Twilight's vision started coming back, along with her a few other senses.
In the distance shouted a voice. "Whoah, there!"
Twilight could now manage to barely open her eyes and listen. However, she couldn't "feel" anything, per say. She tried raising a hoof, but a spike of pain jolted down her forearm and into her spine, shaking her to the core.
Now all she could feel was pain. A screaming, agonizing, pain. It came from the top of her head and pulsed down her neck into her back. It was kind of electric. But it also felt like a burn.
She tried to scream, but all that came out was a few gargles.
Whatever was in the distance was getting closer. Deep in the recesses of her mind Twilight could feel the vibrations. It was four legged. A start.
The creature looked over Twilight's limp body with a weary look.
"You okay there, stranger?" It asked, revealing that it was just a colt.
Twilight bent her spine upwards, forcing the pain down and sat up to face the colt in the eye. She shook her head.
"Well, I'm Matterhorn. Equestria's finest cow wrangler. But enough chat, you look pretty beat up. Can you walk?"
Twilight threw her two front hooves in front of her and willed her body to stand up. But, she fell flat on her face. She tried to grunt in distress, but she could only get out a muffled "Mpph, mph!"
Matterhorn nodded with concern and used his magic to levitate Twilight onto his back.
"I'll get you to Dr. Redlung, our plantation's doctor. Just sit tight, ya' hear?"
All Twilight Sparkle could do to respond was shiver.
The fast run to Matterhorn's farm was a long and bumpy one. Every bump sending sparks of pain through each of Twilight's bones. Her wings had it worst though. Each one felt as if it was slowly being ripped off by some strong, merciless, giant.
As soon as Matterhorn got home he ran into Redlung's office, plopping Twilight down on the operating bench before Redlung could even question anything.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What is this?" Redlung shouted, stomping her hooves.
"Ah' found her in the desert! She can't walk, she can't talk, and she can't move!"
Redlung nodded. She moved closer to Twilight's body as she carefully used magic to guide ten needles into her for an IV. As she was eyeing Twilight she noticed something. Beneath her leather catsuit there was a purple light pulsating.
"Out! Get her OUT!" Redlung shouted, immediately ripping the IV needles from Twilight's hooves.
"What in sam-hell has gotten into you, Red?" Matterhorn asked, stomping.
"She's a Wielder! I could get killed for treating for her!"
Matterhorn stiffened his expression and got in Redlung's face.
"So that won't happen..."
Redlung grunted, levitating the IV back. "Get the gas"
Matterhorn nodded, getting an anesthesia mask off of a shelf, applying it to Twilight's face.
"What can you tell about her condition? Will she die?"
"No. Wielder's never die..." Redlung replied, cutting into to Twilight's neck, spewing blood everywhere. "But they come pretty damn close!"
The blood fountain came to a sudden stop as Redlung levitated gauze over her patient's wound.
"What are you doing?" Matterhorn shouted.
"We've gotta drain the aura from her body. It'll kill her and then we can resuscitate"
Twilight wanted to object to this, but soon everything faded to black as she felt herself slip away.
Just when she thought it was all over... A sudden shock reverberated through her rib cage, shaking her awake.
Voices could be heard in the background.
"Pour the bag in! Pour the bag in!"
"Where? Where?!"
"There, moron! Right there!"
Twilight could feel a liquid flowing through her neck. She felt a rush. It wasn't adrenaline. It was something much more.
Something deadly but beautiful. Something that ended the universe.... Then nothing.
"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
The sun came through the cabin window and directly onto Twilight Sparkle's throbbing head, heating up the aura flowing through her.
"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
Twilight slowly began to come to, realizing that she wasn't in a desert but in a bed.
"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
Twilight groaned in frustration at the repetitive sound of countless desert birds making noise.
"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
Twilight screamed and extended her hoof towards the window with the birds nest behind it. The nest bundled together in the middle, the birds included, and then shattered into oblivion as it's subatomic structure was ripped in half.
"It's about time!" the mare shouted, throwing her head on the pillow.
A few muffled laughs came from across the room as Twilight gasped.
"Wait! Who are you?" She shouted, leaping up.
The mysterious oldmare cleared her throat. "I'm Old-Lady Matterhorn! Queen-Bee of Matterhorn Plantation! My granddaughter Redlung saved your heinie!"
Twilight sighed. "I guess I should say thanks. I mean, saving a Wielder is risky business"
"What brings one of you 'Wielders' out here anywho?"
Twilight Sparkle looked at the ground. "I'm trying to recover something that I lost..."
"What is it, dearie?"
"I...I don't know"
Old-Lady Matterhorn cocked her head. "Well, err, I'm sure you'll.... remember...?" She replied, trailing off.
Twilight nodded and used some aura to reach into her mind and pull any intel she could out. But, all she got was the word "library".
"Do you have a library anywhere?" She asked, straightening up.
"Well, ah' do have Old-Man Matterhorn's Private Collection..."
"What do I have to do to get in?" Twilight asked, a smile coming to her.
Old-Lady Matterhorn laughed. "It's a family library, honey! Nopony but Matterhorn blood's gettin' in 'der!"
Twilight sighed. "Could Matterhorn check a book out for me?"
"I suppose..."
"Great. I just gotta coax him into-" Twilight started, but got cut off.
"He's out working. Something you should be doin' since we saved your life." Old-Lady Matterhorn said, stiffening up in her rocking chair.
"Fair dues, I suppose. Maybe it'll jog some memories..."
---SOME TIME LATER---
"Here ya' go! The only book in the family collection to mention Wielders. I reckon most 'us normal pony folk don't know much about 'em" Matterhorn said, plopping a hardcover purple book onto the candlelit desk in Twilight's cabin.
"Thanks, Horn" Twilight replied "But I don't know much about Wielders either. I just woke up knowing the name..."
The two stared at each other for a moment before Twilight finally broke the silence. "Let's start, shall we?"
Twilight flipped the cover and it hit the table with a loud boom. The book was ginormous. The title page was missing, but it was easily identifiable as "Starswell's Paranormal" to any avid reader.
"Alright... 'Advanced Magic Powers', Page 343...." Twilight navigated the table of contents with ease and flipped to the page mentioned.
"You don't think there's more of 'em like ya', do you?" Matterhorn asked to pass the time it took to narrow down the correct paragraph.
However, the question caught Twilight off guard, as she stopped reading to look up at him. "I don't know, Horn... I don't know"
"Must be purty lonely, bein' an endangered species 'n all"
"Yeah. Real lonely...." Twilight replied, her voice trailing off "But, let's start reading...."
PAGE 343
Over the course of my vigorous studies, I have found some, but not many, unicorns with powers greater than I. However, they appear to wield the rare "Destruction" Magic rumored to be used by the Dark Lords many years ago. Fortunately for all other ponies, most "Wielders" (If you will) are of the peaceful nature. They pose no threat to Canterlot nor any of its provinces.
"Is this seriously it?" Twilight became frustrated, and began violently flipping the pages. "There has to be more..."
"'Fraid not, Miss Sparkle..."
Twilight looked up at Matterhorn and sighed. "I... I need to know... Where's the closest town?"
Matterhorn put a hoof to his chin and pondered the question. "I reckon that it'd be Buffaloburg. But they don't have too many books there."
"Buffaloburg...? I can't say I've ever heard of that place before"
"Yeah, she's fairly new on the range. Some folk from the Apple family tried to settle it. But 'dem buffaloes ain't pushovers. Pfft. Shows 'dem crop-smashing bastards right if I may say so ma'self"
Twilight looked up at Matterhorn and stared intently at him. "Did you say.... Apple Family?"
"Yeah. Big competitors of us Matterhorns. But they about gone now. Bufflo's picked 'em off real good. Ah' heard only one got out alive... And that she's purty too."
Twilight's jaw went agape. Apploosa belonging to the buffalo? Apple family dead?
Suddenly, memories of another life flashed before Twilight's eyes. Images of nature, apples, and a blonde mare. They all blended together, and when Twilight tried to separate them, her aura drained faster than ever.
After five minutes of hallucinations, rambling, and downright seizures, Twilight came to a conclusion. Whoever that pony was, she was part of the key. The key that hunted her dreams every night and kept her awake. The key that caused so much pain... It was her job to find it. No matter the cost.
"Twilight? Miss Twilight?" Redlung called out, pointing a flash light into Twilight Sparkle's half open eye. "You alright?"
Twilight gargled a bit and spat out some gack.
"Okay... maybe she ain't alright..." Redlung moved down to her neck where aura flowed. She gave it a quick pinch to block the flow and then let go, sending a rush of aura to Twilight's brain.
"Gabbaharebery Twilight mumbled, blinking.
"Oh my goodness, thank Celestia you're alive!" Redlung shouted, hugging Twilight. "Now, can ya' speak?"
Twilight coughed some more before uttering two words: "Apple... Buffaloburg..."
"Dammit, Matterhorn! What in tarnation have you been telling this filly? I thought the Apples weren't to be mentioned again!" Redlung scolded.
"She asked, big sis!" Matterhorn shouted, stomping his left hoof.
"Somethings are family secrets! Like the library, jarhead!"
"She just wants to find more ponies like her! It ain't mah fault that she's lonely!"
Redlung tightened up. "But it will be your fault when she's murdered for thirty pieces of silver!"
"Whatever. I'm takin' this mare to Buffaloberg whether you approve or not!"
Matterhorn picked Twilight up and carried her out of the cabin and let her down on a wagon before setting off.
"You'll get yourselves killed!!" Redlung screamed, trying to protect her family from more bloodshed. "We've seen this too much...."
Author's Note
I think it's a bit of a rough start, but I suck with starts anyway.
Chapter Two: "They Ain't Pushovers"
The journey to Buffaloberg was long and grueling. The whole way it was a constant battle for water, shelter, and food. The heat gleamed upon Matterhorn and Twilight Sparkle mercilessly, as if it were trying to destroy their morale. But, they kept their sights on one goal: Buffaloberg. Twilight had recovered after two days and could thankfully walk again, raising what was left of their spirits.
But, what they found at Buffaloberg was not peace. It was not friendship. It was not memories. It was not... The Key. All that was there was hatred. Pain. Suffering. After being mobbed for what felt like hours, the tribal herd chieftain had ordered the two ponies to death.
They were thrown in ragtag huts to starve before their scalping....
"Well Miss Twilight... We made it" Coughed Matterhorn past dry lips.
Twilight just continued staring at the ground, sitting. Hope was lost to her. The aura markings that once covered her body were now blue, a result of the hunger. She was too weak to fight.
"I guess we could say some things... Seein' how we're on death row 'n all...." Matterhorn suggested socialization, but Twilight wouldn't budge. "Ya' know Miss Twilight... I did kind of fancy you... When were goin' through the desert..."
Twilight looked up at him. Past her sweat and dried tears Matterhorn could tell that she was hurt. She was hungry, hot, and drained. Her life had drained... Her aura was gone.
"I-I guess you are kind of handsome. Compared to those brutes out there..." Twilight said, her voice cracking.
Matterhorn laughed and wiped sweat from his forehead, leaning back.
"It's all about perspective... This whole life thing..." Matterhorn started, weakly. "We sure got it better than anypony in Saddle Arabia... You ever see one of 'dem commercials? The ones with the starvin' kids...."
Twilight nodded, somewhat remembering what life was like before she woke up in the desert all those days ago. Nothing was correct...
Matterhorn sat up and slowly scooted closer to Twilight.
"Maybe Redlung was right... Lil' sis always was right 'bout everythin'"
Twilight sighed. "Why do they have to torture us... They already have us..."
"The buff'lo always were sly..." Matterhorn whimpered behind dry coughs."Must say i admire them... Their the best fighters in this territory, that's for sure."
Twilight's eyes went wide a little. "B-but the books I read said they were normally d-docile..." She said, shaking.
"What kinda books you been readin', bonnet? They've always been this way!"
She looked up at him, but before she could question anything, he interrupted her.
"You know, Miss Twilight... Us country boys are more than purty faces..."
Twilight almost blushed... But she wasn't even strong enough for that.
"Funny... Months ago I would've said 'Not even if you were the last colt on the planet'. But now..." Twilight scooted towards him more as the sunset crept through the holes in the wall. "It's like you are..."
A solitary tear ran down Twilight's eye as the realization that she would die hit her again. Matterhorn quickly acted and embraced her.
The two stayed like that, huddled, for the rest of the night. It was the last night they'd ever be together. The last night they'd ever see another pony. The last night they'd sleep. The last night they'd... live.
The sun rose high and early with the constant beat of tribal drums in the distance, waking Twilight Sparkle and Matterhorn up.
The whole time was awkward and depressing. Neither had to say a word. They knew what was coming by their expressions alone.
Just before noon a large, decorated, buffalo poked his head through the door flap and motioned for others to follow.
Two buffaloes grabbed Matterhorn and carried him away, while the other one barked at the remaining two.
"Keep her alive! The chief wants to speak with her!"
The two buffaloes snorted and made sly remarks like "What's the Chief want with this slime" and "He wants to beat the little pet himself".
After they left, screaming soon followed. It was no doubt Matterhorn. It was a blood curdling scream that Twilight couldn't handle. She tried covering her ears, but the sounds rang in her head. She tried drowning them out with her own cries, but they weren't enough. All she could do was listen to the last colt she'd ever loved get mutilated.
She would've been mad... But she wasn't strong enough.
When the screaming and chanting subsided, the three buffaloes returned to the shack to retrieve Twilight and drag her into the Chief's tent, plopping her down.
"Hmmmm...." The Chief exhaled, sitting low on the ground. "You three may go... Leave the mare..."
The two buffaloes grunted and grudgingly left while the Chief eyed Twilight admiringly.
"A Wielder... On my lands...."
Twilight shivered, wondering what this... monster... would do to her.
"Most of your kind was supposed to be dead... Why are you here? Do you sense what the others did?"
Twilight cleared her throat. "W-what was that...?"
The Chief chuckled. "Can you feel it, Wielder? You do. You know something is off. You know this isn't right. You sense something isn't right in the world."
Twilight nodded, complying with the beast.
"It seems you Wielders are the only ones who can stop this... Tribal legend runs deep in this land...."
The Chief got up and walked to the back of the tent, lifting up a hidden flap.
"Go, Wielder. Run. Run before my warriors retrieve you."
Twilight shook her head. "I don't know where to go... I don't know why you're helping me..."
"Don't think... Don't question. Just do. You are the only one that remembers. The only one that can survive..."
Twilight stood up weakly and shook her way towards the exit, watching her back for any buffalo looking to get the sneak attack.
She left and ran as hard as she could. She had no direction, no intelligence, just thoughts and The Gift. A
Author's Note
This seems to be one of my weaker chapters. If anybody has suggestions, PLEASE comment.
