The Rise Of An Empire

Part 11

The Rise of an Empire
Chapter 11
Written by KingSombraTheTyrantRuler

Fluttershy's eyelids flutter open, and she's confused upon seeing her surroundings. It's unlike any place she's seen before, and she certainly didn't remember coming here.

She tries to get up, and notices a few IV tubes stuck in her forelegs. "What... happened?" she asks herself.

And then she remembers.

Jumping off the cliff. Rainbow's screams. The pain. And last of all, the umbrum who had saved her.

But why would an umbrum save me? Wait a second... She remembers seeing articles about umbrums in the newspapers when she used to read them. That would mean...

Almost as if on cue, the door opens and Midnight comes in. "Fluttershy! You're awake!" she says happily. "I was so worried about you."

"T-twilight? Where a-am I?"

Something in the dark Queen's eyes shifts after hearing what her friend addressed her by, and she says, "Not Twilight anymore. Call me Midnight."

"O-oh. Sorry, but Midnight, where am I?"

"Do you remember anything from before?"

"I-uh... remember it all," she says hesitantly.

"Don't be scared, Intrépido works for me. However...why did you do it, Fluttershy?"

She shies away from the dark alicorn's gaze and looks at her hooves as she says softly, "I just didn't see the point of staying alive. Everyone ignored me, and I felt so guilty about what I did. Even if the others influenced me at that time, and I was too scared to say anything different...it was wrong of me. I should've known better," Fluttershy explains, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

"It's ok, Fluttershy," says Midnight, already thinking of something. "Don't beat yourself up about it. Just rest and don't worry about anything, ok?"

"Okay," Fluttershy meekly whispers as Midnight turns and leaves the room.

***

"Fluttershy can easily be convinced to join our cause," says the dark Queen thoughtfully. "Her nature would not only ensure that she would feel guilty for following the others, but it would also mean she would be willing to do anything to repay me for what she did. And with a few well planned favours to her...she would be easily won over."

"Now...With Rarity unresponsive, that leaves just Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and trust me, I will get my revenge on them," Midnight tells Sombra. "They will regret everything, but it will be too late! They shall plead for mercy on their knees, but they shall find...none!"

"What do you plan to do, dearest?"

"Let them come," she replies. "They will come here sooner or later, and when they do, I will finish them."

***

Applejack wakes up to find Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy gone. Deciding to save the panic for later and search for them first, she checks the whole cave and then cautiously walks outside.