Darkness Calls

"I'm telling you Angel, she will eventually wake up." Azure could hear a voice, though it wasn't very clear.

"Princess, I thank you very much for this and the time you're putting into this." She heard a new voice, much clearer than the last and left her with a warm feeling in her chest.

"I am doing what I can, for both science and for your friend-Wait a minute, is she smiling?" The first voice asked and Azure's hearing was slowly becoming more clear. The voice reminded her of Princess Twilight Sparkle.

"I think she is, Princess does this mean she will wake soon then? It's been more than a week." Azure was fairly certain the voice belonged to Angel, given by the tone.

"Yes and please just call me Twilight, I hate that formality. And can you wait outside whilst I run a diagnostic test on her, Angel?" Twilight asked politely.

"Yes I can wait, just take your time Pr- Er I mean Twilight." Angel giggled and Azure heard a door open and close.

"Alright, lets see what's happening here." Twilight's voice trailed off as Azure felt a cold presence around her body.

"Why can't I open my eyes or feel anything?" Azure asked herself unable to move at all.

"I don't believe it, how can you be alive without a beating heart?" Twilight asked herself aloud.

"I'm alive without a beating heart? How?" Azure asked herself and for once her mind was silent, except for her own voice.

"Maybe it's the dark magic inside you that's making this possible?" Twilight once again asked aloud.

Azure was now in a state of numbness, though she felt an occasional tingle in her body. She couldn't move or really account to much. Where were the voices that had plagued her mind before? And who was that stallion from before that had helped her? All these questions echoed for what felt like hours inside of her head, but they didn't matter, she felt at peace otherwise.

Twilight looked down at Azure to see her smiling more and even yawning once. Twilight was now the confused mare, Azure was alive without a beating heart. Better yet, Azure was in such a deep state of comatose, she shouldn't have even been showing signs of waking up yet. And here she is as if she would spring up at any second.

"You're quite the strange mare, Azure. Nor I or Nurse Red Heart know what you are or how you are in this world with such strange anomalies that define you." Twilight's words left a burning feeling in Azure's chest.

Another piece of a puzzle had fallen into place for Azure as memories flooded through her mind. Most of them, if not all were simple memories of a battlefield, but no actual battle. Taking place on some battlefield with giant black crystals strewn about the land. On one side, ponies in guard armor and of every race held their spears and their magic at ready hoof. On the other, where she stood tall and strong, more ponies in crystalized armor just like hers. They all looked to her with a smile through their helmets before dropping their visors for protection.

"We await your command , Azure Formidia. Crush thou foals who dare tread upon our rich land!" One of the stallions shouted and she felt a smile creep along her face as her visor glided down.

Azure could only watch through her very own eyes as the armored ponies saluted to her and some bowed their heads as if she were royalty. She looked down into a puddle from what was most likely a simple rainfall from earlier and looked at herself for once. Her armor was far darker than theirs and her body was built better than the strongest stallions in the group. She looked the definition of ear, blood red glowing eyes, armor so dark that it may as well have absorbed the light around her. Though she wasn't exactly there, she felt invincible, as if nothing could harm her.

"My brothers and my sisters, today we march to claim our right of respect and life in the greatness of his glory. Tomorrow we march to claim the world's respect as they bow to us and his glory!" She heard her own voice in a shout. The ponies around her cheered and began their charge. It would surely be a bloody fight, one that Azure was spare from as her mind ran blank.

She felt something new inside her, something strong and some sort of tingling in her chest. Had she really been such a brave and respected mare somewhere? If so, why did she have such a dark look to her, as if she were a demon almost? Perhaps an intimidation spell? All these questions ran through her head as she slowly opened her eyes to see Princess Twilight looking down at her in surprise.

"You're awake? How do you feel?" Twilight asked right away and levitated a clipboard over from the nearby table.

Azure took a moment to take a deep breath as she looked around the room. It looked to be a medical room of some sort, a large window let in the sunlight from outside and some cases were on the walls with pills. Of course a lock was on each of them, but another case with what looked to be bandages remained open. Her eyes went back to Twilight whom awaited an answer.

"I feel different, where are we?" Azure yawned again and looked at Twilight. She was still unable to move.

"You're in the royal Canterlot hospital, Azure. And different how?" Twilight hastily scribbled a few notes down and rested her hoof on Azure's chest.

"I'm not sure, I just feel something indescribable. Hey, where is Angel?"

"She's outside whilst I make sure your stable enough to be on your own. You've been out cold for a week and probably the biggest medical mystery in Eqeustria right now. Not that any of know what you are."

"A week? And I wish I knew what I was, it only gets more confusing as time goes by. And didn't you say something about dark magic?"

"You heard that?"

"Yes I did and I'd like to know about it, or did you plan to keep it quiet?" Azure narrowed her eyes at Twilight who sighed and shook her head.

"I was going to, but there are more important things at hoof."

"Such as?"

"Finding out if you can manage on your own without medical help now, Azure. Now please quiet yourself as I check your vitals." Twilight commanded and place her ear on Azure's chest, still no heartbeat.

Twilight was a smart mare, but that had limits. Even if she was likely one of the most brilliant minds in Equestria, she hadn't been around as long as some and that made a large difference. Twilight sighed and checked over everything else, Azure appeared to be functioning as well as possible. Minus her heart who's beat was silent and frozen.

"Well Azure, I'm not exactly a doctor, but I know enough to say you oddly don't need any treatment of any kind. You should have feeling in your body soon enough, if you don't already."

"Thank you princess, really."

"Please just call me Twilight, I'm still getting used to formalities and I hate them as much as I love my books."

"If you say so, and thank you again."

"You're welcome Azure, now I must go and get some rest. Take care." Twilight left with and trotted out the door leaving Azure alone in the room as feeling came back to her legs.

Slowly she rolled herself out of bed and landed on the floor with a silent groan. She stretched and put a hoof onto the bed the had lain her form support as she stood up. Falling down on her flank was becoming a skill to her at this point. She knew who she was now, where she was and where her friend was. Now she just had a big question taking priority, what was she? And why was she such a strange anomaly to Twilight?

"Azure?" A happy toned Angel asked as she walked into the room.

"Angel? I didn't think I'd be so happy to hear your voice and hey, I'm not gasping for air this time." Azure snickered and giggled much like Angel had in the days past.

"How about that, perhaps you're getting better? Twilight wasn't sure what was wrong with you, especially with you blacking out and not waking for a whole week. Are you alright?"

"I think I am, though Twilight owes me some answers I think. But I'll let her rest for now. What about you?"

"I'm fine, less guard than usual for me though. I think I sprained my hoof carrying you here, after you had passed out."

Azure smiled and gently wrapped her hooves around Angel. Angel shivered and returned the hug hesitantly, as if something was bothering her. Azure felt a new feeling in her throat, a burn. She sighed and nuzzled Angel who shivered once more. Azure was very different in all the right ways and still the same mare at the same time to Angel.

"Azure?" Angel asked.

"Yes?"

"You're freezing-"