Chapters Author's Note
Chapter's one through 10 will be revised in a week or more. Any feedback or thoughts would be great. Check chapter 11 for a preview of how they will be rewritten.
1-Awakening
Somewhere in Equestria, lays an old monument deep within in the forest of the Everfree. but what lays under the now faded and old stone monument? Once encrusted with gems and a statue that sat proudly atop its roof, now lay in pieces along the muddy ground. As if on queue, thunder could be heard in the distance as the trees swayed gently in the wind. A place where both the wildlife and plant life grow on their own and without interference of ponies, was now oddly loud. The very creatures that called it their home, scurried about and chimed into the noises of the night. A perfect harmonic symphony echoed through the forest, and underneath all of that old stone, something awoke. The night creature's beautiful symphony continued and became louder as the monument began to shake.
The ground shook with the monument for a moment before the monument collapsed on itself, the ground beneath soon to follow as the aged stone and soil fell into a crypt. A coffin laid in the middle, with it, an old book rested upon the lid of the coffin. Torches around the crypt erupted with flame as if they were the very embodiment of the evil King himself. It was if his very hatred and angered soul fueled the torches as they scorched the walls and soon the entire floor of the crypt. The flames reached up, but were immediately put out as they reached the coffin and dared to engulf it in flames. Now, the crypt was scorched black, including the coffin. A final howl ended the animals symphony and the lid of the coffin slid off to the side, clattering onto the floor and shattering into pieces. Its inhabitant shot up, screaming and gasping for air. A shaking mare, grabbing hold of her chest desperately looked around for something.
The mare slowly got a hang of herself and let out a heavy sigh. Looking around once more, her eyes now adjusted and seeing the torches, she quietly looked down at herself. The moonlight shined down perfectly along her body. Her light sky blue and purple striped coat reflected the moonlight, each individual stripe a differ shade of purple, though there wasn't many stripes along her slim body, they equally reflected the moonlight. A glance down to her cutiemark left her puzzled, "A crystal spear and armor?' The mare coughed out, asking no one in particular and not expecting an answer, to which she only got silence.
"Where? Where am I? Momma?" The mare called out in a raspy voice, she may as well have tracked the badlands with how dry both her throat and mouth were. But again, she got no reply and could only look up to the moonlight. But it did little but set her at ease, she felt safe for the moment. Even though what she just seen in her nightmare haunted her. Devilish eyes and screams haunted the back of her mind.
"Who am I?" She sked aloud again only to hear the timbers howling above. Without out much thought, she tried to lift herself out of the coffin, only to fall straight onto her flank. She let out a quiet whimper and slowly climbed to her hooves. She shook and swayed side to side as her balance seemed as if it would give at any moment. Though another fall never came, feeling confident that she could control her body for the moment, she grasped the book in her mouth and looked through the large whole. Both too steep and too high to climb or jump, she groaned and looked around the crypt.
"Surely there's a way out, right?' She thought to herself and looked all throughout the crypt. Only old vines and bits of stone seemed to clutter the floor. though something caught her eye under a slab of stone. Most likely from the monument, given by its cracked and faded look. Her horn began to spark and fizz, before fully igniting in an ominous red glow. A red aura covered the stone slab soon after and began to lift it up. All the while, the mare strained her body to not drop the stone and managed to move it aside.
She grinned happily seeing what looked like an old ladder, her magic aura enveloped it and she lifted it up to the hole. Silently thanking that the ladder wasn't as heavy as the stone. And without any other thought, she carefully made her way up the ladder. Hearing a cracking sound, the mare jumped onto the Everfree's ground above as the ladder's rums broke and fell back in.
"Out of the fire and into the ice apparently?" She quietly mumbled and shivered in the cold air. Once again, she silently thanked that it wasn't any worse than it could be. For there was no rain, only the dampness of the forest's previous rainfall. She looked all around with a dazed expression, she really did not know where she was. Nothing looked like anything she could remember. Which by itself, was mostly some castle and guards but not a forest, Not willing to be defeated so easily, she looked to the stars in hopes that it help her remember.
And for a moment nothing, the next she remembered how to find her direction with the stars. As to where she learned how to do that, is far beyond her knowledge. But she at least had an idea to go on now, maybe she could find herself some other pony who could help her. Though she had a strange feeling that wouldn't happen out here. Nonetheless, she began trotting north. Her accomplishment and feelings, if any suddenly went away. A timber wolf walked out of the bushes, sniffing the air and growling as it turned toward her. Beginning to back up, she heard even more growls behind her. With a gulp and a whimper, she bit her lip. "You want me? I sure hope you don't scare easy!" She shouted at the timber wolf in front her and began her charge.
In hindsight, charging a timber wolf wasn't usually the brightest of ideas, though the unnamed mare had an idea that was crazy enough to get her away scratch free. As expected, the timber growled and began to charge at her as well, its deadly green eyes staring piercingly into her equally ominous red eyes. Her horn, ignited with a magic channeling throughout her body at the last second for a short teleportation spell. With a laugh and a grin, she disappeared in a flash and appeared behind the timber wolf, still running and charging ahead. Now, they were all behind her and she was no longer pinned in, for the moment at least.
She pounded her hooves into the ground as she ran as fast as her hooves could carry her, not daring to look behind her and hit a tree, she kept her eyes forward through the dark forest. Her hear racing and her breathing heavy, she wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer. Ever so cautiously she checked behind her, seeing no glowing green eyes after her, she came to a stop. "That", she huffed out and took in a deep breath, "Was way too close for me."
She looked around cautiously, still heaving heavily from running for her life, she let her guard down for the moment. Unbeknownst to her, a new predator was stalking her. It didn't have to eyes to sense her, she had caused enough of a commotion down the path. Out creeped a vine with sharp thorns. Looking for its next meal, it slithered over to her hoof. The vine, wrapped around her hoof in a gentle, but unnoticeable way and began to tighten. She looked down in curiosity, feeling some sort of pressure on her hoof. Seeing the vine, she growled and her horn ignited once more. With a flick of the neck, she sliced right through it as if it were nothing.
"So what's next? An entire treeing getting up and chasing me!" She shouted questionably, half expecting a tree to uproot itself. But only silence befell onto the forest once again. She sighed and began to walk again, praying that there was nothing else out here. "Why is everything trying to eat me?' She thought to herself and pushed through the branches of an old tree. What laid in wait on the other side almost immediately wiped her worries away, a village or town with a few lights. Her heart skipping a beat as she looked for any sign, only seeing a forest and a blank field.
"Name or no name, someone there can help me. I hope." She whispered to herself and began trotting toward a path that lead into the town, formally known as Pony Ville. She wasn't quite out of the woods, but she wasn't being chased at least. Finally, she felt safe to entirely let her guard down and so she did. Her body now relaxed in and no longer standing straight and ready for an attack, the moonlight served only to increase her lax posture. She was quite literally out of the woods after all, she was now in civilization. Someone would surely warn her of a danger if there was one, right?
Seeing that one of the few lights she could see was in a large castle of some sort, she trotted up to the door. Her mane blowing in the wind and her conscious suddenly kicking in. "It's some time in the very late night and here I am interrupting somepony from their sleep or work?" She mumbled out loud, to quiet for anyone to have heard unless they were right beside her. She shook her head, what was the point to turn back now? She came this far and she was desperate enough to charge a timber wolf. She shook the thoughts away and raised her hoof to the door, no last second thoughts as she knocked on the door. The fact of what building was had long since eluded her.
"Hello, can I help you? Do you have any idea how late it is right now, miss?" The short dragon asked with a large yawn. She was at a loss for words, a dragon? Not a pony? Was this a town of dragons?
"I...I need help, I don't know where I am or who I am. Are there any ponies here that could help me?" The unnamed mare asked quietly, unsure if the dragon would honestly answer. Much to her surprise, he slung the door open wider an almost entirely crystal room, floors and walls included. She was left in speechless awe, it was beautiful to her eyes .
"Please, come in, come in. I'll wake Twilight at once." The dragon softly said and ran straight down the hall. She looked inside and then back outside, it would certainly be warmer than the cold night air. She cautiously stepped into the castle and looked around. It wasn't anything she had seen, not that she could remember if she wanted to. But it served as a warm feeling to see its beauty, she didn't have anything to say. Simply stuck in awe as she glided her hoof across the smooth wall.
"Who lives in such a rich felt place?" She asked herself, unsure if she should even be in the castle at all. She wasn't royalty, and yet now she looked to her cutie mark. Crystal spear and armor. Was she some kind of guard here? Was there an attack? Was she tossed out? The questions flooded in her head to no end and she had no answers to drive them away. She shook her head, trying to clear her head as she could heard faint hoofsteps from down the hall.
The mare looked down to a magenta coated unicorn- with wings? She rubbed her eyes and did a double check. "Surely that mare doesn't have both wings and a horn?" She was even more confused now, except she vaguely had a remembrance to a white mare that had both attributes of other ponies like that, though she was a much taller mare. She watched the magenta coated mare trot down with a half smile, half asleep look.
"Hello miss, are you in trouble? How may I be of help?" The mare asked, waving her hoof in front of nameless mare.
"I don't know who I am, where I am or why those things In the forest tried to eat me." She simply spoke, not sure how to even word her problems.
"So I have heard, very well I think I can help you. My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, now please follow me." Twilight said and tried to hide her sleepiness through a smile.
"Please lead the- Wait did you say Princess?" The mare asked, now she was sure she had lost it.
"Yes I did, now please follow me so that I may help you. I promise I'll find a way." Twilight reassured the mare and began to walk down the hall.
Having little other choice, the unnamed mare followed Twilight down the hall and up a set of stairs, She wasn't sure why Twilight, a princess, would be helping her with her problem when she royal duties to probably take care of. But she wouldn't deny that she needed help, but a princess's help? What deemed her fate to such a reward? An apology for almost being eaten? She didn't have a clue, much like she didn't have a lot of things right now "Just, who am I?" She asked herself as Twilight lead the way into a large library.
"Lets start with if you remember anything all. Do you have any clue where you came from? Twilight asked as she looked among the bookshelves.
"Would you believe I woke up in a coffin?" The mare asked sarcastically.
"With those eyes of yours, I actually would if it wasn't for the fact that I'm referring to an ancient myth that's still told to the young foals daily." Twilight replied, leaving the mare in a state of confusion.
"What's wrong with my eyes, Twilight?" The mare asked, not having been able to see them herself.
"They're red as blood, though perhaps in some stress you may have popped something in your eye that caused that." Twilight's horn began to glow dimly as she levitated a set of books down and around them.
"I don't understand, but can you help me or not?" The mare asked, not wanting anything other than a yes or no.
"Yes I can, do you remember anything whatsoever? Anything hat could tell me if you were brainwashed with magic or simply hit your head too hard?" Twilight asked as she skimmed through the books.
"All I know is that I woke up in a coffin, the crypt was scorched black and I do have this book." The mare reached for the book she had expertly placed and balanced on her back and nudged it over to Twilight. Twilight looked down at it and levitated it up to her eyes, which widened she looked over it.
"I've never seen something like this, did you wake up with it?" Twilight asked the mare suspiciously.
"Yes, I woke up with it. But I couldn't read it in the dark and not get eaten by something whilst running for my life." The mare answered honestly. Twilight brought the book over to a desk and looked over it, but she couldn't understand a single word in it. Not that the letters made words she knew, it was a jumbled mess of symbols. All except for a single line of symbols made no sense.
"Dark magic." Twilight muttered and look toward the mare who innocently looked back. She had no clue of anything right now and Twilight at least felt safe with that knowledge.
"So, does it happen to say a name or something about me that can help?" The mare asked worriedly about the silence she was getting.
"I will send word to Princess Luna, for I cannot read this even with my knowledge of dark magic, minimal as it is." Twilight answered coldly at the mare. She left the mare in the room soon after and expectantly went to wake the dragon, leaving her alone in the dark and silent castle.
"Not even one Princess can help me, we need two." The mare laughed and leaned on a bookcase. Her mind was at a still for once, even though she had hundreds of questions, she was at peace. Now it was another waiting game as she waited for instructions, or something to do. After all, where would her manners be if she just roamed Twilight's castle without permission?
"I wonder what she meant by dark magic, what even is dark magic?" She asked aloud, only to hear a voice in her head answer.
"It is the very thing that allows us both to still live, my dear warrior." The voice echoed inside her head.
"Who said that?" She asked aloud, only to hear it again.
"You will not remember any time soon dear, in time you'll remember who you were and who you should serve." The voice echoed once more inside her head, it surely wasn't her own voice.
"Who are you?" She asked aloud once again.
Author's Note
*unedited, please point out errors if any.
3-Visions In The Dark
She closed her eyes for but a moment, the moment she opened them the world looked very different. At one moment, she was in a crystal castle that belonged to Princess Twilight Sparkle and she was on some sort of battlefield. The ground was scorched black, trees were on fire and the longer she looked around, the more ponies she saw. One's in a crystal like armor and others in a golden suit of armor with a helmet. A look at herself showed crystal armor, except it had a darkened look to it. As if it were pitch black and absorbing every bit of color around her. "Where am I now?" She asked herself as she watched the ponies fight to the death.
"Why am I here?" She asked herself once more before something clicked into place. Vivid memories filled her head, mostly of combat with other ponies. She felt herself blast some into absolute dust. A pony there one second and another, ash that was blown away in the wind the next. Not one of them even had a chance against her, at least that's what she felt. As the memories faded to another place in her mind, she heard a dark chuckle and a cold pair of hooves wrap around her shoulders.
"Azure Formido!" A stallion shouted as she felt something pierce her chest.
The vision ended abruptly and she awoke on the floor of the library gasping for air. She felt a something cold grasp her once again and lift her up. After the last pair of cold hooves, she bucked her hooves back into the chest of whatever was lifting her up. She heard a grunt in response. Though it didn't stop her from trying again, she refused to relive what she had only a moment ago.
"Enough of that!" A mare's, although deep, voice shouted into her ear. Her struggling immediately ended and she whimpered quietly. Her ears were just about ringing.
"Princess Luna, please be considerate with how loud your voice is. You're going to wake half of Equestria!" Twilight shouted from behind them, earning another whimper from the nameless mare.
"I'm sorry dear, but you were kicking in your sleep, I thought it was the same thing again. Considering I couldn't enter it, I think you understand my alarm for how you were acting." The Lunar Princess quietly spoke.
"I'm sorry for shouting as well, I didn't think first." Twilight, though blushing, quietly apologized as well.
"It's alright, I don't know what happened, once again. Please tell me you can help me now, Princess Twilight." The mare quietly spoke up, her ears no longer ringing from the loud assault that had befell onto them before.
"I believe that we can, though I must leave this to Princess Luna, she's more fit for this and I'll just be in the way if I try to help. If that's alright?" Twilight asked with her general gentle tone, though it was mixed with tiredness.
"Yes, that will be fine. I'm sorry if this has kept you up longer than you wished." The nameless mare said shaking her head as Luna put her down. She wobbled and barely stood, eventually falling straight onto her flank.
"Very well, Twilight, who don't you go and get some shut eye? I'll take her to the castle with me.?" Luna dismissed Twilight, whom immediately went off to her bedroom. Now it was just the two of them.
"So you don't know what your name or where you are, dear?" Princess Luna asked. The mare simply looked up at her as once again, something clicked. The name she had heard in the vision, or at least she thought she heard, felt so familiar. As if she had already been called that since she woke up. Confused as she was, she felt right about this one thing. Which could easily be wrong.
"I think that my name is Azure, Princess Luna. Why I was down on the floor, I had a vison or something. I heard that name and it feels like it's my own. It feels rightful to me, and I don't know why either." Azure quietly explained to the princess.
"Well until we find out otherwise, I think we will call you Azure. For everyone's sake, instead of a miss no name." Luna spread her wings with a smile as she spoke, her tone a melodic perfection to Azure. She could listen for hours, to justbthat tone. Azure simply smiled and nodded her head slowly.
"That is more than fine with me, I'm happy to have a name now. But were you able to read the book?" Azure asked and gestured to the strange book left on the desk. She was tempted to pick it up and try to, but she felt that would be rude.
"No, I have not around to that. I only arrived recently and I was more worried about you on the ground shaking and kicking. Do you know what's in it, Azure?" Luna asked as she levitated it over and looked over it's cover, which to most ponies was a bunch of weird symbols. But to Luna, she read it perfectly. It was how dark magic was written, in another language not quite native to Equestria.
"No, I do not yet know. I never had the chance to find out yet, with running for my life and then following a princess through her castle." Azure hesitantly explained and hoped she hadn't offended the princess as her eyes narrowed.
"This is a book involving dark magic, Azure. How did you obtain this? Where?" Luna shot her questions like arrows, each hitting their target, Azure square in the chest.
"I-I have no idea Princess Luna, I'm sorry." Azure squeaked and took a step back. Something in the very back of her mind was itching to be remembered and her nervousness was certainly helping it.
"Relax dear, maybe I shouldn't ask so rapidly. This must be a lot for you to the handle, if you could barely remember your name, let alone not knowing at all where you are." Lunda once again, lowered her voice and took a step toward Azure, whom wasn't sure of what to think. One moment, she's essentially being yelled the same questions that she's asking and the next, being assured that it's fine that she doesn't know the answers. But to Azure, it was anything but that.
"Princess, could we please just stick to one topic at a time? I'm asking the same questions as you are and I have no answer, which is why we're here, to hopefully figure out what all of this about." Azure let out a sigh, it hadn't even occurred to her that the morning sun was rising in the background.
"Yes, yes I'll try to do that. It was an impulse to ask like that, but if we want to find out what any of this means for you and who you really are or were, I suggest you come with me. I must return to the castle soon, tomorrow night we shall look into it after we've rested." Princess Luna slowly explained and smiled down at Azure, her mane glowing slightly.
"Alright, maybe some rest will do me some good anyway, though I'm not sure how long I was sleeping anyway..." Azure trailed off, though by the time she looked around, she realized the room had changed once more.
"Again? Where am I this time?" She asked aloud only to hear a giggle, to which she turned around and looked up at the princess.
"We're in the Royal Halls, dear. I didn't want to waste time, so I teleported us here. And I also didn't want to find out if you're afraid of heights the hard way." Luna explained as she walked past Azure.
Azure simply followed the princess, having nothing to say and or instructions. She looked among the walls, having expected to see paintings, instead it was however just plain walls with a hardly noticeable trim along the whit walls. Up ahead, both a red and golden trim outlined a door and many other doors farther down the hall. It certainly had a royal look to it, not that Azure had much to compare it with aside from Twilight's castle, which also looked amazing.
"Azure, please take the room farthest down the hall on the left. I'll have my guards ready to escort you to my chambers tomorrow night, then we will try to get to the bottom of all of this then. Until then, please get some rest." Princess Luna smiled at the mare and began to trot back down the halls.
Azure stood there for a moment, as if her hooves weren't working. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and shook her head. Except when she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the castle, instead she was somewhere dark and cold. With quick thinking, her horn began to glow and illuminate her area. It was simple stone walls a wooden floor. Nothing rang a bell, as the castle as far as she could tell was some sort of marble or new stone. Freshly polished as well, not to mention the engravings along the wall.
"Now where am I?" She asked and trotted across the wooden floor, not truthfully sure what to expect. Perhaps she had walked into the room without realizing it? No, it was too dark for her to have walked in and not turned a light on. Or was it? Perhaps she blacked out for a moment and didn't consider a light at first? But this room was massive, certainly not a guest room.
All was quiet as the room seemed to go on forever and ever, never ending. Sighing, the mare put more magic to her horn for a brighter glow. Now, she saw chains along the walls and bones at the bottom of some of the chains. Skulls of ponies laid lifelessly, though one by one their eyes were filled with a green fire and they lifted themselves into the air.
"It's been so long my warrior, did you rest well?" One of the skulls asked and began to laugh hysterically.
"What's wrong? Have your forgot who you are!" Another shouted questionably at her as floated around her.
"You're weak and pathetic now, where's that spirit that made even myself worry?" A skull asked, though could no longer tell which ones were laughing and others speaking. But one thing was certain, they were all targeting her. Harassing her and getting into her head.
"S-shut up!" Azure shouted, though stammering with the first word and losing the power of her voice instantly.
"Weak, pathetic and useless. Why did I ever keep you arornd rather than end you!" A skull shouted as she drew close to her breaking point.
"I said, shut up!" She screamed, her horn glowing even brighter as the anger fueled her and her voice even shattering a skull under the sheer volume.
"Listen here you pathetic mare, you are nothing! You will be nothing!" A final skull shouted and she slung it straight into a wall, shattering it to pieces.
"I will not listen to your lies! I am not pathetic!" She shouted back as her body began to shake as the her magic built up even more.
"Yes, yes, yes! Out with it you worthless mare!" The last skull screamed before being obliterated in a blast of magic, engulfing the entire room.
Author's Note
*UNEDITED. Please point out errors if any.
4-Hooves Of An Angel
Once again, Azure woke up on the floor struggling to breathe. Except she felt hooves around her as she desperately tried to get air in, each attempt failing as she held her throat wondering why she couldn't breathe. She was terrified for the moment, not sure if this was another attack or if she was back. Though, upon hearing another mare's voice, she found her answer.
"Just relax, try to breathe." The mare cooed with a soft voice, oddly calming Azure who's heart was racing.
"I can't breathe!" Azure croaked out, desperately trying to get air in still, it was as if her very body was rejecting it.
"Calm yourself, just slow down and close your eyes, trust me." The mare cooed softly once more and brought Azure to her lap. Not having any choice but to trust the strange, although calming mare, Azure did as she had asked and closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. For a moment it felt like a stupid idea and the next moment, Azure found a moment of relief as she took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. Her heart was still racing, but she could breathe.
"Are you alright?" The mare asked and Azure simply nodded her head. Something was troubling Azure once more, she couldn't put her hoof on it and it felt as if it was laughing at her, discriminating her.
"Thank you." Azure mumbled, not sure of who to thank or why they were here even, not to mention why was still wrapped in their hooves. Not that she much minded it right now, she just prayed that the horrors were over for the moment. Opening her eyes, everything looked normal, she was in the castle once again.
"You're welcome, I'm just glad I happened to be patrolling these halls today. It's not often guards are up here, we're usually on the first floor, courtyard or by Royal Chambers." The mare, now defined Guard Pony explained.
"What's your name? I'd at least like to know who I'm thanking." Azure asked and tried to glance at the mare.
"My name's Angel Charm and you are?" Angel asked and began to help Azure to her hooves.
"Azure, though that's a maybe." Azure answered plainly, still unsure of her name.
"Well it does seem fitting for your coat at least, and perhaps your sweet voice as well. Now can you tell me what happened or why you're here?" Angel asked, though her tone was slightly flirtatious.
"I wish I knew why I was on the ground, but Princess Luna brought me here last night. As to what happened, I guess I blacked out again." Azure tried to explain and at same time, wished she was back on the ground with the mare. Though she shook the thought away.
"Really? What business do you have with her?" Angel asked, now more curious to Azure's explanation.
"It's a long story, and frankly I'm too hungry and thirsty to repeat it all." Azure let out a sigh, she hadn't drank or ate since she had woke up the night before. Or at least she thought it was last night that she had woke up, and she was quite parched and hungry by now.
"Well, how about I take you down to get some food and then you can tell me? If you have business with one of the princesses, I have an excuse to have an early lunch." Angel giggled, much like that of a young filly enjoying herself. Azure could only look at the Guard Pony with one of the most confused looks she has managed yet.
"You're quite chipper, for a guard you know?" Azure looked to the eyes of Angel, which were a dim blue. Under all of that armor she wore, Azure could make out the white coat of the mare. Her name made a bit more sense now, and she could only imagine how she looked with her wings spread and the armor off. Before she had realized it, Azure shivered wit her new, but strange thoughts. Not that she was about to complain about thinking about something other than questions for once. But why another mare?
"I know I am, but I can't help that I enjoy my job and my life too much to act like all the other guards." Angel chirped out, and under her helmet she was smiling widely. She was certainly a happy mare, not that it was unusual. But she struck Azure to be the kind of mare with a stallion tied to her.
"And for such a happy mare, I'd bed that you're married." Azure sighed and shook her head.
"Quite the contrary, but why don't we get some food? I'll pay.' Angel offered and took her helmet off. Her mane, unlike the rest of her, was light blue. The style of her mane was probably more unique than most. It was straight and fell mainly on the left side while the other side was much shorter.
"You don't have to ask me twice, just lead the way. I'd probably walk into a wall." Azure mumbled awkwardly, though Angel simply laughed and started to walk ahead.
"Oh what have I got myself into now?" Azure asked herself, though she was pretty sure of the answer, She earned herself a nice chat and perhaps food. For the moment, she had completely forgotten about the vision and nightmare she suffered through.
Walking past the windows, Azure felt the warm sunshine on her coat. It was much more pleasant than the cold night air she was sure she'd be used to. With each window letting in the sunshine, each bit of sunlight felt warmer than the last. Outside the windows, she could see the streets and other ponies hard at work. Others enjoying their day off as the young colts and fillies played in the grass. Some, showing their cutiemarks off and their abilities, others simply watch with fascination for the day they would learn their destiny.
It wasn't a scene that Azure was used to, but it felt familiar. Surely she had been like those happy fillies once right? Surely she had a million questions about the world and her very destiny, place and purpose to the world? But would those questions had haunted like they do now? She didn't know what her cutiemark meant, she didn't know where she came from, how she got there or why. And she most likely wouldn't find out anytime soon, not without Luna's help and the book.
She continued on to follow the mare down the long corridors of the castle until they finally reached the castle's front door. A grand, but although very large pair of doors waited sealed. Azure looked to Angel as she nodded, taking the hint, Azure's horn began to glow. The same red aura as always enveloped the two doors and she began to pull them open. Much easier said than done, they were far heavier than she expected. In hopes to not make herself look bad in front of Angel, she concentrated more and pushed more magic to her horn. Now fully charged, she opened the doors with ease, almost too much ease as they swung open and into the castle's walls. Thankfully it didn't break or crack anything under the magnitude of her strength.
"I guess I don't know my own strength, sorry." Azure apologized and looked at the doors. She had troubled herself enough with trying to lift the slab of stone from the night before and the ladder, but then she simply slammed these grand giant doors into the walls? She had a hard time believing it, but she did feel different.
"That's fine, it happens sometimes, though it's usually when Princess Twilight enters the castle in a frenzy or Luna is angered. So, color me impressed that you were able to cause that." Angel once again chirped happily and walk through the doors. Both impressed and curious about her new friend, Azure shared the same thoughts for the most part.
Azure followed her as her mind ran on repeat, she saw everything once more in a flash. Just who was she, if she belonged on that battlefield? Just who was this mare that appeared in a crypt and became acquainted with royalty, and a even a guard? And what role did she play in the world, or was she something's pawn moving forward across the board and dodging the dangerous? Or was she simply surviving by pure luck? No, it was quick thinking and rational thinking that got her here. She was here because she belonged somewhere, she just didn't know where or why.
"Just who am I and why?" She asked herself silently, not wanting to alert Angel to her confusion or to appear weird.
"You are what you are and always will be, a servant, Azure." A voice echoed in her head and her eyes widened. She was hearing voices again.
"You're as worthless as you are unique and gullible as you always have been, always will be. Nothing special and certainly unknown to the world." The voice, once more echoed in her head. Her mood dropped instantly, the words had quite literally already got in her head.
"Nothing special? Worthless?" She asked herself quietly as if taking the words to heart and almost believing them.
She looked at Angel's mane as it blew in the wind, to which she giggled and stretched her wings out. They stretched a lot farther than Azure could've dreamt, the beautiful white wings seemed as if they glided over a surface without being in the air eve. They were sturdy, strong and most importantly, angelic to a point. Azure was once again left unsure of how this mare didn't have a stallion, not that it matted much to her. Or so she thought.
"The trick isn't not let other ponies get to you, but to keep yourself from getting to you. We will always be our own worst enemies, but if you keep telling yourself you're special and unique, that you can stand out from the crowd, you'll truly shine." Angel spoke, in one of softest voices Azure has been able to hear yet. As soft as Princess Luna's voice was, it didn't compare at all to Angel's sweet voice.
"That, that was amazing Angel! Where did you hear that from?" Azure asked, her mood suddenly springing back and her spirits high again.
"My mother used to tell me it everyday before she went and disappeared, she was a smart and kind mare. The kind a stallion would feel as if he had found himself a perfect queen." Angel explained, her soft voice mixing with one of sadness.
"I'm sorry to hear that Angel." Azure plainly said, she wasn't sure what it was like, but she imagined it was sad for someone to just disappear. Though it made her wonder if she had just disappeared from somepony's arms at some point and ended up here.
"It's alright, I've moved on. But I will also keep her legacy with me and spread it if I can. Everypony deserves happiness, even if they weren't the greatest or the best. We all deserve a chance." Azure could only smile more as Angel spoke. Was Angel always like this? So free to speak her mind without worry of judgement?
"I can agree, we all deserve that chance to have it. To keep it and protect it," Azure tried to add in and earned a nod from Angel.
"You're a pathetic failure of a warrior if you start to think that Azure!" A voice screamed in her head and for a moment, she almost let that voice have its way again.'
"No, you shut up in there. I am not pathetic, I am not a warrior either!" She shouted back in her head, not wanting to seem crazy to Angel. Whom she hadn't heard her answer before bumping into Angel's flank with her muzzle.
Angel blushed brightly and jumped slightly/ She turned and look at an equally blushing Azure. "Sorry about that, I got distracted." Azure mumbled and looked away.
"It's alright, Azure. But we're here." Angel assured her and giggled like a filly too happy to care.3
Azure looked up and over to what looked like a diner. How had she not noticed them from ahead? Or how had she not noticed just how crowded this place was with buildings, each appearing to be large. And then there was this small one in the middle of it all, few ponies inside as well. Workers from what Azure could tell.
"Come on, lets eat." Angel chirped and hurried inside, Azure wondering who the hungrier mare was now. Or perhaps she wanted to break the awkward feelings? She would never know and simply began to run in after her, except she stopped halfway at the door as the voice picked up again.
"Worthless, useless and yet so powerful. Azure, listen to me, you're a pathetic mare. You're a terrible mare at that, one who cannot comprehend who you are. Just give up already!" The voice, much colder than before echoed in her head and Azure remained outside the door as she had a mental battle with herself. Something else was fighting for dominance over her mind, and she surely wasn't going to make it easy for it.
5-Darkness, The Light And An Angel
"I am not a worthless mare, whoever you are in my head. I will not let your forsakenly evil words get to me. Leave me alone!" Azure shouted back at the voice in her head and heaved a heavy sigh as the ponies on the street looked at her as if she was crazy. As far as she knew, she just might be crazy. Not wanting to make the scene worse, she ran into the diner and looked for Angel. Spotting her in a back booth, she almost dived into the seat breathing heavily.
"Geez, what has you so worked up Azure?" Angel asked with concern as she looked over her new friend.
"It's nothing." Azure said with a fake smile as she sat straight up and silently hoped Angel wouldn't demand an answer.
"If you say so, Azure. What do want to eat?" Angel asked and slid a menu over to Azure.
"Uh surprise me?" Azure asked awkwardly, she hadn't exactly been told of a menu before.
"Just look over the menu, the cooks will prepare it when the waitress comes to take our orders." Angel explained and picked her menu up. Azure shrugged and looked at the menu and its contents, coming to decision that a salad and a glass of water would be fine.
"So how's guard work Angel?" Azure asked in an attempt to make chit chat.
"It's boring honestly, nothing happens anymore now that the elements of Harmony take care of the dangers. I don't mind too much, but I could use excitement wherever I can get it from. Which is why we're here." Angel explained as if it were a common fact to everypony, which for many it was.
"Elements of Harmony? What are those?" Azure asked as she felt a chill run down her spine. Why did it sound so familiar and also scare her? If they take care of dangers, it should do the opposite for her, right?
"How do you not know?" Angel asked and looked to Azure, who seemed fine on the outside.
"It's hard to explain Angel, I don't really remember much of anything." Azure spoke honestly and looked to the eyes of her friend, or at least she thought of her a friend. She expected a laugh or to be called out, but Angel instead nodded her head in understanding.
"The elements, or well the bearers of the elements consist of six things. Loyalty, honesty, laughter, generosity, kindness and magic. Each of the bearers possesses a trait that defines one of the elements. Together, they have rivaled evil of every shape, size and magnitude without fail. So we guard ponies haven't had much work, aside from petty thieves." Angel explained to Azure as the waitress trotted over with a notepad hovering by her head.
"What'll it be ladies?" The waitress asked and readied her pen.
"Just a salad would fine, and a glass of water please." Azure was the first to speak, nervous as she felt inside.
"And for you?" The waitress asked as she turned to Azure, who simply smiled.
"I'll have a salad as well, extra greens and carrot juice please." Angel replied as she gazed at her menu once more.
"Alright, I'll be back in little while with your drinks." The waitress said and trotted away.
Azure watched the waitress trot off, so unaccustomed to this. For some reason, it just felt unnatural to her and to Angel, it was perfectly normal. Azure sighed and closed her eyes as she laid her head back. Only, she opened them to see the whole room covered in blood, some dripping from the ceiling and sliding down the walls. Angel laid face down on the table and nopony was around aside from them. Feeling great concern rise from within, she kept both a cry of terror down and her desire to get out of the diner.
She looked at her friend, who appeared lifeless. Her attention went to the rest of the room as she noticed paintings on the wall. each having a set of green glowing eyes. Blood soon began to drip from the glowing eyes as she heard somepony laugh as if this was all a joke. She scanned the room for something, but fell short to find its source. The laughter only grew louder and the room began to spin around her, the blood thankfully staying where it was. Or perhaps there was too much for her to notice if it to was spinning with the room.
Slowly Angel's body raised itself up, her once blue eyes a deadly green that stared into Azure's red eyes. Angel let out a groan and tilted her head to the point it was entirely upside down. Azure didn't know what to say for once, her mind was running on nothing at all as she starred in horror at her friend, who appeared to still be lifeless except for her green eyes which had a new green aura to them. Azure went to speak, only her or it, in this case, to cut her off.
"See what happens when you back talk me you little failure of a mare? You see what I can do to your friends?" The supposed Angel asked with a cold tone and let out the darkest laugh it could muster. Surely this thing, wasn't Angel. That's what Azure kept hoping as she shrunk into her seat and whimpered.
"I will break you and destroy you until you're mine again. Under my rule, I am King of this realm!" It shrieked and began to laugh hysterically. Azure could only shrink farther back, she didn't have a clue of what she could do in this situation. She surely didn't want to try and harm her friend, not that could find a difference.
"And when the elements find out just who you are and what you are, history will repeat itself once more and we'll both be right here again. So, my little warrior mare, whom has failed me. Run! Run as far as you can from here and leave it all behind, you have no friends here!" It screamed once more and Azure shook in fear, the voice and the room, not to mention the blood and her friend was almost too much for her.
"Stop it please! I did nothing to you, you vile demon of a stallion!" She yelled back only to hear a growl. She gulped and looked into the eyes of what was once her friend. But the torment didn't end there.
"Head my warning, and run!" It screamed, louder than the last time and jumped at Azure. She closed her eyes and waited for the attack that never came.
"A-Angel?" She coughed out and let out a sigh of relief, she hadn't noticed her own hyperventilation or the soothing wing wrapped around her side.
"Relax Azure, you kind of blacked out there for a bit. Are you alright? You look terrified." Angel looked to her friend with concern, she couldn't comprehend a reason why Azure would be so frightened.
For a moment, Azure was sure she saw those eyes once more. Staring into her very soul and reading her like a book , but nothing was there. Just a painted white wall. She could still hear the laughter in her head, no amount of head shakings would get rid of it. It was there to stay and haunt her. She frantically looked around, sure to see something else. Something else that didn't belong, but the diner was silent and normal as it could possibly be, and she was left with more unanswered questions and laughter. She sighed and gulped. What would she say to Angel?
"Azure, are you alright? You're breathing really heavily, panting at that." Azure spoke in concerned tone, unsure of how Azure felt right now or what was apparently wrong that she couldn't see. With a million different ideas in Angel's mind, she raised her guard and looked around with Azure as well.
"I think I'm alright Angel." Azure spoke with a fake smile, feeling that there was no way that Angel would believe her if she laid down the full truth of her feelings of fear and paranoia that continued to grow. Maybe the lack of food was getting to her? Dehydrated? She wouldn't know for sure.
"You don't seem like it, I can practically feel your heart racing through your body. May as well be shaking from it, what's up?" Angel asked with more concern and nuzzled her friend as gently as possible. She was determined to get an answer.
"I said I'm alright Angel, can't you believe that?" Azure asked, though blushing from the gentle muzzle that brushed against her neck and playing the guilt card.
"I could, but I'm worried. I found you this morning barely capable of breathing and here you had another spill into the dark apparently. You can trust me, so what's up?" Angel asked once more, unknowingly wording her question in the most perfect of ways
Azure sighed and looked for something that could distract Angel, but there was nothing. One on hoof, she could spill everything and Angel may think she's insane. On another, Azure could just stay to herself. After the vision, she could only imagine what might happen to her friend. The word echoed in her head, she had a choice to make and it didn't seem that she would get help from anywhere else. The princess wouldn't be awake for a long time, based on last night. Speaking of time, she wasn't sure what time it was either. The worst that could happen was that Angel might see her as crazy, or be a friend in the dark. A light to shine in the darkness of her questions.
"Alright you win, but I don't know how to say it. All I can say is I saw something that's scarred into my mind now and I can't get it out of my head." Azure tried her best to explain, though she feared greatly that Angel would laugh her flank off.
"I had no idea Azure, is that what happened before you woke up earlier?" Angel asked and nuzzled Azure once more as she started to calm. Though Angel had no true idea of what Azure was talking about.
"Not quite, though it was similar and I couldn't say which was worse at this point. Each has been horrible." Azure explained as the waitress brought both of their drinks and salads to the table.
"I'm sorry about the wait, we had a minor problem back there. But here you are, fresh salads and your drinks." The mare politely explained and sat the salads and drinks down in their respective places. The waitress also snickered upon seeing how close the two mare were.
"It's quite alright and thank you." Angel said before she could realize the waitress had already trotted off to another customer.
"Can we eat before we continue that conversation, Angel?" Azure asked as she hungrily stared at the food, her stomach growling in agreement with her thoughts.
Angel sighed and nodded her head, a moment later she carefully removed her wing from Azure and tucked it into her armor. Azure looked at the salad and licked her lips, she'd just as well eat the table at this point if she went any longer without food. Carefully concentrating, she levitated the bowl of salad up and began to chow down. Her body certainly seemed thankful for substance finally and next she raised the glass and chugged it down quietly. Angel was slowly behind her, mostly already finished with her salad.
"I feel so much better, maybe I just needed some food." Azure thought to herself, though she still heard the laughing voice in her head.
"Oh you foolish mare, I won't leave you alone that easily. Just don't you close your eyes, for too long." A quiet voice whispered in her head and echoed with the laughing.
"I'm really losing it aren't I?" Azure asked herself, the voices remained with no evident way to get rid of them.
"Feeling better, Azure?" Angel asked sweetly with her chipper tone and smile that simply made Azure smile as well.
"With some food in me, yes I am a bit better now." Azure answered honestly.
"Well allow me to fish out my bits and we'll get going, but I will want more answers when my shift is over." Angel said and began to dig around for something before she place a few bits on the table.
Feeling it was a good time to go, Azure sat up and trotted out the door. Her head had a slight ache to it now and it seemed that a lot of time had passed. It would be evening in a few hours, but how had so much time gone by? It was another question for Azure, one she didn't much care about. The aching in her head was ignorable at the moment and tolerable. Though she was sure it was because of the dreaded voices she could hear. These voices were not her own and she was certain of that. She could only pray that the number wouldn't increase.
Azure sighed and stretched her body, earning a few cracks as she let out a quiet groan. That booth hadn't done any favors for her back or neck, though she would gladly have Angel's wing wrapped around her side again. Its soft feathery feel was something she was quickly learning to want, but why did she feel that way? It puzzled her, she was sure she belonged with a stallion. Though it was no lie or something she could hide, for she had a little crush on the Pegasus.
Angel walked out and joined her side once more. As if reading her mind, Angel placed her wing over Azure and curled it slightly around her side. For just a second, Azure was at peace, and the voices shut up. If only she knew what fate had in store for her next. As the two began to walk down the path, Azure felt a pain in her mouth and started to wobble. She felt sick suddenly and it was as if the ground was shaking. Soon she collapsed onto the ground unconscious and unresponsive to Angel's desperate attempts to wake her dear friend.
Azure awoke in dark place, her whole body ached something fierce. But for once she wasn't gasping for air, instead she wasn't breathing at all and even her heart seemed as if it no longer beat. A glance around showed nothing but darkness, not even a hoof in front of her could she see. It was a blank as it was dark, nothing to see and nothing to think. Why was she here? Afraid and alone entirely, she pulled her hooves closer to herself and curled into a ball.
"Why do I deserve to suffer like this? What have I done to deserve this dark lonely place?" She asked silently, only for silence to fill the place one more.
She closed her eyes as her mind wandered, what was she to do now? Was she dead? Was she truly being punished now? Were the visions before all a warning for what was to come? Should she had ran away? For just once, she wanted to have answers, not more questions that she would never get an answer to at this point. Even in her new hopeless environment, something sparked from within.
"Where a door closes, another one shall open. Perhaps this place is like that and I must find my way out in time?" She asked herself and stood up, only to fall once more on her flank.
"Oh come on, now what's wrong?" She asked herself and looked down at her forelegs, which appeared to have a strange metallic piece of armor over them.
Once more, she tried to lift herself, thankfully she found some balance and was able to stand. She was full of questions, full of ideas and the better question was why in Equestria she had armor on her legs. What was the point of it? Was she due for another vision already?
"Whatever you're planning this time, I won't succumb to it you monster!" She shouted, expecting the cursed voice to shout back. But her voice did not even echo, but seemed to instead be absorbed into the darkness.
"Azure?" Angel's voice echoed in her head and her eyes widened.
"Angel? Where are you? Oh please tell me I haven't completely lost it this time." Azure spoke frantically and began to look around for her friend. But still, it was nothing but darkness.
"Princess Luna, are you sure about this? Her heart's not beating, are you sure she's still in there?" Angel asked, though Azure was now beyond confused.
"My heart's not beating?" Azure asked herself with a confused look and started to trot along an invisible unset, path. She had to try and figure this out.
"She's not normal Angel, she's in a state of comatose. But she is very much alive, magic is still coursing through her veins and she is breathing. But her heartbeat confuses me. Someone get Princess Twilight right away, she may know what this is about." Princess Luna's voice echoed in Azure's head in a commanding tone.
"I'm so confused, where am I? Better yet, what am I?" Azure asked as she continued to trot on an endless path. She couldn't feel anything under her very hooves, she may as well be walking on air.
Azure let out a groan of both annoyance and tiredness, she felt like she had been walking for hours now. Her body continued to ache more and she started to miss the voices in her head. At least they would've made company in the vast darkness. Come to think of it, she really missed Angel's voice, though she had heard it not long ago. It was soothing to her ears, one that she could honestly desire to hear every second now that was all alone. But why was she where she was? Why in such a dark, unforgiving and quiet place? Was it that first voice she had heard that had brought her here somehow? Was that even possible? Who could say, but Azure would surely lose it entirely if anymore questions built up without any answers.
"I'm all alone again aren't I?" She asked aloud and came to a stop. What was the point of just walking endlessly?
"I do not know my destiny, purpose or reason of existence even!" She shouted into the darkness and let herself fall onto what she believed to be the ground.
"What is the point to me, and why? Why can't I know who I am and why am I tormented so?" She asked as she held back her tears.
Perhaps the first voice was right. She was pathetic at this point, she didn't have a clue as to why she existed or why she was here. It drove her slightly mad to say the least, all it would take is a sign that she should keep going. But when she needed something as much as that, the darkness surely will not allow it. She was ready to give up, the darkness would consume her here. And nopony would change that.
She slouched over and rolled onto her side. Ever since she had woke up, it was the same thing. More unsolved questions, more torment. Nothing truly had changed at this point. She sighed and closed her eyes. How she had heard both the princess's voice and Angel's was another mystery, but she blamed it on the darkness. She was so quick to give up and let it start to consume her, but she was alone, afraid and borderline crazy. But she hadn't missed the light yet.
"So you are really going to give up that easily and let it win huh?" A voice boomed from the darkness.
"Just leave me alone already, you win, I'm a failure and I still don't know anything!" She shouted back at the voice harshly.
"Silence! I wish to help you, not to be subject to your shouts." The voice boomed from felt like everywhere.
"Help me? Help me!" She asked and shouted back in a laugh, only to feel a strong slap against her cheek.
"Listen here, there is little time and much to say. So if you're done shouting, will you let me help you?" The voice asked as she whimpered and nodded.
"I will listen, just get on with it." She said plainly, though didn't want to raise her voice again.
"Very well, you are in a place called the Void. It's the darkest dimension in the universe, and only few make it out from its clutches before they go insane. You somehow have entered a state that is between life and death, hanging on the very edge of both. The slightest change and it could equal infinite death for you and you shall never wake. Do you understand?" The voice asked after it explained.
"I do, but how do I get out of here? And who's to say I'm not already crazy?" Azure asked, unsure of her own fate of mentality.
"You're far from crazy my dear, you're a sweet and kind mare who's simply riddled with darkness that only I understand as keeper of this realm. I cannot say who you are or why, for I do not know. All I know is that you're special and that you aren't supposed to be down here. Now are you ready to leave?" The voice asked and Azure stood up with newfound hope.
"I'm more than ready, but what is your name?" She asked the voice and looked around for some source, only for darkness to be her only sight.
"My name depends on if you can resist the tempting dark. If you should stay here, no more worries should fill your mind, no more torment and no more suffering would befall to you. You would be safe.” The dark, though soothing stallion’s voice explained as the gears in Azure’s head to started to work.
“No more suffering or voices in my head? No more questions?” She asked herself as it sounded too good to be true.
“What’s the catch then? For such a perfect peace?” She asked the voice, curious of the answer.
“You may never leave or return to Equestria.” The voice answered grimmly.
“Never return? Why would I want to?” Azure asked.
“You tell me, you are a smart mare after all. So why do you want to return?” The voice asked, though Azure wasn’t sure she even wanted back. This was the most peace and quiet she had in a while.
“I don’t really want to return.” She answered and her eyes widened as she covered her mouth.
“Then so be-“ The voice was cut off from Azure as her horn began to glow.
“I want to return to my friend, I probably left her terrified. Please, how can I return?” She asked as the voice chuckled.
“I knew you were a sweet mare, thinking of others is a nature that you were born with. Even if the darkness wants to keep it down, your spirit is strong. Are you see this is your final answer?” The voice echoed and Azure took a deep breath.
“I am sure, now please tell me how I can get out of here.” Azure pleaded as her horn continued to glow in the darkness.
"Very well. If you wish to get out, you must find the light in yourself. With that information, do as you will and good luck." The voice explained and once more, only the dark was left with Azure.
"That's it? That's all you're going to tell me?" Azure asked as her hope faded away. How was that going to help her at all?
She waited for a reply, but she didn't hear the stallion once more. Instead she was left with his words echoing in her mind. Cryptic as they were, She was alone without any answers. A heavy sigh left her as she let her head fall, and for the moment a single tear left her eye. She was fighting back an urge to just let it all out and accept her fate. But something wouldn't let her, something was aching for a different reason. Her very heart.
"What did he mean by, there is little time?" Azure asked herself and looked down at her forelegs which still had the armor on them.
Among the darkness, where she couldn't see anything, she could see the armor. But why, why could she see the armor and nothing more? With the stallion's words left in her head, something began to make sense. Light would reflect off of this metal just as it would a sword, right?
"The light in myself huh? I don't think I can exactly put this armor in me and find it, so what am I to do?" She asked in hopes for an answer from the stallion, whom remained silent in the dark.
Her mind was racing with ideas of what she could do, but she shook her head at most since they didn't make any sense. Not that she had made much sense herself. She raised one hoof and looked the armor. She saw her eyes staring back at her and she took a deep breath.
"Maybe the trick isn't to literally find the light in myself, but to find out what makes me, me?" She asked herself now, only making little sense from it as she stared into her own eyes.
She had an idea, but she didn't expect a reward from it. She recalled every moment that had occurred up until this point. Every word for the most part and everything she had been through. From waking up in a scorched crypt, from almost being eaten by timber wolves and even a plant, all the way to here.
On the metal, she saw the events playout and she made small mental notes of each action she took. When it finally came around to waking up in Angel's hooves, she smiled and felt a shiver down her back.
"I am a smart, clever, thought provoked, special and caring, warrior mare! Not a pathetic one, I am not a worthless warrior or a failure!" She shouted and once again closed her eyes.
"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-"
8-A Stylist In The Making
Author's Note
Hey there reader, hope you're enjoying this. Maybe leave me a comment? Should I stick to one thousand and five hundred words or continue on with around two thousand?
8-A Stylist In The Making
"What do you mean Angel?" Azure asked as she looked at Angel, whom shivered once more in Azure's strong grasp.
"I mean, it feels like you're made of ice or something..." Angel spoke between shivers and trailed off.
Azure gently let go and felt her hoof, it was indeed cold. Just when she was getting piece at mind, a new questions pops up. As if her life wasn't already one big question and then there was the burning in her throat. She took a step back from Angel and began to walk over to the window for a look at herself.
Despite the storm that seemed to be rolling in, she could see herself clearly. She looked awful, her eyes were darker, her mane was an absolute mess and she looked exhausted. But why, she was asleep as far as she knew. Which did explain her mane, but she shouldn't have moved enough to cause such a disturbance. Something else was at work and yet she felt fine, maybe a lot warmer than she liked in the sunlight. But otherwise fine.
"Azure? Are you alright?" Angel asked with concern and tilted her head to the side.
"I don't know Angel, I feel fine. But I look like a mess, it's as if I was battling with something and barely won by the looks of it."
"You looked fine three days ago, but I don't know how it got like that. Or why you're so cold."
"Angel, have you heard of a place called the void?"
"No, what is it?" Angel asked and sat on the bed, figuring it'd be a long story.
"When I blacked out, I woke up in total darkness with my body aching. In there, I heard a voice that helped me wake up."
"Strange, but at least you woke up right?" Angel asked as Azure leaned on the window.
"Before I woke up, I saw something. It was a battlefield littered with giant crystals. Ring any bells?" Azure asked as Princess Luna quietly entered the room without their knowledge.
"What you're describing is the Crystal Battlefield from about two thousand years ago. If it had large black demonic crystals, that is." Luna explained as she closed the door behind her.
"So how would I have seen that, Princess Luna?" Azure asked.
"Yeah and do we know what she is yet? She's really cold." Angel spoke up and made herself stiffen and sit straight up.
"There is a lot of ways, most impossible. But thank your Angel, you reminded me of what I found. Azure, you're not a normal mortal pony by any means." Princess Luna explained.
"Then what am I? I know I'm not normal compared to everypony. so what am I princess?" Azure asked and turned to look at Princess Luna.
"Well that's where I'm not entirely sure, but with my bat ponies and night guard, I've got a few ide-."
"Well out with it, we need to know." Angel spoke up and covered her mouth and seemingly sent a silent apology for speaking out of turn.
"Azure, I believe you're a breed of vampony. More in particular, one that doesn't rely on ponies as primary food. When you had that salad, it must've triggered an awakening. I have done my part to keep silent about it, as the race is incredibly rare now and even the originals that once roamed seem to have died off." Luna explained and waited for the details to sink in.
Angel looked to Azure in confusion, surely that couldn't be true. Azure's eyes held something that Angel couldn't quite put her hoof on. Azure gulped as she looked around, half expecting a new vision or voice. But her mind was silent as Luna's words engraved themselves into her mind.
"She couldn't possibly be a monster Princess Luna, she'd barely hurt a fly." Angel shook her head in denial as she broke the silence.
"It is the only thing that makes sense Angel, a being, let alone a pony needs a beating heart. Exceptions of that go to her race and its branches. Unfortunately I don't know anything else, so from here on is a learning experience for everypony of Equestria." Luna explained and turned toward the door with a yawn.
"Princess, what will happen to me now? Would the guard, you know c-"
"I wouldn't let them." Angel spoke up and hopped off the bed.
"My guard won't, I cannot say the same for Celestia's. Now please excuse me, I have a moon that needs to be set in place." Princess Luna waved her hoof and silently crept out into the hall.
Azure was oddly still at peace, she had no voices in her head. Nothing was trying to eat or kill her. No blood filled rooms and or attack from a voice. She had an idea of what she was, but not much to go off of. All she knew was she wasn't like anypony else and that she was rare, to a point of an anomaly in the list of races of ponies she somehow was added into the mix.
"Angel, what do you think?" Azure asked and turned to her friend.
"I think you need a hot shower, maybe a hoof-icure." Angel smirked.
"I think I'd like that, sure you trust me?" Azure asked, her tone switching from sweet to serious.
"Well you haven't hurt me before, in what little time you've been awake sleepyhead. But yes, I do to an extent. Maybe keep your muzzle a bit away?" Angel asked in a quiet voice and Azure shook her head.
"Whatever you say, now can we get going? If my mane looks like this any longer the rats might nest in it."
"Sure just follow me." Angel trotted over to the door end opened it, stepping into the hall as she waited for Azure who came happily trotting out.
With Angel leading the way down the hall, Azure followed close behind. One question remained, where did she come from? It was the biggest question and she still had no answers for it. But everything else seemed to have been answered. right? Probably, as far as she remembered she didn't know who she was, where she was or what she was when she woke up. And now so much had changed, around ten days later.
"Maybe that book can te- The book!" Azure half shouted half whispered as they trotted down the stairs and Angel looked at her confused.
"What are you talking about?" Angel asked as she hopped down the last step.
"When I woke up, I had some sort of book with me. Did I have it with me when you found me?" Azure asked in mild panic as they trotted down another set of stairs and into a long hallway.
"No, I found you just laying on the ground. I would have told you earlier if you had something."
"Maybe I left it back at Pri= I mean Twilight's castle?" Azure asked as she followed Angel into what looked to be a shower room. Plain white tiled floors and walls made up most of the room
"Maybe, but how about you get cleaned up and then we worry about some book?" Angel asked and made her way over to a divided section along the wall.
Azure blindly followed and looked at a wall of shower heads, she at least had an idea of how to work these. Without much question or thought, she took a spot a bit away from Angel and used her magic to turn the knob. It took a moment but the water kicked on at an icy temperature. Though she rather enjoyed it as the water washed through her mane and down her body. She sighed and simply relaxed with just the cool water going over her.
"I guess you like cold showers? That one's always freezing, but it never gets fixed." Angel spoke up in an attempt for small chat.
"It feels good, and I'm pretty sure my mane's untangled now." Azure said as her horn began to glow and her magic aura covered the knob and turned it off.
She was soaking wet, but at least she felt clean and somewhat warm. She stepped away from the shower area and over to a large mirror. Carefully, her magic grasped her mane and began to wring it out. Next she untangled it and set it into place. She wasn't sure what she was going for, but the image she saw in her eyes upon the mirror felt perfect.
Her mane, which was drying quick, was now styled into what looked like a full mane pushed to the back of her head and slung over her neck. Her mane was a lot longer than she was expecting, but not too bad to work with.
"Hey, not bad. Maybe I'll teach you how to do it with your hooves." Angel offered as she approached the mirror and took the next twenty minutes to dry herself off and put her mane back the way she liked, despite Azure's pleads to try and help her.
Angel looked into the mirror and smiled at herself with Azure in the background. She had a mane that was shorter, but thicker. It had a perfect spot for her ear and almost covered the other one under a blanket of white. Covering most of her head, except for her left ear, it brought out her eyes in a friendly manner.
"You done now, Angel?" Azure asked as she started to tap her hoof. She didn't know how a mare could spend so much time staring at themselves, though she couldn't lie to herself. What stallion wouldn't be staring and here she also was staring at her snow white mane.
"Yes, I think Twilight's room is upstairs by the medical room." Angel said as she left the mirror and trotted to the exit. Azure went to follow her, but stopped as her throat started to hurt more. It was a bit painful to say the least and as she looked at Angel, a sick thought crossed her mind.
"Hey Angel?" Azure called out in a dark, sultry tone.
"Yeah Azure?"
"You have no idea how good you look or smell right now..." Azure trailed off licking her lips as she started to approach Angel slowly. Her eyes were locked in on her and Angle's eyes widened.
Angel began to slowly back away, her eyes never leaving Azure's red eyes, which were oddly glowing. Azure grinned and kept moving towards Angel at a steady, but slow pace. The two mare's were locked into a contest, the first to look away would ultimately lose more than some dignity. Angel tucked her wings tightly against herself and sighed, there wasn't an easy way out.
"Azure, I really hope you're joking. You're scaring me..." Angel's voice quivered and she trailed off unable to find the next words.
"A joke? My prey I do not joke. Now hold still and stop moving." Azure commanded to which Angel took a deep breath. She had two options, run for her life and prey that Azure was slower or do as she was told. Angel, also wasn't the brightest of mares and wanted to take her chances.
"Tempting offer, but I like my neck how it is. Not ripped out onto the floor!" Angel screamed and sharply turned toward the stairs before sprinting straight up them. Azure growled and did the same, just with more elegance as she galloped after Angel. On one hoof, Angel could fly down the hall faster than Azure could run, but the halls were tight. One wrong move could spell disaster. On the other hoof, Azure was a lot slimmer and could easily get around corners, but wanted to save energy.
"Stop running, you're only prolonging your fate." Azure spoke with cold words as she chased after her prey, Angel.
"Not a chance!"
"You're a foolish mare, you can't escape. You will tire out eventually and I will catch you." Azure's voice remained cold and emotionless as she chased Angel down the hall and to the next set of stairs.
"Princess Luna! Princess Twilight! Somepony help me!" Angel screamed as she ran up the stairs, she was already panting. She wasn't the mare for funning, she was built for flight. Not running for her life through the white halls of the Castle.
"Nopony can help you, Angel. Now stop your running!"
"Never! I won't let you catch me!" Angel was starting to slow as she made it halfway across the hall, only one more staircase to go.
Azure was growing tired of this game and growled loud enough for Angel to hear. She put her muzzle forward and low as she charged after Angel faster than before. She wouldn't allow Angel to escape, no that would be impossible to allow. One moment friends, the next prey and predator. Angel was at her limit, perhaps even pushing it as she ran up the stairs. Nopony was around to help her, perhaps no one had even heard her.
"It's over my prey, I have you now!" Azure screeched as she jumped onto Angel, tackling her to the floor and pinning her down. Azure's sheer strength was more than enough to hold poor Angel down as she stared into the eyes of her friend. Azure's eyes were held a look of a predator, and yet seemed to be saddened slightly.
"Azure, don't do this! Think about what the guard will d-"
"Shut up! I don't care about the guard, they wouldn't be able to stop me. And you sure can't either." Azure's words hit Angel like a punch and she tried to push against Azure. All to no prevail, she didn't have the energy to fight now. Azure was in complete control and Angel couldn't believe it.
"S-So you're going to kill me aren't you?" Angel asked as her eyes met with Azure's.
"Did I ask you to speak?" Azure growled as the first of many tears streamed down Angel's face.
"No. But please Azure, can't we tal-"
"Stop talking! I won, you lost. Maybe you should have listened when I said hold still, this could've been less painful for you, you poor mare.
Angel went silent and let out a deep, heavy song sigh. "So this is how I'm going to die?" She asked herself in silence as she closed her eyes. So quick and yet so slow? Azure was just waiting, as if mocking her at this point. All of that running had tired Angel out, and a sprained hoof only had made it worse for Angel. She was easy pickings.
"Just get it over with, you won. I can't change that." Angel's voice quivered once more as she started to shake. It only occurred to her just how cold Azure's body felt.
Azure leaned in and sniffed at Angel's neck, driven by nothing but pure instinct. Angel cried silently as Azure brushed her muzzle against her neck. Angel didn't bother to struggle and simply waited in what felt like an eternity of silence.
"I expected more a fight, for such a strong spirited mare." Azure spoke coldly, showing no sympathy for the pinned Angel.
"I've never been more than...than a patrol guard." Angle whimpered.
"So no training at all? How pathetic, figures for Celestia's guards."
"T-the other guards are well trained, they'd kick your flank to th-"
"They can try, but they won't succeed. You're a fine example of what would happen." Azure said as Angel whimpered once more. For just a moment, Azure generally showed sympathy for the crying mare. But it was quickly gone as she licked her lips.
Pulling her muzzle away, she looked down at her prey. Angel wasn't a fighter by any means, she was a Pegasus who flew in the sky way up high. Not much of a challenge for anypony, but regardless, Azure knew what she wanted. It made little of a difference to Azure, whether or not she was exactly in control of herself. Inside, a battle was being waged. And she was losing every second.
"Why me? Why can't you..." Angel sighed in realization of what she was saying as Azure showed off a pair of sharp teeth.
"Realizing you'd be sending me to find somepony else more unfortunate?"
"Yes."
Azure smirked at Angel's honesty as her internal battle raged on. Angel opened her eyes for a moment to see Azure staring directly at her. She immediately looked away in fear.
"Enough distractions, I let you have a chance and even gave you a few extra moments. Now hold still and this will all be over quickly." Azure commanded as she leaned into Angel.
Azure brushed her muzzle against Angel's neck once more, she was going by pure instinct still, even if she didn't want to. It wasn't an easy feat to resist the very thing that you want, and it was no different for Azure. She couldn't fight her newfound instincts as she opened her mouth and grazed Angel's neck with her sharpened canines. Something only a tiny percentage of ponies had, mostly if not entirely bat ponies.
"If you harm that mare, you will regret it Azure!" A deep voice echoed from down the hall and quickly stole Azure's attention.
"Who's there and wants to get bit?" Azure hissed as she looked down the hall and saw a silhouette down farther. It was taller and larger than Azure and that was a fact. But was it stronger?
"Guards! Seize her and muzzle her, bat ponies first!" The voice, that of none other than Princess Luna, shouted from the hall.
Azure hissed and got up from Angel. One thing no predator liked was to be distracted from their meal. Azure was no exception with the anger burning in her eyes. If looks could kill, she'd have slain the entirety of castle's inhabitant with a single glance.
"What gua-" Azure was cut off as a stallion flew into her and pushed Into a wall. She groaned and looked at the stallion, whom was a much more muscular bat pony. She glared into his eyes as he smirked victoriously, only for her to smash her forehead into his and make him fall down.
"All muscle, no brains." Azure laughed and walked over the incapacitated stallion. Now Princess Luna stood with a small battalion of guards at her sides. Bat ponies in their night guard armor and the standard guard ponies in their golden armor.
Azure was about to make a sarcastic comment about such a small little army, but instead found the back of a book being smashed into the back of her head. The book being a leather back on small army tactics, weighing about as much as a few pounds. Needless to say, Azure collapsed onto the ground as Angel watched unsure of how she had got out of being a meal.
The book dropped to the ground as the newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle sighed. She trotted over to Angel and helped her up, though she was still shaking. Soon after the bat ponies quickly and cautiously put a muzzle over Azure.
"Thank you Twilight, but I wish we could have captured her awake. She'll be even angrier when she wakes up." Princess Luna sighed as she looked down at the now cuffed Azure.
"It had to be done, normally I'd look for a peaceful way. But guard's lives were at risk and so was Angel. I would have been here sooner, but I sort of blew up my room..." Twilight trailed off and Princess Luna chuckled.
"Great, Azure gives into her dark nature and you blow up a room. Take Angel to the medical room, make sure she's alright. In the meantime, I'll figure out what to do with our fanged friend."
"Put her in a cell and coat the bars In silver dust, it should keep her down and magic quiet." Twilight explained as she looked to the silent Angel.
"That won't hurt her, right? And where did you learn that, Twilight?"
"Maybe I've been reading a lot- a lot more than usual about her kind. Amazing what happens when somepony suddenly asks about it."
"And who asked about it?"
"Some stallion with a charming deep voice, said he wanted to charm his mare friend. Now take her to a cell before she wakes up and tries to eat a guard or me." Twilight commanded and started to trot down the hall with Angel a millimeter away. It wasn't like Twilight to exactly take point or control like she did, but she did show the best of her at the best of times.
"'Bat ponies carry the mare and all other follow behind them." Luna commanded her guards as she started to walk down the stairs. The guards quickly got into a formation with bat ponies first and carrying the mare and all others close behind as they followed the Princess down to the holding cells.
"Please tell me I can have a different shift instead of cell watch with that thing." One of the guards quietly spoke to himself in a worried tone.
As they reached the cell, Princess Luna opened one of the cell doors away from everypony that was already being held. Which was only a few, mostly thieves. The guards carefully put her in and removed the cuffs around her hooves and closed the door shut. Princess Luna locked it and put the key in her wing as some of the guards walked away.
"Princess, are you sure this is right? She couldn't help herself, much like some bat ponies." A solemn bat pony guard asked as she hovered around the exit.
"I honestly don't know, but she is dangerous otherwise. I should realized that sooner, I nearly cost Angel her life because of my small mistake. This is the best justice I can do right this moment. Now please return to your duties.
The bat pony nodded her head and trotted out the door silently without looking back. Luna sighed and looked at Azure who was out cold. It was right thing to do in her mind, she had almost killed somepony. And she probably would have if Luna was any slower. Princess Luna sighed and left Azure in her cell, alone and on the cold stone floor.
Meanwhile, Azure was having a dream. One where she was sitting atop a mountain with the stars above. A forest in the background and a perfect silence. But that all turned to fire behind her as she gulped.
"I've been waiting for you to return, my lost Queen." A stallion's deep voice boomed from within the fire.
10-Headaches Can Be Dangerous
Azure awoke in her cell with her head pounding, she couldn't quite remember the events before she had somehow blacked out for a moment. But guessing from her headache, she assumed that she had simply fell or perhaps a failed vison. Her dream of fire and a stallion still hovered in her head though. She recalled that perfectly, even if it didn't ring many bells.
She closed her eyes and prayed the headache would go away, not that the cold granite floor was comfortable. But she had little other choice as a feeling of dread washed over her. What had she did that she couldn't remember? It was a blank spot, one moment she was fixing her mane and waiting for Angel. The next, she's in a cell.
"Maybe there's a fashion law?" She mumbled to herself and sighed. She could easily just lay on the floor for hours.
Silently she started to drift off, paying no attention to the room. Her head hurt too much to bother, and it seemed as if everypony-if any, were ignoring her anyway. Lonely and cold, not a good combo for a mare who needs an explanation. By Celestia, she needed an explanation for her very existence as it was.
"Wake up will you?" A voice chimed from somewhere, to which Azure groaned.
"I have a headache. Go away, unless you're going to tell me why I am in a cell."
"I said wake up, not back talk me. Get your flank up off the floor and look at me." The voice commanded and Azure simply growled.
"Just leave me be already."
"Last warning and then I'll have to get the princess. Do you want to apologize to your friend or not?"
"For what? I don't even know why I'm in here."
"How do you not know, you tried to bite her or rather, were going to most likely rip her throat out..." The voice trailed off, which sounded like a mare now that Azure's head was clearing.
"I did what? Why would I do that?" Azure asked as she climbed to her hooves, but she was incredibly dizzy. The whole room was basically spinning as she stood up and wobbled. She closed her eyes and leaned against the cell's bars, feeling as if she'd hurl.
"I was hoping you'd tell us wh- Hey are you alright, mam?" The guard pony mare asked and approached Azure.
Azure didn't answer, afraid she'd vomit if she opened her mouth. The dizziness was just too much to handle standing and her legs simply gave out from under her. Her head smacking into the bars, sliding down slowly and finally smashing into the stone floor soon after as the guard called out for help.
"Princess Twilight! I have a problem, I need a doctor in here right away!" The guard shouted and spastically tried to open the cell, only to drop the keys inside the cell. The mare sighed, she was a Earth Pony. Not a unicorn who could levitate them out. She let her ears fall, there was no way she could get it with a hoof.
"What's the problem?" Princess Twilight asked as she trotted in with a still scared Angel behind her, upon seeing Azure she quickly hurried over.
"What happened?" Angel asked as she lowed herself to the ground to look at Azure, who had a small bit of blood staining her fur. Most likely from scraping her head against the metal bars.
"And why aren't these bars covered with some silver dust? Or- never mind, can someone call for the doctor?" Twilight asked as she moved Angel aside and fished the keys out. She unlocked the cell and carefully moved Azure out, her head was definitely bleeding, but not badly enough to be considered severe.
"You know she's on vacation, right? She left on a honeymoon with her stallion. Won't be a surprise if she comes back a bat pony when he's done with her." The guard mare spoke up from behind.
"Why don't you go get Princess Luna, she should be up by now. She has more knowledge than the rest of us, probably. Maybe not, nut I sure don't know how to treat a wound." Twilight waved the guard off as she tried to examine the source of the blood.
It wasn't to deep of a cut at least, but more of in just the right place. Twilight looked over at Angel, who shyly watched. Angel had recovered some from the past night's events. Especially after having a conversation with a bat pony who assured her that it was a one time thing, nothing more. But she wasn't quite trusting of that. But she was willing to forgive and try.
"Angel, do you know anything with treating wounds? This has never been my strong suit and I could really use another hoof."
"I did take a class for some medical things, but I don't know if I'll be of much help, Twilight."
"That's better than me right now, I don't know what I'm doing here or where to start." Twilight said as she pushed some Azure's fur away to examine the wound better.
"Alright I will take a look but could you get me some light?" Angel asked as she lowered herself by Twilight.
"Sure thing, here you go." Twilight said as a little ball of light hovered by Angel and moved away to give Angel working space.
"Thank you- Oh that's definitely going to need some disinfectant and a bandage, I don't think we'll need stiches though." Angel said as she got a close look.
"And can somepony tell me what's going on down here? I have a spastic guard pony upstairs saying something about an injury." Princess Luna's voice gained both of Twilight and Angel's attention the moment she spoke.
"I think she fell, but she's out cold and bleeding. And the royal doctor's out, not to mention I'm not a doctor by any means." Twilight explained as Angel checked over Azure.
"Twilight, I don't think we need to worry about this injury. But more of why in Equestria, she fell and knocked herself unconscious." Luna yawned and looked at Twilight, whom nodded her head.
"I think it might be healing actually, this blood's cold. Not warm- Oh wait, her body temperature..." Angel sighed and shook her head, assuming that her body was healing because it didn't seem there was any fresh blood from the wound. But it was all cold.
"It would make a large difference, but I think I know how to warm her up. Keep an eye on her, you two. I need to get and fetch something." Luna smiled with an idea in her head as she trotted off.
"Angel keep an eye on her, I'll be across the room thinking if there's a problem. Just be careful alright?" Twilight asked as she trotted to the other side of the room in wait for Luna's return.
"Sure thing, I'll be careful." Angel said casually, though her curiosity was getting the better of her.
Angel looked back at Twilight, who was already lost in thoughts. Seeing that she probably wouldn.t be noticed, Angel placed her ear on Azure's chest. To her surprise she felt no beat of a heart. Instead, just the coldness of her friend. She moved up to Azure's muzzle with even more curiosity as she propped her mouth open.
Looking in, she immediately noticed a pair of canines in the front row of her teeth. Narrow and sharper than any spear tip. "So it is true? You really do have fangs?" Angel spoke to herself and let Azure's mouth close gently. She didn't want her arm to be stuck, especially with what happened last night. But she was still very curious.
"Angel what are you trying to do? Get yourself bit?" Princess Luna scolded Angel. Angel jumped away from Azure quickly, her cheeks slightly red as she struggled to find the words.
"I-I was curious Princess, I needed to know." Angel tried to cover up what she done, but Luna simply laughed.
"Do keep in mind you're as much food as I am. And a predator's senses are usually active, even when they're asleep."
"What do you mean, Princess?" Angel asked as Twilight remained solely lost in thoughts.
"If any of us were thinking yesterday night, we would have made sure that Azure was mentally fine. instead, you were almost a snack."
"Just a snack? I think she chased me as if I was a five star meal." Angel giggled and rolled her eyes at Luna's remark.
"Indeed, but if you can clean her wound, I brought bandages and disinfectants." Luna said as she uncurled her wing and levitated a small knapsack over by Angel.
"Sure I can do that, but what are we going to do if she's thirsty or hungry again?" Angel asked as she emptied the knapsack onto the floor, the only items being some bandages and some bottle of disinfectant.
"Well I guess we'll treat her as if she was one of the feral bat ponies, you know the one's that tend to bite ponies? But at the same, we can't lock her up because of this. It's not right."
"So maybe get a prescription from the hospital once a week?" Angel asked sarcastically.
"That could actually be our best solution Angel. It would keep her from the wrong end of a spear." Luna sighed and looked over to Twilight, who could very well have passed out.
Silence fell upon the room as Angel treated Azure's wound, Luna having nothing to say and Twilight who was either asleep or lost in thought. With a clean bandage, dripped with disinfectant over Azure's cut, Angel silently stood up. It was as good as it could be, even if she didn't have medical training, it was better than untreated.
"You do know that we couldn't take her to a hospital right?" Twilight asked, breaking the silence.
"Well of course, she would be dangerous and a possible threat to everypony in there." Luna spoke up as well as Angel looked down at Azure. Azure looked innocent and harmless enough that she simply ignored Luna's answer. In Angel's mind, Azure wasn't in control of her actions when she was being chased. Therefore she couldn't really be blamed, it was as big of a change to her as it was to anypony that knew her. As few as that was.
"I really don't think she's that dangerous, if she had really wanted to harm me last night, she wouldn't have let me get far. Far enough to call for help? No, she would have silently taken me." Angel quietly spoke with her head down.
"Or maybe her race likes the hunt? Th-"
"She has a point, even if Azure's kind like to hunt their prey, they do it quick. And especially silent." Luna said as she trotted over to Azure and Angel.
"But she still would ha-"
"Enough Twilight, I will handle this from here on. But it may be best if you don't intervene, I'm sorry." Twilight nodded her head silently and quickly left the cell area.
"That was a bit harsh, don't you think?" Angel asked.
"Maybe, but she's a logic thinker. We need to think far outside the normal box Angel, for Azure's sake if she is to become a part of society."
Angel looked up at Luna, smiling and nodding her head in agreement. She had an idea, maybe not the greatest idea, but it was an idea. Twilight would certainly disapprove of her idea though, but she wasn't here to say no now.
"Princess, maybe we get a blood bag from the hospital for her. Just to see if that's what she needs? Then if what you said is true about her, normal food?" Angel asked in a serious tone.
"That sounds brilliant Angel, perhaps you should go and take care of that? I should probably watch over her."
"Yes, I'll get going right away. I'll be back soon." Angel was a bit full of hope, but she had good purpose and reason to be. She quickly ran out of the room, leaving just Luna and Azure in silence.
Author's Note
All chapters will be written like this one from here on out. If you're reading this by the time every other chapter is fixed, whoops.
11-Sweetness of Peace
Azure groaned softly as she started to wake up, her head hurting no less than earlier. "Ow. What did I do to get this ache?" She asked herself and rubbed her head with a hoof. At least it was just her head that ached this bad, her stomach wasn't too great either. Though the headache was far more severe as far as pain goes.
"I think she's up, Princess." Azure heard none other than Angel's voice as she opened her eyes slowly. The room she was in, wasn't a cell at least and was a lot warmer. And it seemed as if the blinds were down, which she was thankful for. Her eyes adjusted much easier and painlessly.
She looked at both Angel and Princess Luna, who smiled happily at her. She was beyond baffled, wasn't she in a cell? "What are you two doing here and can somepony tell me why I'm in here now?" Azure asked.
Angel was the first to speak. "Well, you're in here because it's more comfortable than a cell and a cold floor. And it's not exactly right to keep you in a cell." Angel answered and looked to Luna.
Luna nodded her head and trotted over to a small box. It didn't look like much, but it gained Azure's attention. "Azure, I apologize to both you and Angel. That night wouldn't have happened if some of us were thinking." Luna paused for a moment and open the box, lifting a Styrofoam cup with a straw out and continued. "But I'm hoping this will prevent that from happening again for a bit and give us all some peace at mind."
Azure examined the cup from where she was, her eyes were locked on it and a sweet aroma in the room had the full attention of her nose. "What's in it and what is that delightful smell?" Azure asked as she sat up in the bed, her headache was entirely absent and her stomach growling.
"Find out, you'll definitely like it." Angel quietly giggled and watched from the side lines she felt like a genius. Her idea seemed to be working, for the most part.
Azure levitated the cup out from Princess Luna's hoof and over to herself. The scent was incredibly stronger now and Azure couldn't help but place the straw between her lips and take a sip. The taste to her was something sweet and also metallic, and she only craved more of it as she drank the entirety of the cup's contents down. A silent moan escaping her lips as the last drop was down. "That was delicious, where's more?"
Luna and Angel looked at her with a surprised look, neither of them thought more would possibly be required. "There isn't anymore right now, but maybe later." Angel answered nervously and glanced at Luna.
Luna sighed and looked into the box, there was one thing left, a salad. "Well if you're hungry, there's also a sal-" Luna stopped speaking as a red aura encased the salad and levitated it out. It landed right next to a smirking Azure, who began to eat it slowly.
Angel watched, still nervous that Azure might decide she wanted something more than just one drink or a salad. "Well princess, I think she's fine. Don't you?" Angel asked as Azure finished the bowl of salad.
"Yes it would seem that way now. Azure do you remember chasing Angel through the castle?" Luna asked as she took the empty bowl and put it in the box. Her tone was serious as she turned back to Azure.
Azure was silent for a moment, constantly looking back and forth between the two mares. A tad bit nervous yes, but she didn't remember it. "No. I don't recall doing that or why I would. If I did, I'm terribly sorry Angel. But I don't remember that at all." Azure answered honestly, staring into the eys of Angel.
"I was worried about that, do you recall anything from before that?" Princess Luna asked as she picked up the box and placed it by the door of the room.
Azure watched as she tried to remember something, anything at all. Only one thing had come to mind. "Well I did feel a burn in throat, but I shrugged it off. Why?"
Luna brightened up and smiled as if she had figured out a solution to a problem, which she had. "Well at least you're like the bat ponies then. You need to let us know immediately if and when that burn comes back. Until then, you're free to go and do as you please. Preferably with Angel so that one of can keep an eye on you." Luna explained and opened the door letting in some light from the hall. It was well past her bedtime with the morning light. "I must rest now, so please be careful you two." Luna said as she trotted out and closed the door behind her.
Angel looked to Azure and smiled warmly. Finally some peace at mind for both of the mares. "You feeling alright, Azure?" Angel asked as she sat down on the bed with Azure.
"Yes, I feel great actually. But I could use a stretch and maybe some insight as to what in the world happened." Azure stretched her legs ans quickly hopped onto the floor.
Angel did the same for the most and watch Azure. A lot of thoughts went through Angel's head, all good or thoughts that she definitely keep to herself. "Well I'm glad you're back. But you did give me quite the scare."
"How so?" Azure asked as she stopped stretching and sighed. She did feel great, full of energy and highly alert to everything around her. "Hold that thought, could we maybe walk and talk?"
Angel nodded and walked over to the door. She opened it and began to walk out with Azure following behind after closing the door. "Put simply, you chased as if I was prey to a predator. Except it confuses me that you didn't get it over with then, though I'm really glad you didn't."
"So I hunted you down?"
"More like sadistically chased." Angel replied with a sarcastic laugh.
Azure put her ears down as the two mares trotted down a set of stairs and the next. "Was I really that bad?" Azure asked herself, finding it hard to believe that she would do that. But what did she know? Nothing, she knew nothing at all for a reason or explanation. "So what stopped me?"
Angel laughed and shook her head, remembering the comical scene. "Well a big leather back to the back of your head."
Azure groaned and realized why she had awoken with such a headache twice in a row, though it was entirely gone now. It annoyed her to know why she had them, though she was entirely at fault one way or another. "Great, so that's why I had a horrible headache twice in a row?" Azure laughed as they made it the first floor of the castle and trotted out of the main door, into the morning sunlight.
Angel laughed with her, though she quickly shut herself up. Even if she had deserved what came to her, it wasn't nice to say exactly. "Sorry about that, Azure. Twilight's to blame with that, but she had good reason to. I'm just glad we're both okay now." Angel smiled and looked to Azure as they stopped in the middle of a path.
Azure smiled and shook her head. "I deserved it I guess. And I'm really sorry about that, but at least you're okay now. And I'm myself again, I think." Azure wasn't honestly sure of who herself really was. For all she knew, she might have been sadistic before she woke up without any memory of who she was.
Angled gently put her hooves around Azure and brought her into a tight hug. "You know, I've really never had the chance to make many friends Azure. So I'm really glad you came around." Angel's words surprised Azure, who wouldn't like this kind mare?
"Really? How? How could you not, you're such a kind mare." Azure was clueless as she returned the hug, though her eyes went from the sky and down to Angel in a second of the hug. That aroma from before was quite evident, but Azure shrugged it off.
Angel seemed to pick up immediately on Azure's thoughts and slowly moved away. Azure frowned for a second but smiled soon after. "Guess we'll never know, but thank you again. Even if you might've tried to kill me."
Azure blushed lightly and shook her head. "Some friend I am." Azure spoke only to herself as Angel returned the smile and began to trot off again. "Again, I'm sorry Angel." Azure slowly followed behind Angel.
"I know you are, and I'm pretty certain you had no clue of what you were doing. So don't hang on it, it's alright now."
"Maybe, but I wish I could make it up to y-"
"You already have." Angel took a turn on the path they had been following from the castle that lead to some sort of garden. It was certainly a massive garden.
Azure silently followed after Angel to the garden. It was something to see, that was for sure. It was beautiful, tall hedges and a nice fence all around it. She could only imagine what laid beyond the hedges. And at the same time, she occasionally found herself just watching Angel as they trotted up to the garden.
"What is this place Angel?" Azure asked as they reached the gates. Her eyes searching all around for some hint. Her guess was a garden of a sort, but what laid beyond, let alone why did Angel bring her there?
"Angel let out a quiet giggle as she pushed the gates open with her muzzle. Just past the entrance was a beautiful garden of roses, sunflowers and not to mention a small patch of flowers in a large circle. The flowers, white with blue petals and stems lined with thorns. "This is one of the royal gardens Azure, unlike the courtyard these are separated for everypony to enjoy without guards." Angel's soft voice made the garden seem all the more better, beautiful as it was to Azure. Though Azure was at peace, she felt as if she was missing something. Some memory begging to be let out of its prison. "Do you like it, Azure?" Angel asked as she turned back to her friend.
Azure gazed from rose to rose, petal to petal. Mouth agape and all as hey eyes wondered. Taking a deep breath, Azure spoke, "I love it Angel." Azure had little else she could say as she trotted in and started to wander around. The sweet scent of the red and roses was an interesting scent. Perhaps one Azure found an immediate liking for as she tried to find more words to express the scene in front of her. The scent reminded her of something. Something that sort of pained her as she tried to think about it.
Suddenly, her mind went blank as she found herself in a strange place. A small home with a fireplace. She sat by a fireplace with her with her hooves wrapped around her small form. For once though, being in someplace different than she just was didn't worry her. Instead, she felt warm and safe.
"Honey, are you sure that you didn't anger the lord?" A sweet voice of a mare chimed from the background as Azure, a filly right in this memory, tried to stay warm. Her shadow flickering against the stone wall behind her and her body warming with the fire. She had barely even noticed the voice, not that it was one she could recognize the tone or owner of.
Soon a deep voice of a stallion chimed as well, stern as any husband telling their wife off. "For the last time, he doesn't know about the deal. We are safe. Now please go get some rest." The voice demanded, though it turned to a softer voice than the mare. Finally, Azure's attention turned toward a hallway and to a blue and white coated stallion. A dark red and magenta coated mare stood beside him, just barely close enough to kiss his muzzle.
"Where am I now and who are they?" Azure asked herself as something else yet was forcing its way into her mind. Demanding to be known as she scrambled her thoughts. Something felt so familiar about them, but she couldn't place her hoof on it. And just as the small filly stood up to go investigate, a loud banging interrupted her. And the shouts of a stallion made her freeze in place.
"Open thy blasted door this instant or I shall have no mercy on thou!" A stallion screamed from outside, the mare went to scream only for the stallion to shush her with his hoof.
At this point, Azure could at least guess they were married. As far as her knowledge went anyway. "Honey, go take her and make sure she is safe." The stallion commanded in a whisper as he readied himself. His wings tucking tightly against his side as if they were shields. Neither the mare or stallion much time though as a bright flash of red enveloped the room and an explosion shook the house as the red glow faded away. Azure watched, only now realizing how bad she was shaking as she saw the mare running toward, her tears in the wife's eyes.
Azure couldn't have put up a fight if she had wanted to, locked into place with fear as she saw what she figured was the husband's bloody body get thrown down the hall. A single hole in his chest, equal to that of a unicorn's horn, much like her own, except shorter and jagged. The mare picked her up as the stallion turned to look at them, his mouth bleeding as he tried to force it stay down. To no avail as a figure in absolute all black rounded the corner and stomped its hoof down on the stallion's neck. Instantly breaking his neck and killing him.
The mare grabbed the filly tightly and protectively as she darted toward a window and jumped through her. Multiple bits of glass getting into both of their fur and cutting their skin. Azure whimpered loudly as tears formed in her filly eyes. She had truly felt the glass, though it wasn't very much, just a shard. But it got through her skin nonetheless. "Hold on tight honey, I won't let him hurt you!" The mare cried out before picking Azure up by the scruff and taking off again.
Azure wanted to ask so many things, but her mouth wouldn't budge this time around. It was a full memory, not just a vision for once. Not just something where she had partial control, she was watching and feeling everything as well as hearing it. The stallion's bloody corpse lingered in her mind as a remainder. She felt awful, but it wasn't the most important thing. She was far more worried about where the mare was going in the cold and dark woods. Azure could barely see anything, aside from her carrier's hooves as she stomped the ground powerfully to get away.
A cruel dark laugh echoed through the night as the mare yelped and fell over. "Did you really think you had a chance!" The voice screamed out, causing both the mare and filly Azure to falter and stay still. The mare rubbed her hind leg, perhaps she had shot it out during the run. Not that Azure could see the house, maybe they were far enough away? Azure prayed for it, but when was her luck any good? Never, that's when. Her eyes locked with grown mare as tears fell from both of their eyes.
Azure felt to hooves wrap around and lift her up as the mare watched from the ground. "No, no, no!" The mare shouted as Azure squirmed and shivered in the cold grasp. "Please not her, let her live. We were the bad ponies who failed your rule, she can do bett-" The mare tried to plead as Azure's captor growled and tightened his grip. The mare looked with a now tear stained muzzle, her eyes pleading just for the captor to put the filly down.
"Maybe she can be useful, but all must learn and suffer!" The deep voice stallion shouted into the ears of Azure who whimpered instantly and looked at the scared, tear stained mare. Azure felt herself being lifted up with the hooves and she gulped as she shivered more and more in the cold air.
The mare took a deep breath. "Do whatever you want, but my daughter doesn't have to suffer for me and my husband. Please show her mercy, for she cannot have done anything." The mare began to shake as she watched her filly. But her pleads fell on silent ears as Azure was hurled at the ground. She rolled on the cold hard ground and yelped loudly as a crack was heard. She landed in just the right way to look at her mother as she tried to regain her breath.
Her mother's face fell greatly, but some hope remained in her eyes. Azure watched, in both pain from the throw and cold as whomever it was shoved their glowing horn into her mother's throat. Azure screamed, "No momma! Why!" The stallion laughed as her mother was frozen in place, mouth agape in agony as blood poured out from it. It all clicked into place for Azure. When she had woken up, this must have the last thing she could remember. It had to be. Just hidden behind something else, but why?
"Let this be a lesson young one, if you dare go against me in the future. The same will fall on you. Except, I will make you scream in agony for days on end until you can't scream no more!" The dark stallion screamed at her as his horn dripped with the blood of her mother. She wished she could say something, but her vison was starting to blacken as the stallion began to trot away. Her breath cough in her throat as she blacked out in the dark and ever so cold night, left to die.
Azure felt somepony shaking her as she gasped, taking in as much air as she could. She looked all around frantically, her eyes falling on Angel as she placed a hoof on her head. She felt dizzy and a bit sick. "Angel?" She asked, not sure if she was back yet.
Angel sighed in relief and smiled. "Finally you're awake, I was starting to worry." Angel's voice soothed Azure as her thoughts went blank for a moment. She was back. She was safe. All was well, for the moment. The image of her mother and father haunted her though, she was absolutely powerless to stop it. And who was that stallion? And why all black? Azure groaned and placed her hooves on her head. She was tired of always getting more questions than answers.
Azure took a deep breath and tried to just forget everything she had lived through. Not that it made any difference, the image wouldn't go away. She had a sense of guilt and it certainly plagued her. "What happened Ange?" Azure asked as she got a hold of herself.
"You blacked out again Azure. Perhaps we should take you to the hos-" Azure put her hoof up, dismissing Angel's thought.
"Angel, do you remember back when I said I had seen something that haunted me? Something I couldn't forget or get out my head?" Azure asked and Angel nodded her head, though she looked confused.
"Well of course I remember, but whatever happened before isn't comparing to what I saw." Azure shook her head, as if trying to shake the images away. The single thought of that vile stallion filled her both hate and anger, not to mention fear. The voice was similar to her as well. like from her other visions and or the voice that plagued her mind. Was it the same voice and stallion? If so, then why?
"What did you see, Azure? From both occurrences if you will." Angel's face went from a relieved mare to a worried one in a moment. The white Pegasus eagerly awaiting Azure's answer.
Azure gulped and looked at Angel's eyes. "I saw my parents, Angel. But..." Azure trailed off as Angel tilted her head.