Chapter 16: The Vision
"Kill them all…" A voice was heard from far away.
"No! What are you doing?! No! Stop! Noooo!" Another voice said in reply.
"You've given me no mercy, and I will return the favor." The first voice had replied. Brittni was lying on the ground, dazed, feeling as though she had been bashed in the head with a rock. She lifted her head with the little strength that she had, seeing only blurred images. Brittni coughed a couple times as she started pushing herself up. Her hearing had a ring to it, but slowly, screams that permeated the air began seeping into her ears. Hearing the screams, Brittni lifted her left hand and rubbed her eyes, and used her right hand to push herself up. After rubbing her eyes she looked around. To her utter surprise, and absolute horror she was in a Horde encampment. This encampment was none other than Glenmar. Something was wrong, however. The barracks was on fire, lasers and other energy weapons were flying through the air, Horde soldiers were in a panic, fighting and dying, and an evil cackle pervaded the air. Brittni quickly picked herself up, amidst the chaos. A Horde soldier had just ran passed her screaming.
"Retreat! We can't handle that Princess- AUGH!" The Horde soldier shrieked as a laser fired into his back, causing him to collapse. Brittni's lip quivered, and she shuddered, completely frozen at the sight of this trepidatious situation. Suddenly, Brittni had heard the evil cackle again. She turned her attention to the source of the cackle. About twenty feet away, Brittni saw a figure with a blackish-purple aura, standing atop the wall of Glenmar. The dark figure was holding some kind of sharpened staff. Peering closer, Brittni also saw a Horde soldier on the wall. The soldier was on his back, slowly crawling away from the darkened figure.
"Wait! Stop! Nooo-AGH!" The soldier screamed as the darkened figure plunged its staff into the Horde soldiers chest. The figure then picked the soldier up and tossed the body towards Brittni, blood falling like crimson rain. The body landed about ten feet away from Brittni. The gory scene that played out in front of Brittni caused her to quake and tremble and subsequently, fall backwards. It was then that the darkened figure had taken notice of Brittni. Brittni gasped, loudly. Scrambling to get up, Brittni kicked up dust, and was about to begin running until she heard an almost familiar noise. It sounded somewhat similar to that electronic wind chime noise that would resound whenever Glimmer would appear. However, this sound was more distorted and bassy. No sooner did that noise pierce Brittni's ears, did the dark figure appear right in front of her. Brittni screamed and fell back, holding her hand out for defense. Brittni then peered closer and got a good look at the figure. It was…
Glimmer.
A darkened version of her, anyway. This Glimmer had a fade haircut that was black with purple highlights. She wore black leggings, a sleeveless, dark purple top, a charcoal gray chest plate with pauldrons, dark purple gloves, and a cape that had tapered down rips near the bottom. Instead of the sparkles that Glimmer was normally imbued with, she had that blackish-purple aura. To complete her terrifying, majestic look, the sclera of Glimmer's eyes were blackened, with her iris being a dark purple color. Glimmer's eyes glowed with rage as she slowly walked towards Brittni.
"Y...You're that princess!" Brittni said, pointing at Glimmer. Glimmer smirked devilishly as she raised her hands side by side. As she raised her hands a blackish-purple vector began swirling around her right hand. Brittni gasped. With her left hand, Glimmer pointed her finger towards Brittni. Once Glimmer pointed at her, Brittni began levitating off the ground, restrained in that blackish-purple aura. Brittni looked around frantically, and tried to get out of the aura, but it was no use. Slowly, Glimmer pulled Brittni towards her, telekinetically. Brittni's eyes became wide, staring at Glimmer's evil gaze.
"Well… if it isn't the Horde soldier that broke my spirit when she decided to invade Elberon…" Glimmer said, menacingly. Brittni continued to stare, and grit her teeth.
"I wasn't there to hurt anyone! I was only there to help bring order to Etheria!" Brittni protested. Glimmer growled upon hearing that.
"I'm getting really tired of hearing the Horde claiming their 'noble intentions' of bringing peace to Etheria. All that any of you has done is bring chaos and hatred." Glimmer said in a sinister tone. Glimmer exhaled and regained her composure, "but, I guess I should be thanking you and the rest of the Horde scum… after all, you're the reason I became this." Brittni shuddered.
"No… That's not true… I'm just a medic… a nurse… a healer!" Brittni protested. Glimmer smirked again.
"A healer, huh? Well... Let's see you heal from this." Glimmer said as the vortex in her hand began spinning faster. Glimmer was about to push it into Brittni's face until Glimmer screamed in pain, causing her to lose focus. The vortex faded and Brittni was dropped from Glimmer's telekinesis. Brittni groaned as she hit the ground. She looked over to see none other than her brother, Brett, firing the shot.
"Brett!" Brittni yelled as she scrambled to stand up. Glimmer had fallen to her knees and turned her head towards Brett, gritting her teeth and growling at him.
"Brittni! Get out of here! Find the crystal ball! The Oracle will guide you!" Brett yelled as he fired more shots at Glimmer, Glimmer teleported, avoiding the shots.
"Crystal ball?! Oracle?! Brett, what is going on?! How did we even get here-" Brittni tried to ask before she saw Glimmer teleport above Brett, and drop kicking him as she fell down. Brittni gasped and said, "Brett! No!" Brett used the butt of his rifle to hit Glimmer off of him.
"Go! Now! It'll all make sense when you find the Oracle! I'll hold Glimmer off!" Brittni's eyes glistened and her lip quivered upon seeing Brett fighting for her. Brett screamed out again as Glimmer wrapped the blackish-purple aura around Brett. With the little strength Brett had, he managed to choke out one last command.
"Go!" Brett choked out. Brittni obeyed and ran off. She didn't know exactly where she was going but she began hearing a voice. Brittni looked around and saw a cave that was adjacent to the walls of Glenmar. The voice became more clear.
"Brittni, in here, quickly." The voice beseeched. Brittni obeyed the prompting and went towards the cave. As she made her advance, she heard the evil cackle again. She looked back and saw Glimmer making a beeline towards her. Brittni gasped and hightailed it to the cave. Glimmer kept pace with her.
"C'mon, Horde scum! I just want to play! HAHA!" Glimmer yelled, maniacally. Glimmer was within inches of grabbing Brittni when Brittni dove into the cave. As Brittni dove, she started falling. Everything around Brittni was pitch-dark, so she was unable to see what was happening around her. Fear quickly enveloped Brittni, thinking that it was the end for her. She closed her eyes and embraced for the worst.
"Brittni…" A familiar, disembodied voice penetrated Brittni's ears as though it were inches from them. She was lying prone on the ground with her eyes closed. Upon hearing that voice, she started blinking. Brittni shifted her head quickly to the left and the right. She was in a large, dimly lit room that had a purple, glowing ambiance about it. The walls were lined with some kind of luminescent circuitry. The ground below Brittni was made of some kind of glassy, purple, tile. As Brittni started pushing herself up, she noticed something different about her hands and forearms. She saw that her hands and forearms were covered in white gloves and bracers; her medical armor. She shifted her arms around to make sure what she was seeing was true.
"How did I get into my armor…? Where am I?" Brittni thought to herself as she fully picked herself up. Brittni looked around but saw nobody, "I was… fighting those rebels… The Princess and the Archer... then… how did I end up here?" Brittni asked herself, thoroughly baffled by her circumstances. Brittni was trying to make sense of all that was happening, but remained utterly confused. She had no idea how she ended up in Glenmar, how that Princess became so frightening, what Brett was talking about with the Oracle and crystal ball, and how she now ended up in this room. She walked around, the clicks of her heels sounding like a horse trotting, from all the silence.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Brittni inquired, hoping for some kind of friendly response.
"Ah, Brittni, hello." A figure said to Brittni from behind.
"AH!" Brittni screamed as she jumped and fell forward. Brittni growled, "you know, I'm getting REALLY sick of people sneaking up on-" Brittni began until she looked back and beheld the figure who had just spoken to her. The figure before Brittni was a woman. The woman had a radiant, azure blue aura that surrounded her. Her skin also seemed to be a lighter, sky blue. She was clothed in a bright, silver dress. Atop her head was a dark blue head wrap that was endowed with silver chains. The iris' in her eyes were a golden yellow that gleamed brightly. Brittni turned herself all the way around and started crawling backwards, away from the woman.
"Brittni…" the mysterious woman spoke, reaching her hand out.
"Stay back! I don't know who you are, but I have been intimidated, threatened, and attacked more times than I can count in the last couple of days, so there is a fast, positive feedback racing between my stress hormones and my violent hormones, and I'm not sure what's going to happen if I take anymore of this!" Brittni yelled, rather articulately. The mysterious woman retracted her hand gesture and gazed at Brittni with a solemn, placid look.
"I understand. You have faced more violence, ethical dilemmas, and heartache in the last couple of days than you've ever had to before. I understand you are under a lot of duress at the moment. But please, I can assure you, Brittni, I am not here to harm you. I am only here to help you." The mysterious woman said, sincerely. Brittni stopped her retreat, but reached behind her back, trying to find the shock baton she had brought with her from the Fright Zone.
"I apologize, but you do not have the weapon you're looking for." The mysterious woman said, candidly. Brittni reached around, erratically, confirming the mysterious woman's declaration. Brittni began to sweat a little. The mysterious woman continued, "in fact, you may have noticed, but you're no longer clad in your… ninja attire." The mysterious woman said with a light chuckle. Brittni glared at the mysterious woman.
"Okay, listen, whoever you are! First of all, enough with the ninja quips! Second, I want answers, and I want them now!" Brittni shouted as she picked herself up. She pointed at the mysterious woman and continued, "who are you? How did I get here? What happened to that princess? And where is Adora and the rebel archer?" Brittni demanded. The mysterious woman wriggled her hands, rhythmically in front of her then clasped her hands together. As she pulled her hands away, a magical screen appeared. Brittni peered closely, and widened her eyes in shock. She was looking at Glimmer and Bow tying up Adora and… herself. Brittni gasped and pulled her head away.
"What's going on?!" Brittni demanded. The mysterious woman wriggled her fingers again, and the magical screen dissipated into the air.
"Patience, Brittni. I will explain. Perhaps you'd like to sit down?" The mysterious woman said as she snapped her fingers.
"Sit down? On what-" Brittni started before a chair appeared right below her, knocking her legs, forcing her to collapse into the chair. Brittni looked down and let out a little yelp, "okay, this is getting really freaky…" Brittni sighed, then continued, "but… nothing has been normal the last couple of days…" Brittni rested her arms on the armrest of the chair and let out a big sigh, trying to calm down, "okay, I'm calm, what's going on?" The mysterious woman smiled and began her speaking.
"Brittni, at the moment, you are currently sleeping. This is all a dream. Because of the magic surrounding the Whispering Woods, I was able to harness enough mana reserves in order to reach you in your dream." The mysterious woman declared. Brittni's lip quivered for a few moments, then she stiffened it.
"Bring me something to read." Brittni commanded, folding her arms. The mysterious woman gave a surprised look for a moment, then smiled, catching on. She raised her right hand, and pointed her finger towards Brittni. Out of the mysterious woman's finger, a scroll was conjured, floating above Brittni's knees. Brittni grabbed the scroll and opened it. All that was written on the scroll was a bunch of garbled letters shifted in strange patterns and rotations. Brittni analyzed the scroll for a moment, trying to figure out the writing, then slowly closed it.
"Okay, you're right. I am dreaming. The right side of my brain is shut down. Reading is a function of the right side of the brain, while dreaming comes from the left. It's impossible to read in a dream." Brittni stated, perceptively. The scroll dissipated and the mysterious woman smiled.
"You've always been brilliant, Brittni. It's nice to see your mind work... in person." The mysterious woman said, graciously. Brittni grinned. The mysterious woman then returned her tone to more stoic, and continued, "now, before you ask again, I will enlighten your mind. I am that crystal ball that has been speaking with you in the Fright Zone. You may call me Oracle." Brittni eyed Oracle, suspiciously.
"Oracle? As in… you can see the future?" Brittni asked, skeptically. Oracle nodded, and slowly looked away.
"I have seen many futures, Brittni. Many pasts, and many presents." Oracle said, undoubtedly. She looked back at Brittni, her gaze becoming more contemplative, "however, my gift has become more clouded, recently. A long while ago, my home was attacked by a group of bandits. Although I foresaw their arrival, I refused to leave my home, believing I could defend it. I paid for my arrogance, as did my runestone, the crystal ball." Brittni moved to the edge of her seat and gazed intently at Oracle.
"The crystal ball… it's a runestone Like the runestones that princesses have?" Brittni inquired. Oracle nodded.
"Indeed. When the bandits attacked my home, I managed to defeat them, but not before they had struck the crystal ball, causing it to collapse and shatter. The bandits stole most of the pieces, as the crystals are worth a great deal of wealth. As far as I have been able to see, they have all been refurbished as decorative items such as jewelry and pottery, or some actual crystal balls. Because of how widespread they have become, it has become more difficult to receive timely, propitious visions. Now they work only in a certain proximity. For instance, I can foresee events that happen in the Fright Zone because of the crystal ball in the Monumental Room. Also, I did manage to find enough of the pieces that the bandits left behind to reforge a small crystal ball that has been able to help, somewhat, with my foresight. Soon enough, I must gather them all of them back up and reforge the crystal into one ball. But, I digress, the point is, is that my magic has been draining since losing the entire crystal ball. I will help you when you are close to magical sources, and I will try to reach you in other ways to guide you-." Oracle declared before being interrupted by Brittni whom was putting her hands up in order to pause Oracle.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang on. Let me wrap my head around all this…" Brittni began as she stood up and began pacing to the left and right of Oracle, "you've normally been able to see the future, but some bandits raided your home, broke your runestone, and stole the parts to make a profit. You were able to find enough pieces to make another ball that lets you see some of the future. The other fragments of the runestone are basically all over the place, so you can partially see the future everywhere, which also means you can communicate with me anytime I'm near a piece of your runestone." Brittni stopped and looked at Oracle, "is that about right?" Oracle nodded.
"That is correct." Oracle replied. Brittni started rubbing her chin and gazed at nothing in particular.
"Is something wrong, Brittni?" Oracle inquired. Brittni looked at Oracle again and started chuckling, which then turned into a raving laugh.
"Is something wrong? Oh, Oracle there are a myriad of things wrong. I've been trying to recuperate from a mission where I almost died several times, I've been lead around like a red herring from a disembodied voice. Said disembodied voice turns out to be some kind of clairvoyant mystic that is now unable to properly read the future and invade my dreams. Adora and I just got captured by a psycho princess and her sidekick. I'm fighting a war I don't understand. I'm supposed to help 'bring balance,' and I don't even know what that means!" Brittni yelled, while starting to tear up. She sat back down on the chair and put her head in her hands. Oracle stood there, dumbfounded. She walked over to Brittni and put her hand on Brittni's shoulder. Brittni let out a big sigh and looked up at Oracle.
"Yeah, something's wrong." Brittni said, steadying her breathing. Oracle moved around the front of Brittni, wiped her tears, then put both of her hands on Brittni's shoulders.
"Brittni, I know this might not mean much coming from somebody you still haven't been formally introduced to, but I am deeply sorry for all of the trouble you've gone through. You have been through some circumstances that would cause many to give up, immediately. You are an incredibly strong and tenacious young woman, Brittni. One of the reasons I'm talking to you is because of these traits that are instilled in you. You are chosen, because you will do what is right. I know you don't understand why you're going through all of these events, but understand that everything will become clear in time. Just trust that what you're doing right now is the right thing." Oracle said with conviction. Brittni stared at Oracle for a few moments then looked away.
"I know that you believe me. You and your brother's observation powers can detect truth, can't they?" Oracle asserted. Brittni kept looking away for a few moments, then turned her head back to Oracle and nodded.
"Yeah… yeah, I believe you. But what now?" Brittni inquired. Oracle took her hands off Brittni's shoulders then took a step back.
"For now, as soon as you wake up, you need to speak with Glimmer and Bow. Within the hour you will be attacked by a colossal spider, and-" Oracle was saying before Brittni put up her hands to pause Oracle, again.
"Did you just say a colossal spider?!" Brittni asked, a little freaked out. Oracle blinked a couple of times.
"Yes. I am aware that many are disturbed by the creature, but do not worry, you will overcome the spider. Now, when Adora obtains the sword-" Oracle started saying before she started glitching. Her face began shifting in multiple places and her speech started stuttering like a broken record.
"Adora obtains- Adora obtains- sword, sword, sword. Brittni. Colossal spider. Glim-Glim-Gliiiiim. Brittni." Oracle said as her glitching got worse. Brittni leaned back in the chair, aghast at what was happening.
"Oracle! What's happening? What about Adora and the sword?!" Brittni demanded.
"Brittni. Brittni. Brittni…" Oracle tried saying. Brittni jumped off the chair and got close to Oracle.
"Oracle? Oracle!" Brittni yelled trying to shake Oracle.
"Brittni… Brittni…"
"Brittni?" A more familiar voice said. Brittni groaned as she opened her eyes. She was awake, back in the Whispering Woods. Glimmer and Bow were a distance away talking excitedly to each other. Brittni looked to the left and found Adora. Adora gasped, reassured at Brittni's return to consciousness.
"Brittni!" Adora said, trying to stifle her excitement, "I'm glad you're finally awake. I can't believe we let them get to us. We need to get out of here…" Adora's hands were tied behind her back. Brittni attempted to move her arms when she realized that her hands were restrained as well. Brittni growled while struggling. Glimmer and Bow took notice of this and walked over.
"So, our little Horde spies are finally awake." Glimmer said as she bent over, peering into Adora's and Brittni's eyes with a devilish smile. She was leaning on the sword as it was plunged into the ground. Bow was standing a few feet behind her with his arms folded. His eyes looked as though he was disturbed by the situation. Adora looked at Glimmer and glared.
"Stop leaning on my sword!." Adora snapped. Glimmer scoffed, raised her body up, and pulled the sword out of the ground.
"Your sword?" Glimmer said, scornfully, "this sword was found in the Whispering Woods, which is under the Rebellion's protection. Therefore, it's our sword."
"Rebellion's protection, huh? Two guards seems a bit inefficient for an entire forest." Brittni said, facetiously. Adora chuckled a bit. Glimmer growled and raised the sword, pointing it at Brittni. Brittni switched glances between the tip of the sword and Glimmer's irate look.
"You gonna shove that through me like you shoved your fist through Dragstor?" Brittni demanded, convictively. Adora gasped and switched glances between Glimmer and Brittni. Glimmer's scowl was replaced with a mournful and shaken look. Brittni on the other hand, behind her mask, looked resolute in her challenge. Glimmer's lip started to quiver and the sword slowly fell out of her hand. Bow took notice and unfolded his arms. He started walking towards her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Glimmer…?" Bow questioned. A few tears started strewing down her cheek. She shuddered and shook her head. She then glared at Brittni and pulled down Brittni's mask. Upon registering whom it was, Glimmer gasped.
"Y-You! You're the one that was at Elberon!" Glimmer shouted. Brittni's face remained stoic.
"And you're the one that tried to kill me." Brittni said, nonchalantly. Bow gasped and looked at Glimmer.
"I didn't try to kill you! I was just trying to stop the Horde from destroying another town!" Glimmer snapped.
"You threw a guy through a freakin' door." Brittni said, sarcastically.
"I don't need a lecture on morality from somebody that serves a murderous organization! Ugh! Why am I even talking to you?!" Glimme yelled as she put her hands in the air and paced away for a moment. Bow stood there dumbfounded. Adora looked at Brittni, impressed and shocked by her straightforwardness. Glimmer put her head to her hand. Without looking she spoke to Bow.
"Bow, let's get these two spies back to Bright Moon where they can be properly interrogated." Glimmer said. She walked back over to them and picked up the sword, "now, come on! You two, on your feet." The two stood up and all four of them began their sojourn towards Bright Moon. As they ventured forth, Glimmer would teleport around trying to find some kind of vantage point to find where exactly they were; groaning all the while long trying to get Bow's trackerpad to work. Bow stayed behind making sure Brittni and Adora wouldn't attempt to escape. Everybody stayed silent during the trip for a long while. Bow finally broke the silence.
"Sorry about Glimmer, she's usually really nice…" Bow said to Brittni and Adora as they all heard Glimmer growling and groaning off in the distance. Brittni chuckled.
"Did you even hear the part about her throwing a guy through a freakin' door?" Brittni demanded.
"That… okay, well… but that was a war zone. You should meet the real Glimmer." Bow said, suggestively.
"I prefer not to swap pleasantries with our captors." Adora declared, boldly.
"And I met the real Glimmer, she hit me multiple times." Brittni chimed in. Bow started griping. Brittni grinned and added, "don't worry, I won." Bow sighed.
"...Right, anyway, I-" Bow started before he heard Glimmer whimpering, "Glimmer?" Bow asked as he lead the two Horde soldiers towards Glimmer. As they got closer, all three gazed in horror and repugnance. Black smoke permeated the air and only slightly covered the wreckage of robots, buildings… and corpses. Glimmer was on her knees, holding a piece of a broken pot that had artwork on it. Her tears dropped onto the pot, discoloring the art. She looked back at the three who were completely dismayed.
"What… what happened to this place?" Adora demanded. Glimmer stood up and marched over to Adora.
"Don't play dumb! I bet you two were apart of the raiding party that did this!" Glimmer snapped. Adora was taken aback then glared at Glimmer.
"What are you talking about? The Horde didn't do this!" Adora snapped back. Glimmer grabbed Adora's shoulder and guided her deeper into the wreckage and pointed at a destroyed Horde robot.
"You are nothing but a heartless destroyer just like the rest of the Horde!" Glimmer shouted. Brittni broke from Bow's grip and marched over to Glimmer.
"You're one to talk! You call us evil. I saw what you and the rest of the rebel soldiers did at Elberon. You all killed us, mercilessly. Your mayor was a complete psychopath that used magic to torture us." Brittni said as she moved closer to Glimmer. Glimmer squared herself up, "and you… funny that you use the word, 'heartless.' How do you think Dragstor is doing?" Glimmer's glare curved into a somber, regretful look for a few moments. She shook her head then shot back at Brittni.
"You're the ones that instigated the attack! You always do-" Glimmer started yelling before Bow came into the picture.
"Whoa! Hang on, let's all just calm down a little-" Bow started before, in turn, being interrupted by Glimmer.
"I can't calm down, Bow! We can't trust these two! They are members of the Evil Horde!" Glimmer shot back. Adora's eyes widened.
"Who calls us that?!" Adora demanded.
"...Everybody!" Bow said, louder than he meant to. Adora and Brittni switched glances between each other and Bow. Everybody was quiet for a few moments, looking at each other. For some odd reason during this seemingly eternal interchange, Brittni began thinking. She looked at Bow and then at Glimmer.
"Bow is truthful in his conviction, and frankly, he seems like a rather nice young man. Glimmer was visibly upset. Her tears are sincere and her voice is ringing with conviction. Sure, she has been vociferate and hostile with her words and actions… but if the Horde really has done all this damage to her life, can I blame her? Besides… if I have a chance to prevent Glimmer from becoming that evil thing, I need to do that." Brittni thought to herself. Brittni was about to bring a compromise into the situation. She wanted to explain how she felt after the Siege of Elberon and her thoughts regarding the war in general. Maybe if they had a diplomatic talk, they could find some kind of compromise. Before Brittni could open her mouth to begin this diplomacy, however, her thoughts were quickly interrupted by a powerful screech. The group of four turned their attention to the source of the noise. The screech sounded like a bat if it was the size of a rhino and was screaming into a distorted microphone. Soon after their attention was diverted, the group beheld a gigantic limb, at least eight feet high. The limb looked like a thickened, blade end of a scythe that was covered with a grey exoskeleton that had sharpened bumps on it. The group stared in horror as another limb appeared. Yet another appeared until the host of the limbs showed its face. It was the colossal spider that Oracle had spoken of. It looked like a gigantic moth head, with six dark blue eyes and razor sharp teeth. When the creature saw the group, it let out another deafening screech. Bow nocked an arrow in his bow, and Glimmer generated the purple aura around her hands. Bow looked to Glimmer.
"Run or fight?" Bow quickly asked. Glimmer looked at him with a determined look, then back to the creature.
"...Fight."
