Part 2: Chapter 2: A fiend In Need
Alpha's heart stopped. He stood in front of the Ex-princess, frozen, unable to move.
"Suicide?" He asked once he was able to move. "As in taking his own life? Ending it? Dead?"
Luna nodded, her face full of depression. "Yeah."
"How long has this been going on?"
"I don't know, Delta told me about it 2 weeks ago. Ever since then, it's been getting more and more worse." Luna said, looking at Alpha, worried.
"Where is he now?" Alpha asked, his heart rate rising. He shifted his stance.
Luna didn't reply, she just kept staring at Alpha.
"Luna, where is Charlie?" Alpha repeated.
"I don't know."
Alpha stood in his place for a full two heart beats before turning on the spot and galloping out of the shower room, running for Charlie's room. The door was closed, but that never stopped him. He placed his metallic appendage in front of his shoulder and ran into the stone wall, forcing it open. Charlie's room was empty. Alpha began to slightly tremble visually. He disappeared in a flash of light as Beta teleported himself to the Cafeteria, then to the Training rooms. He teleported into each room; the lounge, pool, metal work, rock work, mining shafts, rock climbing wall, looking for Charlie. Once after checking all the rooms, Beta teleported himself to the outside peak of the mountain and looked around.
Alpha took a breather and looked around, knowing that although he was fond of his new wings, Charlie did not have the stamina to go very far. The sun was setting down on the horizon giving a cherry red glow to the already purple, star-filled sky, and snow was falling slowly to the ground, in its no-two-snowflakes-are-the-same way. Not a single chirp from a bird or a branch cracking under the weight of a bear was heard. Total peace.
He always liked the snow, although cold, it made him feel peaceful. Its color, although only white, gave him a perspective on his own life. Important, but always seen last, always in the background, he thought as he took off into the sunset and looked around for any clue to where his friend went. He saw Celestia bring up the moon and, instead of hiding from her, flew close and watched her as she raised the moon. He gave a huff of recognition and respect, before flying to Cloudsdale, looking for Charlie.
"What was that for?"
"What do you mean?"
"That huff you did just now, was it out of annoyance or anger?"
"Neither, I was just watching her.
"Celestia? Why?"
"Just curious."
"About what are you curious of her?"
Alpha shook his head. He didn't know why he was curious. He was curious of his one only enemy who could actually end this all if she wanted to. "Why did she not end it all where it started? She could have just killed us when she wanted to. Why wait?"
"Some things are better learnt than told."
Alpha nodded then took off for Cloudsdale.
"You know where he is, don't you?"
"Yeah, it's where I would go if I was him."
Beta groaned as the two headed for the factory.
Luna was standing in front of Beta's tomb. She was worried sick about Charlie, hoping that Delta, Alpha, and Beta would be able to stop him in time. She let out a sigh.
"Worried about Charlie?" said a female voice behind her.
Luna recognized the voice and nodded. "Yeah, I am."
Chrysalis nodded and stayed her ground, watching Luna. "I wouldn't worry about him too much."
Luna turned around, offended. "Why should I not worry about him? He is at that bullshit hell hole, ready AND willing to commit suicide."
"Yeah, but Delta wouldn't let him."
"How so?"
Chrysalis sighed as she remembered the Battle of the Victims. "I was Delta's best friend. Although he couldn't really use magic, he was astounding with his way of words."
"What are you talking about?"
"I…was depressed before." She said, her head down low. "Changelings used to be normal, non-mutant ponies. I was an Alicorn, brought up secretly by Celestia herself when she began to become lonely. When I became a changeling she kicked me out, banishing me from the castle." She looked up to see Luna shocked. "I met Delta a short time before Celestia adopted me. He was a mutant, but unlike others, he was proud of it. He didn't care if he would get hurt by others; he would stand up for other mutants. One mutant that he defended from some bullies was Beta himself."
"Wait, what!?" Luna interrupted. "Delta saved Beta?"
Chrysalis nodded. "Beta was eight when he learned about his "gift". As you know, back then if you were different, you were horrible discriminated. Beta was being beat up by several bullies, all much older than him, when Delta stepped in and broke it up, scaring off the bullies by conjuring Sombra to show himself. After I was kicked out for the mutation that was occurring to me, I was very depressed." Chrysalis continued, changing subject." But Delta was there for me. He kept me out of the dark days I had, and treated me as if I never changed."
Luna stared at Chrysalis. Her green eyes glowed with what? Envy? "Why are you telling me this?"
"Delta," Chrysalis said. "will do everything in his power to keep Charlie alive. The same can be said of Alpha, but much, much more than Delta could ever wish."
"I can see how Alpha would help him. He treats him like a younger brother of his. But more than Delta can ever wish?! I don't think that's right."
"That's not what I meant. He sees him more than a friend/younger brother. But, I would think they would appreciate any help right now."
Alpha was near the factory when the memories of pain began to seep into his mind. He felt his anger rise as he remembered the years of pain and loneliness he endured. But that wasn't all that began to seep into his mind. The thought of Charlie committing suicide created some sort of panic that had combined with his anger and pain, creating one hell of a burst of energy. He froze in mid-air, just hovering 200 meters before the factory.
"Alpha, is everything alright?" Beta asked, worried.
Alpha didn't reply. He just stared at the factory. He landed on a nearby cloud and began to, instinctively, retract and extend his metallic brace.
"Alpha-" Beta began to speak when Alpha bolted towards the west wall of the Factory, leaving a Sonic boom behind him. He headed for the wall, head first. It exploded as Beta fired a bolt of magic at it. Time froze as Alpha absorbed what he saw. On his left were four Royal Guards, their helmets casted away on the ground, playing poker on a table. On his right were another two guards, leaning against the wall, chatting. Straight ahead was the corridor. Alpha tilted to his left, and landed, destroying the table with the excess momentum he had and spun 270 degrees counterclockwise, his right wing extended, decapitating the guards in a deft swipe. Beta killed the two guards that were left with a bolt of glowing white metal, easily impaling them. Without missing a beat, Alpha spun around another 70 degrees counterclockwise and galloped down the corridor. He took numerous lefts and rights as he navigated through the maze of dark hallways. Eventually he found his way to the cells, but when he found it, he almost wished he hadn't. Alpha skidded to a halt and froze. Standing in front of Alpha stood a whole platoon of Royal Guards, spears at the ready.
Beta rose within him, shifting his weight to his hind legs, extending both metallic wings and was about to go berserk when Alpha heard grown stallions screaming above them. He looked up at the roof with confusion. He felt a hoof hit the back of his neck, not hard but light. He looked to his right to see a dark grey pegasi, his armor a deep shade of purple, streaks of a bright vibrant purple glowing, outlining the metal.
"Sir, we got this." He said with a deep voice, tilting his head to the side, as if pointing at something behind him. His eyes were a dark pink, his hair black.
Alpha looked behind him to see nothing, just the corridor, and the lights still flickering. He turned around and looked guard. "Who is "we"?" He asked, confused. "Look again, behind you." Replied the guard. This time, Alpha turned around fully to see a whole platoon of guards, their armor glowing in purple, slowly uncloaked, and revealed themselves.
One pony broke through the ceiling and landed right next to him. Alpha looked to his right and felt his jaw drop.
Her armor, another variant of The Dragon Metal, was covered in dried blood. She had her helmet on, and her teeth, razor-sharp, although normally would be white as snow, were covered in streaks of red blood. With skin color that matched pitch-blackness, the moon-shaped cutie mark, which seemed to give off its own moon light, and the light-blue, oval shaped eyes with that mane and tail that seemed to peer into a void full of stars, Nightmare Moon stood beside Alpha, battle-ready and eager to fight.
"What?" She asked, looking at the jaw-opened Alpha.
"N…nothing." He stuttered. He has seen Nightmare moon before when she tried to kill him, but never up close. "What are you doing here?"
"Thought you needed help." She turned her attention to the guards in front of her. "Seems like I was right. Go find your friend and save him. We'll deal with them."
With saying that, she ran towards the wall of guards. Several guards threw spears at her. Nightmare Moon grinned and easily dodged them, and jumped into the crowd. She spun; her wings spread open, decapitating several guards in the process. Once she had her own space, she lunged out to the nearest Guard, a Unicorn, and grabbed his horn. With a strong and fast tug, she ripped off the horn. With a complicated twists and arcs in the air, she tossed it up and caught it with her hoof, the end point of the horn facing behind her. Standing on her hind legs, using a horn as a makeshift dagger, both wings spread, Nightmare Moon was Death's best friend.
The Guards behind Alpha began to rush towards the broken wall of disorganized Royal guards, eager to get their fair share of kills. Alpha had no problem with that and let them pass him as he made his way towards the machine room. He heard the sound of cell doors being destroyed and smiled. The Cell inmates have decided to join Nightmare moon and fight the guards as well. He heard one particular guard screech in agony as if somepony attacked him with a cattle prod.
"Gotta love ." Beta replied in glee.
"Yes you do." Alpha agreed as he made his way into the machine room. He froze to a halt when he saw Charlie sitting in front of the machine, watching a filly being horribly and brutally destroyed and killed. He then stood up and began to step into the machine.
The last thing Alpha heard before his mind went into overdrive was Beta telling him about something. But it was too late. He bolted forward Charlie when Beta instantly took over, forcing Alpha to stop.
"Beta, NO!"
"Listen to me Alpha. It's not him!"
Alpha stared at Charlie, who oddly, had stopped moving toward the machine and began to transform. His tan skin began to turn white. He grew in size and grew wings as well. He had a horn. He changed gender.
"Shit…"
This Alicorn was white. Having a crown upon her head, her cutie mark the shape of a sun that was created by the Human Greek artists appeared on her flank. She turned around and looked at Alpha.
Alpha slowly began to step away from the Alicorn, his eyes wide and his breathing slowed.
Her eyes were pink. Her horn long and tall, her mane and tail, a vibrant light variant of what seemed to be a rainbow sparkled and flew around, as if un-affected by gravity.
"It has been a very long time, Beta. It's an honor to meet you Alpha." Princess Celestia said with a grin. "Let's talk."