and they can’t come back until they get another account. But it does not work in vice versa. The Leader had no time to respond when a Familiar bit him on the head. Using one last bit of strength, he pulled the creature right off and threw her to a nearby tree as hard as he can, enough to practically kill her.
“Hester!” Hazel cried out before running to her Familiar, all the while trying to not harm the unmade OC.
“The Captain will just get to you one day” the Anti spoke before dying and the body turned into dust before being carried by a whirlwind out of the barrier.
“Adam has a successor” Spike tried to take it in.
“We just have to find them” Starlight added.
Rainbow nodded. “I’ll go find Fluttershy and Twilight”
“I’ll go get Rarity” Applejack added.
“But first, girls, shouldn’t we check on all the soon-to-be-Maker-Mothers?” Starlight pointed to the Pegasisters around.
“I’ll go alert the Staff here!” Spike ran off.
“Hester…please” Hazel sniffled as she held her Familiar close. Her head was bleeding badly, but she was still alive. Her eyes were closed.
One of the Staff came over to her and gave her a vial of Healing Tea. “Here, have her drink this”
Hazel nodded and thanked the Staff before giving it to her Familiar. Hester’s head began to heal immediately as she began to calm down. Soon enough, she opened her eyes to her Partner.
“I’m alright, Hazel”
She sighed in relief before hugging her Familiar and going with the others to the clinic to make sure she was alright. She had no idea about what was going on in Hester that time.
Hester had survived near-fatality twice now; the curse on the Hidebrit Gene was broken. She felt the small Gene suddenly break free from its magical confine and began to allow its power to spread across her body. She felt herself getting stronger. Her fangs were sharper now. She could feel bits of Biter magic activate and become one with her Hider magic. It was getting too strong, and overwhelming her.
“Hest?” Hazel spoke, snapping her attention to her. “Are you okay?”
Hester looked to her Partner. She was concerned for her. She was like all she had now. She couldn’t leave her now. She needed her. Luckily, with how determined she was, she was able to prevent the Hidebrit Gene from overtaking her. The power of it became stable and easier now for her to control. Looking up, she nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine, Hazy”
“You mean to tell me you’re the Hidebrit?” Hazel asked Hester. The Familiar had already revealed her secret now that they were at home and casted a spell that would not allow a word out of the room for an hour. It was already thirty minutes.
“Exactly”
“Would that explain why our OC has a very high Power Capacity?”
Hester nodded. “We can’t let anyone know, okay?”
Hazel nodded. “I promise I’ll never tell anyone. And I’ll even help you to control it”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. You’re my Familiar and family, Hester. You’ve been with me since we met. You’ve helped me through everything that went on. Now, it’s time I return the favor”
Hester smiled. “How’s our little one?”
Hazel felt at her stomach. “Excited to come out”
A few months passed and Hazel and Hester’s OC was born. Hazel held the newly made bundle of orange in her arms. It was small, she looked like a Katsuma, but her ears were backwards and her tail was straight. The OC was a girl. She slept peacefully with her cerulean eyes closed.
Hester looked at the young OC she and her Partner just created. “She’s perfect. What do you think we should call her, Hazy?”
Hazel thought for a bit, and realized that the OC reminded her of her old, long-dead pet rabbit. “Her name’s Bunita, in honor of our old pet rabbit”
A year had passed since Bunita, nicknamed Bunny, was born. Thing were fine for a while, but not everything could stay in balance in Wonderland. Hester still had trouble to control her own Hidebrit powers. Hazel was there to help keep her whole, as she did with her. Eventually, she found some way to atleast suppress the magic from consuming her.
See, the older Hidebrits died because they didn’t have anything much to live for so they would take their own life in the real world while their Wonderland counterparts implode and let the Hidebrit Gene just kill them. Hester was a different. Though she was just a Familiar, and Familiars were weaker than a Partner, she had something to live for. She had Hazel, Bunny, and a whole side of Wonderland that depends on the power to determine the fate of the whole realm.
Speaking of which, the barrier spell casted didn’t last long. One night, despite how one of them was keeping the spell up, it just wouldn’t cooperate with them. The barrier dropped and the Antis were able to declare war on the whole Fandom side. War broke out, and things weren’t so well. How they wished that Queen Faust wasn’t captured and the real Lauren Faust would be able to come soon.
Anyway, war was not well in the world. The sky had turned dark and red. Plants had wilted, save for those in houses and buildings. Bombs and attacks were everywhere. Biters had been fighting hard, dressed as knights and attacking from air, water, and land. Hiders were aiding by healing anyone hurt and also coming to aid by defending them, some others also gathered food and were also making food back at the Bases. No one was safe.
Speaking of Hiders, a certain duo was making their way around the war area, distributing help and food and helping with medicating like every other one in their side was. Injured Biters were lying around, all hurt and still recovering. Thank goodness for that spell in this realm that allows them to heal any damage taken and things heal faster when they drink down Healing Tea.
Hazel was able to get around by using Hester’s teleportation spells to get around. Her strong hearing was working in favor to pinpoint where they are next needed. Hester was making use of a bit of her Hidebrit magic every now and then to make sure it didn’t accumulate too much by healing people. Still, with explosions going on, and Hazel’s hearing too effective, the Pegasister had to wear earplugs to lessen the volume a little.
At one point, they spotted a Biter falling down from the sky. They just turned from their Pegasus form and into their Equestria Girl form. Hazel beckoned for Hester to teleport them over to catch the injured comrade. They were able to catch them, especially with Hester’s magic able to cushion the fall. That taken care of, they carried the injured one back to the Base.
“They should be fine. Thank you” the doctor spoke after examining the injured one. “Lucky for them that you both spotted him”
“It was nothing” Hazel assured. Hester nodded.
“You better get back to the others and help”
“Right. Bye, doctor” they bade before leaving.
“How’s our OC doing?” Hazel asked her Familiar.
Hester felt at the pink flower on her hat. “She’s fine from what I can tell”
“Good thing we have those Summon Forms so we could either carry them around like in there or leave them at the Safety Rooms and know they were alright”
Summon Forms were a type of thing that allowed some long-distance connection between an OC and their Maker. These would involve an object or accessory to be put on the outfit of the Maker, but if a Familiar was available, they would be on that. The object could be felt at and the Maker would know whether or not their OC was alright. The OC could literally also go into the object to hide or be safe in.
A scream suddenly shot their attention. “That was my sister!” Hazel cried as she and Hester an over to where her elder sibling was.
Hazel’s hearing was able to allow her to pinpoint where her sister’s screaming was. Hester was able to teleport to where she was. They were frightened at what they were seeing. Spring was backed up in a corner with her brother Trey. Trey was injured and wounded as Spring held him close on the floor. Infront of them were a group of Antis that were grinning from ear to ear. Spring was Hider while Trey was a Biter; they decided to work side by side in the war on the battlefield with trey on offense and Spring on defense.
“Come on, you freaks! Give up!” one of the Antis sneered.
“Leave us alone! What do you even want?!” Spring yelled.
“Oh, you know what we want” the ringleader leaned infront of the younger sibling. “We know the Hidebrit exists, and we will take that”
“We don’t know who’s a Hidebrit, so leave me and my sister alone!” Trey yelled, ignoring the pain in his wing.
“Hey! Leave them alone!” Hester growled, gaining their attention.
“Hey, look what we got! Two little nurses!”
Spring’s eyes shot open when she saw her little sister. “Hazel, what are doing here? RUN!”
“Oh, a family! How cute!”
Hazel was feeling uneasy; she was never really a brave child. “Hest, we better go back to the Base and get…”
Hester wasn’t listening; she was growling on the ground and baring her Hider teeth. Her anger was boiling. She could feel the Hidebrit Gene trying to activate her fangs. She could rip them to shreds now.
“Look at that!” one of the Antis sneered before poking Hazel on the forehead. “And I thought that partners were the braver ones! What’s the matter, coward? Let your Familiar do the talking for you?” he then kicked her in the leg, causing her to fall. “Can’t even help herself! How can she defend her family or friends?”
The other Antis just laughed loudly before they continued to beat up Spring and Trey. Trey and Spring’s mouths were covered so they couldn’t bite to even defend themselves. Hazel watched as her siblings were beat up. Spring and Trey, her only family. Apart from Hester, they were the only things keeping her alive. They were who she fought for. Trey wasn’t that close, but he was still her only brother. Spring was her beloved sister who was there for her even Hester was. To watch them beat up like this made her think about her life. All her life, she was abused, mistreated, made fun of, bullied, and beaten up. Now, she couldn’t take it anymore.
Hazel felt something snap in her all the sudden. Her fangs sharpened. She was now in synch with Hester’s level of violence. No more pain. Now more shyness. No more fear. She held her Familiar’s paw and allowed their anger to fuse together and Hester attacked, Hidebrit Gene activating the magic in her. Hester tore apart the Antis as they cried out for mercy and disappeared from this realm. Hazel and Hester grinned at each other.
Their victory was short-lived when another group of Antis came and seized them. They shut their mouths up and tied them all. Spring and Trey also suffered the same fate. They all cried out for help to get any attention as they were thrown into a truck and drove off from the safety of their side in the realm.
Things weren’t very bright for Hazel’s family. She shouldn’t have let Hester attack with her full Hidebrit Gene mode. Now, they were in as much trouble as possible. The Antis had taken them all to some building for their ‘research’. They were soon able to identify who was the Hidebrit. Trey and Spring were trapped in a separate room for some sadistic torment. Hazel and Hester were in a separate room a bit of a distance off. They were able to identify that the Gene was in Hester, but since she was connected to Hazel, there was a complication for them.
See, these Antis wanted to capture the Hidebrit, and then find a way to extract the Gene from their body and use it in a weapon to kill all Bronies, Pegasisters and Familiars. But due to how it was in a Familiar with a Partner, this was more of a challenge than ever.
They strapped down Hazel and Hester into some device that should sever the connection and also take the Gene. The duo was more frightened than ever. Removing the Gene would be like removing an organ. And separating a Familiar from the Partner would be much worse.
The Anti infront of them was the Leader and King of all Antis, Toby Fox. He grinned from ear to ear at the sight of their fear. “My oh my, how I would just love to see this. Your brother and sister are making such pleasant screams. I wonder what screams you’ll make. And what screams will the others make when I finally get what I need?”
Hester growled. “You won’t get away with this”
“I already have”
Hazel frowned. “You’re insane”
Toby leaned to Hazel’s face before smirking. “No, you are”
Right then, he walked over to the panel and switched the machine on. It activated a painful syringe into both the Partner and Familiar. They screamed in pain as they felt like being electrocuted by direct lightning, because they technically were. Toby just grinned until he saw something was wrong.
Warning! ERROR! The machine sounded off.
Just then, a stray bolt of electricity jolted from both where the duo was and connected them. Both were alarmed at a new pain going on. It felt like their connection, but a negative type of it. They struggled against their restraints in a vain attempt to break free, but were unsuccessful. The worst came yet when the machine exploded.
Toby Fox coughed a bit from the smoke and looked to see what had happened. It was so unexpected. There, standing before him, just right were Hazel and Hester were standing, was a Pegasus. It was just a young filly. She had yellow skin, a brown mane, and an orange tail. Her eyes were cerulean.
He didn’t separate them, he fused them. The young filly looked confused and frightened. She tried to run when she saw him, but he used a tranquilizer dart to make her silent. She tried to get away, but she just fell to her side from the effects.
Upon further investigation on her, they couldn’t find the Gene anywhere. It was just lost. So were her memories apparently. She couldn’t even remember her name. They decided to keep her around in the building for some torture for being unable to give what they wanted. Now she was trapped in a room, tortured day by day, with no memory of her past. And now she feared everything.
“Careful!” a pink stallion who looked like Pinkamena warned as he and a blue Equestria Girl dodged a bomb. They were sent by Knighty to go out of the Base and find any comrades that were taken hostage. Several had gone missing so rescue teams were sent out. They had to avoid getting seen and hit. They have to find their comrades before the worst comes.
The stallion was Shadow Kirby. Like mentioned, he looked like Pinkamena. He was very sweet.
The blue Equestria Girl was a girl named Serene Breeze. She had sky blue skin and yellow hair. She was a Pegasus in her Pony form but not she was in Equestria Girl form. She wore a purple top with a pink skirt. Her rubber shoes were plain white. Her cutie mark was a windy breeze with drops of water.
“We’re here, Shadow” she spoke.
They looked up to see a giant old building. It looked very much like a factory, but also a bit like a research facility. It looked a little run down from the bombs and attacks going on.
“You sure that this is the place though?”
Shadow looked down on the compass in his hooves. This compass was designed to find their comrades via focusing on their auras. Even if they are dead, the compass could find their essence. “Yep, several of them are here”
“I just they’re still alright”
“Only but one way to find out”
“Sir, I believe that the subjects are making progress on the experiments we’ve done” one of the Antis named Roger spoke to the head-captain of the facility.
“Excellent” Sting, the captain of the factory grinned. He was in human form and dressed in a black suit. He also had an eyepatch. “How are we doing with the yellow one?”
“Still nothing, sir. No sign of the Gene and she won’t even talk” he looked down on the clipboard. Each had the number of a Brony or Pegasister they captured and the progress of the experiments done on them.
He groaned. “Did you give her another Shock?”
“Yes sir”
“Good. Keep trying. We’re bound to find that Gene soon”
Just then, another one of the staff busted into through door. He seemed rather alarmed. “Sir! Sir! Rescue teams are near!”
“WHAT?!”
Almost as if on cue, a female Anti named Casey went into the room, carrying a plate of tacos. “Your tacos, sir” she smiled as she bowed and presented them.
“NOT NOW!”
Right then, she looked down in shame and went a bit of a distance off.
“Five are in the area, but security is tight around. Still, there is a chance that atleast one of them will be able to get here. Should we send for defense around the area?”
“Yes! We can’t let them get anywhere near the experiments, especially 735! Now move!”
“Yes, sir” the Anti saluted before running off to inform the order.
Sting grumbled under his breath. He couldn’t let any of those rescue teams in and save their comrades. He needed them for his research if he has any dreams of eradicating the Fandom side. The most important part was the Hidebrit Gene, but with the host not speaking and possibility of it lost, time was taking up.
“Taco!” he yelled. Casey then went to his side, and bowed while presenting the plate of tacos to him. He took one and bit it. When he realized how good it was, he calmed down and smiled. “That is good”
“We better put these on” Shadow Kirby spoke, handing Serene Breeze a white, plain mask. They already got into the building, and were not risking to get caught. Serene and Shadow put a mask on each, and immediately they changed and looked like one of the Antis. It was just a disguise, no real thing done.
Before the war broke out, there have been experiments to try and find ways around the war and objects that could be used in war were also made. One of them would be these masks. If anyone from the Fandom side puts one on, they are able to disguise themselves into looking like an Anti. They could take them off at any time, and then back on. Rescue teams used this to infiltrate without getting caught.
So far, they had been able to move around the building as though they owned it. No one really looked suspicious at them and just thought they were around for checking on the experiments. They managed to slink about easily, and were still looking for any signs of the missing comrades. Shadow’s compass suddenly picked something up, and they followed it. It wasn’t far, and they found a metal door, with a number on it:
EXPERIMENT 735
They looked at each other, uncertain at first, but then they just went inside to go find who was in there. The room was dark and old. Several papers scattered about, with an electric collar and leash on a desk in the corner. They then heard something coming from up above, and looked up. What they found was somewhat horrific.
Hanging from the ceiling was a small filly; a Pegasus, to be exact. She had yellow skin, a brown mane, and an orange tail. She looked very weak and malnourished. Several black wires hung from the ceiling to keep her stuck up there. Some were attached to her arms, preventing weak movement from them. Others were on her wings, restraining her from flying. Two others were on her midsection. Altogether, it just meant that she was stuck up there.
The little filly began to stir. She slowly opened her eyes, and they were revealed to be cerulean. Shadow and Serene removed their masks to calm her nerves. When she looked down, she was able to see them.
“Please…” she whimpered in a soft voice. “I don’t know…anything…no…more…please”
“Shh” Shadow cooed gently. “It’s okay, little one. We’re not gonna hurt you. We’re here to get you out”
The young filly seemed surprised. “You’re…like me”
“Yes, and we’re here to free the others who are like us”
“Free?” she smiled softly. “Oh, I always wanted to be freed from this place”
“Poor thing” Shadow whispered before looking up again. “I’m Shadow Kirby, and this is Serene Breeze”
“Nice to meet you. I’m…” she then paused to think. “I’m…”
“What’s wrong? Don’t you have a name?” Serene asked.
“I…I did once, but, now I don’t”
“What about your cutie mark? Maybe it could give us a clue”
The filly shifted her head to try and see the mark on her. It took some work through the wires, but she finally got through. Unfortunately, there was no mark to be seen. Just a blank flank.
“No mark either. I guess they removed it too. They told me that I don’t deserve a name”
Shadow was surprised. He could understand how those Antis would kidnap several adult or teen Bronies or Pegasisters, but he never though they would have the guts to take a young child. What’s worse, they removed her name, leaving only a fearful child with a number. “But, that’s not fair! Everyone deserves a name, even you!”
Right then, an electric shock sudden sparked from the water puddle nearby. It was a faint little shock sound, but it was still audible. When the filly heard it, a huge reaction occurred. Her eyes widened before she began to scream in fear. It was like she herself was getting zapped by lightning.
“MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!” she screamed, flailing around in a vain attempt to break free and make the sound go away.
Shadow Kirby felt the fear just radiate off her. From the looks of it, the Antis who were using her had been using electricity as torment on her so much that even a small spark would send her into hysterics. He didn’t want to see her so sacred. She need some help. They had to get her down and out of here.
He gestured for Serene to carry him up to her by lifting. She quickly changed to her Pony Form and did so. Once they were within range infront of her, he gave her with a concerning look. The small filly stopped screaming for a bit when she saw him infront of her. Something about his look seemed to calm her. Just then, another spark sounded off, sending her into another screaming fit.
“Shh, it’s okay” he cooed gently to her. She slowly looked to him. “Come here, and hold on tightly, you’ll be safe with us” he spoke softly.
She was uncertain at first, but eventually mustered up the courage to trust him enough not to drop her. Her hooves slowly reached out, avoiding the pain of the wires on her. She took a bit of work, but he was finally able to get to him. She cuddled up in his chest. It felt so warm, and calming. Something about it was so comforting to her. It made her feel safe and secure. For the first time in her life, she felt safe. She slowly closed her eyes as she melted in the hug. Shadow held her closely to assure her she was safe and to not drop her. Serene had already cut through the wires and managed to get them off the filly. The last wires removed, she flew down quietly with her two passengers.
Shadow and Serene found an isolated corner in the room away from any puddles or electric objects and decided to rest there. It seemed they had to, now that the filly had fallen asleep.
“Aww, she’s so cute. Why would those Antis want to hurt something so sweet?” Serene wondered.
“I don’t know with them. But this little one is hugging me so tight. I hope we can find her a home once we’re out” Shadow whispered as he held the sleeping filly comfortingly.
“Sir, we made a mistake in the experiment. It failed” Roger apologized when he found the error made. The ‘subject’ they used had just died today. Once they re-spawn, they’ll be back at the Fandom side. Once that happens, they will tell what they found and the whole Facility will be found and caught. All work for nothing.
“YOU IDIOT!” Sting yelled, almost hitting him with a flying mug. “THERE ARE RESCUE TEAMS OUT LOOKING FOR OUR TEST SUBJECTS AND WE STILL HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN CLOSE TO EXTRACTING AIR FROM LUNGS, LET ALONE SEPERATING TWO SOULS IN ONE BODY AND FIDNING THE BLOODY HIDEBRIT GENE! GET TO WORK BEFORE I REPEAT WHAT I DID TO BROCK ON YOU!”
Roger trembled in fear. The shouting made him temporarily half-deaf, but the shout still rang in his ears. “Y-yes, s-sir” he stuttered out quietly before running out of the room, eyes widened.
Sting huffed; just when he thought he was getting the upper hand, something just had to go wrong. “It would be easier to extract spinal fluid from him”
“It’s been a while since I met someone nice” the yellow filly spoke softly. She had awoken a bit of a while back. Shadow and Serene gave her food that they brought along with them for the trip. She ate it as fast as lightning so they could only guess how the Antis here starved her. They noticed some sort of serum on one of the tables nearby. Serene took a vial to try and find out what it caused later on. It may have a connection to how the filly lost her memories.
“What did they do to you down here?” Serene asked.
“They ask me questions, questions I don’t know the answers to. When I don’t respond, they give me the zapper” she shivered slightly at the thought.
“Zapper?”
The young filly pointed to the giant device on the wall. “It hurts a lot. That’s what I feel. Pain. Sometimes I can’t feel pain anymore. I sometimes wish I can’t”
Shadow almost shivered from how they treated this poor child. “Why would they do that to you?”
“I don’t really know. They told me that I’m part of an experiment or something, and called me 735. They probably don’t think about me. No pony thinks about me. That’s why I’m down here, so no pony will ever think about me again”
This filly was no monster. Broken, hurt, abused, purposely tortured by the Hater side for a reason that was no longer apparent. The filly gazed at the soft eyes and warm smile that beamed upon her. Instead of a demon, the pony was a shadow, a shell, a faded image of a life once worth living.
Shadow stifled a bit of crying. “Let’s think of a name for you, okay?”
“Okay”
“Let’s see. Yellow skin, brown mane, orange tail, Pegasus, no name, no memory, reacts in hysterics to electricity…” Serene thought.
The last statement gave Shadow an idea. “Hysteria!” he shouted in eureka. “It’s not really much, but it’s a name, what do you think?”
The filly nodded, and for the first time, she smiled happily.
“Then Hysteria it is then” Serene declared.
“I have a name! I have a name! Thank you!” she then hugged Shadow.
He had to chuckle at the young child’s behavior. “No problem”
“Okay, guys, we still have to find the others trapped in here, and find a way out without being seen by any of those Antis” Serene spoke up.
“Are we gonna escape?” Hysteria asked.
“Yes, Hysteria, we’re going to escape”
“Oh, yay! I always wanted to see what the outside world looks like! What will it be like out there?” she looked around her ‘room’. “I hope it’s better than this”
“That’s good to…” Shadow cut himself off when he heard that. “Wait, have you never seen the outside world before?”
Hysteria scrunched her face up a bit in thought. “I don’t really know. All I know is that I woke up and I was infront of a tall man in a green suit. I got scared immediately and tried to run, but I got stung by some needle-thingy. I felt sleepy and then I was asleep. The next thing I knew, I was up there, and that’s it” Hysteria pointed up to the ceiling area that once held her.
“Have you ever tried flying?” Serene asked. “I mean, you’re a Pegasus”
“Serene!” Shadow shushed her.
Hysteria looked down to her wings. They were hurt and she never really was able to use them. She tried when the Antis put her down, but she only fell in a belly flop. “I tried once…but I couldn’t. I don’t think I could even fly anymore anyway”
“Aww, you poor thing” Serene bent down to her level. “Don’t worry. When we get out of here, we’ll have your wings checked and treated and help you fly!”
“Really?” Hysteria was filled with hope.
“Of course!”
“Oh, I always wanted to fly. I’ve wondered how it feels like to soar. I mean, I’m hung up on a ceiling, but flying is another thing. Hanging on a ceiling is not of my own choice and really hurts. But flying, I’ve heard that it’s of your own free will. To have even a taste of that free will, oh, it would be a dream come true”
“When we get out, we’ll be able to help you feel that free will. With any other lucky, we could also find your family”
“Okay, we best get out of here first” Shadow pointed out. “First we get the others free and out, and then we have to find our way out”
All stood up. But Hysteria seemed to be struggling. She tried to stand, but her hooves didn’t seem to allow it. It felt like her leg muscles were burning. The wounds on them were really painful. Made sense with how long she was stuck up in the ceiling on wires. She stumbled and fell down.
“I don’t think it’s safe for you to be walking right now” Serene pointed out as Shadow checked on her. “Did they use something to move you around or something?”
“I guess that would explain why they put me in some heavy boots with metal”
“Well, they do keep you up on wires for support and you looked like a puppet on strings”
“Does this mean I really can’t walk on my own like you?”
“I’m sorry to say, Hysteria, but I don’t think you can for the moment” Serene apologized as she picked the sad filly up and held her close carefully. “For the moment, we have to carry you around”
“Oh well, just as long as we get out of this place” the filly sighed.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find a way” Shadow assured her.
“Okay, so where’s the next one?” Serene asked as they all stepped out of the room.
Shadow looked down at the compass in his hooves. He tapped the center and what looked like a checklist appeared. He crossed the area where Hysteria is to signify that they had found her. The map on the compass then reappeared and he spotted several small dots all in one place.
“There’s more; this way” he then began to lead them.
“Thank you, Claire; that will be all” Sting thanked his accomplice after she gave him the extra salsa he wanted.
“Sir, if I may ask you?”
“Of course, Claire. Ask away”
“What’s so special about Experiment 735? I’ve noticed how you seem to like they were very important in the experiments”
Sting sighed. “Claire, have you ever heard of the Hidebrit Gene?”
“Yes, sir. I heard that someone named Adam Smith was its last bearer”
“And so he was, until a new one managed to get it, Experiment 735. I tried to extract it from them, but it ended up in making it lost. That’s why I’m performing experiments on those other freaks we caught. If I could try to extract something like DNA or a breath of air or whatever from them, then I could try again to find the Hidebrit Gene in 735”
“But I thought you said that the Gene was lost”
“Genes don’t just disappear. It’s there, and I’m sure of it. I just have to locate it”
“How are you holding up, Hysteria?” Shadow asked the filly.
“Fine, I guess”
“Aww, Shadow, she’s cute!” Serene booped the filly on her nose, much to her confusion.
“Well, here’ the next one. They’re in there” he pointed to the door.
Testing Room
Shadow then opened the door. What he found horrified them. “Cover your eyes, Hysteria”
Inside the room were several Pegasisters and Bronies. Some were in pony form while others were in Equestria Girl form. They all looked really weak and pale. Some looked even sickly and badly injured. They were each in separate cages and some were even chained in place. Still, that wasn’t what Shadow and Serene had Hysteria cover her eyes for.
Two of their comrades were strapped onto each a separate table. The male one was stuck to the wall. He was lacking an eye, and one of wings had been severely mangled. Two Tesla volts were at his sides.
The other one, a female, was faring no better. This one was strapped to a table on the floor. Her gastrointestinal tract was exposed. Like the male, she was with a severely mangled wing and two Tesla volts were at her sides.
The male one looked up and groaned. When his vision was clear, he saw them. “Spring, wake up! Someone’s come to rescue us!”
“Really, Trey? I wonder at times…” the female one yawned a bit.
“Yeah, don’t worry everyone. We’re gonna get you all out of here” Shadow assured, trying to ignore the urge to vomit from the scene.
“Well, atleast we managed to find them all here in one piece” Serene mused, making sure that Hysteria wasn’t looking at all.
Shadow coughed slightly. “So to speak, we still have to get those other two in one piece. Does anyone know how to sew?”
“Oh! Oh! I know how to!” Hysteria lifted her hoof enthusiastically like a preschool foal. “The ones here sometimes let me play with the needles around and I learned to sew after I found a thread and cloth! I made pretty rainbow, but they threw it away! What do you want me to sew?” she was about to open her eyes, but Serene re-covered them with her hand.
“Maybe not you, okay Hysteria?”
“But I wanna…wait, do you hear something?” her ears perked up.
“What is it? What do you hear, Hysteria?” Shadow asked.
“Sounds like…footsteps! Someone’s coming!”
“Hide!” the strapped down mare yelled.
Saying no more, the trio scrambled for a hiding place. They were having a bit of difficulty as the objects around been too small to even fit even one of them. Hysteria must’ve sensed it because of how she spoke up. “I think I know where to hide in here”
“Where? Wait, can you see?”
“Nope, my eyes only see black, but my mind says ‘behind the hidden broom closet beside the cages’”
“What broom closet?” Serene asked before she felt something at the wall beside the cages. She felt something hallow and was soon able to find an odd lump. She found it to be a doorknob. She then opened it quickly and it was revealed to be a broom closet. The trio immediately went inside, two of which were wondering how the third found it.
“Well, so far, we still aren’t getting any closer to finding the answers to the isolation of a certain gene or anything” one mused as they went inside.
“So, nothing about it? You know how Captain Sting feels about it”
“We’ll have to find one soon. Who knows how Roger is doing”
“Okay, 735, let’s try that again, shall we?” Roger asked as he entered the room. “If you’re good, perhaps we can…” his words were cut short when he saw that the ceiling space where a yellow filly once hung was now just with wires.
“No!” he cried out.
“Well, I guess that does mean…” Sting started.
Roger then busted through the door. “Sir, one of the subjects has escaped!” he cried out.
“WHAT?! WHICH ONE?!”
“Number 735, sir”
“YOU LET THEM ESCAPE?!”
“No, sir; I just went inside to do another practice run when I looked up, and lo and behold, she’s not there anymore!”
Sting was fuming before he summoned the other members of the facility. Once all were present, he gave the order. “Experiment 735 has escaped! Spread out and find them before they exit the building! Search everywhere! Bring them to us alive! Search high, search low, search far and wide! Find me that foal, or she’ll have your hides!”
That last statement sent them all into panic as they didn’t want to die. Wasting no more time, they all spread out to look for the missing child before they could escape the building.
“Why would they keep several of our comrades in one place but keep Hysteria in one secluded room?” Shadow wondered.
“Maybe they’re just mean enough to make her feel so lonely” Serene whispered.
“Now I’m really confused” Claire mused.
“What is it now?”
“Just a while ago, you said 735 was vitally important. Now that they’ve gone lose, you just said that ‘she’ll have you hide’ what does that mean?”
“Claire, you’re new to this facility despite being in the Hater side for years, and you’re getting on my nerves”
“Please sir”
Sting gave up. “There’s something else we’ve found about 735 aside from holding a weapon of destruction”
“They just told me I was a danger to them. They chained me up to make sure I wouldn’t hurt them. I think that’s why they broke my legs and wings” Hysteria whimpered slightly.
“But, you’re just a filly” Serene pointed out. “And that’s even abuse”
“Arthur, do you hear something?”
“I think it came from the closet, Jenny”
“When we first brought 735 in, she wasn’t hung up on the ceiling like she was now. We just put a few chains on her to wall so that she would stay put”
“Why would you keep her on the ceiling? Do you know that could damage her body severely?”
“That was the point. But we had a good reason for that. You remember Brock, right? The Head Scientist performing on 735 before Roger?”
“Yeah?”
Hysteria was starting to feel scared.
“Shh, its okay, Hysteria” Shadow cooed gently. He was failing to try and not sound scared as well as the two Antis approached the door.
“He handled 735 really well. He was able to install enough fear in her to make her speak. But, one day, something bad happened”
“Well, look what we have here” two Antis grinned when they found the trio in the closet.
“I’m gonna look” Hysteria spoke as she began to open her eyes.
“Hysteria, wait!”
But it was too late.
“You ever wonder how did Brock die and when we found the body, it looked like something straight out of a horror movie?”
“Yeah?”
“It wasn’t really me who did it” he paused for a second before looking at Claire straight in the eye. “They broke off their chains that day”
Hysteria’s eyes widened when she saw the scene around her. She saw the state the other Bronies and Pegasisters were in. She was even more horrified when she saw the two that were strapped down and experimented upon. That was when her eyes darted back to the Antis above her. Those were also the ones who experimented and tormented her. The ones who want to hurt her friends. The ones who made her unable to fly or walk on her own. The ones who took her identity. Something about seeing all that just somehow flipped a switch in her. Her breathing unsteadied. Her eyes widened. A voice rang in her head.
Kill them.
Her eyes turned red.
Kill them before they kill you.
Her fangs sprouted and sharpened.
Kill or be killed.
“Give them the Shocker” the male one spoke, grinning at the frightened Shadow.
“With pleasure” the female one, Jenny grinned. She grabbed a huge stick with an electric source at the end, and was about to hit Shadow with it when a small yellow hoof intercepted with it, holding it to make it unable to move. Jenny tried to pull the hoof off, but then she got the shock of her life when she saw the face of the owner.
Hysteria’s pupils had turned red and shrunk. One eye twitched slightly before she turned her gaze at Jenny. Before long, she grinned eerily from ear to ear, revealing her sharp fangs. Her mane turned orange, like her tail. Those eyes were staring into her soul.
“What happened to you, freak?!” Jenny yelled before Hysteria lunged forward and bit her, also taking along the male, Jake. All focus was now centered on the fight between the grown Antis and the filly. What just happened? Just a while ago, Hysteria was so scared of everything, and couldn’t even walk or fly. And now, she’s attacking full grown Antis viciously.
“Shadow, Serene!” she called to her friends. “Go save the others! I’ve got this! I’ll meet you both outside!”
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?” Shadow asked, more concerned for her than the Antis.
“Save them, Shadow!” finally, she got at Jenny’s neck, making fresh blood spill out.
Serene finally managed to free those who were strapped down in the tables and used some Healing Potion to close up the wound on the one with her gastrointestinal tract exposed. Shadow had just freed the last of those who were in the cages. All ran off with Serene leading them as Shadow went at the back to guard them.
Looking back at Hysteria, he spoke up, “Hysteria!”
“Yeah?” she called back as she fended off the male Anti.
“Thank you!” he spoke one last time to her before one of the kidnapped Familiars grabbed him and took him with them.
Hysteria nodded before she finally bit the Anti, killing him. She was still lying on the floor, and it looked like she would have to do the worm just to move anymore. But then, she didn’t give in. She used all her energy and will as she tried to fight the urge to give into the pain and fall back down. Finally, she was successful as she sat herself up. Before anyone else knew it, she was able to stand. Electricity sparked in her wings as a smirk grew on her face. Giving one last look at the enemies she killed, she grabbed their Shocker and map, and ran off to take out the rest of the facility.
“Sir, we just lost Jenny and Jon!” Tiffany spoke, looking at the screen with the lights of all the Antis in the building. They made sure to put a tracker on each to let them know if they had just been killed. When that happened, their light would go out.
“WHAT?!”
Right then, another beep came as another light was taken out. “Now we lost Jerry”
Sting facepalmed. “Warn the others!”
Right then, several Antis had already begun to patrol the facility. Each was armed with either a gun or a tranquilizer. Some had gathered around the room Hysteria had just entered, thinking they could just corner her there. They were wrong when she jumped out and killed them all, rabid animal style. Her eyes were full of insanity. She had only one thing in target now: Kill all Antis in here, and burn this place to the ground.
“Sir, seven more have just died!” Tiffany sounded really scared now. As she spoke, more Antis kept ended up getting killed as their lights turned off. They were all dying in a rapid pace. The line of the Antis with vanishing lights had now begun to line up in a way that whatever was killing them was now near the Main Room where they all were.
“WHO’S KILLING ALL MY COMRADES?!”
Hysteria had just killed the remaining Antis that were out of the Main Room. She was sure the last ones were in that one area. She had taken the liberty to pour gasoline and alcohol all over the bodies of the victims when she found a whole room filled with it. Don’t get me started about how she was able to pour gallons that were carried on her back on the bodies of the victims that were lined up like a dead army in the military when her legs were weak and her wings were numb.
“Just the ones in the Main Room to go and it’s off to meet with Shadow, Serene, and the others!” she then remembered about how it may turn out for her when she was out. No memory, no idea who she was, no idea about her family. She knew what would happen to kids like that. “Oh well, better the orphanage than here, I guess”
She was about to exit the Belongings Room when something shiny suddenly got caught in her eye. She had to shield it a bit when it was blinding, but she soon found what it was. On the bottom of the shelf labeled, “From Experiments” was a box with the tag, “Experiment 735”
“Experiment 735? That’s my code name here. Did I have something with me when I got kidnapped?” she wondered. She wanted to see if the box had any clues about her life. Opening it, she found only two things inside: a small black filly outfit meant for war and a blue hat. The hat had a flower on it. Reaching in, she took the objects out. It wasn’t much, but it was hers.
She felt something when her hooves ran across the hat. It was like some lost part of her was there. She felt something precious was attached to it. She couldn’t figure out what it was, but a single number ran in her head, 1. It was an odd clue, but it was better than nothing.
She stumbled a bit, her back legs were starting to feel weak and wobbly again. She had to get out of here quick before she succumbed to the pain again. She put on the back outfit and hat, feeling like she was reunited with something that was missing. Stealing a small smile, she ran off to take out the last of the facility.
“Sir?” Tiffany was already scared now.
“Please tell me they eradicated the Anti Assassin” Sting was hiding his fear now for whatever was killing all comrades. He would hold a big funeral later, but only if they didn’t die.
“Worse” Tiffany gaped at the screen. The only lights on now were the lights of everyone in the Main Room. “The Anti Assassin eradicated them”
That was enough to make Claire faint.
“Can you find where the killer is now?”
Right then, a walkie-talkie sounded off. From the static pattern, they knew it was Roger. “Oh, thank goodness” Sting regained himself as he went to answer it. Surely one of his best comrades would be deliver some good news. “Roger, what is it?”
What scared everyone in the room was that Roger was screaming for his life. It sounded like the cries a person made when they were being killed and on the brink of death.
“Roger? Can you hear me?” Sting asked, barely maintaining his stature now.
“Captain! Save yourselves! She’s got me!” he then heard Roger gave one final scream before something disturbing, like a bone crushing, was heard.
Everyone in the room was already getting frightened from that. Some had hidden under the tables while others had grabbed a weapon.
“Roger?” Sting was really scared now.
The next thing he heard sent shivers down his spine and made his blood run cold. “Experiment 735 here. Male Anti and several others are down. Be there in a sec, roger and over!” they sounded like they were smirking before the next thing that was heard was maniacal laughter and static.
Sting dropped the walkie-talkie with a thud. “Well, what do you know? Our goose is cooked” he spoke casually before screaming as everyone else ran awry.
Hysteria laughed insanely after she pushed the button on the walkie-talkie. She decided to give them all a good scare before she dove in for the kill. She was about to walk off when…
“Hey…you…” Roger spoke weakly behind her.
She groaned slightly from that. “What is it now? I enjoyed breaking your arm; do you want me to do that to your neck?”
“Why…7…3…5…”
“My name is Hysteria now!” she yelled at him. “And you and your buddies out there just deserved this! You broke all those innocent souls, including me, and now I can’t even remember who I am. Why, it took a lot of strain before I was finally able to walk right now! And my wings are broken! And you even tried to kill my friends!”
“You…won’t…get away with this…”
She then went near his neck. “That’s what your Captain once told me”
A scream was let out from Roger before he died.
Claire and Sting panicked as they ran through the only exit now, a metal bridge with no railings. If you fall, you’d die from falling down a 50 foot drop. The rest of the Antis were now distracting an enraged experiment, risking their lives to save even one to tell the tale.
“Okay, sir, we have secured the perimeter. But we highly doubt that we could find an exit before 735 catches us. But if we pursue hard enough, we could find one of the emergency exits, and…” Claire spoke, trying to calm Captain, but she paused when she noticed his scared gaze into nothing. “Sir?”
“Claire, what is fear?”
Claire tilted her head in confusion. “Fear is an emotion that comes when one is scared and frightened. Your heart thumps uncontrollably, you can’t steady your breathing, you feel like you’re gonna die from a heart attack…” she then paused. “You never felt fear before, did you?”
“Is this what fear is like, Claire? Boy, the King must be disappointed now in me”
“Sir…”
“He’ll have my head”
“Sir…”
“Well, if 735 doesn’t beat him to it…”
“Sir!”
“Yes, Claire?”
“Sir, what is your name?”
Sting tilted his head from that. “My name is Sting”
“But you look like you were stung” she then continued. “Listen, I’m new to this facility, but I have been around long enough to notice how you act around your comrades. Your name is Sting because you give orders which feel like a sting. Now, think, if Experiment 735’s anger was triggered by something. Then you must know how to un-trigger her”
Sting thought for a bit. Yes, there was a time that they found a way to snap 735 out of her insane state. It would be tricky, but it shouldn’t be much of an option. “Claire, I’ve got it”
“Well?”
“Live bait”
“WHAT?!” she yelled.
But right then, a yellow hoof grabbed Claire from the back and a yellow filly with sharp teeth bit into her neck. Claire only gave one final shriek as Sting watched in horror. The Anti dead, the filly dropped her dead body to the floor below. Sting reached an arm out as he watched Claire’s dead body disappear into the abyss.
Anger fueled up in him. He didn’t know Claire that much because she was new, but he knew enough to consider her a friend and somewhat companion. Yet all his other comrades were just killed by this creature who, they admitted torment, and he was the only one left alive. The choice was now his: Kill or be killed.
Before the filly could’ve gotten to him, he took out a sword and plunged it into one of her hind legs. It made her suddenly look panicked as she fell down. Her legs weakened altogether and she collapsed to the floor. She soon snapped back to her shy and frightened personality. Her mane returned to normal brown and her eyes turned back into the innocent cerulean they were. She looked up to him in utter fear, though in her eyes it looked like she had no idea what had happened.
“Well, 735, stabbing you in the legs was always the reason you couldn’t walk anymore” he grinned, looking at the blood on her leg.
“Okay, is that everyone?” Shadow Kirby asked as he and Serene gathered all the ones they rescued. He then noticed that one was still missing. “Wait, where’s Hysteria?”
“She didn’t come with you?” Serene asked.
“No, I was pulled away by someone as she took out those Antis”
All those they rescued looked at the one who was the last in line. They wore a nervous grin.
Hysteria woke up a few seconds later. She found that she was strapped down once again on an operating table. She freaked out as she couldn’t move anymore. Infront of her was Sting, grinning at her maliciously.
“For an Anti’s Assassin, you were pretty good” he then pulled up a remote infront of her. “But you still have a lot to learn just yet”
Before she could react, he pushed the one button on the remote. A strange, clanking sound was heard. A part of the ceiling above them suddenly opened up, allowing a huge machine to come down from it. It looked very massive. It has red empty vials attached to it, all connected to a needlepoint at the end. It was a huge needle, almost intent on taking all her…
No, she thought, her eyes widening from fear.
“Oh yes” Sting seemed to have read her thoughts. “If I can’t get what I need from you, it just proves useless to keep trying, especially since you killed all my crew”
Wait, I did what? That’s impossible, I’d never do that! It’s too scary.
No, you didn’t, but I did.
Hysteria flinched form that voice. It sounded like her own, but the vocal range was somewhat deeper and older.
Who said that?
I did.
Who are you?
It sounded offended at her thought, whatever she was talking to. You forgotten me so easily? I’m you!
That scared Hysteria.
I’m the one who saved you and your friends back there when those Antis had you cornered. I just want to protect you, and those close to you.
Really?
It is what I came forth for.
“Hey, pay attention!” Sting yelled, making the filly turn her attention back to him. “Nevermind. Once you’re dead, you won’t need it”
Right then, he then pushed the button, making the machine suddenly activate. It began to pull out the sharp point of the needle to take her blood. Fear surged through her body as she heard the machine spring to life. She could see the bloodthirsty Captain Sting grin at her with a devilish look in his eyes. She didn’t want to die. She wanted to live.
You know, I could help you with that.
How?
Let me take over
Take over?
Let your thoughts flow freely into me. Detach yourself from your body and into your mind. When you come back to normal, we shall be out of here.
Hysteria hesitated for a moment. Of course she was uncertain. She just met this character. But from the looks of things, she didn’t have much of a choice. She detached herself from her senses and body. The next thing she saw was darkness…
…before opening her eyes to reveal that she and Sting had their tables turned.
How did that happen? She just saw darkness, and now she was the one who was free while Sting struggled in his bounds. She was scared and frightened from what happened. She tried to make sense out of it, but soon found that it was too late. Sting gave her one final glare before the needle got to him, and sucked all his blood.
She had closed her eyes to shield from the guilt. She felt bits of her sanity suddenly fade. She remembered what they did to her, how she lost her memoires, how they experimented on her, how they forced her to watch as several others like her were tortured in even worse ways. Because of them, her memoires were lost. Because of them, she was traumatized. Because of them, she was a shell of what was a filly. Half her sanity only remained form her trauma. When she opened them again, she had felt all her worries slip away.
She looked down to her side to see her hat, the only clue she had of her life, on the floor. She put it on and embraced her new slice in life. She had to make a run for it before she lost feeling in her legs again and the building explodes.
She suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline flow into her wings. Curiosity got the best of her before she moved them up and down. She then made them move faster. Electricity seemed to spark into them. It frightened and hurt her at first, but she soon got used to it. She tried flapping them even harder, and she felt her hooves suddenly lift off from the ground.
She looked around. There was only a minute for her to get out before this facility exploded. Could she take the chance to fly her way out?
“Come on, I have to go back in there and get her out!” Shadow tried to go against Serene, who held him by the forelegs.
“But, Shadow, it’s dangerous in there!”
“But, we can’t just leave her!”
Right then, the facility exploded. The ones who were unicorns charged up their horns and created a huge shield to protect themselves from the debris. With their combined power, it protected everyone form the explosion. They all dropped it when they thought it was safe.
Right then, the explosion also sent a filly rocketing out through the front door. One Unicorn immediately grabbed them with her magic. The figure was limp in the magic grasp. When it was put down, Shadow and Serene knew who it was.
“Hysteria!”
Yup, it was little Hysteria. She looked a little burnt. She coughed slightly from the smoke as fresh air entered her lungs. She opened her eye a little, but they soon opened completely.
She managed to give a small smile. “Hi Shadow”
“Oh, thank goodness, she’s alive!” Serene sighed in relief.
“Don’t worry, Hysteria. We’re out of there now. It’s gonna be okay. It’s gonna be okay. You’ll be fine. Just hold on” Shadow fretted over the filly.
The young filly smiled weakly at him. Her eyes darted down to her wings. She was able to fly, even though it was just once. And one facility of Antis was no more. She closed her eyes to get some rest.
They were able to reach the Base or the Fandom side later. All were attended to. Because of the extremities that had gone on, they all had to go to one of the hospitals in one of the safer areas of their side in Wonderland. All managed to get the treatment they needed and were soon nursed back to health. Hysteria herself was able to recover from the burns. Shadow and Serene reported all that happened and what they found.
It was good thing that in this Wonderland realm that injury, even if fatal, could heal quick and easy as long as attended to. In a matter of days, everyone who was rescued was able to fully heal. Granted, some had a few disabilities like no being able to walk without support for a few weeks or so. Still, they had to stay in the safer areas to avoid any more damage. They were all sent home, except for one.
But that was soon resolved. Shadow decided to adopt Hysteria. The little filly looked up to him as though he were her parent. He did it to make sure she didn’t have to be alone. Considering the trauma she went through, she had to have a nice home. He wanted to make sure she had someone to talk to.
Hysteria couldn’t walk yet, so the hospital gave some therapy boots to help her walk independently and a wheelchair in case she got tired. She couldn’t fly due to the damage done to her wings. Serene also visited Shadow to watch over Hysteria as well.
Shadow Kirby watched Hysteria as she slept on the couch. It had been a month since they got her out of the hospital. She slept for long hours despite going to bed early. He had a guest bedroom for her, but she sometimes would go downstairs to go on the couch. He turned away when Serene entered the room.
“Hey, how’s she doing?” Serene asked.
“She’s been sleeping for twelve hours. That’s normal, right?”
“A month ago, she barely escaped a crazy house that striped her of who she is with her life and when she got out, she was in comatose. Today she’s here with us and has amnesia. Not sure if normal applies”
“Whatcha got there?”
“The people who are giving rave comments about your story, ‘Unnatural Existence’. You’ve inspired so many who are like you. You even got people to see the gentle side of Pinkamena. By the way, some are even excited about the next chapter”
“I’d rather not spoil it. But, we still need to find out what kind of substance those Antis injected Hysteria with every day to make her forget every memory”
“Well, she’s intact and here, she’s okay”
“Serene, just a month ago, we got several of our comrades out of a mad house run by Antis. One was tied to a contraption that regularly dunked him in a weird liquid and electrocuted by Tesla volts. The second one was tied to a table that had her insides exposed and shocked her regularly. The third was hanged from the ceiling by large wires that gave her an amnesia substance and now reacts in hysterics when it comes to electricity. The first two are in the hospital, the third is here, and the facility has been burned down. And now that we got out of that whole ordeal, I want to help fix one of them since the other two can’t even think. So, did you get a sample?”
Serene sighed before grabbing her bag and reaching in to pull out a small, corked vial with a yellow fluid inside. She handed it over to Shadow before she walked off to go find what it was. Hopefully, to also find a cure for it.
As soon as the door closed, Hysteria began to stir. She opened her eyes and began to look around.
Shadow noticed and went over to her with a warm smile. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
Hysteria looked at him for a few seconds before finally speaking. “Intact, I guess” she whispered.
Serene turned into her Pegasus form and flew away to the Canon area. She looked around until she finally made it to Twilight’s Castle. Once there, she knocked with a hoof. Twilight herself then answered.
“Oh, hello Serene Breeze. What brings you by?”
“Hello Twilight. I need some help”
“Oh, what kind of help? A Friendship problem? You need a proofreader? In need of voice actors?”
“No, I need you to look at this” she then pulled up a vial of the yellow amnesia substance. “You heard of those comrades who Shadow Kirby and I rescued, right?”
“Yes?”
“Well, one of them was injected by this serum the whole time they were trapped there. I took a sample before we left. Can you run a test on it? I need to know the effects and how to reverse them”
Twilight took the vial with her magic and then eyed it. “Sure, come inside and follow me”
She then gestured for the young Pegasister to enter her home. Serene took a deep breath before going in and followed the Alicorn through the halls of her Castle.
Hysteria nibbled at her salad in silence. She was still trying to take everything all in. She was finally free from her torture, just scarred physically and emotionally. She was already in the special boots that would enable her to walk on her own. She looked at Shadow when he got in the room.
“Looks like somepony ate a lot of salad today” Shadow said. “Relax, it’s fine. So, how are you feeling?”
“Fine, I guess. You’re Shadow Kirby. The Equestria Girl you were with when you saved me and the others was Serene Breeze. I don’t who I am, but you named me Hysteria because of my reaction to electric shocks. And we’re in the war”
“Let’s not worry about those right now. It may take some time for your memories to come back”
Hysteria smiled a bit. “Thanks for the salad”
“No problem”
Hysteria then held her head a bit as she bit her lip.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine” she then noticed the mark on Shadow’s arm. “Was that from one of their devices?”
“Yeah, don’t worry, it’s just a scratch”
Hysteria just held the scratched hoof. “The Dagger Doors, you never get by one of them without a hit. I heard that laced they laced it with something called with boiling serum. I should know; I got hit once when I was still able to walk. Do you have any White Flower bottles?”
Shadow sighed. “Medicine cabinet, in the bathroom”
Hysteria nodded as she left to go get the bottle. She tried flying, but her wings let her down. She really hated it. She was a Pegasus unable to fly. Picking herself up, she walked with her head low to the bathroom. Shadow sighed and shook his head sadly.
“Well, I got the results” Twilight spoke up as she went over to Serene, who was sitting on one of the couches for any guests or visitors.
“Well?”
“Let’s see” the Friendship Princess then looked over them. “It seems to say that this substance was an amnesia-causing serum. It induces memory loss into the one who gets injected with it”
“Is there a way to reverse its effects?”
“I’m not so sure yet. I’ll try and find a way. In the meantime, you may go. I’ll summon you if I find anything”
“Thank you, Twilight”
“My pleasure”
Serene Breeze managed to return to her and Shadow’s dorm room. She was sitting on the couch with him, explaining what she found. He explained about how things were going for Hysteria. The said filly was digging around in her room to find her hat. She finally did find it in the closet. By then, her two caretakers had gone up to meet with her.
“You want to get some fresh air?” Shadow Kirby asked. “Maybe a little walk around will bring back some more things”
When he didn’t get a response, he looked over at her. Hysteria held her hat. The Pegasus just kept holding it, feeling through it, as though trying to recover something. That hat was the only thing they may have a clue about her since she got it back from the torture.
“It’s nice hat, isn’t it?” he asked.
Hysteria nodded.
“Does anything on it ring a bell? We never saw something like that around here”
“One, when I run my hoof on it, that pops in my head, the number one”
“The number one, huh?” Shadow asked as he approached the Pegasus. “Anything else?”
Hysteria was about to respond when she heard a lightning flash. She screamed at the top of her lungs as she jumped to the ceiling and held on to the lamp on it. She began to hyperventilate and wouldn’t come down.
“Hey, guys! I…whoa!” a cyan Pegasus said as she saw the filly on the ceiling.
“Rainbow Dash, please!” Serene said as she hurried to the window. “This is not a good time”
“Hysteria, calm down” Shadow whispered in the filly’s ear as he got her down from the ceiling with a ladder. “It’s alright”
“Hysteria? Is she new here?”
“We don’t know for sure. Shadow adopted her, she has amnesia so don’t tell anypony about her yet. She’s as timid as Fluttershy”
“Then how did she know her name was Hysteria?”
“We don’t know her real name so we called her that because of her reaction to electricity and its sounds. Apparently your dashing around made her think there was thunder”
“Right, sorry. I’ll be on my way. Just came to check on you. Have a good day, and I hope you can show this kid around sometime. If she’s old enough to fly, I could help her”
“FLY?!” Hysteria screamed as she began to freak out again. “PLEASE, SIR! DON’T DO THE ZAPPER! IT HURTS TOO MUCH! I’LL DO ANYTHING! JUST DON’T GIVE ME THE ZAPPER!” she began to sob as she cried in Shadow’s hooves.
Rainbow gave one more look before she left. “I’m gonna go. Have a good day”
The dash sound sent Hysteria into another scream.
Rainbow Dash knocked on the door of Twilight’s Castle. It was answered easily by Spike.
“Oh, hey Spike. Is Twilight here?”
“Yeah, she’s down in the basement”
“Great. Can I come in? I need to have a word with her”
“Sure” he then allowed some space for the Pegasus to fly in.
He then led the way for her. Despite the fact that they were around the Castle many times, on the off-duty in Wonderland, there were hidden rooms used so as to help file records about the latest details and events of Wonderland. Once they were at the basement, where Twilight held several experiments, Spike allowed for Rainbow to go in on her own.
“Hey Twilight!” the cyan Pegasus greeted her friend.
“Hello Rainbow, what brings you by?” the Alicorn spoke as she scanned over the vial of the serum Serene gave a while back.
“Oh, nothing much. What are you up to? You look pretty busy”
“Yeah, Serene Breeze gave a vial of some serum to me for me to analyze what it was. She said that it was used on one of those she and Shadow Kirby rescued”
“Well, what does it do?”
“Causes amnesia, I think. I’m just trying to find a way to reverse it”
“Oh, alright. Well, I just stopped by Shadow Kirby and Serene Breeze’s place, and I can’t believe I just bumped into a newcomer. Though, I don’t think we should spread the word about her yet, she’s so shy”
“Ooh, what’s the newcomer’s name?”
“Hysteria, I think. She’s yellow with a brown mane, and blue eyes. She’s also a Pegasus. And she’s scared of electricity. My dashing sound really set her off. And she’s got amnesia”
“Oh, poor thing”
“Yeah”
Twilight sighed as she documented the current information in regards to Hysteria. She felt sorry for the poor child. Once she took down the documents, she looked back to her research on the matter involving the serum that Serene gave her a while back. She was looking under the microscope, a sample of the vial in the clips.
Hysteria slept quietly in Shadow Kirby’s embrace as he stroked her mane to keep her in a soothing slumber. She slept so peacefully in his embrace. She felt so safe. He had sure to keep her safe. She had enough traumas already, she didn’t need any more.
“She really likes you” Serene commented.
“Yeah, I just hope she will get over her trauma soon. I don’t want her to be scared for the rest of her life” he looked down at her.
Serene nodded. “Yeah. But one thing I don’t get: What would they want with a filly like this? I mean, when we found her, she was in a separate room, away from the others. Why would they keep her separated?”
“Well, she did just lunge at them for attacking us”
“Maybe, but still, it’s like there’s something else about her that they wanted. But what?”
Right then, they heard a loud thumping coming from the door. It sounded hostile and unfriendly. “I’ll go get it, you guard Hysteria”
“Hmm, that’s a little odd” Twilight spoke as she looked at the sample.
“What is?” Fluttershy asked when she came in the room to drop off Owlicious back from grooming.
Shadow put Hysteria on her bed gently. He then went and guarded the door to her room. He heard loud thumps coming from downstairs and Serene screaming. He knew what that meant: Antis had found one of the safe areas. How they found them, he didn’t know. He didn’t want to risk showing himself to avoid Hysteria getting hurt as well. He just went at her door, and locked it from the outside to hopefully keep her safe.
“It’s this sample’s main target” Twilight looked at it harder. “It’s got one target that’s more of its signature”
Shadow fended off the Antis as much as he could. But he could never really bring himself to bite them. They managed to hold him down as they searched the house for any more occupants. He just prayed that they wouldn’t get anywhere near the door where Hysteria was. No doubt that if she were awake now, she would be terrified.
“And what is it?” Fluttershy tilted her head in confusion.
Hysteria felt fear suddenly surge through her body. Why was she suddenly so afraid? That was when she heard it: the sounds of Shadow Kirby and Serene’s struggling. She felt danger suddenly came to her area. That was when she suddenly felt another burst of adrenaline pump into her body. It felt so…strong.
Let me out, and I will stop them, the voice of her head spoke.
She was no longer able to contain it. She let her darker half take over. Her mane turned orange again, while her eyes turned red, and her fangs sharpened. She felt so numb like she had lost all emotion in her heart. All the pain, the helplessness, the love, all gone. All that remained was her anger, her desire to kill, her insane passion of watching Antis die as she bit into their flesh. She grinned maniacally as she got up from her bed and eyed the door.
“It’s set for Hidebrit”
Fluttershy gasped at that. Twilight did too. But the lavender mare seemed more surprised at the yellow one’s. “What is it, Fluttershy?”
“Get her” one of the Antis smirked as they kicked the door open. But they were surprised to see an empty room. Where were the guests?
One stepped inside, before something jumped down from the ceiling and bit him on the neck. He screamed in agony as he writhed in the filly’s grasp. But she locked her fangs strong. She didn’t let go until he feel to the ground dead. The others just tried to get her off, but ended up hitting themselves in the process. They got hit by Hysteria’s kicking. Those boots she was wearing weighed a ton so it killed them from the impact.
As she got off her prime victim’s body, she ran off and began to attack the others in the house. Shadow and Serene were soon free after her attack. She relentlessly attacked all of her enemies and did not cease until they turned to dust.
At one point, Shadow managed to get up and go to her after she killed the last one. “Hysteria, calm down! They’re all gone now!”
That just made her hiss at him. He flinched from that. But when he looked at her eyes, he knew there was something different about them. They were cold and cruel, like there was another person inhabiting her body.
The eyes then reverted back to normal as her mane and teeth followed suit. They returned back the frightened, traumatized version. Hysteria just shivered under fear as she realized what just happened.
“I’m sorry…” she sobbed, falling to the floor, and covering her face.
“Shh, it’s okay” Shadow hugged her to calm her down.
“What’s wrong with me?” she asked, looking at him directly, eyes filled with tears and insecure.
“I don’t know. But we’ll figure this out, together, okay?” he looked at her calmly.
She nodded before collapsing into the hug. “Th-thank y-you…”
“It’s not that hard, Hysteria, you just gotta learn how to flap those wings. Think of it as a butterfly or a wisp in the wind” Serene demonstrated by changing to her Pegasus form and flapping her wings.
The young filly looked at her wings uncertainly before trying to flap them. They just made a silent snapping sound before letting her fall again.
“Don’t worry, Hysteria, you’ll get it one day” Shadow assured her as he helped her back up.
“This doesn’t make any sense. Her wings are alright, but there’s a snapping a sound before she falls again. The only time we can get her to fly is by creating a gust for her to fly on, like Cloud Chaser did with Zap Stinger”
“Well, she’ll have to start then with learning to walk” he then handed her a glass of water and a bottle of pills. She took two of them and drank all the water.
They went to a Psychologist to help find what was wrong with her. She was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. In her case, it’s rather severe due to how it triggers some Split Personality Disorder. It only occurs if she feels scared. They gave her the meds that were just suitable for her age.
“Walking sounds nice. Flying makes me feel nervous” Hysteria spoke gently.
Serene sighed before changing back to her Equestria Girl form. Shadow smiled gently before helping his daughter out of her special walking boots. She came out of them one by one, uncertain at first. When she was finally out, she wobbled a bit while trying to regain her balance. She just sat herself down.
“Okay, Hysteria, this should be a little easier than flying. Most Pegasi only learn to walk before they learn to fly, so just follow me”
“Okay”
Fluttershy shook her head as she woke up on the couch in Twilight’s living room. Her head was still painful and she felt a bit dizzy but she was already awake. The aforementioned Alicorn soon came in the room just as she regained her bearings.
“Oh, good to see you finally came to” Twilight smiled.
Fluttershy felt her forehead. “Um, Twilight, what happened?”
“An Anti broke in and knocked you out unconscious. Luckily, one of the Fans came in and helped us out. Nurse Redheart said you hit your head really bad. You’ve been out for a long time”
“How long?” she asked, worried.
“About three days, but I contacted Applejack and she was able to take care of your animals if that’s what’s worrying you” she spoke while giving her friend an icepack.
The yellow mare let out a sigh of relief.
“By the way, what was that thing you were talking about a while ago?”
“Hmm?” she compressed the icepack to her ache in the head.
“Before they attacked, you gasped when I mentioned the serum was used on Hidebrits”
The yellow mare’s eyes widened while looking down and trying to hide.
The Alicorn made her face her gently. “Fluttershy, please. I’m your friend. You can tell me”
Hysteria began to shake and cry. She had tried to walk again, but she kept faltering. At one point, she fell too hard and it hurt her leg. She was still sensitive to pain as her tears began to rise.
Shadow Kirby tried to calm her. “Shh, it’s okay. It’s okay. Everything’s okay. Please don’t cry” she wouldn’t stop. He then remembered an old lullaby used to help calm him down. He knew she was not really of his blood, but it was worth a shot.
Blackbirds singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You are only waiting for this moment to arrive
Hysteria began to calm down as he sang. It was very soothing. Her breathing began to steady, while she held onto him as though he were a teddy bear.
“So the Hidebrit Gene is still in existence?” Fluttershy asked.
Twilight nodded. “I was shocked myself. But I couldn’t tell the others. I mean, the current Bearer came from a traumatic life and is even the only family a traumatized child has. We can’t just take them. We’ll only be taking one life for another”
Fluttershy nodded in understanding. “I would do the same and not tell”
“So, I’ve told you what I know. Now tell me what you know”
The yellow mare sighed. “Because of the theory that I’m a descendant of Snowdrop, I have developed a connection to her that allows me to monitor the Fandom by feeling with my Element of Kindness like she does with her snowflakes. At one point, I felt something. I didn’t know what I was at first, but I soon found that…”
“Yes? Go on, Fluttershy”
“I knew the Hidebrit Gene is still in existence. One OC was even born from the one who had it”
Twilight nodded. “I see”
“What do we do now?”
“We’re gonna have to find the bearer and have them brought over. We have no choice right now. If we don’t stop this war soon, we’ll all end up dead by next month. Let’s not forget: the bearer was even kidnapped along with several others and we still haven’t found them”
The yellow mare sighed. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess” she then looked up. “But don’t be too hard on them”
Twilight nodded. “Can you try tracking them?”
The yellow mare closed her eyes in concentration before jerking back and letting out a yelp. “I still need to recover. My head still hurts a bit”
“Oh! Alright then, we’ll just wait until you get better”
“I’m going home now. Angel must be getting worried. Bye, Twilight”
“Stay safe, Fluttershy”
Good things never last when you’re part of an area at war. Hysteria eventually regained the ability to walk on her own, but she sometimes wore the boots just in case. Still, she was unable to fly without support. She was still having issues with her controlling her aggressive split personality. Shadow Kirby just watched over her and took care of her. Serene was there to help as well. The little filly was still having nightmares about her time at the Institution and how it may have left her permanently unable to fly.
Soon enough, the last safe places of refuge in the Fandom side was found and broke. The Antis had begun to collect and capture the last ones who were not fit for war. Among them, Shadow Kirby and Hysteria. The little filly flailed around in their grasps as she tried to get back to her father. She was crying as he put her in one of the vans. She knew what would become of her too. They would take her as an experiment and conduct more ways to destroy even those who were in the war, and then…
“Help!”
She flinched when she heard that voice. It was somewhat familiar to her but why?
“No! Let me go!”
Her eyes darted around to find the source, and there it was. A bit of a distance away from her, being pulled into a van, was a young OC. It didn’t look like a pony; it was more of a Katsuma with a minor differences. Its ears were folded backwards instead of forwards, its stomach was oval instead of circular, and its tail was like that of a tiger’s. It also had a flower bud-like collar across its neck. On the flower’s petals were marks that resembled a cross.
“Mother! Mom! Help me!”
She gained a glint of light in her eyes. Suddenly, her lost memories started flooding back, as though the dam holding them away had just broke. She remembered who she was: she was not one, but two beings fused as one, Hazel Vine and Hester Hide.
“Bunny!” she cried out as she jumped out of the Anti’s grasps and dashed her way over to the young OC.
Along the way, she split up back into the Partner-Familiar duo, along the two to finally breathe independently for once in a long time. Hester used Freeze spells to stop the Antis from coming any closer while Hazel used levitation to make them go away. When they did reach the van, the Familiar broke the door and freed the captives inside, as well as their own OC, who she and Hazel held closely.
“Mom…Mother” she cooed before smiling and hugging them.
“Shh, it’s okay, Nita” Hester cooed. “It’s okay, Mom and Mother are here now”
Hazel nodded as she pet their OC before her eyes darted over to the van that had Shadow Kirby. “Dad…”
Hester followed her gaze before going sad as well. “We’ll get him back, dear”
Twilight and Snowdrop managed to see the whole thing. Hester used her Hidebrit Gene at one point to send the Antis away and out of their territory, but it was only temporary, just long enough for a few days. Their secret was out, and they began to start training for the real priority now: Saving the captives and Shadow Kirby along with them.
The duo were never one for fancy stuff s they were allowed to live in their own house, so long as they came to training. Upon further investigation, they found that the Hidebrit Gene was still in Hester, the fusion only cloaked it. The whole thing they went through came some costs. Hazel could no longer use her old Pegasus form, only her Hysteria one with Hester. It was a shame that she also had a disability to fly now.
But that wasn’t their main worry; it was to save Shadow and the others.
“Now, remember everyone. Stick to the plans” Twilight spoke to all the Bronies, Pegasisters, OCs, and Canon Characters in the room with them.
A majority of them were rescued during Hazel and Hester’s little episode out of Hysteria. The barrier was put back up, but Hester was still not yet ready to use the Gene to complete it. Hidebrits could use a burst of the power from the Gene, but they had to be strong enough to do it. Since then, the Fandom side was trying to regain its bearings while Twilight and Snowdrop helped Hazel and Hester train for battlefield attacks.
This was a new field to the duo. They were always at their side of the barrier in terms of the war. They only helped in Support and Healing. Search and Rescue was a new field for them, especially one that involves going into enemy territory.
They underwent training like the others that were willing and able. Hester underwent special training for learning about her Hidebrit Gene more. If she didn’t learn to control it, its power would overwhelm her. She only went through enough to learn more about it and to prevent it from consuming her.
Oh yes, the former Hidebrits before her never went to try and control their power, even when activated. As a result, it consumed them and hurt them. It caused collateral damage to their Wonderland counterpart while their real-life one went unstable. It only went away when they either died, got killed, left the Fandom to never return, or suicide. In Adam’s case, it was suicide from the pressure and misunderstanding.
Hazel trained alongside her just in case the Gene would transfer to her one day if Hester ended up dying for good. She would hate for that to happen. During her regular training, she pushed herself to not only get through it, but to also get stronger to save Shadow Kirby.
She couldn’t remember much, but she was the main one in control during Hysteria. They only knew each other for a short while, but she already felt attached to him. He was the father she never had. She never had a father, just an abusive mother. He even helped her walk and promised to help her with her anger. He gave her the parental love she longed for.
She would sometimes sit down and remember how he spoke to her when she was scared of her Disorder.
I know what you're going through. Don't let it get the best of you; you'll make it out alive
Now, after months of training, they were ready. Hazel and Hester even practiced in their Hysteria form because it would be needed later on. They got the walking, trotting, running, and even galloping alright now. The main issue was still flying. Luckily, Cloud Chaser was part of the troop so she would be assisting them and several others to help fly later on.
Right now, Twilight gave them and the others all one final training run before calling it a day and letting them all head back to their dorms. There was some alcohol in case anyone wanted a little before the day. It was only one-two shots tonight to make sure they all remain sober and strong for tomorrow. Today, they all went in to get a bit of sweetness before the big day.
Hazel and Hester were among them. They never liked alcohol so they just took a glass of Honey Everlasting tea each. Some other sober ones just took an ordinary coffee, juice drink, or milk.
“How’s your training?” Hazel asked.
“Good. A little hard, but worth staying with you. How’s yours been?” Hester looked at her.
“Just well” she looked down at her side.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m a Pegasus unable to fly without support. Every time I flap my left wing, I feel a snap and I can’t keep up anymore. The wind just carries me”
“I’m sure we’ll find out why soon” she then added. “Hey, remember what Shadow told you, stay strong”
“War keeps happening here. Those who are essential end up dead before we knew what they could really do. It’s like good things never last”
Hester nodded before lifting her glass. “Here’s to the damned, the lost and forgotten?”
Hazel nodded before going for ‘cheers’. “It's hard to get high when you're living on the bottom”
Shadow Kirby sat in his cell lowly. It’s been weeks since he was taken hostage by the Antis. In his last ditch effort, he made it a point to save Hysteria, the filly he adopted and loved as his own. He was surprised to see that when she was about to be taken away, she turned into a blur of two people that had gone missing: Hazel Vine and Hester Hide. From the looks of it, the experiment the Antis caused on them had fused them as one, took away their memories, and only when they heard a familiar voice of their own past did they remember who they were and change back.
“Did she actually care?” he wondered.
It probably didn’t matter now. Those Antis were making a Terminating serum as he and the other captives were trapped in their cells. If it goes into the Equestria body, it would Terminate them the same way an Execution would. Anytime right now and the door were gonna open and…
Creak
He looked up to see one of the Antis in the lab coats. From the looks of it, a female. They wore shades, but he could tell there was a smirk underneath. In her hand was an injection needle with a transparent liquid. She grabbed his hoof with her free hand and held the needle in the other. He couldn’t struggle anymore, the chains in that hoof and the other three had already taken up his energy and magic. The camera beside them neared as though to watch the whole thing. He closed his eyes to brace his fate, when suddenly…
Boom
He looked to his side to see that the camera beside them had exploded, its wires sticking out and the chip inside destroyed and mangled beyond repair. How did that happen? He suddenly noticed the weight on his hooves was lifted. He looked down to see that the chains were now gone. They swayed at the walls and floor below, unlocked. He slowly felt his strength return.
He looked up to see that the Anti above him was smiling kindly at him. In her hand where the needle was, inside was the key that unlocked the chains. The Anti took off the wig of black hair to reveal it was black with brownish tinge. On her shoulder, a certain yellow Familiar grinned at him.
“Camera explosion was always my specialty” Hester grinned.
Only when the girl removed her glasses were his suspicions confirmed: this was a Pegasister. It was Hazel. He smiled at her. She smiled back.
“Let’s get outta here, dad” she smiled.
He jumped from the floor and hugged her tightly, and she hugged him back. “You came for me”
“You saved us, now it’s time we save you” she then turned to the door, peeking outside to see the rest of the troop had started going in and saving all the other captives. She turned back to him before gesturing her back. “Hold on tight”
He shrugged before going up on her back and hanging on for dear life while Hester floated. Hazel hold onto him as well to keep him from falling like he did to her as Hysteria. She ran out the cell to meet with the others. By that time, everyone else had already gotten all captives out, and she joined the beeline to make a run for it to escape the building.
The troop ran as fast as they could to escape the building. Whether or not they go noticed didn’t matter that much as of the moment. Getting everyone back to base and closing the barrier permanently was top priority now. They ran as fast as they could, carrying a captive or two each. Twilight and Snowdrop lead the way in the front while Hazel and Hester held down the back, while carrying Shadow.
“Hold it, Pony lovers!” the Antis yelled as they came from hiding and confronted them, guns in hand loaded with darts.
“Snowy time, everypony!” Snowdrop proclaimed, taking out a snowflake.
Everyone else followed her lead, taking out a snowflake they were given. With Twilight’s spark of magic, they all turned into the snowflakes, along with the captive rescued. They were teleported up to the second to the last floor from there, leaving Antis confused at the attack.
They had to get to the rooftop. Everyone here in this rescue team was a Brony, Pegasister, OC, or Canon Character. But they all had in common was that they were all a Pegasus in Pony form. Once they get to the rooftop, they have to change to Pegasus form and fly back to the base.
Shadow watched as Hazel and Hester ran with the others to the end of the rooftop. It was a very high fall if anyone fell from up here. He wasn’t sure if they…no.
“Um, Hazel?” he tapped her gently.
She didn’t respond as she neared the end while the first line had already fallen.
“Hazel?”
She smirked before she was within range to change.
“HAZEL!” he yelled at the top of his lungs as she and Hester leapt off the rooftop with the others.
He closed his eyes and expected them to fall to their doom. What he felt was a cool breeze and wings flapping easily. He opened his eyes to see that the duo had changed into Hysteria. What seemed remarkable to him was how she was flying better than the last time he saw her.
“Hazel, you’re flying!” he smiled.
“Call me Hysteria in this form, dad” she smiled at him before resuming flight at top speed.
He smiled as he clung onto her for dear life. She was still a filly as he remembered her to be, but she was somewhat stronger now in the air.
The fun was cut short when gunshots were heard. Luckily, everyone dodged easily. Shadow turned to see that several Antis in jetpacks had already started gaining up on them, shooting bullets with their guns. Hysteria flipped a bit to avoid another bullet.
“This is not good” she panicked.
“Yeah, if we get hit, then…”
“Not that, dad. Look ahead of us” she gestured to the front of the back area of the troop.
Shadow squinted his eyes a little, but made it a point to not let so much air dry his eyes. He focused until he saw what Hysteria was referring to. Up on the front, was an all too familiar face. Cloud Chaser was doing a backstroke with her flying to provide a gust of wind for the entire back troop to fly on. It turned out; some still had an issue to keep up with flying and were relying on her to keep up. He remembered how his daughter couldn’t fly without support. This meant, if Cloud goes down…
He felt her nod. “Pray she doesn’t get hit”
His eyes darted to the back while he hung onto her. Those Antis were really relentless and had been loaded with ammo. He had to find a way just in case Cloud went down, not just for him, but the rest of the back troop as well. His eyes darted to hear a faint snapping sound at Hysteria’s wings. He focused more to notice that it was coming from her left one only. His eyes concentrated a bit until he found something that seemed off.
In the forest of feathers in her left wings, was a black tip. You couldn’t see it at first sight, but only when you tried hard enough. How come it wasn’t seen before? The snapping sound sounded like it came from in there. He dodged another bullet to see it was heading straight for Cloud. He had to time it right, or there was a big problem.
“Not good” Hysteria spoke when she noticed the one bullet.
“Keep your head up, my child” he spoke calmly to her. His left hoof was already in position.
She, still frightened by the next event, nodded. “It’s hard to get high when you’re living on the bottom”
Right then, Cloud was shot in the right wings, causing her to scream in pain. Luckily, Zap came over and caught her. He had to carry her now in addition to the rescued OC already with him, while she tended to her shot wing, pulling the bullet out.
Meanwhile, the back troop row had already begun to fall one by one. Hysteria was the last one. Shadow grabbed the black tip in her wing and pulled it all out at once with all his strength, breaking it free forms her blood vessels in the wings.
The filly screamed in pain before accidentally dropping him, and her wings created a sudden burst of air strong enough to send the others infront to get back to flying to safety. She took a while to recover as the wound closed up. Being on the Fandom side, wounds like that heal easily. When she recovered, she flew down to save him, just in time as well.
“Dad!” she yelled at him while pulling up to the height of the flock. “Don’t do that again! You know that’s dangerous!”
He only chuckled at how she was reacting when she missed over a detail. “Hysteria, you’re flying!”
She titled her head before noticing she was. She was flying now at ease. There was no more snapping. Her left wing felt a sense of relief and freedom, as though a chain was removed from it. She looked up at him, before he showed her the black rod he pulled from her wing.
“Found your wing snapper” he chuckled.
She did a backflip easily in happiness, catching him. She then turned back to the troop that was now a bit of a distance ahead now. She was able to fly again. Nodding to her father, she sped up and got back to the troop as he threw away the black rod.
Along the way, she dipped down to save the others falling, creating a gust of wind to get them back on air. She kept going on like that until all were back in place. Resuming her position to the back, she kept them flying from there. Being a Hidebrit, she had plenty of strength to keep herself and keep a gust up for the troop. Twilight and Snowdrop looked back to see her, smiling proudly.
The Antis struggled to catch up. They were soon running out of ammo, and their jetpacks were running low on fuel. They had to catch them, before they neared the barrier.
Twilight and Snowdrop stopped when they got past the barrier, staying a mile away from each other. Twilight begun to charge up her horn as the entire Fandom side was covered in her magic aura. Snowdrop began to twirl as her snowflakes surrounded her, while several other snowflakes started to come on the aura spread across the Fandom side. There was only a small opening, only one pony can enter at a time.
Hysteria kept everyone in line as she flew faster with them. Everyone else was already entering the hole. She smirked at her father. “Close your eyes and hold onto your mane, dad”
Shadow did so, shutting his eyes and clinging onto her for dear life.
She watched as the rest of the team entered, charging herself up. Inside, Hester was already charging up the power obtained from the Hidebrit Gene. She only had one shot at this, so she had to time it right. Hazel took control of Hysteria. A yellowish-white glow began to envelope her body. She charged up as much as ever. Only when she got past the barrier did she let it all out in one shot. The glow left her body in one giant orb, joining with Twilight and Snowdrop’s power as the barrier closed up.
A surge of energy came at the three participants, while a blinding light came to the others, even Shadow. The Antis all suffered a massive explosion that sent them flying back miles away, destroying their jetpacks.
It all occurred, and then everything went away. The surge left, the light stopped, and the Antis were all gone. Everyone opened their eyes to see that the barrier was closed up, strong and completely. Twilight and Snowdrop dropped their magic, but it still stood. That meant one thing: The barrier was a success, and they were now safe. No one had to stay up at night anymore. This barrier was permanent. Everyone could now sleep at ease.
Among the Pegasi, Hysteria smiled secretly. She finally did the one thing something Adam wanted to do but couldn’t: Make a mark to help their side.
“Rest well and easy, Adam” she mused, Hazel and Hester speaking at once.
Everything went well after. The fandom side was able to get back on their feet soon. Everyone taken captive had recovered. The Antis? They were frustrated now that the permanent barrier was put up. Everyone slept well and easy now, thought the guards were still up to keep watch over the citizens.
Hazel and Hester still made their visits to meet with Shadow Kirby, and he loved them as his own daughters. They would come together for some time along as family.
They soon met with a filly named Karmatic Note, a rather half-mad mare who just dated a Yandere boyfriend named Yoosung. She was not that hard to get along with. She was really friendly and nice once you got to know her. She was just, as she said, ‘super depressed’.
Twilight and Snowdrop kept their word on the matter of the Hidebrit. They let them live freely in their own home. They only came for private meetings when needed. Other than that, they lived an average life.
For their own safety, the duo soon made their way to the Fimfiction Asylum for the Insane. They went there nearly daily to either sulk privately, hide, or to take their meds. The Asylum provided their meds so they were now able to keep their disorders under control. They were able to soon meet with the others who were like them, though they could be worse or better.
One day, while in their room in the Asylum for the day, Hazel and Hester were confessing to each other about how they seemed to have embraced their insanity, not as a weakness, but rather strength to help them. Hazel had now been wearing a black dress with black shoes and white socks that went up to her knees, but she sometimes wore her asylum dress. Hester wore her own asylum dress which was pure white.
“Tell me that’s I’ve really gone nuts to do that, Hest. Tell me that I’m practically alone in the family in this choice” Hazel held her cup of liquid meds in her hands, but was still on the desk.
Hester smiled before putting a paw on her Partner’s hand. “You’re not alone in this choice”
“Glad to see you boarded this train of insanity as well, Hester Hide” Hazel smirked at her Familiar. “It was getting lonely all by myself”
Hester smirked along with her Partner as they raise a glass to embracing their insanity. Both took their drink with a smirk. They were free from the abuse, but their scars would always be there to remind them.