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I'm scared
No, that wasn't right. Prepotente was angry. He was furious at the ridiculous, disgusting, so-called "vampire" hunter. How dare he attack his mother, then die before Prepotente could kill him? Infuriating.
"Shh, it's okay Pony. Don't worry" Despite being paralyzed and stunned, he could feel his mother patting his arm. The harsh rain caused cold to seep into his bones, but all he could focus on was his mother. Her pale skin was filmy and her eyes belayed her deep exhaustion from keeping herself alive through the day. However, that wasn't what he found himself focusing on. No, it was the mark hovering above her, signifying her status as marked by the ring of divine suffering.
I did that, I did that to her
No no, it was fine. They would figure it out. Prepotente was the strongest crawler here, there would be some way to heal himself or break the curse. His infinite well of knowledge would turn up something. Perhaps his sponsor would give him some kind of clue, they'd already shown themselves to be extremely powerful and willing to gift him specific items.
If it wasn't for that Community Pool scroll, we wouldn't have sought the vampire hunter out
"Pony, I got in touch with Carl and Donut." Mother sighed, leaning back against him. He couldn't see her face, but he knew she must be smiling. "They'll be here before sunrise". Good. Princess Donut would undoubtedly help them, and that saggy bag of flesh Carl owed them his life. Either they'd figure out how to safely move mother, or they'd make some kind of cover for her.
"Pony, do you think we would've won that pet competition?" Of course they would've. Prepotente already knew what magic he wanted to cast to enhance his dancing and mother's song. "It has been so long since I last played our song, yet it's all I can hear right now." He felt her fingers tapping on his arm, as though she were pressing against her keys.
I'm cold
"That masquerade didn't sound safe, but…" Suddenly, he felt his mother tremble, despite being unable to feel cold. "I really wanted to play with you again."
Don't worry mother, we'll play in a few days. It'll be as if nothing ever happened. We'll bring everyone on stage, and they can all see how wonderful we are. Don't worry mother, it'll all be okay
They continued to sit in silence for hours, with his mother's soothing pats the only thing he could focus on.
Where are those two crawlers? Don't they know this is the most important quest they've ever been assigned?
Suddenly, mother shot some firework spell up into the air. A few moments later, she did so again.
"They're almost here Pony. It'll be okay" she leaned her head back, pressing into his fur "…you'll be okay." Sure enough, it wasn't long before the bedraggled human and his Princess showed, both covered in watery blood. Their suspicion of mother angered Prepotente, didn't they know they were slowing everything down?
Mother, why are you giving them the spell? Just cast it once you're safe. He understood the caution with his wretched Left to Fester debuff, but he would be fine. Once he was free, it would all be okay. He'd make sure of it.
"You didn't ask me here to protect you. You asked me here to kill you"
"Yes"
…what?
No, what? No…what? He didn't understand. Which was ridiculous, because he understood everything. As he watched the two crawlers talk to each other through chat, he heard mother whisper under her breath.
"Pony, Bianca, I'm not doing this because I want to leave you. I love you. But I can't keep going."
Yes you can
"I'm not strong enough"
You're the strongest person I know. You won't hurt our siblings, I know you have more strength than you think.
"Pony, please take care of your siblings. Bianca, please take care of Pony"
I don't need to be taken care of. I just need you
"I love you, my beautiful babies. I'll always love you"
I love you too mother.
No no no, why wasn't Princess Donut doing anything? Carl clearly wouldn't understand, not with his limited intelligence. But Princess Donut should, she should understand. Mother couldn't die, she was his person. She meant more to him than anything, than everything.
Despite being frozen, he felt his eyes meeting Princess Donut's, and he saw her sorrow. Both crawlers stood by, with Carl's hand pressing his warmth against Prepotente and mother's arm. He wanted to snap at him, to shake him, to strangle him, to beg him to save his mother.
Don't do this mother, don't leave me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and wore the ring. I'll never touch it again, I will destroy it I promise. I'll always listen to you, I won't cry and rampage when you leave, I'll get along with anyone you ask me to. Just please, please, please. Don't leave me.
He was screaming, but he couldn't make a sound.
What am I going to do without you? We can figure this out Mother, I will make our sponsors do something, someone will do something
He thought about the comfort he felt with the other Caprids in the plenty. It was clear they favored him, he knew they would help him.
It's me they favor, not mother
No, no, he could make them. He was sure of it. There was something to be done. This wasn't the solution, it wasn't the end.
I can't make them do anything. We don't really exist to these aliens, these monsters. We are pieces, pawns, things they use in their own plans.
He wanted to rage, to fight against the spell trapping him, forcing him to watch as the sky began to brighten. But he could do nothing against his cage of flesh and magic. He could only watch as the light of the day hit and his mother's skin began to crumble. Once again, he heard her whispered voice.
"You're a good boy, my sweet little Pony. You're a good, smart boy. Live."
…how am I supposed to live without you?
But there was no response as Miriam Dom crumbled to ash.
I wanted to sing and dance with you again.