lost Tether

Two ponies lay on their backs as they gazed upon the blue sky, through a nearby trees canopy. The levees and branches swayed ever so gently from the light breeze, as it blew across the lazy grass around the two. It felt nice to feel the warmth of the sun through the shade of the tree, and to feel the breeze make its way through their coats. It helped them to feel normal once again… Normal, what was that feeling again? The two had their version of that feeling (as do many of us) but for them. Normal was a never-ending stream of what felt like, cosmic decisions that needed to be made.

But for now, normal was a light breeze that blew over their snouts. Tickling them ever so gently to not make them sneeze. Or the feeling of warmth that the sun bestowed upon their tummies as they lay down and had them bare upward to greet the sun’s rays. Normal was peace, and quiet. It was the soothing sounds of the rustling leaves on the branches above them or the tickling scritch of the bladed grass underneath them.
It was their nirvana, their paradise. A paradise that was overdue. They were owed this by the powers that ruled, for they were the only two to shred their souls away. Grated their very beings to save the vestiges of what was left of their bodies, for parts were ripped from their flesh. They were eaten or flayed, pulled, or exsanguinated, yet they lay here. In this place, alive and well, and happy. But I must ask, how long will that last?

‘May, I ask a personal question?’ The umber pony looked toward the periwinkle one. ‘Please, by all means. Ask away!’ Smiled the periwinkle one. Silence managed to make its way between them for a time but before long the umber coat spoke up. ‘I know this must be a silly question for me to ask, but… Um, do you think we. are able to claim this peace?’ But before the periwinkle pony could answer they were cut off. ‘I-I mean, we have committed some of the most infernal actions against a most powerful, and a most “Holy” being. C-can you live with that? Because I can’t, I don’t feel worthy to be here, to be with you. To be alive. I-i…’ Umber asked as he sat up to his bottom and stared longingly out passed the tree and into the emerald-green sea of grass.
Periwinkle rolled over to its side pondering the question. ‘I must say my dear friend. Your question has given me quite the sound wall in which I am unable to break through. May I ask, you a personal question?’

Periwinkle rolled back over to garner umber’s reaction when he asked the question, but he was met with soft sobs. Umber was frantically trying to wipe its hooves over its chest fur. Trying to scrub away something. ‘My friend, is something ailing you?’ Periwinkle placed a hoof on umber’s shoulder. Umber instantly pulled away from Periwinkle from shock and revulsion. ‘It’s not coming off. It’s on my hooves. No matter how hard I try, they are not getting clean. I wipe them on my chest and my chest does not smear with it. I wipe them in the dirt and dirt does not stick to it…’ Umber began to cry ‘Why can’t I clean them Berath? Why?’ Berath, the periwinkle unicorn could only look toward Amber in shock. Amber's right eye began to secrete a black liquid from its socket. The eye looked to be filled with the stuff but after a bit of time, it slowly drained itself out dry. ‘No, please not again.’ Berath quickly rushed over to Amber and wrapped him tightly in a hug. ‘Hush, it is going to be ok. We are going to be ok, Amber.’ He softly brushed Amber's mane backward. ‘Amber, do you remember the time we went to that place? Ah, what was it called? Um, hmm. There were fields aplenty with them, there were legions of them. What was its name?’ Berath kissed Ambers's crown softly. ‘It was the royal gardens. They had all of my favorite flowers there. Hydrangeas, the purple ones. They smell the best.’ Amber's crying died down to a whimper, and then eventually, Amber went quiet again but he was snuggling up to Berath’s chest. Placing his ear to hear his friend's heartbeat. ‘There you are, Amber. Relaxed and safe… I wish those nightmarish sights were not seen by your eyes. Your eyes should only see the wonders of the universe and thereafter. Not plagued by visions set forth by those who can not claim you no longer. Sleep tight my dear, dear friend. You deserve a peaceful sleep, at the very least.’

And with that, ends one of many memories, that The Virulent King would remember.