A Gypsy's Ball ~ MLP

Meanwhile... « 6 »

Something tells me this book is dead... i mean, i haven't uploaded in two years so- sorry about that.

Time has passed since Pinkie and her other friends had left. She still couldn't believe that Pinkie was a Gypsy - and a good one, at that. Not that she doubted her friend"s abilities, of course. Pinkie always just seemed... distracted, to Twilight.
She knew that the magic did exist, yet she never expected her friends to dabble in such arts. The magic could raise the dead, conquer kingdoms, even change the past, all for the life of a simple pony.

A pony's life is worth more than anything than any magic.
She supposed that was the immorality. If sinistropic magic started becoming regular practice, who knew what might happen to the balance of harmony in Equestria? Not to mention all the lives-
Who did Pinkie sacrifice?

Twilight blinked out of her thoughts when she heard three startlingly-loud knocks at the door.
She peaked out her window.
Fire everywhere. How did she miss it? The screams were obvious now to her, ponies running through the streets as brutish ponies struck them down.

"Twilight!" Spike's voice broke through it all, and her heart stopped. She'd never heard anything like it; the fear, as she saw the green flame of Spike's fire.

"Come on, Princess," they voices continued, unharmed. The crystal ponies were flame proof, "just give up. We all know you care too much about this stupid little dragon to let us hurt a scale on his cute head."

Twilight suddenly regretted staying in Ponyville spite the war. They'd be safe in Canterlot, Spike wouldn't be here. He'd be safe.

The blood-curdling scream of her first true friend tore through her ears following the sick sound of ripping flesh.

Twilight didn't think about it. She jumped from the balcony, heart racing from the violent images she'd conjured in her own mind at the sounds of Spike's assault, with a gust of magic she hadn't planned or thought for.

It send the soldiers flying, sent Spike flying across the wood but at least he was away from them. She saw the traces of fear and regret from the pony's eyes. Blood stained their damaged coats, tender and red from the friction burns. Spike's blood still dripped from their hooves. She growled to them.

"Get out of here,"

She didn't realise how one lay, lifeless and broken, on the floor of her home - didn't pay attention to the fleeing pony as she darted towards her dear friend.

If she'd knocked that other pony unconscious... What about Spike?

"Twilight?"

For a moment, everything was okay again. Spike was okay.

"I-is he?"
He was stuck looking at the body. The Princess looked with him, "I'd rather not know."

"Right. Of course,"

She wished Spike would say something else - something to snap her out of the spiral of regret, thoughts. Had she killed that pony back at her home? How? She had never sent out such a powerful burst of defensive magic, that it ripped up the floorboards of her humble library and sent a 300-pound pony flying to his... Death.
She sat on it, sat in front of him. His eyes looked so lifeless that somehow captured the immeasurable pain he must have felt in his last moment.

Spike looked uneasily at the body, fiddling with his claws. They both knew.

Neither of them spoke as Twilight bandaged his wounds, where the soldiers had taken out a few scales, then left for the Everfree. Their next safe haven.

A dark voice spoke up from the depths of her mind, 'He deserved it.'
And Twilight agreed. He tore the scales off a dragon, off of her dragon, broke his poor flesh. Death by concussion was the most gracious death she could have given him.

Twilight broke down, once they'd reached a clearing in the forest. The tears came flowing out and she dropped her belly to the floor, covering her head with her hooves.
She couldn't get the graphic sounds, screams and vengeful thoughts out of her head. Nopony deserves to get murdered, but she felt a sick swell of pride that lingered still.

"I did it to protect you,"
She sobbed.

"It's okay, Twilight," his gentle voice spoke up, so calm in spite of the storm raging around them.
"It was an accident,"
She cocked her head and grimaced, unconvinced, "If you'd meant any harm," Spike reiterated, "you wouldn't have let the other pony go. Right?"

Yeah. Right. That makes sense.
The princess nods slowly, breathing steadying with the rationalisation.
"You're right. It just felt so-"

"I know. It's ok."

Spike was still battered. Deep red bruises showed through his scales and a brown stain covered his bandage.
"Are you?"

The dragon took a moment, "I don't know. Shaken. This war is terrible, you know they've slaughtered the majority of Appaloosa? They had no defenses. There's no safe place."

"I know."

They'd begun to make their way once more through the Everfree. Twilight's horn lit up grim branches and overgrown clusters of plantlife that jerked back into the shadows behind their light.

"Do you ever regret not going with them?"

The princess huffed a breath. She'd tried to stop thinking about them - whenever she did, she felt a shot of resentment that made her question their friendship.
They abandoned Equestria when more than anything, they needed the Elements of Harmony.
Now she was alone with Spike, left to witness the damages of war without the few ponies who could have kept her sane through it.

But did Twilight regret not going with them?
"No. I never would have left my home, not like they did."

"Yeah. Maybe if they'd stayed, we could have stopped the war," he sighed wistfully, "I hope they come home soon. It's been a year already,"
"Me too, Spike. Me too."

Zecora's home wasn't far off from where they were. Their familiarity with the area had paid off and Twilight could confidently navigate the forest, through-and-through (at least in daylight hours)

She tapped on the door with her hoof, but no reply came.
"Zecora? It's Twilight Sparkle. We need your help
...
"Maybe she's gone out?"
Worry tugged at both of their hearts. They weren't convinced.
But then the door opened to the barrel of a gun staring down their faces, propped up on the shoulder of the zebra.

"It is you. Excuse the precautions, come in."

"Thanks Zecora," they both cautiously walked around the firearm into the home.
It looked as homely as ever: table lit by warm candlelight, shelves filled with cherished artifacts and vases, hand-crafted masks with so much vibrance and emotion in each face. Twilight related to all of them; the depression curled inside her, hopelessness that this was the end of the era of harmony and most of all, anger; she was angry that their efforts amounted to nothing, how much death came from this war and for what? For power? Vengeance?

Twilight turned her attention away from the masks, ears twitching with annoyance. This isn't the time. They need to find safety.

"Hoping the soldiers don't come so far into the Everfree as to put me at risk. I saw smoke. Tell me the worst has not happened?"

Twilight's ears twisted back against her head. She remembered the grim scene as they fled through Ponyville, the fires and the distant ringing of gunshots.
Silence clouded the room. Zecora's eyes filled with grief.

"I thought naught of it when the ponies of your village criticised me, turned their noses up at me because I'm different. They did not deserve this. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need, Twilight and Spike. Tea?"