The Abyssal Requiem

Flurry Heart followed after the medical team as they hauled Shining Armor over to the infirmary. She was filled with worry after seeing the damage done to him and he’s hardly even begun to suffer. But even with all that said, he was still breathing, albeit shallowly. Upon arriving at the infirmary, Shining Armor was brought into the medical and Flurry Heart was blocked off from entering.

“Let me in! I want to see my daddy!” Flurry Heart begged, trying to let herself.

“We understand, Your Highness. But your daddy is in critical condition and if you want to see him again, you need to let us do our job.” the surgeon doctor said.

“But I don’t understand what happened! Where’s mommy? I need to see her!” Flurry Heart demanded, trying to figure out where Cadance was.

“We don’t know, princess. She was already gone by the time we arrived here. But right now, we need to focus on your father. So please wait until we are finished. Good day.” the surgeon doctor said before closing the door.

Flurry Heart was stunned by everything that has happened to her today. First, she was taken back to the castle without knowing why. Then she was yelled at for no reason other than leaving her room. Now she figures out that her father might be dying. And to add insult to injury, her mother is now missing. At this point for Flurry Heart, life couldn’t get any worse than it has now.

“Your Highness!” a voice shouted.

Flurry Heart raised her head and saw Starlight, running over to her along with Tempest and Sunset. Stopping right where she is, Tempest looks right at the princess and checks to see if there was any damage done to her, much to Flurry Heart’s dismay. When she was finished, Tempest said in a serious tone,

“I thought I told you to wait until either me or Apple Bloom returned to your room. Did you know how much that hurt me? To see my niece gallivanting off without my knowledge of your whereabouts? I had to send out the entire guards to search for you! Why couldn’t-!”

“That’s enough, Tempest. Flurry Heart is already hurting from her missing mother. We don’t need to drive the knife even further.” Apple Bloom said, coming to Flurry Heart’s defense.

Having heard this, Tempest ceased her little tirade on Flurry Heart and proceeded to hug her as tightly as she could.

“I’m so sorry for the way I treated you earlier. I was only trying to protect you and everypony was so busy trying to find the kidnapper who took your mother that we just lost focus. Losing you would’ve been the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Tempest said, feeling remorse for her previous actions.

While Flurry Heart felt slight relief filling her body after hearing Tempest’s apology, it still didn’t account for Cadance’s disappearance and she wanted to know where she was. Even if it meant having to leave the castle to find her.

“Aunty Tempest? Do you know where mommy is?” Flurry Heart asked.

“I don’t know. Although I have a pretty good idea of where she’s being held…” Tempest answered as she turned the other direction.

“What do you mean?” Flurry Heart asked, beginning to suspect what Tempest was thinking.

“Apple Bloom, keep watch on Flurry Heart until we return. We have some hunting to do.” Tempest said as she and Sunset followed suit.

“Wait! Take me with you, Aunty Tempest! I need to find my mommy!” Flurry Heart demanded.

“I am afraid that is out of the question, Your Highness. If you come with us, your life will be in even more danger than you were already in.” Tempest said in a serious tone.

“But my mommy is out there! What good is a princess if she can’t find her mommy?” Flurry Heart said in a tearful manner.

“No, Flurry Heart! This is bigger than you! If you join us, we will lose not just a princess, but the entire kingdom! Do you want that weighing on your conscience?” Tempest shouted once more.

Flurry Heart stood back from hearing Aunty Tempest’s yell and felt herself ready to cry once more. Seeing what she has done once again, Tempest goes forward and lifts Flurry Heart’s chin up.

“I’m sorry for the way I’ve been treating you, but this is something that we have to do. And after seeing you leave your room without permission, you destroyed the trust that I placed in you.” Tempest said.

“But leaving the room wasn’t my idea! It was Cozy’s!” Flurry Heart said, trying to defend herself.

“It doesn’t matter if it was Cozy Glow’s idea or yours. The fact of the matter is that you left your room without my knowledge and you exploited whatever trust I had in you.

Hearing that armor-piercing counterargument, Flurry Heart lowered her head in shame.

“I’m sorry Flurry Heart, but you can’t join us.” Tempest regretfully said before leaving the medical section.

But as they walked away, they didn’t hear a word out of Flurry Heart’s mouth. It was like they fired a bolt into her heart. Tempest felt a mixture of emotions fly around in her body as she reflected on what she said to Flurry Heart back in the medical area.

“Are you feeling okay?” Sunset asked, feeling concerned for the guilty unicorn.

“I’m fine. Just worried about what will happen to Cadance is all.” Tempest said, trying to shake off the feeling of remorse.

“I’m worried too.” Starlight said with a heavy heart.

That feeling hit Tempest like a runaway carriage with barrels. But even with all that, she needed to focus on the task at hand. Whether it was trying to search for Cadance or capturing Cozy Glow, one thing was certain; another threat was coming and it could be much bigger than the Abyssal Invasion. And they needed to find the Queen before it was too late.

. . .

Meanwhile in the Everfree Forest, Cozy Glow was walking through the thick bushes while evading capture from the guards. She was angry that her chance to capture Flurry Heart slipped through her hooves, but she was content to see that Cadance was in her clutches and ready to begin her ceremony. Having made her way back into the cave, she was greeted by various members of the Abyssal Kingdom.

“Hello everybody~. I have a gift for all of you~.” Cozy Glow said with a sinister grin as she lifted Cadance out of the Ooze.