A/N Hello Dear readers, and welcome to Chapter 2 of The Little Ponies! I got positive reviews on the first chapter, so I am thinking it is a good idea to continue this story. I am writing live from VEGAS BABY, YEAH! Woo, so yeah, Vegas.
Well, quietly applauding myself at least. Anyway, Shrink is dying slowly, what will happen next!? You'll find out, IF, you read this chapter! (Hotel internet is expensive o.o!) Please Read and Review!
Chapter 2: The Nightmare Returns
Third Person
"Why did you not inform me of this Dex?" Princess Celestia said softly as to not upset him anymore than he already was.
He replied shakily,"This would happen. She threatened to kill us…and I, I…"
"It's alright Dex, the doctor said we got him here on time. He's going to be okay," Celestia comforted.
"The doctor said he might be okay!" Dex yelled at Celestia,"He also said he might lose his leg! How can anypony live like that! He… he," Dex started sobbing. Celestia was taken aback. She had no idea how much stress her little ones had been containing all these years.
She picked Dex up in her forehooves and hugged him lightly, burying his tears in her chest. "He'll be fine, I promise. He's been hurt before and recovered, so he will be fine Dex," she said bringing Dex out of her hug.
"It's never been this bad before…" Dex whimpered.
"I know my little one. All we can do now is wait and hope for the best. I'm sorry Dexter, but it's all we can do for him," Princess Celestia said while her heart ripped in half for one of the ponies she tried the hardest to protect, and failed.
"Can I at least see him?" Dex asked tearily.
"Sure," the Princess replied.
She carried him over to the door and turned the handle with her magic. "Take as long as you need, I'll be right here," Celestia said.
Dex eagerly flew off Celestia's back and landed next to Shrink, making only a small depression on the bedsheets. "I'm here Thun, and I'm not leaving until you get better," Dex said in tears next to his sleeping brother, "I'm not leaving… Not for the world…"
Shrink smiled slightly in his comatic state after hearing his brother's words.
Dex smiled in return. "You can leave Princess," Dex called out to her, "I'm going to be here for a while."
Princess Celestia smiled seeing his reaction and slowly shut the door behind her. When it was all the way closed, her features darkened and she said with malice, "Now for Starlight…"
Three Months later
Shrink's POV
"SHRINK! ARE YOU AWAKE YET!?" Dex shouted in my ear, startling me out of my usual dreams. He kept his promise, Dex never left my side except for when the doctors had to do surgery.
"Ugh, I groaned from exhaustion and pain. "Five more minutes Dex, I'm tired this morning…"
He remained silent which I misinterpreted he was giving me some more time to rest, so I drifted back off into fantasy land for a while more. What seemed like as soon as I fell back asleep, something tickled my ear. I ignored it, because I could at this point, and continued sleeping. However, the sensation intensified bringing me back into reality. "What is that?" I mumbled, groaning while still half asleep.
I opened my eyes to see another pair right in front of mine. "AAAAAHHHH!" I screamed jumping away in terror. Dex burst out laughing as I fell over a lump in the sheets. I tumbled down into a small, blankety crevice and finally landed at the bottom creating a dulled "thump!" My ear, even after falling, still had the feeling residing inside. I touched it gingerly with my non-injured hoof only to stick it in a wet, goopy substance. I quickly pulled my hoof away and shook it off freaking out a bit. "Eww! Dex! What did you do to my ear?" I started to rub my head on the mattress.
"Not important, but you're awake now!" Dex said still laughing his tail off. I grew mad.
"I told you to stop doing that Dex! The falling hurt!" I steamed.
Dex immediately stopped laughing and rushed over to my side. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…Is it okay?" He stammered with a look of concern on his face.
"Yes, it's fine Dex. Sorry, I didn't mean to yell." I sighed now that the event had passed.
Dex didn't look satisfied with my answer. "Are you sure? All I want is for you to turn out a-okay, you know that right?" He said.
"I know Dex, it's really fine, thanks." I said cooling down. We both sat there for a while listening to the loud beep of heart rate monitor with its' small extension clipped onto me.
"Today's the trial…" I said finally breaking the silence.
"You shouldn't go... you're still healing," Dex suggested softly.
"What!? But, I don't want you to go alone! Please?" I complained.
"No, you're not going, I can't put you through that right now…" Dex gave me his puppy dog eyes.
"But what about you?" I asked.
"I'll be fine. Princess Celestia will be there too," Dex reasoned .
"Alright, but tell me how it goes when you get back, kay?" I said.
"Promise," Dex replied. And then he stood up and flew out of the room.
I watched him land on a nearby desk and stand waiting by the door. When it finally opened, an official looking pony entered dressed in his formal attire. Dex flew up close to the pony's view and started explaining where he needed to go. After a while, the two came to an agreement and left me on the bed, alone for the first time in three months.
Sometimes I envied Dex for his wings, they made things so much easier for him. I am an earth pony of course, hardest of the three to live while shrunken. In fact, I think I'm the first one to survive this long ever since my great-great-grandpony Grandpo Jones. At least Dex is nice about it and flies me around places when I need to do something, but it's not the same as it would be if I had wings myself. One thing I've learned from being small is that teamwork is not optional.
I sighed and laid back down where I was before I was so rudely awakened. Dex will tell me all about the trial, but the truth was, I didn't want to know. Starlight still gave me nightmares whenever I thought too long about her. My life was royally screwed at the moment. The doctor's news would have been to much to handle if Dex wasn't there for support. I frowned in guilt, I still haven't told him why I haven't fully healed yet.
My mind raced around some random, yet connected thoughts as I wondered what I could do. Finally drifting off to sleep once more, I got some well deserved rest. My dreams were conflicted however, for I held the largest secret ever, and Dex could never find out.
Three Months later...again…
Day of the Summer Sun Celebration
"What do you mean we have to split up?!" Dex and I both yelled shocked at a stressed looking Celestia. By now I had healed enough Celestia had considered about where we would go next.
"I'm sorry you two, but you're too vulnerable together. How did Starlight threaten you to stop you from contacting me?" Celestia explained.
"By saying she would kill the other," we moaned in defeat. She was right, but I couldn't leave Dex! He was my everything, I couldn't live without him!
"But Princess Celestia! I can't live without Dex!" I complained to her.
"I'm sorry, but you know I'm right. I'm taking you both to Ponyville to see if we can find one of you a new caretaker," She concluded.
"But," Dex started.
"No buts, get your things ready, we'll be leaving soon. I'm busy for the summer sun celebration at the moment," Celestia cut him off. She exited the room reading a letter from her student Twilight.
Dex and I solemnly left the room as close together as possible, getting ready for the inedible. We were going to be separated today at midnight.
"Dex, I don't want to leave you…" I slowly said to him.
"I know, but she is right," Dex said disappointed.
"Just because it's right doesn't make it the right thing to do! It's not our fault, it was just who we were with!" I complained loudly.
Celestia walked the room without hearing our conversation. "Are you ready, I wish to get there before the celebration." She saw my pouty expression and her mood changed, "I'm sorry you two, but it's for the best… I don't mean to sound pushy, please forgive my tone."
"Princess, can't you find somepony to take both of us?" asked Dex.
Princess Celestia said,"If somepony is willing to take both of you, depending on who it is I might change my mind."
"Really?" I asked hopefully.
"If you were somepony else, the answer would be no, but I can't stand to see you sad," Celestia replied warmly.
I smiled slightly, there was still the possibility! "Okay, let's go then," I said.
"Come on," Princess Celestia said, "We're not going to make it to Ponyville any time soon at this rate."
I started walking alongside her and Dex in a slightly better mood than earlier, but I was confused. Princess Celestia still seemed stressed. Maybe it was because she was busy, but I had seen her on past celebration days and she was never this nervous. I shrugged it off, I had more important things on my mind today.
The Chariot a little while later…
Flying is pretty fun actually now that I think about it. Dex and I were now in the royal sun chariot on our way to see the celebration first hoof. In the chariot along with us was the Princess of course, a few guards, and some cosmetologist ponies. The pegasi flying the chariot were making good time due to the amazingly clear skies , so we would be permitted to explore Ponyville a bit before experiencing the Summer Sun Celebration.
The Princess joined in on some of Dex and my's conversations, but remained in her stressed demeanor for some reason. So instead of talking with her, we talked with the captain of the guards.
"Hi, whatcha doing?" Dex flew over and started talking to the tall, white pony.
"Oh, hello. You must be the two stallions I'm supposed to protect today. The Princess said you were two very special ones, but didn't tell me you were quite this… special," the guard said. He looked embarrassed for a second and then apologised, "I'm sorry, that was a bit rude… My name is Shining Armor but you can call me Shining."
I climbed up onto one of the seats after some struggle and joined the conversation. "Hi, I'm the second one," I said.
We talked some more until the chamber bounced violently and we stopped.
"What was that?" Shining yelled running to investigate the scene along with some other guards. The Princess looked around with a worried and, sad? face before standing up to check herself. Ponies rushed around us in swarms wondering what was happening, chattering in groups and complaining. I heard some yells from outside the door to the room mixed with screams of fear at something. A dark mist filled the room, and the door burst open in a strong gust of wind.
Chaos struck, ponies ran and screamed everywhere nearly trampling us in the process. A body flew through the door nearly landing on Dex, but instead hitting another guard sending them both to the ground. It was Shining Armor.
Fear coursed through my veins as a dark, polished hoof stepped calmly through the opening, the pony responsible for my curse had returned. I fell down next to Dex and crawled backwards in fear.
"Sister, we have returned! Behold our mighty powers!" Nightmare yelled picking up a pegasus using her magic. She then threw the screaming pony out the window to whatever lay on the outside.
"Nightmare Moon, leave these ponies alone, they are innocent. Take me instead, I am the one who banished you, or have you forgotten?" Celestia said determined.
"Ah, yes," Nightmare Moon said ignoring Princess Celestia and looking at us smiling, "Ah, some of my little ponies, I see some of you have survived all these years, but not for long." She gripped me with her magic bringing me closer. I struggled and dragged my hooves against the floor to the chariot but to no avail.
Princess Celestia intervened, "Sister, stop, Please! If you hurt him I will,"
"You'll what? Banish me again? HA! You don't have the Elements of Harmony with you, and even they can't defeat me now!" Nightmare Moon cut her off. She brought me up to her giant eyes and looked me over. I breathed heavily in fear and tried to escape once more. She seemed unimpressed at me then asked ," Are you the current generation, I thought you would be better. Pitiful... How many of you are left? I can only see you here so there must be fewer."
"I… I… I'm the… I…"I stammered with wide eyes while thinking heavily. She didn't see Dex! He was safe!
She tightened her magic around me making the air rush out of my lungs. "I said speak bug!" she yelled.
I came up with my answer. "I… I'm the last of my kind. They're all gone," I replied shakily to her answer. I wasn't lying, I was the last small earth pony.
Shaking me around she yelled," That's a lie!"
Princess Celestia spoke up seeing my plan," It's true sister, they're all gone. He is the last."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dex fly out of the broken window and hide. I silently hoped he would escape unharmed. He turned and looked at me for a few seconds with a dismayed expression and reached out a hoof in my direction. I nudged my head signalling for him to leave, and after a while of internal conflict, he unwillingly left.
Nightmare Moon seemed disappointed. "I'll have to make more once I'm finished with you then," she said looking at me again, " Earth Pony eh? Have fun."
My eyes widened and I took a large breath as she prepared to do something with me.
"Nightmare! Don't you dare!" Celestia yelled from across the room.
She smiled at me, and then threw me out the window into open space. I screamed as the world rushed by and the chariot disappeared above me. Looking down, I saw we were still in the air when all that was happening and I fell.
I learned how to fall correctly from my mother when she saw I was an earth pony. Even though she was a pegasus, she still fell with me to try and teach me if I ever needed it. She was right to, but this fall was a bit larger than the ones I was used to. I got into position even though I was still scared and made myself as large as possible to create as much wind resistance as I could.
Luckily, Dex was out here too. He caught me around my waist from above causing me to jerk forward as we slowed down. We reached the ground away from the battle above us. We could see flashes of light where the two alicorns dueled, but then it stopped. Dex and I didn't know who won at first, but Nightmare Moon flew out of the chariot looking triumphant and I knew what happened.
Dex and I were now in a forest alone, with no idea where we were, no help, and no Princess.
E/N There you have it! So how was it? Writing everything and transitioning the timeframes was a bit hard, because I didn't want to make the sections too short, but wanted to keep the story at a decent pace. Plus I would like to thank anypony who has reviewed so far(I have two at the moment :) thx). Chapter three is going to be a real page turner though, so if you liked this chapter, the next one will be even better! Peace
~Fictionbrony
Another revision! Better than the first!
