A/N: I noticed that their timelines are not aligned, so I am going to try to do that. This chapter could be small for Sapphire or really long for Daisy. Also, I'm doing a little improvising in the chapter and character switching. In addition to that, I added something to the first letter of the chapter. Enjoy reading!
Sapphire looked to the sky, the white puffy clouds on top of a light blue. She breathed the scent of beautiful flowers as she passed a patch of golden-red colored rose-like flowers. She reached for one, but stopped as Blitz called her name.
"Sapphire! There's no time to stop!" She called, already a little ways away. Her wounds seemed to have not been very bad after the night had passed. They seemed to heal very well. Her magic had worked.
"Yes, I know. Just hold on." Sapphire said, reaching for the flowers, but something compelled her to not. She put her hoof down and smelled blood from the roses. It was a putrid smell that stung her nose. She lunged back as the flower snapped out at her. She ran after Blitz and kept pace.
"So, how far do you think we went?" Blitz asked. She looked around, seeing that there were no landmarks that were familiar. "Hmm…" she mumbled.
"Too far… I don't remember any of this. In fact, the plants are carnivorous here… That rose back there nearly got me." Sapphire said, stepping in pace with Blitz. "And what's that Hmm for?" She asked.
"Nothing, and the plants aren't carnivorous. You are just imagining thi…" Blitz was cut off as a vine wrapped around her hoof and drug her into the air. "Waaahh!" She screamed as she went up. "Help, Sapphire!" She yelled down to her.
"I don't know, do you think they are carnivorous now? I mean, it's not like it's lowering you down into it's mouth or anything." Sapphire said, watching idly.
Blitz looked down to see the gaping mouth of a tree with sharp teeth, feel herself lower, and hear Sapphire talk to her so nonchalantly. "Yes! I believe you now! Just please help me!" She begged, a sob in her voice.
"Okay." Sapphire said, a smirk on her face as she approached the tree. "Hey, tree." She said. She watched as it's mouth closed and it turned it's face to her. "Mind putting my friend down? You see, we need to…" Sapphire stopped as she was scooped up as well. The tree seemed to laugh at them as they started to lower.
"Great going, genius. Now we are both going to be eaten. This is all your fault." Blitz said, glaring at Sapphire.
Daisy woke up in her bed. She felt light-headed as came to. She groaned as she heard Ditzy Do call her name. She waved a hoof and said, "Leave me alone. Let me sleep…"
"But… I thought you may want some of my lasagna from last night for breakfast. I mean, after all of that. Oh! Don't sit up!" Derpy gasped as Daisy attempted, but fell back.
Daisy tried to sit up, but stopped as the world around her spun and a searing pain pierced through her sides, her hoof, and other parts of her body. She fell back with a thump on the pillow. "Ow!" she groaned as she fell back. "Wha-? Oh, nevermind. I remember now." She said, the memories of the night before coming back to her. Tears came to her eyes from both the pain that surged through her injured and torn body, and that of her friend dying at her hoofs. She despised Fallen and Shadow for this. It was all their faults. Fallen could have persuaded him. She could easily persuade a lot of ponies. She slumped her head on the pillow and closed her eyes. "Yes, I would like some of the lasagna." She said, not holding the tears back. She just didn't want to sob in front of her cousin.
"Okay!" Ditzy said, leaping up and out the door as she slammed into the doorframe then into something outside the door. Daisy heard a crash and a shatter, then she heard Ditzy's voice. "I'm okay!" Then her hoofsteps into the kitchen.
"Aww… My favorite vase… It held some flowers from a special somepony…" Daisy said and sighed. Whatever. It doesn't matter anymore. He's stripped me of any emotions of happiness and love left… Damn you, Shadow Nexus! Daisy thought to herself before an especially rambunctious Ditzy came into the room. "Hey, how'd you sleep last night?" Daisy asked.
"It was okay. I mean, it could have been better if you were there. I always love having my favorite cousin keeping me warm at night. I hope you feel the same." Ditzy said, smiling.
"Always. I love my cousin. It's just that we are too old for that now. I'll read you a bed-time book tonight if you want." Daisy said.
"Yeah! Tonight, okay? Don't go anywhere." Ditzy said, placing the plate on the table next to Daisy.
"Don't worry, that's already taken care of." Daisy chuckled. She smiled at Ditzy, who seemed to be so caring, even if she's picked on all the time. Then again, she was her cousin. Daisy painfully picked up the for between her hoofs and stuck it in the lasagna. It seemed different this time. It almost seemed to be good. She took a bite of the new lasagna, as Ditzy had apparently eaten all of the last one, and found a large surprise. The shock of the taste was enough to make her forget her pain. It burned, stung, was too sour, too salty, bitter, sweet, and crunchy all at once. Daisy found it hard to swallow this and took a deep breath when she finally did. "Wow… It's… Great." She said, trying to spare her cousin's feelings. It was hard to have a cousin that was so sensitive and had some… problems. "Could I get an apple please? You know, just a snack to go with this?" She asked.
"Ooh! Yeah! That sounds delicious!" Ditzy said, flying out again, hitting the same spot in the doorframe, then landing in the hall with a few cracks of glass. "Maybe I should clean that up…" She muttered as she got up.
Daisy quickly grabbed the plate and scraped the horrid food into the garbage next to her bed. She then threw a few old things on top of it. She didn't like them anyway. She just never got the chance to do this before. She barely had time to get back into position as the pain was taking over when Ditzy came into the room with two apples, one for each of them.
"Wow, did you eat it all already?" Ditzy asked.
"Yep. It was delicious. You should really make some more, but different this time. Surprise me." Ditzy said, almost afraid for her life at this point. Remember, she can only get better. She thought. Her smile held out as the apple was place on the table next to her. "Thanks." She said, taking it into her hoofs and taking a bite.
"You're welcome. I hope you get better soon. I mean, you looked pretty beat up." Ditzy said as she was going to take a bite, but stopped as the doorbell rung.
"Ditzy, would you be so kind as to get that please?" Daisy asked, swallowing the food.
Ditzy let out a gasp. She loved answering the door and meeting ponies. She flew out the hall, yet again hitting that one spot. She then got to the door and opened it. "Oh, hi Ms. Fallen… Yeah, she's right in her room. She's pretty badly hurt though. She hasn't told me what it was from yet, though… Oh… Okay. Sorry. I just wanted to know." Ditzy's voice became crestfallen as the conversation ended.
Daisy heard the pair head down the hall and reach her room. When she looked over, Derpy had tears in her eyes and Fallen held her normal stoic look. "You should really be nice to her." Daisy scolded.
"And who are you to tell me this, Daisy?" Fallen Lightning asked.
"The owner of this house. As long as you are in here, you listen to me." Daisy said. She obviously knew her rights here.
"Hmm. You are right. I guess I should respect that." Fallen said, slight annoyance poking through her disguise of that emotionless expression. "I came to talk to you about something. Well, your promotion." She said, sitting on a chair nearby.
"Not until you apologize to Ditzy for being rude." Daisy said. She looked to her cousin, who was now lightly crying next to her bed. Her crying was stifled and really quiet.
Fallen sighed and looked at Ditzy. "I'm sorry for being disrespectful and using the tone of voice and words that I did. I should have just said that it was classified and that I couldn't tell you." She said. It was hard to tell if she was sincere, with her normal, emotionless tone.
Ditzy sniffled and looked over towards Fallen Lightning. "I-it's okay… But please be nicer next time." She said, wiping her nose.
Daisy took a breath in and looked to Ditzy. "Hey, Ditzy, could you go and make some lasagna? I want to see how your next one will taste like." She said.
Ditzy smiled and her eyes lit up. "Sure. Anything for my cousin." She said and left the room at a normal pace now. She then shut the door behind her as if she understood what Daisy meant to say, which she did.
"Good, now let's speak of what I came for, but it has to be brief." Fallen said, standing next to Daisy's bed.
"Oh, but won't you stay for her wonderfully delicious lasagna? I heard she was making it differently this time. Besides, if I do die from it, I don't want to be the only one to do so." Daisy chuckled. "Oh well, continue." She said, laying back down, pain coursing through her spine and sides.
"Shadow Nexus sent me here to tell you that you are to be promoted into the trustworthy ring. We shall be expecting you for the ceremony. It will be held in two days, when the moon is full." Fallen said, her head high. "Don't be late, it starts at sundown." She finished, then turned for the door.
"Wait, how am I supposed to move in my condition? I passed out and I can't even get out of bed." Daisy said.
"I'll have a little drink sent your way." Fallen said, exiting the room to continue on her quests and errands.
Daisy listened as the front door shut, then Daisy came down the hall. "What was that all about?" She asked as she entered the room.
"Just a promotion. Should be getting a better pay now." Daisy said, smiling as she chuckled.
"Ooh, goodie. The lasagna will be done shortly. I have a friend who was willing to use a magic flame to help." Ditzy smiled, then hopped out of the room.
"Oh, goodie…" Daisy muttered, then sighed as she closed her eyes.
"We're so doomed!" Blitz cried out, flailing to get free. It was all in vain, however, as the tree's grasp tightened. "Oh, come on!" She growled, breath coming harder to her.
Sapphire stopped moving as she watched Blitz. "Stop squirming and it won't tighten, you idiot. Just… Just let me think." She said.
"No! I won't stop until it lets me go!" Blitz yelled.
"Calm down! It's only making it worse that you are panicking!" Sapphire said, wishing she could just slap some sense into Blitz right now.
"Never! I- hmmph!" Blitz felt the squeezing tree make it near impossible to breath now. She started to panic and the loss of oxygen brought weakness.
With a flash, the vines that were holding Blitz were cut and she plummeted to the ground. She felt the greatness of oxygen in her lungs again and she took it all in, until she couldn't anymore. She then let it out and looked up to see Sapphire fall to the ground too. "What just happened?" She asked, seeing the tree start to flail and let out disturbingly gross sounds of anger and frustration.
"I don't know, but let's not stay too much longer." Sapphire responded, taking Blitz by the hoof and running into the open ground. "Should be safe here." She said, watching the tree flail about, trying to find it's assailant.
"I hope so, that was a close one." Blitz said.
"It certainly was. If it weren't for me, you two would be fertilizer for that tree there." A lightly gruff voice sounded behind them.
The two spun around to find a male pony with a gray mane and dark silver fur covered with dark purple armor. "Who are you, and why'd you save us?" Sapphire asked, an almost hostile tone in her voice. She tried to hold that part back, but only partly succeeded.
"Oh, well excuse me for trying to be merciful. I was only doing a scouting mission for Luna when I found you two and…" The stallion was cut off by Blitz.
"Wait, wait, wait. For luna? Like as in Celestia and Luna?" Blitz asked.
"Who else is named Luna, Blitz?" Sapphire asked, rolling her eyes and sighing.
"Yes, for that Luna. I'm sure there's only one. Anyway, I found you two and I noticed that you were in trouble, so I decided to help you two and save your flanks, unless you want to go back there and apologize to the tree for not becoming it's food." He raised an eyebrow.
"No, no, we're good." Sapphire said.
"I could have done it without help." Blitz said.
"Sure you could have. Anyway, where are you two headed?" The stallion asked.
"Ponyville. Our train failed to stop and it crashed. Would you mind helping us get there?" Sapphire asked.
"Sure, why not? It's along my way back anyway." He said, then looked to the two. "And by the way, my name is Silver Dust." The stallion said.
"Sapphire Ruby, and this is Blitz Fire." Sapphire said, gesturing in turn to each of the two mares.
"Yeah, we all know each other, now can we please get back to Ponyville?" Blitz asked.
"Ah, yes, we should, if we are to make it back by dusk. It's quite a ways, and quite a bit of time without flying." Silver Dust said.
"Well… I guess you two could carry me…" Sapphire said, then realized that she sounded ridiculous. "Actually… Never mind, that was stupid of me to say." She said, then walked on.
Blitz and Silver looked to each other and nodded, grins coming to their faces.
Sapphire felt the ground in one instant and the air the next. "Waah!" She shrieked, then realized it was just Blitz and Silver Dust carrying her by her ribcage. "A little bit of warning would have been nice!" Sapphire scowled at Blitz, who just chuckled.
By the time they reached Ponyville, the sun was almost at the edge of the earth and the moon was on it's way up. Sapphire felt her hooves touch the ground and she was grateful for the escort, but the town seemed to be a little… empty. "Where could everypony be?" She asked
"I don't know, we just got here." Blitz said.
"Could be a variety of things, Sapphire. But it's best not to think about it. Just return to your houses for the night." Silver Dust ordered.
"Actually, I have something that should really be delivered to Luna. Would you be able to take me to her?" Sapphire asked.
"Not right now… I've heard some things about you while I was undercover. You're being watched, and for a purpose. I think they suspected that I was there, for they didn't tell what for they were watching you. Just, stay low, hide for today, then they can't find you. I shall bring you the necessities for a disguise. Until then, just stay hidden." Silver Dust said, flying off.
Sapphire understood what he was planning, even if she hadn't had the slightest clue a few seconds before. "Come stay with me tonight, Blitz, I will need you there for now." She said, taking to her house with Blitz right behind her, not questioning a thing.
By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the sun was well below the sky and the moon now shone its glory over Equestria. "Maybe we should have gotten here sooner…" Blitz commented.
"And how do you suppose we could have done that?" Sapphire asked.
"I don't know." Blitz admitted.
As they made their way through the forest and the dark, the sounds of the night echoed through the terrifying woods. The trees seemed to come alive and reach down, but never far enough to touch them. The distant howl of timber wolves sent shivers up and down Blitz's spine. "Are we almost there yet?" She asked, her voice shaking.
Sapphire's gaze scanned the woods, as she knew it was never safe, especially at night. Her attention snapped to her left as the sound of rustling leaves was heard. Nothing. She sighed and turned her head to the right and came face-to-face to a manticore. With a swift paw swipe, she was sent sprawling through the air. She smacked hard into a tree. She forgot about Blitz as the huge creature started to lumber its way over to her. She let out a wheezy and weak "No… Please," and winced as she felt its hot breath spray her cheek and shoulder. Her vision blurred for a second and the beast became a fluffy lion. A fluffy lion with a fluffy stuffed blur smashing into its side. She could have sworn that she even heard a squeak when they hit.
Blitz flew at the beast from the side and rammed it as fast and hard as she could. The impact let out a squeak from her mouth and she fell flat to the ground. She looked up while the manticore wheeled and landed on it's back. It quickly squirmed and found its footing. Then it all happened so fast. The manticore was there one second, then the wolves were upon it the next. The timber wolves had come from nowhere. Must be fighting for who gets to eat us. Blitz thought. She also thought that now was their chance.
Blitz looked quickly to Sapphire, who was up now, and already on her way down the path. She looked to Blitz and her eyes seemed to be saying, "COME ON!" Blitz quickly opened her wings and went to take off, then screamed in pain as the teeth sunk into her wing. She felt the bone snap and her body flying through the air as it shook her violently. She hit the ground and her left wing felt like it was stuck in a boiling pot of melted metal. She got up weakly then looked to her wing. Her stomach churned and released its contents; stomach acid. After she finished puking, she realized that she was in an enclosed dome of black. Complete darkness. However, she could still see the ground like the moon was shining on it. She could hear the sounds outside, but couldn't see. The manticore was still fighting, and the wolves sounded like they were being blown apart with every swing of its paw. The scattering sound of sticks and twigs happened again with the yelp of a wolf, then she heard the sound of something hitting her bubble, then it sounded like it had been instantly burned. The darkness gave way to the moonlight as it melted.
Sapphire watched the whole thing go down, then she wanted to protect Blitz. She watched as her wing was ripped from her shoulder. The timber wolf gobbled its food up really quickly, then went for seconds. That's when she had put the shield around her. The wolf jumped back into the paw of the manticore.
After the shield melted, Sapphire grabbed Blitz with her magic and hauled her over. She quickly used her magic to teleport them to her house. In the quiet of the house, the blood coming from Blitz's wound splashed through the living room. With another heave, Blitz let out all of her remaining stomach acid. After that, she staggered a couple feet forward, then fell to the floor.
Through the pain of teleporting both of them, Sapphire felt a pounding headache and listened to the splashing of the liquids on the floor. She instantly reacted by freaking out about the mess it was making.