Mysterious Alicorn

Chapter 22

My vision was blurred, my ears were ringing. I shook my head in an attempt to clear my mind and pain shot through my head. I gave myself a minute to catch my breath before attempting to make any sense of what was happening. My chamber had been broken open, the ground was coated in the gel and the walls were covered in scorch marks, door blown out of the wall into the hallway beyond.

It took me a few attempts to stand until I rose to a teetering stance, wobbling about but staying up. My hooves slipped and slid along the ground as I carefully made my way across the room to the now open doorway. I stepped over the remains of the door into the hallway, finding it in much the same condition as when I left it, sickeningly bright white and clean, save the remnants from the door. Proceeding down the hallway made me realize I had never thought about what was to the right of my room, the hallway extended that was but I hadn't ever gone that way, so I did.

It wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped, my steps gradually gained confidence as I trotted down the hallway. Eventually I reached an opening, a simple door, easily pushed open which revealed what looked like a grand hall, chandeliers and fancy couches everywhere. A single pair of doors stood at one end of the room, significantly larger than I. As I stepped into the room the door behind me closed, vanishing into the wall, completely hidden.

The most noticeable object in the room, colouration excluded, was a mirror. For the first time in my life, I saw my reflection. The mirror held the image of a grey pegasus, shakey and emaciated; no defining features save a deep brown horn sticking out of my horn I was positive hadn't been there the day before.

"Hey, you there, stop!"

My self-observation was stopped by a pony standing at the top of the stairs, shouting at me. I didn't think, I just acted, taking off at a gallop for the large bronze door. I paused for a moment before opening it, but the sound of being pursued made my hesitation vanish quickly. I flung the door open instantly blinded but rushing forward anyway.

With the first few steps I quickly realized whatever I was treading on was soft, fluffy and wet; the same sickeningly bright white as the walls of my cell. My first few hoof-falls were unsteady but I quickly gained speed. As I galloped I looked up, seeing what I did not realize at the time was the sky, a deep shade of blue, infinity distant. As it turns out, the sky was distracting enough to cause me to not pay attention to where I was placing my hooves.

Falling was a terrifying experience, the feeling of wind rushing past my face was in and of itself terrifying. As I fell my wings instictually attempted to propel me into the air, failing at anything more than slowing my decent, I could see the ground approaching fast. I closed my eyes and flapped my wings harder, bracing myself of the coming impact.

The next time my eyes opened I was looking at the six of my friends and Princess Celestia, all looking at me with worry; some concealing it better than others. Princess Celestia was the first to speak "All you alright?" I nodded in reply, my neck feeling sore, I put a hoof to it and felt wetness running down the back of my head.

"Am I... Bleeding?"

Most of them nodded in unison, Princess Celestia once again being the first to speak

"You thrashed around quite a bit in your sleep."

A short, awkward silence ensued, broken by Rainbow Dash, being her normal impatient self. "So, what did you see?" I smiled, glad to see that nothing had changed while I'd been out cold. I explained I had seen in as much detail as I could. After I'd finished explaining there was a long pause as each pony processed the information after which Celestia spoke

"I already have a large contingent of guards prepared for an assault, no time can be wasted."

I wanted nothing more than to allow the guards to do their jobs, to stay here in Canterlot with Fluttershy, finnially get to have a proper conversation. Some part of me, deep down wanted, no, needed to finish this myself. I knew it might be the end of me, I knew I might not be coming back to the friends who'd taken me in, who'd practically become family. The words that were about to come out of my mouth surprised even me.

"I would like to accompany the guards."

Celestia did not look in the least suprised "If I told you no, would it stop you?"

"No."

"Then I suppose I have no choice"

The other six ponies in the room looked horrified, save Applejack. Twilight was the first to speak up

"What? You can't go, do you have any idea how dangerous that would be? What if you were captured or killed? What would we do then?"

I looked pointedly at the ground and shrugged, avoiding eye contact. Twilight huffed and Rainbow Dash started where Twilight left off.

"I'm all for bravery, but you haven't had any training, you were just poisoned and you can't even fly!"

My wings fluttered uncomfortably at my side, she did have a point. Before I could retort however, Pinkie Pie took up the mantle seeming more angry than surprised or confused

"How could you leave us like that! You can't just walk into someponys life, make them care about you then leave! You can't just do that!"

Rarity remained oddly silent, simply shaking her head. Next was the worst, Fluttershy who had remained silent for the most part, allowing the others to have their say.

"I... I understand why you need to do this, but please don't, I couldn't bear to" She hesitated for a few moments before her voice took a stronger tone "You can't leave, if you die out there... I.." She seemed to be having a hard time forming her words, so I spoke

"I need to do this, if not for me than for you, if he escapes, he'll kill you all. This is our one chance, and if I don't do everything in my power to stop him and he gets away, I could never forgive myself."

She frowned, wanting to protest but not seeming to be able to find the words. Applejack, out of all of them, agreed with me

"Now, I don't know what your plan is, but I agree with ya. Yall go finish what they started."

She put extra extra emphasis on the word 'They' and it was nice to see some support from Applejack. I was reassured of my plan, as much as I didn't want to leave my friends Applejack was right. I had to finish what they started.

God dammit...

This influx of schoolwork has really taken it out of me... nearing the end now.

I AM NOT DEAD! I promise... Just lazy as hell...

Also, for those in the 'cheap seats' the place he was held was made of cloud.