Twilight's Soul Floats Ever Deeper Into Space

Bright flashes blinded Berry, forcing him to close his eyes. ‘What is the meaning of the assault in my eyes?’ Asked Berry. ‘You have my apologies, Berry, of the Vinyard family in Dodge City.’ Said the lavender guard. ‘How do you know me and my family?’ Berry asked the faded lavender guard. The guard mused ‘As I have said to you before leaving Rocky. I have garnered both of your souls.’ Berry reluctantly nodded ‘I see your point… I guess you can see I have a wide array of questions, then?’ The guard nodded ‘I do yes. So feel free to ask them as we watch Rocky wake up and make his way here.’

The guard used his horn to form a magical portal to appear next to them. Berry opened his eyes as the stinging sensation subsided. It was blurry at first but his vision came back slowly, but once they were open and his vision could make out his surroundings he noticed the floor they were standing over was covered in a viscous fluid. ‘What is this brown substance under our hooves?’ He asked. The guard smiled softly ‘Your comrades.’ ‘What do you mean, “My comrades?” Asked Berry cautiously. The guard lit up his horn as he made Berry freeze in place ‘Tundra, Saxe, and Ruby Leaves. They are this waste substance you stand in now.’ The guard scooped up some of the foaming and yet strange congealment, that was made from the blood of Berry's former friends. Berry's eyes widened as the lavender unicorn smeared it onto Berry’s coat. He began to scream out in horror and pain as the semi-liquid began to burn away at his flesh.

‘WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS’ Berry screamed. ‘This is the only way to see her majesty in the flesh. She will show you your fate. I only wish there to be a different way, but I am her guard dog. I must obey and never question… For what it is worth, I am sorry, Berry’ The guard softly began to stroke at Berry’s mane. ‘Hush for now. Your destiny awaits you… No other being is allowed to see what my master, Her Majesty shows you.’ He said as he witnessed Berry’s eyes close. ‘Four have been baptized, one is left. It is almost time, Princess Twilight Sparkle.’ He said as he sat back down on the throne in the room. He watched Rocky as he woke up confused.

‘That’s it, Rocky. You know where you need to go.’ The guard whispered to the floating image. ‘Just one more- Why must it be him? He reminds me of a pony that I have never met but it feels as though I have. Oddly as well, Berry Reminds me of me somehow. How is that to be? I have never met this pony before. How can he remind me of- well me?’ The guard asked himself. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know, Berath.’ Said an oddly familiar voice. ‘How do you know me?’ asked Berath calmly. ‘I am not able to say, yet, I find that we have had a history together. After all, you would not be here this day…’ Said the disembodied voice. Berath stood up ‘Who are you?’ He asked but the voice did not respond in kind.

‘Such strange times I live in.’ He sighed softly ‘I do not wish to linger any further in said times. For they are most feral… Princess, I want you close to me. My longing for your side is most grand. I am afraid I am no longer able to withstand this empty feeling anymore.’ He sat back down on his throne of crystal.

Meanwhile Rocky trotted along the dirt path leading to the great spire of crystal. His heart felt hollow and quite heavy from waking to find no one there with him at the camp. ‘Where did they go?’ He asked the surrounding area. ‘Berry, how could you leave me like this?’ He asked out loud again. Rocky stopped in place for a second and grabbed at his chest fluff before falling to his legs on the dirt path. His body felt as if it were being pushed deeper into the crust of the Earth. ‘O- Ow. My heart stings, and my lungs feel weighted by the air I breathe…’ He said as he struggled to stand back up. ‘I must trudge forward, I know Berry is waiting for me in that spire.’ Rocky picked up his pace again.

‘The time is nigh Princess. Your body shall be made flesh once more.’ Berath said as he manipulated the throne room to move downwards, to the ground floor. ‘Come, Rocky, your fate awaits you.’ He said coldly.
By this time Berry began to wake from his visions of a black expanse of sea. ‘Where am I ?’ He asked dazed. The lavender unicorn trotted over to Berry. ‘You have come back from your audience. Hush, now. You are still groggy I know, this will pass.’ The guard said as he began to move Berry to face the throne room doors. ‘Why must my body hurt?’ Asked Berry weakly. ‘It feels as though my belly wants to burst open.’ He stated. The lavender unicorn smiled softly ‘It too will pass but not yet… Rocky must see it. For he is the very last soul to witness true sorrow. For, her Highness wishes to use that sorrow to fully wake from her slumber.’ The guard happily said.

Berry wanted to interject but as he tried, the throne doors opened wide. Rocky had finally made his way to the spire, as his goddess of the sun commanded him to do. ‘What is the meaning of this?’ Demanded Rocky. ‘Rocky, you have finally come. Just in time as well.’ Said the lavender unicorn. ‘Come, Berry has not much time.’ He gestured for Rocky to move towards Berry.
Cautiously Rocky made his way to berry while keeping an eye on the lavender guard. ‘Rocky, he is right. I do not have much time on this earth.’ Berry tried to chuckle. Rocky moved a hoof closer to Berry's face. ‘Don’t!’ Berry quickly spat out. ‘Don’t touch me. I am diseased, I don’t want you to be infected as well.’ He said with labored breaths.

‘I don’t understand Berry, What do you mean?’ Rocky asked quietly as he began to cry. Berry could only smile in response. But the smile died as his belly began to gurgle violently. ‘Stay back Rocky, p- please.’ Berry struggled to say, but after the air escaped his mouth. His belly blew open with a sizzling splash. Horrified, Rocky jumped back a little. ‘Rocky, I love you. I have always loved you as my brother. I just wish I could confide that in you, way before all of this… Please forgive me.’ Berry struggled to smile as his flesh slowly dripped away from his body.