Heirs of Chaos

5 Years Ago

Monsoon, Cheap Trick, and Sho Cadenza all sat on the couch in Glitzy's home, Glitzy herself lying beside the fireplace which Rosetta gazed into. 'She still hasn't said another word,' said Glitzy, 'but she's still in there, I can feel it… I can hope it.'

Cheap Trick bounced a hoof against the edge of the couch. 'It don't make a bloody shred of sense,' he muttered.

'I wish I could be certain how her mental state was inflicted,' noted Sho, 'She is in some altered state of consciousness, but without knowing if it was from the trauma of whatever incident caused this or a direct effect of the transformation, I can't figure anything else out.'

Monsoon stroked his hoof against Sho's back, saying, 'You can take a break from that research. I can tell when you're wearing yourself thin.'

'But I don't have a single lead on what's causing this!' Sho protested, 'I can't sit around while Rosetta's like this.'

'Well, if it's a curse, maybe true love's kiss will do the job,' suggested Cheap Trick. Glitzy looked away bashfully.

'I do not see how that could…' she tried to find an excuse, but Cheap Trick's wry grin was overpowering. Sighing, she warily stepped between the fireplace and Rosetta. She carefully lifted Rosetta's chin, then brought her beak to Rosetta's lips.

'Yo, Cheap Trick, pass the popcorn,' snarked Monsoon.

Glitzy released Rosetta from her embrace, panting. She looked into Rosetta's eyes, and Rosetta smiled. 'Oh, Glitzy, I had the most horrid dream,' said Rosetta. Glitzy lunged into a hug, crying. 'Is something wrong, dear?'

'So it was magic; all those psych books for nothing,' muttered Sho.

'Just forget it, forget all about it, Rosy,' told Glitzy.

'I am truly sorry, but she does need to remember,' said Monsoon, 'Rosetta, there was no dream; think, where were you?'

The Week Prior

Rosetta sipped her mug of hot chocolate, staring blankly between the Prench manuscript and her half blank paper. She hated to admit it, but even after eight years of living up north, the chill of winter still slowed her work. She drank the last drops, and left her desk to check the kitchen. As she opened each cabinet, it became disappointingly clear she was out of any more packets.

Sighing dejectedly, she grabbed her checkbook and scarf, and trotted outside. In the dead of night, she would have to search further into the town for an open corner shop. She recalled one at the intersection of Grover and Eighth, the former street already an extension of the road she took into town.

As she made her way along Grover Street, Rosetta felt a different sort of chill. A dry frost grew within her, and she nervously checked each alley she passed. She could not see anypony, yet somehow knew she was being watched. All she could do was trot faster, then soon, she broke into a run. She saw Eighth street ahead, and pushed her run into a sprint.

She nearly tore open the door to the store. Panting, she pressed herself against the wall, pulling loose her scarf. Sighing, she paced along the shelves, looking for the boxes of hot drink packets. She found the aisle containing her objective. She sifted past the teas and coffees, until she finally found the mix for the sweet nectar of dark hot chocolate.

When Rosetta turned to the counter, she tried to prod the clerk, who appeared asleep. Irritated at his unresponsiveness, she shook the clerk, who fell from leaning on the counter, revealing a wide, bleeding tear in his underbelly. She backed away, shocked, into the soft shelf behind her.

Wait, shelves aren't soft.

'You really must be more mindful of your surroundings,' said the not-shelf, 'I was worried I hadn't muffled his screams well enough, yet you with your… chocolate addiction didn't even notice.'

'What do you want from me?' pleaded Rosetta, turning around towards the voice. A night blue thestral mare towered over her. Her sharp grey eyes burned into Rosetta, and her wispy, lavender mane nearly entranced her.

'My brethren have not had any luck testing on the bottom of the barrel drunkards or homeless, so we needed somepony healthy.' The bat pony unveiled a small ruby gem, intricately carved in a cratered ball. 'Rejoice! Soon you shall be clean in the image of Nightmare Moon!'

The moment the moon-shaped gemstone touched her, Rosetta, dropping her scarf, gagged in immeasurable sensations. Feathers shriveled and fell, her wingbones expanding, contracting, reforming to a grotesque mockery of a hand, skin connecting in a thin membrane. Her teeth grew sharp from flat. Her bloodshot eyes thinned to slits.

'Now, speak,' urged the thestral. Rosetta only mewled, then yelped as a hoof firmly slapped her muzzle. 'Another failure, I was hoping we could move to trying on earth ponies soon, but it appears not.'

Rosetta was alone, her attacker gone in the newly bright night. She stumbled out of the corner store, shielding her eyes against the brightness of the moon. She wasn't sure how long, how far, how lost she went, but one thought pierced her mind:

Glitzy.

In front of her was a house, then in front of the house was her. This house was familiar, this house was good, this house was Glitzy's. Rosetta stamped her hoof on the door.

The door opened. A good form on the other side rubbed her eyes, saying, 'Rosetta? Izzat you?' Rosetta outstretched a hoof, but Glitzy shooed it away. 'What! You aren't Rosetta!'

I'm not Rosetta?

If I am not Rosetta…

Then I am nothing.

She couldn't handle that, she brought herself closer towards Glitzy, but Glitzy slammed the door. She was still in the way so Glitzy swiped her talons over her face, and the door shut.

Glitzy does not want me- Glitzy hates me- I am truly nothing.

The nothing tarried at Glitzy's door for a minute, for three minutes, for thirty minutes, till the sun- the bright, blinding, painful sun- peeked through the horizon. Past the bothersome winter sun, there was something else.

I hunger- but I am nothing. If I ate, would I be nothing no longer, for I would be full?

The hungered nothing shambled away, aimless. Once, a tree lay in her way, covered in pears. As she left, full, the tree lay surrounded by dried pears.

She lived as such for the space of a week, until her search for a fruit tree was stopped by two blueish griffons. They spoke to her, but it did not matter. They threatened her, but it did not matter. They beat her down.

Suddenly, it mattered- Glitzy stood over her and said it mattered.

'Ngh- I… can you forgive me?' pleaded Glitzy, hearing the account of her reaction last week. Rosetta placed a hoof on her shoulder, then the other, embracing her again.

'Can you still love me?' asked Rosetta.

'Always. Always forever and evermore!'

'Then you have your answer, but I might just have to show you these fangs.'

Sho Cadenza tugged at the hood of his cloak, announcing, 'So we have our lead, a gem fashioned in resemblance to the blood moon.'