Prince of Equestria - Blood Moon Summer, Part 12

>Darkness.
>Silence.
>These are your companions.
>Since you passed out in the forest, this is all you have known.
>This is your world.
>And…quite frankly, it sucks.
>The space, both infinite and constrained, is familiar.
>But the silence is not.
>”There are no nightmares anymore…”
>Well…scratch that.
“Who is that?”
>The voice is foreign to you, yet familiar, like a whisper you have always heard, yet now can understand clearly.
>”There are no ghosts of the past anymore…”
>A glint of light catches your eye.
>You run towards it.
“Who are you? Where are the others?”
>”They’re gone…their voices are silent, their link severed…”
>As you draw closer to the glimmer of light, you see it to be a large mirror, hovering in nothingness as it reflects a light from a source that does not exist.
>You come to a stop as you draw close, your reflection staring back at you.
>You run your hand across your chin, tugging at the edges of your clothes.
>Your doppelganger responds appropriately.
>With a sigh, you close your eyes.
“What the hell…Nightmare? Anonym? I know you two are there…”
>”They are gone now. Now it is just you…”
>You open your eyes, as does your reflection.
>Except you are certain your eyes are not pools of black so deep even light cannot escape.
>And you are most definitely not smiling.
>”And you.”
“AAAAAH!”
>You awake with a start, beads of sweat rolling down your brow.
>Your vision sharpens as the steady beep of the medical monitor creeps into your ears.
>Moonlight floods the familiar confines of the infirmary at the royal palace of Canterlot.
>…It’s never a good thing when you wake up in this place.
>As you shift yourself into a proper sitting position on the bed, you grunt in pain as fire shoots across your skin.
>A quick check with your hand reveals that most of your body is wrapped in bandages.
“Man, someone did a number on me...”
>You rack your head as your brain starts to recover the details of recent events.
>The summer camp…
>The minotaurs…
>R-
“Rarity?”
>”Rarity was sent home a few days ago.”
>You turn as Cadence stands in the doorway, light from the hallway spilling in the open portal.
>A light blue blur bustles past and onto your bed as Cadence smiles tiredly, any response of yours stifled as an ice cold tongue drags up your cheek.
“Gah! Fenris…Fenris, alright! Mercy!”
>Cadence giggles as you ruffle the ice wolf’s head as the animal settles by your feet, his slight smile betraying his elation at your awakening.
>”You were asleep for five days,” Cadence says as she approaches your bedside, levitating over a pair of slippers as you swing your feet over the side.
“Five days…”
>As you start ripping sensors from your skin, you pause and look at your hands.
>Even though they are mostly bandaged, you swear you see a red tint to them.
>And an acrid, sickening smell.
>…
“Cadence…I remember getting attacked by the minotaurs…and after that…”
>”After that, we were attacked by something, something I can only describe as pure evil…”
>Cadence’s smile fades as you look up at her.
>”You were just another victim of whatever that thing was…nothing more.”
“A victim…”
>You rub your hand across your neck, pausing as your fingers cross over a pair of small, circular scars.
>”We found you a few miles away, in the forest, just after dawn. There was only one injury we couldn’t account for, a bite wound on your neck…Anon, do you remember anything?”
>You shake your head. Your memory was still pretty fuzzy.
“Where’s my mom? Where’s Armor?”
>”Shining Armor is in the barracks, probably sleeping,” Cadence smiles warmly as she hops onto the end of your bed, settling down. “He had the previous shift, waiting for you to wake up.”
“Is he…”
>”He was a little roughed up, but he’s fine now. Thank Celestia.”
“…And mom?”
>Cadence nods slowly. “She’s resting in her room. She’s been up only to eat and to move the sun and moon as needed…whatever she did really drained her energy.”
“…And the Elements?”
>”…Gone.”
>You look down at the floor.
“I…I see…”
>Mom’s barely functional, your best friend got the crap kicked out of him, and the Elements of Harmony are gone.
“…and it’s all my fault.”
>With a shudder, you look up at Cadence as she places a hoof on your shoulder.
>”It is NOT your fault, Anon. Never, EVER let yourself think any different.”
>Her stern gaze causes you to recoil a little.
>Cadence straightens a little and softens her expression at your reaction.
>”I mean it.”
“…yeah…I know you do.”
>Your cousin smiles as she nudges you, prompting you to stand up.
>”Now…there was one p0ny who was eager to see you when you woke up…”
>Huh?
“Rarity?”
>”Nope.” She smiles coyly.
>She always did take a certain perverse delight in teasing you.
>You shoot her a look, and she just giggles.
>”Think Anon…where do you go when you are worried?”
>….really?
>You groan as you slide your feet into your shoes, heading out the door.

-----------------------

>A field of starflowers.
>Their blue petals wave in the wind as the warm summer breeze caresses your skin.
>You look up at the moon above.
>Once, so comforting, now appears to be leering menacingly at you.
>Your thoughts wander to the two p0nies sealed within that moon.
>And the promise you made to one.
>As your eyes falls down towards the broken old barrel at the center of the field, you are actually caught by surprise.
“Twilight?”
http://youtu.be/rglpZH1pxEE
>You approach your classmate, starflower tucked neatly into her mane just behind her ear.
>The one hanging out of her mouth, half-eaten, makes you chuckle.
>The sound rouses Twilight from her slumber with a “Huh?”
>You manage to sit next to her before she can focus and notice who exactly woke her up.
“Hey, what are you doing sleeping out here? That’s a slacker’s job.”
>Sparkle’s eyes go wide with surprise as you laugh, cutting your jovial sound short as she barrels into your chest, hugging tightly.
>Oh Celestia, her horn is NOT helping that whole “my everything hurts” thing.
>”ANON! You’re AWAKE! Celestia, I was so worried…”
“You were worried about me? Dawww….”
>SMACK!
>Twilight gives you a good slap with her hoof, also not helping with that whole pain issue.
>”YES! I was worried! After Cadence told me what happened, I…”
>You freeze.
“…What did she tell you?”
>”…everything…”
>Great…
>You shuffle away from your friend, resting your arms and head on your knees.
“…Twi, be honest with me…”
>”What?”
“…Am I a monster?”
>Twilight is silent for what seems like an eternity.
>”…”
“…”
>”…No.”
>You should be surprised, but you aren’t.
“Why do you say that?”
>”Because…you are you.”
>The filly…
>No.
>The young mare you’ve known for such a long time turns your face to hers.
>”And you…could never be a monster. You faced something truly evil, and in the end…you won.”
>You are somewhat comforted as you sigh and lean back against the remains of the metal and wood barrel, staring up at the moon overhead.
>You feel Twilight Sparkle slide closer to you, staring as well.
“I hope you are right…”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0d4qM7gCH8&feature=related
>Noble Air shudders.
>Even flanked by two Royal Guardsmen, she couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the high granite walls of the Great Hall of Minos.
>More intimidating than the walls was the figure sitting on the golden throne before her.
>He looked ancient, with long white fur laced with sigils, medals and jewels that glittered like the endless sea.
>She had heard the stories. How this ancient warrior before her supposedly fathered the entire Minotaur race. How he had expanded it to become one of the world’s most dominant military powers.
>How he brought the human race to heel a thousand years ago.
>And brought them to heel.
>How he claimed the head of Celestia’s…
>She cannot finish her thought, the chanting of the innumerable choir making it hard to even think straight.
>However, as the ancient Minotaur leers down at her, the Minosian Knight next to him fills her soul with dread.
>But not as much as the old one.
>The Allfather.
>He who can slay Gods.
>The ruler of all Minos.
>”I am Scythe. I speak for the Allfather. Who…are you?”
>Noble Air shudders. Scythe’s voice is gentle and measured, however the murderous intent bubbling within is evident, even to her.
“I am…Noble Air. Personal advisor and envoy of Celestia, Goddess of the Sun and Ruler of Equestria.”
>”Then, you know we summoned Celestia herself, and not her envoy?”
“Princess Celestia has many duties…I assure you, I am authorized to speak with her authority on behalf of all p0nykind.”
>Scythe looks at the Allfather. The old minotaur gives his guard a glance, and Scythe begins to slowly descend the stairs leading to the throne.
>”Very well…As you well know, two sons of the Allfather have been returned to us from a Griffonian youth camp, slain.”
“And the Princess extends her deepest condolen-“
>An armored hoof slams the marble floor, the noise silencing Noble Air and causing her entourage to cower slightly.
>”One more is missing…and we also know the one responsible for slaying these sons is an Equestrian prince…Anonymous.”
“Then you will also know that Crown Prince Anonymous was possessed of a magical enti-“
>Another slam.
>”We demand a simple exchange, blood for blood, to preserve your peace. What say you, envoy?”
>Noble Air recoils in shock. She takes a moment to steady her nerves.
“…..We will not turn over the Crown Prince.”
>Scythe turns and looks again to the Allfather.
>The gray steer just nods, and Scythe leers over Noble Air.
>Her eyes are locked on a great blade of tempered steel the minotaur draws from his back.
>”We did not say it had to be the Prince’s blood…”
“Your grace, please…no NO WAI-“
>His movements are a symphony of grace and lethal precision.
>The one lone Equestrian guardsp0ny’s face is a mixture of shock and horror as Scythe cleans his blade, replacing it onto his back.
>Gathering up the heads of the guardsp0ny’s charge and partner, Scythe places it into a sack provided by a hooded acolyte, calmly handing it to the survivor.
>”Inform your princess that her debt has been paid. Her peace is secure.”
>The guardsp0ny cannot run fast enough, the bloody sack bouncing in his teeth as he moves as fast as his wings will take him.
>Scythe looks on impassionately as robed acolytes begin to clean up the bodies and blood.
>”Allfather…there was something else in the report…”
>He looks up at the old cow, who just stares at him.
>Scythe, however, nods, as if hearing an unspoken word.
>”Yes….a human, with hair as red as a flame…”
>The Allfather’s eyes twitch as tired eyes grow steely and cold.
>His lips actually move slightly as the minotaur emperor issues his order.
>”Yes…of course…”
>With a bow, Scythe turns to an acolyte.
>”Get me Iron Will…”