Potion Mare

TWO MONTHS AGO.

Melody stumbled off of the ship, Lily in tow, hooves bound and muzzle gagged. She looked down at the poor mare, covered in magic restricting charms. She turned her gaze to Steele, frowning slightly.

“Well, thanks for taking me this far. I suppose it's time we split.” Melody said solemnly. Steele nodded and gave a bitter smile.

“Hey, don't look so sad. I need to do what I need to do, and you need to do what you want to do.” Steele assured in response. “I wish you good luck in your travels. I hope you're successful. Goodby--” Steele started to say, before she was cut off. Melody shook her head, leaning forward and wrapping her hooves around Steele.

“Not goodbye,” Melody said, stealthily swiping Steele’s timeline scissors. “Just until we meet again.” She smiled at Steele as she pulled away. Steele nodded, shaking off any tears. Melody turned around and trotted off. She felt the scissors in her robe. She knew she had just sentenced Steele to her death by taking them, but there was an infinite amount of Steele's, all doomed to the same fate. Melody needed these.

PRESENT.

Melody sat under the tall oak tree, shivering and whimpering as she desperately attempted to light the fire she had made. She had Lily's restrained body on her lap, the struggling demon making it rather annoying. She longed to have her back, but it was just too dangerous. Finally, fire poured from the front of her wand and engulfed the wood in front of her. The wind and snow howling around her seemed to disappear as she took in the warmth. She held Lily’s body tightly, frowning as the possessed mare thrashed.

“Ugh. Stop moving and warm up!!” She shouted, tightening her grip and rolling her eyes, sighing. “I wish we had some food. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.” Melody sighed once more, rolling over and laying next to the fire. She grabbed a short pair of rope and tied Lily off to her back hoof. “Good, now let me sleep.” She frowned, turning over and facing the fire, the restrained host body wiggling helplessly before giving up.

Melody awoke to the clang of Metal as her own sword slammed down into her chest. The chestplate had stopped the blade. Her eyes flew open as she locked eyes with One, the mare standing over her. Melody shouted angrily and rolled backward, tripping over Lily and falling into the snow.

“I’M SORRY!” One shouted, thrusting the sword into the snow right where Melody had just been. Melody quickly untied Lily, grabbing her own sword and swinging it up to block another strike.

“Sure, that's a great thing to say after attempting to fucking KILL ME!” Melody said as her and One struggled along the terrain, sparks flying as their swords met. One rolled to the left and bucked Melody’s hooves out from under her as Melody swung her blade. She toppled over and face planted into the snow, rolling just in time to bring her blade up and block another swing. The two held each other at bay, pushing back and forth over Melody’s chest. One frowned.

“I don't want to do this, but I have to!! There's NO WAY you can bring her back and survive! Please, just listen!” One pleaded, pressing the sword harder. Melody grit her teeth and bucked One’s chest, knocking her off.

“You don't know that. You don't know the future. All we EVER have is the past.” Melody grunted, panting and holding her sword in front of her as One struggled to her hooves. Melody growled and slammed her back hoof into One’s muzzle. She shook her head and glared at the defeated mare. “Tell me why I should spare you.” One coughed, wiping blood from her lip.

“Please. I’ve been one of the only successful versions of us. You can't change the past, you HAVE to leave her. Even if you're able to get her out of harm's way, you can't stay with her. There has to be a sacrifice for there to be a successful timeline.” One pleaded, slowly lowering her sword.

“No.” Melody firmly replied. “I'm going to find that zebra mare, and I'm going to kill the demon.” One shook her head in disbelief.

“It's impossible. She's thousands of miles away. Even if you get to her, how do you think you'll kill Lucy?” One responded knowingly. Melody shook her head.

“I'll find a way. I always do.”

One was silent, studying Melody. “How? How do you have so much resolve? Why haven't you given up?” She said, the wind howling.

“Because I care, obviously. I recommend you get back in that portal and get out of here.” Melody said, rolling her eyes. One turned around and waited for her co-Melody to open a rip in time. She continued to wait as snow swirled around. Nothing happened. She realized that nothing WOULD happen until she had killed this Melody. She turned around and faced Melody, sitting down at the fire.

“Must be on the fritz.” She frowned. Melody raised questioning eye toward One, continuing to stand there.

“If you think I believe you for one second, you’re wrong. But if you’re being stubborn, and think I’ll fail, you might as well fill me in.” Melody said, sitting down opposite the fire and re-tying Lily to her hoof. “So, will I need that hood at some point?”

One shook her head. “Nope, stylistic choice.”

“Hm, alright. How do I kill Lucy?”

“You can’t.” One said matter-of-factually, shaking her head.

“That’s not true, everything bleeds. I’ll find a way. Anyway, how do I get her out of Lily?” Melody asked, sighing angrily.

“You have to kill Lucy.” One responded, smirking.

“Oh aren’t you just a fucking smart ass. I stole Steele’s scissors, just use them to get out of here.” Melody groaned, reaching into her robe and tossing the scissors to One, who raised an eyebrow.

“Uh, I can’t use these. Take them back.” She said, throwing them back over the fire. Melody rolled her eyes.

“Oh, then how did you get here, asshole?” Melody said, giving a look of mock pondering.

One gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. “Another Melody did it for me, one who knows how to use these. And can you stop fucking berating me? We’re basically the same pony.” One said, standing up and glaring at her.

“We’re not the same.” Melody said with a sharp hiss. “And don’t you ever think that we will be. We may look the same, but I am NOT like you. And you SURE as hell, aren’t like me.”

One looked slightly upset, but sat back down and stared into the crackling fire in silence.