Storm of Feelings

< The Lesser Ones… pitiful creatures of a long forgotten age. How many ponies can claim, to know something about the colts and stallions, who sacrificed everything for the greater good? Long before the first Alicorns have been created, the Draconequis were the first inhabitants of our world. The duty of maintaining order has been given to them, but something unexplainable happened, and the Draconequis have been corrupted.

Soon after that the first Alicorns put step on Earth. They tried everything in their power, to free the once peaceful race of the filthy corruption: nothing helped. Once it was sure that they were lost, a bloody war has been unleashed between the two major races, decimating their numbers on both sides. The Alicorns were at the edge of extinction, while the Draconequis refilled their numbers due the better fertility.

Everything seemed to be lost, but something unexpected occurred in the darkest hour. During the long bloody struggle, many Alicorns died because they have been infected with the corrupted blood, but one young Alicorn did not die. His body and organism adapted, in the end mutating him into the first known Lesser One: The slayer of the Brood Mother.

At this point the old scrolls end. With the death of the Brood Mother, the Draconequus race lost their so called *Hive mind*, what in the end brought forth their inevitable annihilation. It is not certain how the things really looked like back then, but it is sure that without the first Lesser One, the pony race would have never raise out of the ashes of the old world. During the big hunt new individual Lesser Ones have been born, and under the leadership of the first of their kin, they nearly completely eradicated the Draconequis.

After it the Alicorns started to rebuild the destroyed world, and once everything was ready, the first ponies have been created. Peace was at hand but once more it was threaten, threaten by the long gone Draconequus corruption. It turned out that not only the Alicorns could survive it: the local fauna, flora and even some ponies have been mutated. While the ponies remained intelligent creatures, the animals turned into mindless abominations, monsters that had to be put down.

During the last centuries the most monsters died out, but eventually even the Lesser Ones faced a new problem. Their offspring started to mutate even more. The mares were way too afraid to mate with the Lesser Ones, what in the end nearly ended their existence. The corrupted gens remained in the new generations of ponies, what in the end secured their survival. It is not sure how many Lesser Ones are still alive, but one thing is certain: for more than five thousand years no Alicorns showed signs of the old heritage.

Let’s change the topic and talk about the mutation. First of all, it has sharpened the senses of the individual, who has survived the torture of the mutation. They have a very sensitive smelling sense, can hear things where our ears are failing, they can see in the dark and they possess extremely fast reflexes. The most fascinating thing, at least in my opinion, is their very strong immune system.

It granted them some resistance against poison and diseases of any kind. Each mutation changes the color of their fur into a pure black; surprisingly it is not the only thing that has been changed. Like the Draconequis they evolved fire immunity, what was a main key to survive a fight against a Draconequus. In all, they have earned the abilities of a dead race, but for what price?

As I already mentioned it before, during the last centuries the mutation has evolved, taking them their fertility, the ability of showing feelings and remorse. In the end, the mutation killed everything inside of them that could have been considered a pony. Till this day no cure has been found, and it seems like it will never be found at all.

How can somepony recognize if he or she deals with a Lesser One?

First of all a Lesser One does not have a Cutie Mark, for an unknown reason, but the most noticeable thing about them are their eyes. The missing irises confirm their true identity, besides that if you would encounter a mutated Pegasi, you would notice that they do not have feathery wings. Instead of that they have bat or dragon like wings.

The once humble Lesser Ones are now merely shadows of far greater ponies.

After the devastating sprawl of the Black Death in Equestria, many ponies started falsely to accuse the Alicorns as the creators of the Lesser Ones, while the Lesser Ones have been accused as the spreader of the disease. I can assure you, in the name of my former teacher, that this is not the case. >

Forgotten Ages – Star Swirl the Younger

The sound of the horn once more ripped through the air, while Bronze Lute and I ran towards the trade district. The smoke of the burning Town Hall was already visible, after we’ve left the building. Three small fire brigades were fighting against the fire, but the water seemed not to affect it at all. It was not a natural fire. Not far away I spotted the governor, who was holding back a mare that was crying and yelling at him.

‘’ Our girl is still in there! Let me go! ‘’

‘’ We can’t do anything! Calm down woman! ‘’ His wife cried out painfully and cradle against him. Bronze Lute watched the burning Town Hall with wide open eyes. Once he looked at me, I realized that he had exactly the same thoughts as I did. Quickly I took of my attire, what caused a small outrage behind me, and without any hesitation I charged towards the burning building. The world around me has been shrouded by fire and smoke.

It took some time, till I finally manage to catch up with the stallions. While I was still running towards them, I saw that Corvus started to take off his attire. Right away I knew what he was about to do. I yelled at him, but it was already too late. He jumped into the burning building, ignoring the firefighters who tried to stop him. I was about to run after him, but Bronze Lute stopped me:

‘’ Where do you think you’re going your highness? ‘’

‘’ Out of my way Bronze Lute! We have to help him!’’

‘’ If we put ourselves in danger, we will not help him at all! Corvus knows what must be done, but he has to do it on his own! ‘’

Even if my heart did not agree with the bard, I knew that he was right. With a painful feeling in my chest, I watched how a firefighter tried to enter the building with a special uniform. The fire burned through the uniform like it would be made out of paper, the pony inside barely got out alive. The fire was not natural, what only increased my growing fear for Corvus.

I ran directly thought the fire, ignoring its presence that was barely noticeable for me. Though the fire was not affecting me at all, the building itself became a deadly trap. Several solid wooden bars nearly fell down on me: my time was slowly running out. With a spell I’ve learned in Canterlot, I checked if there was a living life form in this section. No trace of life was here, nor did a corpse have been revealed.

Avoiding everything that was in the way, I ran up the stairs. Once I was on the second floor a wild chase against the fire started. The rather enormous building structure did not help at all, door after door I checked after the girl, or at least for her remains. My search was fruitless; the fire grew stronger while my hope for the girl’s survival rapidly fell down. Then I saw it! On the other side of the wall, a cloud like thing revealed its presence.

The still active spell showed me, that the girl was still alive but surprisingly she was not alone. A body slam opened the door, and I found myself in the ruins of a former child room. The life forms were hidden in a wardrobe; a weak energy field was protecting it from the flames and smoke. Carefully I went through the field and open the wardrobe. Cradled tightly against a Unicorn mare, I saw small Earth Pony female: probably the daughter of the governor.

‘’ We have to leave this building immediately! ‘’ I shouted as loud as I could.

‘’ The fire will kill us! ‘’ Yelled the mare back at me. Somehow she was surprisingly familiar…

‘’ I can protect you from the fire! We do not have much time! ‘’

The mare nod at me and stood up, holding the girl with her magic. I was aware of her fear for her life and the life of the girl, with my own magic I levitated her at my back, and shrouded them with my wings. Slowed down by the extra weight, I ran as fast as possible towards the stairs, only to find out that the lower floor was already completely on fire. The tongues of the flames were reaching after everything like a greedy child, I could have survived the trip, but the females would perish if I would do so.  A curse echoed in my mind, while I searched for an alternative way out.

‘’ Where is the balcony!?’’ I shouted and move away from the blazing stairs.

‘’ Third door on the left… hurry I can barely breath… ‘’

Right away I ran towards the door, followed by the flames, which was acting like a living creature, burning everything in its path. With a might kick I open the door and entered it. It seemed like I was at the governor’s office. Behind a solid table there was a door that was made out of glass, leading out to the balcony. There was simply no other choice… though I was aware that once I would open the door, I would unleash a fiery inferno. I took a deep breath, passed the solid table and jumped right through the door.

The time passed slowly, while the relentless fire spread and spread all over the building. Several times I tried to simply run towards the building, but Bronze Lute was very persistent and surprisingly strong for his small posture. One of the firefighters yelled something to his comrades, pointing at the big balcony of the burning town hall. Even if I had my distance I could see a silhouette fleeing from the flames.

I recognized Corvus and gasp loudly, once a mighty blast went out of the building, only few inches away from him. With special ladders the firefighters tried to reach after him, one out of three has come in contact with the fire from the lower section, and started to bend nearly right away. The situation did not look good.

I ran towards a place where the flames did not reach yet, leaving a trail of blood that was dripping out of my injured wing. With a curse on my lips I suppressed a moan, and came closer to the crash barrier. While the ponies below me placed their devices on strategic good points, I open my wings a bit, levitated the filly through the air right into the hooves of a firefighter. The crowds that were watching the entire situation cheered loudly.

I was about to levitate the mare towards the ground, but I felt how something heavy crashed right on my left back leg, burring me under it. I cried out of pain, what nearly caused a fatal fall for the mare; luckily I did not lose the connection with her. Once she was on solid ground, the fight for my own life started. Once more the barely noticeable shine appeared at the edges of my horn; I lifted the part of the roof that fell down on my leg and threw it away from me. Not able to stand up I tried to lean over the crash barrier.

‘’ Corvus! ‘’

I heard Luna screaming at me. She ran towards the building, followed by Bronze Lute who did not manage to hold her back. Then it happened… my instincts assumed direct control over my body.

‘’ No… not now… ‘’

I ran as fast as possible, ignoring the ponies who were trying to stop me. A needle went through my heart, once I heard his painful cry and saw his desperate fight for his life. I felt that something grabbed my back leg. While I was falling down to the ground, I cursed the bard for his interference. Corvus looked at us from above with a terribly tense posture, his ears went, and if I was not wrong he even smiled at me.

A terribly loud sound of breaking wood, crumbling rocks went through the air. The lower part of the building exploded from the inside, hurling unidentified burning objects in all directions.  Instinctively I protected my head with my hooves, while I look back at Corvus who was right now watching the roof. The building overturned, collapsed with a thundering sound, burying my heart alive.

‘’ Corvus…! ‘’ Nopony could hear my yell. A dust cloud shrouded everything, but the unnatural fire was still visible through the thick walls of dust. I felt magic in the air. A wide open mouth descent from the skies and hit the burning ruins of the Town Hall. The fire has been extinguished nearly instantly, while a strong magical blow removed the dust. On the other side of the streets I noticed Artemis, pointing at the building with his lifted hoof.

With growing fear I stood up and ran towards the remains of the Town Hall. Completely disoriented, with the feeling of emptiness and loneliness I tried to find the place, where Corvus might have been buried alive.

‘’ For goodness sake, please be alive! ‘’ I thought and started to levitate big parts of the Town Hall, throwing them away, without caring for ponies that might be behind me. I heard a crumbling sound nearby. A big pile of rocks and wooden bars was moving up and down. Without hesitation I was about to go there, but something drip out through small cracks on its own. A dark fog flew high into the sky, slowly materializing its form into a shape of an Alicorn. It was Corvus.

Before everything has been shrouded with the parts of the collapsing building, I lost the control over my body and darkness took me my sight. There was only silence. I was not sure how long I remained in that state, but I felt that some kind of magical energy hit against my spirit. The silence has been ripped apart by a sound, which reminded me of an incredible strong wind blow.

My sight came back and I found myself high in the air. I panicked first, because the world has been put upside down. The first logical and probably instinctive reaction was to open my wings. But with my bad luck I forgot that my left wing was injured, and with a loud groan I pulled it back on its place. With one remaining wing, I desperately tried to slow down the incredible speed of my fall.

The ground came closer and closer while I made peace with the inevitable. One, two, three, four, five… only five times I managed to swing with the wing. My body tensed nearly to its limits, before I reached the roof of a building. My heart stopped to beat before I hit against the hard bricks. The air has been completely pushed out of my lungs; I did not even have the time to moan. I was rolling down the roof till I reached its end; the world has been put upside down again, while I saw how the paved ground came closer and closer.

I managed to control my fall a little bit; I fell on my side with an incredible loud bash. My eyes open widly, a strange sound went through my closed teeth, before I lost my consciousness and the world has been shrouded by a dark cloak.

Beep… beep… beep

‘’ … ‘’

Beep… beep… beep

The incessant beeping continued, causing an incredible headache. With big effort I open my eyes, only to get blinded by a bright light source. My head was pounding; I could feel how a stinging pain went through nearly each part of my body. While I tried to realize where I was the annoying yet familiar beeping continued.

Beep… beep… beep

I was about to rub my temple with my hoof, but once I was about to lift it, I felt that something was bound to my wrist. My eyes were still sensitized, while I take a look at my wrist, but once I got used to the light, I saw that some sort of belt was attached to me. The eyes open wide, my heart started to beat with an incredible speed.

Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep

I fought against my bounds with all the strength I still had in my decimated body. It did not take long till the belt ripped apart. With an extreme effort I managed to get into a sitting position. It was clear that I was in a hospital. The beeping, the silly white hospital attire and cabe… All sorts of cables, patches were attached to me. Something was implanted directly into my veins, but the most disgusting thing was the device in my nose. Right away I started to rip everything off me, till I was completely free of anything that was not welcomed inside my body.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I grabbed my head and groan loudly. A door has been opened and two nurses enter the room.

‘’ Stay… stay away from me!’’ I yelled at them. The nurses noticed that my horn was glowing; they stopped and took a few steps back.

‘’ Please calm down good sir! You are in a very bad condition; stress will only make things worse! ‘’ Said the younger looking nurse. I noticed that she had a horn coming out of her forehead.

‘’ We only want to help but you have to cooperate with us. ‘’

‘’ You don’t understand… ‘’ I was breathing heavily. ‘’ The only thing… that can help me… ‘’ I groaned loudly and cough without any control. Small blood drops appeared on the white quilt, the entire situation was worse than I thought.

‘’ Sister! He needs an extra dose right now!’’

Electric energy went out of my horn and moved along the body for a moment.

‘’ STAY AWAY FROM ME! ‘’ I did not remember when I had this state the last time… but I knew that any kind of medicine would be deadly for me right now.

‘’ What is going on?!’’ My ears went up once I heard her voice. Luna ran into the room and gasp loudly at my sight.

‘’ Corvus what are you doing!? ‘’

A slight blood line ran down my cheek, gladly my black fur did not reveal it to the ponies.

‘’ Luna listen carefully… Go back to our apartment and bring my casket… make haste. ‘’ I coughed a big amount of blood.

She was about to say something, but she nod at me, and with an impressive speed she ran out of the room.

‘’ And you two… don’t give me anything until the Princess will come back… ‘’

‘’ Please… at least allow me to attach you to the heart monitor. ‘’

‘’ Okay… ‘’

With noticeable hesitation, the mare did what she has asked for, without any interference from my side.

‘’ I want to be alone… ‘’

The nurses nod at me and were about to leave the room:

‘’ Thank you… for everything… ‘’

‘’ We only do our duty sir. ‘’

The door closed behind them. I let out a very long sigh and lie down on my back, listening to the beeping of the monitor. Somepony knocked on the door three times.

‘’ I kindly asked to be left alone.’’ I said with a rather annoyed tone. The pony on the other side ignored it though and entered the room.

‘’ Are you deaf? I… ‘’ I stopped to talk once I saw who was moving towards me.

Bepbepbepbepbepbepbepbep

‘’ Did you lose any kind of dignity? How dare you to face me…’’

‘’ It is nice to see you again… big brother… ‘’ Said Artemis while he reached my bed.

The well known turquoise glow surrounded his horn, what closed the door that has been left open.