Chaos + Night Sounds Just Right

Discord sat hunched over the writhing Luna, her screams ringing through the quiet forest. "She won't make it..." He whispered, half to himself. The sobbing Princess at his feet let out another shriek and a vein of rock slowly spread from her already half-stone hind leg. He looked at the stars. "Celestia, please hurry." He begged, for for Luna then for himself.

Luna let out a screech. The pain was unbearable, she wanted it to stop. She let out a low wail, which made Discord go rigid beside her. She felt a light touch of fur on her shoulder, but she couldn't open her eyes to see the expression of pain, sorrow and misery in Discord's eyes.

~~~

Celestia charged through the mud. It sucked at her hooves and splayed all over her hair, but she kept running. Tears were drying and spiking her cheek hair as she ran, her multi-colored mane half-flowing and half-plastered to her shoulders with mud. A fearsome roar sounded behind her and she ran harder, stumbling over branches and slipping on leaves. She fought vainly to open her wings, but they were stuck to her sides with dry mud. She let out a cry as a branch caught her hoof and she fell into the mud. She looked up and saw the Hydra looming over her. One clawed hand raised and 4 sets of teeth flashed in the light. She felt claws tear through her flank and blood spill over her white fur. She let out a shriek, then another as one head darted towards her, fangs gleaming and eyes snapping with triumph.

~~~

Luna's shrieks had subsided to whimpers and the occasional wail of agony. Her legs twitched and her back leg was half-covered in stone and veins are slowly spreading and combining to make grey streaks. She let out a cry as a vein touched another, combining the 2. She writhed and twisted, her soft whimpers becoming weaker.

Discord shushed her, his talon was in a tight fist. "Hurry up Celestia you useless rock." He hissed under his breath. He held Luna's hoof in his paw. "Luna my love, I'm here and I'm not leaving. Please return the favor" He begged, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from his golden eyes and failing miserably.

~~~

Celestia blasted magic, but it failed. She was too weak. The Hydra bore down on her and teeth snapped shut beside her muddy mane. She struggled and felt her wings break free from the dry gunk. She flashed up and faced the 4 headed beast, eyes blazing and teeth bared. "Get out of my way! I'm trying to save your princess, my sister!" She hollered into one of the faces.

The Hydra let out a squeal and ran, it's huge tail and slamming into Celestia. She careened into a tree with a scream and her head connected with the thick trunk. Her form fell limply and hit a branch, her form draped across it, unconscious.

~~~

Luna's leg was almost completely covered now. She was definitely growing weaker, her thrashes more feeble and her whimpers barely audible. She gave one final cry, then slumped into unconsciousness, unbeknownst to her mate stroking her mane and shoulder, holding his tears and never leaving his side.

"I swear by all that is good in this world, I'll be brave for you Luna." He whispered softly, letting a few tears leak from his eyes.

Unknown to him, the only chance at life Luna had was lying unconscious in a tree, only 20 hours left as the mental clock ticked on.