Ch. 5

>Anon was surely saved from certain death by the sudden appearance of Chrysalis.
>But, “out of the frying pan into the fire”, as the saying goes.
>The ruins of Twilight’s tower crumble around him.
>Green and purple flames are everywhere.
>Behind him is a ledge, with a drop that would no doubt kill him.
>Before him are a mad Princess out to kill him for rejecting her, and a wicked Queen who might devour him, or worse.
>Anon can do nothing but watch, his body barely capable of movement as the magic that was flowing through him and empowering him earlier has all but disappeared.
>”If I stay here I’m gonna die.”, He thinks to himself.
>With great effort, he forces himself to limp towards the edge of the tower.
>Tentatively he looks over the edge, then stops himself.
A: Damn.
>It’s too high, of course.
>There’s no way.
>He sighs.
>What’s the alternative?
>Die here or die when Twilight gets ahold of him.
>As much as he appreciates the intervention of the changeling Queen, Anon knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s brought down by Twilight.
>And once she’s down…
>He’s next.
>Just as this thought passes through his mind, a horrible screech pierces the air.
>Chrysalis, in her draconic form, slams to the ground behind him.
>Boiling white energy bubbles over her, searing her carapace, as she reverts to her original form.
A: Shit.
>He was hoping he’d have a little more time, but it’s already over.
>Twilight descends to look down at her defeated foe.
>She is no longer the pony he once knew.
>She is an alicorn of terrible power, her eyes blazing with wicked dark magics.
>Black and white swirls of sparkling energy roil around her horn, while a halo of dark purple surrounds her body.
>This is it.
>She’s gonna kill Chrysalis.
>Anon’s mind races.
>What should he do?
>Should he jump?
>Should he fall down and beg forgiveness?
>He winces as a sharp pain shoots through his head.
>It passes in less than a second, but somehow his vision feels clearer once it’s done.
>He looks at the pitiful form of Chrysalis, curled up in a ball.
>Like when he first found her.
A: God damn it…
>He takes a step.
A: God damn it!
>Before he can stop to think about what he’s doing, he runs towards her.
>His body screams at him, but he ignores the pain.
>Twilight readies her attack to finish off the changeling, so focused on her dread desire that she fails to notice what’s about to happen.
>With a speed he didn’t know he was capable of, he snatches Chrysalis up into his arms without even slowing down.
>Twilight’s spell fires, a beam of dark light barely missing him as runs, its heat singeing the flesh of his back.
>As he runs, the white magic surrounding Chrysalis’s body burns his arms, but with every step more of it fades away.
>He closes his eyes as he hears Twilight roar.
T: ANONYMOUS!?
>Instinct drives him.
>Bolts and tongues of magic fly past him.
>Each misses its mark, but that small comfort is lost on him in the moment.
>Chrysalis weakly raises her head.
C: A-Anon?
>He’s too focused to even notice her voice.
>He looks at the far edge of the tower’s broken wall, quickly approaching.
>There’s no other way.
T: I won’t let you get away!
>Just as he’s about to reach the ledge, Twilight pops into existence before him with a thunderclap of purple magic.
?: Twilight!
>A new voice rings out.
??: Twilight what are you doing?
???: What’s going on?
????: Are you okay?
>Several new voices suddenly distract the Princess.
>She looks up from the subject of her wrath to see her friends, the Elements of Harmony, standing amidst the ruins of what was once her tower.
>Rainbow Dash flies towards her at speed, with Applejack running not far behind.
RD: Stop it, Twi!
AJ: You can’t do this!
>Twilight screams at them, her fury unimaginable.
T: I’m the ONLY one who can do this! He’s MINE!
>Bolts of white and purple fly out, barely missing her friends.
R: We have to stop her!
>Rarity shouts, Pinkie Pie not far behind her.
PP: Twilight! How can you attack your friends?
T: He’s not my friend! He’s…
>Her magic falters for a moment as emotions surge through her mind and body.
>In the confusion, Anon sees an opportunity.
>He leaps from the edge of the tower, holding Chrysalis tightly to his chest.
>They fall.
>Twilight screams with distinct agony in her voice.
T: NO!
>But before she can react Rainbow Dash has wrapped one of Applejack’s ropes around her.
>She quickly snaps it with magic, only to be met with another from Applejack herself, lassoing her hoof.
>Rainbow Dash flies circles around her as a distraction while Applejack yanks her down, with Rarity assisting as best she can with her magic.
>Twilight roars again, magic firing wildly in every direction.
>With great sadness in her eyes, Pinkie Pie watches on.
PP: Twilight… What’s happened to you?

>Falling through the air, Anon is certain now, more than he’s ever been, that this is the end.
>He clutches the changeling Queen tighter, and only then does it strike him what he’s actually done.
>He looks at her, and his gaze is met with her own.
>He’s surprised. She looks almost happy.
>He sighs, resigning himself to his fate.
>But then he feels something push beneath his arms from behind, and hears a urgent flapping of wings.
>He looks up to see a pastel yellow figure above him, struggling greatly to hold his weight aloft.
>Fluttershy.
F: I-I’ve got you! Oh!
>She slips for a moment, but quickly catches him again.
F: S-sorry!
>She can’t stop their fall, but she drastically slows their descent as they plummet through the air.
>With a crash the three of them slam into the room of one of the houses below, breaking through and landing, luckily, on top of a large bed.
>They bounce off, and Anon, still holding Chrysalis, skids across the floor, while Fluttershy is thrown a different direction.
>Splinters and shingles scatter across the room and dust fills the air.
>But they’re not hurt.
>At least not too badly.
A: Ugh…
>Anon stands slowly, shaking the shock of the impact off.
F: Hurry!
>Fluttershy yells at him, her voice uncharacteristically dire.
>She points towards the door of the house.
F: You have to run. We’ll save Twilight.
A: Fluttershy, are you-
F: Go!
A: Right!
>The seriousness in her voice drives all thought from his head.
>He does as she says.
>He runs.
>Out of the house, he runs.
>As fast as he can, he runs.
>Though his legs howl in pain, and his arms and body feel like they’re burning, he runs.
>He doesn’t know where he’s running to, but he runs.
>The sounds of violent magic and shouting ponies slowly fade into the distance.
>The road disappears into the trees.
>The light of the sun dims.
>His breathing is ragged.
>He’s soaked in sweat.
>Blood trickles down his arms and back, from cuts and scratches left by the branches and vines and briars he’s been pushing through.
>His feet, too, are covered in blood, and bruised beyond recognition, having no shoes to cover them with.
>It is hot, and humid.
>The air is stale, and stings his lungs.
>But he does not stop.
>The pain drives him onward.
>The pain is a reminder of why he’s running.
>What he’s running from.
>He can’t stop now.
>He can’t-
C: Anon?
>The unexpected voice startles him.
>Chrysalis.
>He’s been holding her the entire time.
>He looks down at her, cradled in his arms.
>She looks… Smaller.
>Her eyes are beautiful orbs of emerald, sparkling in the gloom of the forest.
>He shakes his head and looks away, focusing his sight ahead.
>How did it end up like this?
>Holding the very monster who got him into this mess.
>But what was he supposed to do?
>He couldn’t just let Twilight kill her.
>Could he?
>No.
>She saved him.
>But so did Twilight.
>A flash of pain rings through his head again, making him wince.
>It’s too late to think about any of that now.
>There was no other choice.
>Twilight had gone crazy.
>That wasn’t the pony he once knew.
>That wasn’t-
C: A-Anon?
>Chrysalis. Her voice actually registers in his mind this time.
A: Yeah.
>His short response comes out with a tone of annoyance that he did not intend.
>But he can’t help it.
>Not at this point.
C: I think… I think I can walk now.
>He doesn’t slow his stride.
A: You sure?
C: Yes.
>He looks down at her again.
>He sighs.
A: Okay.
>He stops.
>For the first time in several hours, he actually takes the time to look at his surroundings.
>This forest…
>The trees are old.
>Some of their trunks as wide as houses, their canopies stretching so high the shadow hides their leaves from view.
>Strange plants with multi-colored flowers, vines covered in wicked thorns, the sounds of birds and beasts.
>A pervasive mist that swirls about between the foliage.
>He knows this forest.
>The Everfree.
>It’s nigh a miracle they’ve made it this far in without incident.
C: Um, Anon?
A: Sorry.
>He kneels, and lets Chrysalis down to extend her hooves to the earth.
>She stands, and sighs in relief.
>Then she looks at him with an uncharacteristically genuine smile.
C: Don’t apologize. I don’t exactly mind being held by you.
>He winces as he stands back up straight.
>Now that he’s not holding her, and he’s not moving, his limbs feel incredibly heavy.
C: You saved me again, Anon.
>She practically beams at him.
>The happiness on her face is almost more painful to him than the soreness of his body.
A: I was just returning the favor.
>He looks off into the distance, but he can’t see much through the trees.
C: I was worried about you. I… The last time I saw you, I…
>Chrysalis thinks of the manticore.
>If only she hadn’t been so foolish.
>So impatient.
>”Why am I like this?” She thinks to herself.
C: Anon, I… I’m sorry.
>He looks back to her, confused.
A: Sorry? If you hadn’t showed up when you did, I’d probably be dead.
>She looks away in shame.
C: No, I… Anon I…
>Should she tell him? Should she confess to her mistake?
C: I’m the one who…
>No. How will he react?
>He’ll be furious. There’s no way he wouldn’t be.
>He’d never forgive her.
>She can’t tell him.
>Anon looks at her sideways, unsure of what she’s thinking, with such a serious, somber look on her face.
A: The one who what?
>She stiffens up.
C: I… I shouldn’t have tried forcing you to love me.
>He laughs.
>It hurts.
>He starts to cough, and decides to sit down on a nearby log.
A: Don’t worry about it.
>He shakes his head in exasperation.
>”These damn ponies.” He thinks. “The always know just what to fucking say.”
C: I see now there was no need to use such tactics.
A: Oh?
>As she looks at him all manner of evil thoughts pass through her mind.
>Thoughts of draining his love.
>Thoughts of bending him to her will.
>But another thought drives these wicked ambitions aside.
>The thought of him whisking her up and holding her in his arms.
>Sharing his love, not because he’s forced or tricked, but because he wants to.
>She blushes.
>She can’t remember ever feeling this way.
>She actually risked her own life to save him.
>She’d never do that…
>But she did.
>Why does he make her feel this way?
>Is it just because he saved her first?
>No.
>That’s the sort of naive kindness she preys upon, uses to her advantage.
>A foolishness that she is all too happy to exploit.
>But now…
>She’s the one who behaved foolishly.
>For this strange creature, this monster.
>This beautiful monster who would stand against those damnable Princesses.
>Would stand against them…
>For her.
>For her?
>Did he really do it for her?
>Is he…
>Is he using her?
>The same way she would have used him before he…
>She looks up at him, and meets his eyes.
>He’s still staring at her, with a look of curiosity and bemusement.
C: Tell me something, Anon.
A: Alright.
C: Why was she trying to kill you?
>He closes his eyes, and sighs.
A: Because I’m… I’m dangerous.
C: Dangerous?
>He rubs his temples, and begins to feel exhaustion creeping up on him.
A: She said- Twilight said I’m dangerous. She told me that my… Emotions… Have an effect on magical creatures.
>Chrysalis turns her head slightly sideways, as she looks him up and down.
C: What kind of effect?
A: She says I’m like a catalyst. That if I… If I share “emotion” with a pony that it’ll fill them with magic and drive them crazy.
>Chrysalis’s eyes widen.
A: And…
>The changeling very slowly moves closer.
C: And?
A: That it’ll fill me with magic, too. And my body isn’t made to handle magic like that.
>Anon sighs again, and looks up to see that Chrysalis is standing right in front of him, staring right at him, wide-eyed and seemingly excited.
C: So that is why your love tasted so sweet.
A: Uh, what?
C: You’re Heartfallen.
>She says this word with a sort of childlike wonder that catches Anon off guard.
A: I’m a what?
C: I always thought it was a myth, a fairy tale…
A: What are you talking about?
C: It makes perfect sense now. You’re Heartfallen.
A: What’s a Heartfallen?
C: Heartfallen is a curse. An ancient curse. So ancient I doubt there are many who even remember the stories.
>Chrysalis seems elated by this revelation.
>Her reaction worries Anon greatly, and he begins to get nervous.
A: What kind of curse is it?
C: You already know the answer to that, Anon.
>He shakes his head.
A: I guess I do. It’s like Twilight said. I can’t love anyone or they’ll go crazy and I’ll probably explode.
>Chrysalis laughs, a hearty laugh that surprises him.
>It annoys Anon greatly.
A: What’s so funny?
C: Oh, Anon. She lied to you.
A: What?
C: Your love would certainly drive any normal mare crazy. I suppose that’s what happened to the “Princess”.
>She says that last word with a venomous tone.
>But you will not explode.
A: What do you mean? So what will happen?
C: You will become powerful.
>Her eyes sparkle as she looks at him with what can only be described as wonder.
>Anon squints at her. He isn’t sure if he believes what she’s saying. But he isn’t quite sure if he believes what Twilight said, either.
A: What’s the catch?
C: Catch?
A: It doesn’t sound like any curse I’ve ever heard of. What’s the catch? There’s gotta be some other downside or something.
>She places a hoof under her chin as she thinks.
C: Hmm. Other than driving ponies to obsessive madness, which I don’t see as a downside…
>She looks excited again.
C: Heartfallen are said to fly into fits of unbridled passion-
>Her voice sounds almost like she’s experiencing orgasmic bliss.
C: -during which they are unstoppable!
>Anon feels uncomfortable at how into this she obviously is.
A: Oh, man. This is too much.
C: This is perfect!
A: Huh?
C: I understand why you saved me, now!
A: You… do?
C: Yes! You need me to help you take over Equestria!
>”Oh God damnit.” He thinks to himself.
A: No, I-
C: The love we give each other will make us both so powerful, nopony can hope to stop us!
>She gets right up in Anon’s face, her huge emerald eyes dominating his field of view.
A: Chrysalis, that’s not-
C: Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be so lucky…
>He feels her hot breath on his face.
A: Look, you’ve got it all wrong.
C: Of course! We should get started right away.
>She moves even closer.
A: That’s enough.
>He stands up, pushing her away.
>The look of disappointment on her face is undescribable.
>It almost makes him feel bad.
C: A-Anon! This is fate! You cannot deny fate!
A: Sure I can.
>He starts to walk away, but she rushes around to stand in front of him again.
C: Wait! Just let me show you.
>He stops.
A: Show me what?
>She smiles.
C: Close your eyes.
A: What? No. You’re going to try to take over my mind or something.
>He starts to step forward again, but her pleading expression makes him hesitate.
C: I won’t try anything like that, I swear. It wouldn’t work on you anyway, you’d just break free like last time!
>He gives her a cold stare.
A: So what are you going to do?
C: Just close your eyes, Anon. I’ll show you there is no reason to be afraid of your curse.
>He stands silent for a moment, considering his options.
>He really shouldn’t trust her, and he has zero interest in what she’s saying is his “fate”.
>But she sounds so genuine.
>And he did break free of her control once already, he probably can do it again.
>”Ah, why not”. He thinks. “I’m too tired to argue at this point anyway.”
A: Alright. Okay.
>He closes his eyes and Chrysalis’s grin widens to a wicked, toothy smile.
A: But if you try anything-
>His words are cut short as Chrysalis stands up on her hind legs, places her forehooves on his shoulders, and presses her lips into his mouth.
>He is taken aback, and opens his eyes immediately.
>Her own eyes are closed as she passionately kisses him.
>Strange feelings well up inside him.
>”What the hell?” He thinks to himself.
>His mind races.
>His body feels…
>Anon closes his eyes again and returns her kiss, leaning into her, wrapping his arms around her slender frame.
>She squeals in delight at his touch, and they fall to the ground together, landing in a patch of soft grass.
>Magic flows through his body, his flesh sizzles and steams as his various wounds heal in mere moments.
>Suddenly, he snaps back to the reality of his situation, and pulls away, breaking the kiss.
>Panting, Anon looks at Chrysalis with a look of shock.
>She just gives him a sultry grin and bats her eyes.
C: See? Don’t you feel sooo much better?
>He can’t even process what just happened, and simply stares at her instead of responding.
C: I know I do.
>She leans in and whispers in his ear.
C: Your love is sublime.
>He finally regains his composure a bit.
A: Chrysalis, you… That was…
>He can’t help but feel entranced by those beautiful emerald eyes.
A: That was amazing.
>She giggles.
C: I’ve never kissed like that before.
>They lay there in silence, staring at each other, for a few moments.
A: So, uh… What now?
C: Well, as much as I’d like to keep going…
>She nuzzles into his neck.
C: We should rest. I can tell you’re tired.
A: It’s too dangerous to sleep in the middle of the Everfree.
C: Nonsense.
>She giggles again.
C: You’re the most dangerous thing in this forest, Anon. Nothing is going to bother us.
>Seeing how content and comfortable she looks, he sighs, and lets out a slight chuckle of his own.
A: Okay. Good night, then.
>He pulls her a little closer, and lays his head down, closing his eyes.
>This is not how he expected this day to end.
>But hey, at this point, it could be worse.

~

>Anon floats in an ocean of stars.
>Alone.
>The silence is gentle, soothing.
>He drifts along, with a feeling of bliss and a grin on his face.
?: This is not what thine heart desired, Anonymous.
>A strange voice resounds throughout the void.
?: Thou hast no evil intent. So why dost thou align thyself with evil?
>A winged mare steps forth from the dark.
>Her form is slender and elegant, her mane flows like the night sky, and her eyes are azure pools of sparkling magic.
>Anon has never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
?: Deny the temptress her prize, Anonymous.
>The mare steps towards him, walking on nothing.
?: Seek thee a means to break thine curse.
>But as she approaches, she begins to fade away.
?: Find the Princess of Love.
>She is almost gone.
?: Go to the Crystal Empire.
>With that final word she vanishes.
>The void is empty.
>The stars are gone.
>The silence screams.

~

>Anon is wrenched awake by an overwhelming sense of urgency.
>In a cold sweat, he starts to panic.
>But when he looks around, he realizes he’s still laying in the grass in the Everfree Forest.
>All is quiet.
>All is calm.
>Chrysalis is curled up in his arms, sleeping.
>He looks up to the sky, obscured by the trees above.
>Under his breath, he curses at himself.
A: I’m so fucked up…

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