Helter Skelter

The mare sat, shoulders hunched and head low, alone in the forest and hidden from view.  She did not want to be followed now, nor found.  Bright was helpless to fight the tears streaking down her pale blue cheek, but she was determined to evade the stallion she had cared for all along.  The only thing left in the world that had offered any reassurance had vanished with the utterance of a few quiet words.  All because she had fooled herself so thoroughly, chasing after shadows and maniacs in the horrible woods.

And the unicorn had had enough.  The words on the yellowed pages blurred as her emotions lingered, her eyes scanned over the paragraphs, searching…

Bright Eyes had everything here that she needed to rescue her parents - without Aero, without Ave.  Hidden beneath its cover, the book revealed not only the stories of dreaded ponies, but also an indication to how they did it - the magic they used to defeat their enemies, to gain power beyond imagination.  Bright had never desired this before - but now was the time to test her limits.  Now was her moment of reckoning.  She could - she would prove herself.  She would be stronger than ever before.

To fight fire with fire.  Inferno and his ilk would have no idea what was coming.

All it took was a few simple recitations, carefully penned countless years prior by an author who likely never knew the power provided in their written words.

Almost instantly, she could feel a change within her, coursing through her, intoxicating.  Turning, she focused her energy on a fallen tree as she removed the black framed lenses she wore, tucking them into her saddlebag.  She didn’t need them now.

Her horn glowed a blood red hue as she concentrated, the sad feelings melting away.  In a burst of magic, the rotting log was consumed rapidly by flames until there was nothing left but ashes littering the forest floor.  The unicorn smirked.  “That is interesting.”  She felt confident she could decipher where to go to find the castle and its dark master, and with a determined air, she struck out for Inferno’s lair.

Through the dark trees and scattered branches, Aero Dynamic flew. He weaved through the foliage but his mind was in turmoil, his flight unfocused. He lost speed rapidly several times as he shot through leaves and bushes. One branch battered across his face, leaving a nasty cut on his right cheek. Aero ignored the pain, knowing he had to push on.

He had made a terrible, terrible mistake, but that didn't mean Bright had to suffer for it. He had to find her and make things right, if not for his peace of mind but for hers. At the very least, they could attempt to finish this daredevil mission they had found themselves on. After that, if Bright never wanted to see his face again, Aero would live with that. He'd been hurt badly enough by his own poor decisions before to never want someone else to feel that way because of him.

His drive was entirely on locating Bright. Still flying though the Everfree, Aero poured on the speed, he was searching more thoroughly than before. Slowly, less and less branches found their way into his path as the pegasus' natural abilities of flight took hold, his talent coming into play. His senses became more in tune as his focus returned to the mission, dodging every obstacle in his path.

He would find Bright and fix this...

She was stalking through the forest like a feral animal, head ducked, expression hardened, when the faintest sound caught her attention, like a soft breeze in the leaves.  Her eyes turned toward the treetops, and the mare ducked behind a tree to avoid detection.  The unicorn already knew who it was, and she didn’t want to see him.  She certainly had no desire to speak to him then - but it was rather difficult to hide someone with a view from above.

With an irritated snort, she waited until she thought he had passed and she could continue on without interruption.  Her saddlebag was cumbersome now, but it occurred to her that she no longer needed it - no matter that the books were her father’s.  She was not feeling particularly sentimental in her current state. She slipped her worn bag from her back, leaving it where she stood.

No - mostly she felt… Powerful.  Different.  And better - less sad, less scared.

The leaves were knocked from their branches as Aero shot past. His only priority was to find Bright Eyes. Any sign of pony life was a sure sign that she'd been this way. Occasionally, he would spot hoofprints or stray grass that indicated she had been this way.

His wings suddenly pulled back to bring him to a stop when he spotted an oddity. A pile of ashes, partially glowing with amber heath remained in a blackened area of the forest. Clearly, it had been a recent fire, burning away fast and leaving little damage to the surrounding area. Aero's mind couldn't understand how Bright was responsible but he suspected that no-one but her could be the reason for it.

Aero circled away from the ominous omen, following a rough set of tracks that might lead him in the correct direction. She must be here...somewhere...

"Bright? Bright, where are you?" he called out, trying to remain cool and levelheaded in his tone.

She froze in her steps when she realized she hadn't lost him - and he didn't appear to be giving up.  A single ear flicked with annoyance.  The cheerful expression normally worn by the mare was replaced with one of utter hostility - eyes narrowed, nostrils wrinkled in distaste as she glanced upward again, just in time to see a familiar gray form zipping through the trees. The sight of him was not surprising, nor was it welcome.

With a heavy sigh, she paused there.  She knew his eyes were sharp as a hawk's, and he would see her sooner or later.  There was no point in putting off the inevitable.  When she was certain he was close enough to hear her, her words were cold as winter, barely recognizable.  "You can go home now, Aero. I can handle this on my own."

Aero fluttered to a halt when he heard a voice ring out. It's tone was chilling, colder and more unfriendly than he had ever heard it. Yet he recognised Bright's voice all to well. The pegasus spun around feverishly where upon upon he spotted the mare.

He flew down to meet, realising he had just passed her. Relief was washing over him at the prospect of having found her. His mouth opened, ready to insist they return to Ave and carry on to the castle when he came to a halt.

The pony in front of him was different. Physically, it was Bright Eyes, minus her usual glasses which came to him as odd. What chilled him more was the frosty look she was giving him, colder than a Windigo. Her words sent an unpleasant chill up his spine as he stepped closer.

"Listen, Bright...I...I'm sorry about what happened back there, but we need to press on. It's safer if we all go together," he insisted weakly. His usual sense of authority was gone, any strength in his voice replaced by an uncertain strain.

Her glare was centered on the pegasus as he landed close by, but her eyes quickly turned to the forest backdrop behind him.  She could ignore those deep rooted feelings that had developed - but having to look at him directly made it much challenging.  She couldn't give in to emotions now when there was work to be done.

In response to his apology, she merely shook her head.  "No need."  After a second of silence, she continued in the same controlled, chilly voice.  "You are no longer needed.  You'll only be putting yourself into a dangerous situation.  Go back to your life, and I will press on.  I have no fear."  The words had barely escaped her mouth before she was moving again, determination etched on her façade.

All those who knew Aero were aware that he avoided overly optimistic and cheerfully naive ideas. Despite this, the pegasus had some vague hope that Bright would see enough logic in his point to see through her tears and anguish. The response he got was much more chilling.

It stung him, badly. It was more hurtful than any torment he'd felt before. Something was wrong. There was no way she could be acting like this, especially after the sorrow he'd witnessed earlier.

"B-Bright, wait," he called after her, trotting up to her. "You can't! You don't have to do this alone. We...I..."

Aero looked away, unsure what to say to make things right. The mix of emotions running through his head was turmoil. He was furious at himself, hurting for Bright, confused, sad...

"I don't want you to do this alone..."

I don't want you to do this alone.  The words, meant to comfort, undoubtedly, seemed to have the opposite affect on the mare in her present state.  Words she had once longed to hear were now venomous, and she shook her head incredulously.  Again, she stopped dead in her tracks, and again, she wouldn’t look at Aero.  “Wow.  You really are bad at taking a hint, aren’t you.”

As she stood there, still as stone, two thoughts occurred to her: she could let Aero tag along and see what she was about to accomplish.  Or… she could give him a taste of her newfound ‘talent.’

“You see that shrub?  That one, right over there,” she said, indicating with her horn to a large bush ahead in her path.  Without further comment, she concentrated her energy once more, producing an eerie red aura that swirled around her forehead.  With a simple nod, she sent a burst of magic in its direction.  It ignited as easily as kindling, its flames lighting up the entire area before ashes were all that remained. “That will be Inferno, and his pink abomination.”

A cynical smile was all that she offered when she finally glanced toward the pegasus.

This was most certainly not Bright. A cruel irony seemed to be playing on Aero, as his words of 'not being the real you' seemed to ring true at this very moment. The mare in front of him was only Bright Eyes in appearance, and even them her hostile demeanour was almost enough to convince him otherwise. He watched wordlessly as she demonstrated her magic on a nearby shrub, obliterating it into ashes nearly identically what he had seen before.

With frightening alarm, he saw that Bright's horn no longer shone with it's warm golden hue, but rather a sickly red glow. A strong sensation of deja vu struck Aero as he remembered a similar scenario; he and Ave fighting in the Everfree, fighting as the earth pony was consumed with dark magic from his evil tome. Looking around revealed Bright's saddlebags lying a short distance away. It was entirely possible that she could have something like what Ave had taken from the castle in her possession. How long had it been biting away at her, attacking her mind and soul.

With a hint of indignation, Aero stepped into Bright Eye's face, willing the real mare to see him there right in front of her.
"No, you won't. I know what you're thinking," he said, his logic taking a wide leap thanks to the forewarning from Ave. Once again, he thanked his stoic friend for his advice and help, "I've seen what this kind of magic does to ponies and it's not pretty. It turns them, bends them, breaks them. And you're better than that Bright Eyes.

A hoof had risen midair, prepared to take the first step on her war path, when Aero interrupted her.  He stood so close that she had no option but to push him aside or remain face to face.  Thankfully, she chose the latter option.  If only to argue.  “Or, it makes them stronger.  More capable,” she retorted in a challenging tone.

The harsh voice she heard echoed through the forest, and it was not her own.  She blinked hard, a frown tugged at the corners of her lips.  When she spoke again seconds later, her vocals had softened - but barely.  “No magic that I know will be enough.  I never studied anything that would be beneficial.  Besides.  You said I might do dreadful things.  I will do what is necessary.”

It was then that she noticed the cut on the stallion's cheek. “I don’t want-“ she stopped herself short. He had also said that it was natural for her to care, but she fought against the instinct.  “Nothing bad should happen to you because of this.  It will be easier if you play no part.”  And the idea of being watched while in her most furious of moments to come made her feel uncomfortable.  Not that she cared much for Aero's opinion, she reminded herself.

Bright's argument was difficult to flaw, at least in a way that would affect her thoughts. Yet for just a second, he noticed her hesitation as she took note of the cut that he'd pushed aside of his thoughts. It was a glimpse of hope, that the real Bright was still in there.

"N-no. I won't let you go like this," Aero stated, defiance returning to his voice. An idea came to mind. A foolhardy and dangerous idea. Then again, bravery was born of risk. His hooves planted firmly in the ground in front of her as his wings spread wide to act as part of his blockade. "Unless you get me out of your way right now."

He prepared himself, physically and mentally, for whatever magic Bright would throw his way, or to jump to block her if she attempted to move past him or teleport away.

"If you can do that, then I'll let you go."

Despite her dark mindset, the sight of his gray hued wings spread out before her reminded her of something he had said earlier that day - which felt like it had been many years since - about using his wings for warmth.  The memory, along with the vague recollection of the feelings it had inspired only hours earlier, caused Bright Eyes to cringe visibly.  Her tough stance shied away as she took a step backward, fearful of any physical contact.

“Move,” she ordered, though her voice had lost much of its resolve.  She stamped a hoof to show that she meant it, but the strange red magical aura had not returned.  It was clear from the bewildered look on her face that the unicorn had no intention of harming Aero, even in such an agitated state.  The very notion of hurting him had not occurred to her.  He was not the enemy.  He was... well, he was Aero. She didn't want to see him hurt. And the thought of being the one to cause such injuries...

“I’m not going to-- I could never-“ She stammered lamely, unable to continue maintaining eye contact with the pegasus before her.

At this point, it seemed entirely possible that Aero was waiting for the inevitable wave of magic. If only for a moment, the pegasus close his eyes as he expected to feel the wave of magic aura on him at any second. None came.

The dare seemed well worth the risk. Bright persisted and fumed, her angry state still evident in her actions but her determination was gone. The dreaded persistence of her corrupted self seemed to be eroding away by the second as she couldn't seem to face him.

He reached out, extending a foreleg towards hers until his grey hoof rested on her pale blue hoof. The other moved to her muzzle, raising her head so that she was forced to look in his direction.

"You know...I care for you too...right?" Aero admitted quietly, but with no less uncertainty than if he had been announcing it aloud for all to hear.

The sight of Aero bracing himself for an attack multiplied her growing dread of how she looked, how she sounded - He had believed, if only for half a second, that she would do such a thing.  Somehow, that was worse…

Now, with vulnerability on full display, the mare wanted to shrink away, avoid the shame that her odious turn inspired.  But rather than react with outrage, Aero’s actions surprised her once more.  Instead, Bright Eyes felt his hoof on her own.  She didn’t struggle to turn away when she was met face to face.  Inhaling a steadying breath, she focused on the familiar icy blue eyes of the stallion as he spoke.

He was quiet, as expressing himself was not in his comfort zone - which Bright was acutely aware of, even in a state of mental unrest.  The frustration had washed from her features as a feeling of normalcy began to return.  The close proximity of her friend offered solace in her bleakest moment.  After a silent pause, she offered a weak smile.  “I know.”

She leaned closer, just barely, to softly nuzzle her cheek against his.  But soon, she had moved away again, with reluctance.  No time now, when danger was imminent.  The blue mare was grateful for Aero's presence.  She couldn't count how many times she had felt such gratitude now.  How could she doubt him?  She mused aloud, in a hushed voice, “Where would I be without you, Aero Dynamic?”  Lost, alone, scared... She could only imagine, but was glad she wouldn't have to find out that day.

There was still an undeniable curiosity about the power she had briefly tasted.  It was no wonder maniacs like Inferno found success when such raw power was at their disposal.  Bright Eyes certainly didn’t want to be like that - but she didn’t intend to meet her end at the hooves of Inferno and his devious ilk.

“If it is absolutely necessary, a life or death situation, then…”  The unicorn hesitated.  “I will do what I must to save my parents, or myself, or you.  That is a promise.”  She would see this through, no matter what.  She just had to stay smart, and have trust in the pegasus and her own intuition.

Any last remaining hints of anger lingering in that expression washed away. That, more than anything else, was a relief. Bright closed the gap between them as her cheek rubbed against his in a soft nuzzle. After a moment’s hesitation, he returned the gesture. He wanted to comfort her, to let her know everything was okay and all was forgiven. It lasted only a mere second before she pulled away.

‘Where would I be without you, Aero Dynamic?’
The thought was mirrored in Aero’s own head except his was for the mare in front of him. It was clear there were feelings here from both of them. So much could be said right here and now. Despite his usual tendencies to keep his thoughts and feelings withheld and private, it was a struggle even for him not to try and open up.

He could tell from Bright’s trepidation that she too was wanting to hold off from any personal revelations until after their mission. There was also a worry about what had come over the unicorn; perhaps a similar magic to what had overcome Ave, just as the stallion had hinted at. However, now wasn’t the time. The job came first. That was something Aero could do.

He nodded solemnly in response to Bright’s proclamation. He hoped that a life or death situation could be avoided but the perilous nature of this journey so far was less than encouraging. Never the less, it was the mindset he’d hoped to instill in her for the dangers that lay ahead.

“Right, let’s get back to Ave,” Aero stated, gauging the direction he’d left his friend. A pang of guilt hit him as he recalled leaving the earth pony to fend for himself against the archer. He was certain that an unspoken decision had been made between them, and that Ave could handle himself, but the thought of deserting his friend stung Aero badly.

With these thoughts in mind, the pegasus began to lead the way back to Ave.

She was silently grateful that Aero didn’t make further comment on her unseemly behavior and brief foray into fiery, dark magic - or her hint that she would use the powerful spell again, if the fight awaiting them required it. Not that she had expected him to chide or shame her. The quiet tenderness that passed between them was both welcome and unexpected - it was the last thing she deserved then. Both surprising and guileless, strange but natural. Bright Eyes had no cause to doubt Aero, or his intentions.

As Aero’s voice finally broke the silence, a terrible thought occurred to her, and her eyebrows knit with concern - and because her keen eyesight seemed to fade along with the darkness within her. Bright Eyes blinked in a failed attempt to clear her blurred vision. She had almost entirely forgotten about the last member of the rescue party trio in her lapse of sanity, and a wave of guilt replaced any other lingering feelings. “Yes, Ave. We have to find Ave.”

She trusted that the stocky earth pony could hold his own for a time, but in the dark forest, there were surprises around every rotted log and twisted trunk. Quickly, she turned to collect her belongings, including the black-framed glasses - and the ebony-bound book of forbidden magics, along with the dark secrets it held within its pages, was hurriedly tucked away, out of sight. Just in case…