dark Short Story - For The Queen So Dear

[MDLineArt 93]

((This is an exercise in writing, as I am not a writer by any means, but I wanted to start trying to produce something today, so I am taking the next 30 minutes to just start writing and see what I come up, looking for critique.  This was inspired by the song "Servant Of The Queen - Crysalis Another Story" and I will be listening to this song for tone.  Feedback is valued.))

 

===========================================================

 

For The Queen So Dear

-------------------------------

Beaten, Routed, and Scattered a long ways away, the only thought going through Razorback's mind was the same as he could only assume was the same going through the minds of his brothers and sisters.  How did this happen?

 

Those ponies of Canterlot, that majestic city of spires and high walls was in their grasp.  Changelings, those who's form were malleable, who had held it for but a few moments, were now being thrown through the air after some kind of magical barrier ejected them from their rightful place. 

 

It was then he saw Her.  His Queen, even after being cast aside like the rest of them, still filled him with pride that would never falter.  His eyes only caught her for a moment before the branches of hardwood trees greeted his shell, and a sudden kiss of harder earth stopped his decent with a heavy crashing.

 

Vision going dark, the world still seemed to spin around him as he tried to move.  Stabbing pain greeted him as turned to his side, the membrane of his wing torn, and a yell that Razorback couldn't believe was his own soared through the trees to be greeted by silence. 

 

Still he had to stand, had to get moving.  Lying on his back was painful enough, but even more so was his pride in her was far more grievously wounded.  Stumbling to his feet, and pulling the branches out of the holes that adorned his legs with his fanged teeth, his eyes tried to look about for some familiar face.  The taste of tree sap clung to the roof of his mouth, and it was enough to make him gag.

 

Weakly, he pushed on.  His wing hurt so much, torn and useless.  Now he had to walk along the ground like some pony.  They were probably celebrating a grand victory right now, while Razorback and his brood were left to wallow in the mud.  He couldn't give them the satisfaction of a defeated self, even as he stumbled over himself trying to push forward. 

 

Forward to where?  Where could he go?  That loneliness started to creep in.  Part of being a brood means you are never alone, but even among his heart there was that confusion he shared with the rest of them all. 

 

Then he thought of his beloved Queen.  Mother.  He imagined her fall could not have been much softer,  Where did she land?  Was she safe?  Inside, he could feel it like every changeling could.  Concern, Panic, but above all else; Duty.

 

He pushed through the woods, among tall trees and cast long shadows and day came to night.  Searching, it was quite some time before he could even tell he wasn't alone in the forest.  Shadows moved all around him, ducking behind trees and brush, hiding among the darker parts of his vision.  Pain shot in his side with every step, reminding him there is no escape.

 

He couldn't leave even if he wanted to, but there was no part of him that wanted that either.  Find Queen Chrysalis, make sure Mother was safe.  That figure who had been there since he hatched and as he grew, caring for the whole of her brood, so much so that She would attack the seat of power in all of Equestria just to be sure that they could all feed. 

 

Self pity was cut off by the growls as the sun set, leaving the sky a darkening blue, and the stars came one by one out of hiding, a reminder of the power that those greedy ponies would keep all for themselves.  Wooden claws started to emerge from the darkness, creatures constructed of twigs and sticks and anger pulled themselves from the blackened shadows of wilderness.

 

Razorback started to gallop as fast as his legs would carry, daring not to look back.  There was no reason, and he felt his breath burning his lungs, his legs began to ach, the wounds from the fall taking their tole as the beasts, Timber Wolves, kept chasing for their meal. 

 

For the briefest of moments, he considered changing his form into one of them, it may be safer.  Unfortunately, that would probably only get him delivered as a free dinner for the broken-stick maws behind him, able to sniff him out.  Being wounded, it was clear why they thought about attacking him.

 

Feeling the breath of his pursuers upon his neck, he pushed hard to keep just that one second ahead. 

 

The forest became lit with a sickly green, and the way ahead of him was blindingly light, giving Razorback only the smallest window to throw himself back into the dirt, back to tasting the earth in his maw as he hit the forest floor, turning only in time to see one of the beasts behind him.

 

The light crashed into the timber wolf, throwing it back into the treeline.  It's pack had stopped their chase, and started to spread out, starting to encircle him.  "Where are the others, Razorback?"

 

That voice!  Mother was here!  Bringing himself to his feet, he looked upon her.  Queen Chrysalis, Mother of Changelings, stood with that cold conviction he had admired her so much for.  Bringing himself to his hoofs, he turned to the predators who lurked in shadow.  Razor's voice was shaking and clearly winded from his run.  "I have not seen anyone else, My Queen."

 

Queen Chrysalis looked down upon Razorback, seeing the torn wing that hung just outside of it's protective shell.  "Do you expect me to carry you?"

 

Razorback smiled at the taunting.  If She had shown concern, then he would be worried.  It was unbecoming of a Queen to show such concern in the face of danger.  Never let them take your face.

 

"No, My Queen!" he said with as much false bravado as he could muster.  Mother served as such a good example.

 

There were three more of the wooden monsters, charging out from around them.  From the horn upon his head, he gathered what little energy he could, throwing it forward into a green bolt of energy at the first creature that would threaten his Queen.  Splinters came off the creature's side as it fell back, and Razorback felt his knees give out, collapsing.  He was so weak, so hungry, wounded.

 

His Queen however did not seemed near as worse off as he had feared, and it was clear she still carried much of the power from their attempted conquest of Canterlot.  The first was dispatched with haste, being blown to kindling as she shown Razorback what real changeling magic was.

 

It was the third Timber Wolf though that found it's way close to Mother.  As Queen Chrysalis defended herself against one attacker, the other took upon the opportunity.  Lunging faster than he could believe, She could only turn to see it upon her.

 

A loud crash followed, and the beast was thrown away, but She only stood with her jaw agape. 

 

The sound was comforting.  The buzzing of wings and the feeling of their beating brushing cool wind upon his shell.  Razorback looked up high, and he saw a handful of Her brood.  Sisters and Brothers together, revealed to have found their Majesty. 

 

The remaining Timber Wolves ran off, scurrying into the underbrush, rustling leaves and making their exit. 

 

Razorback started to close his eyes, when Her voice came to his ear again.  "You're not going to lie their all night are you?"

 

A soft smirk came across his face, looking up at Her and the rest of the brood.  Slowly, he tried to raise himself back up once again.  He was spent, muscles not willing to move, pain sharply reminding him that he was still there.  There was something else though.  A fading of hunger, a filling of his heart and a strength of a mother's love. 

 

Rickety legs started to push him upward as he stood.   She looked at him, almost amused that he had literally and figuratively risen to her challenge. 

 

Never let them take your face.