There she was.
Psychedelic froze the moment he came upon her at last. For the last year he had been searching for her across each island, reliving moments of their lives together but never actually having her with him. The laughter of children became warped memories of when she had clung to his hip and called him Mamapapa and he’d felt like something in his life mattered. The cries of a mare reminded him of later on in their lives, when he was frustrated with how much he cared about Talya, feeling stunted by having her clinging to him, and he would physically lash out against her to get the emotions out.
He was far physically healthier than he’d been a year ago. No longer did his skin hang off his bones, nor were his shoulders or hips pointed and lacking muscle. His determined travel across the islands had gotten him ironically in the best shape he’d been in quite some time. Having something tangible to focus on - finding Talya - kept him focused.
Unfortunately, his mind crumbled. No longer did that companion, the same one who’d always been alongside him since he was a lonely colt, speak to him. Psychedelic lived entire days in different realities, often lashing out and filled with overwhelming rage at the confusion that followed. It began to bleed together. One thing remained consistent, and it was that he always lived a moment he was with Talya. She became what he was transfixed on, feeling some unknown pull with his looming death that he needed to see her before the clock ran out.
And now here she was.
Psychedelic felt like he couldn’t breathe, and it wasn’t the thick humidity of the pre-storm tropical air that had done it. They were staring at one another, both looking frightened for different reasons.
Then, he looked down at the movement of something stumbling around and hiding behind her red-stained hindquarters. A foal.
He remembered. Years ago, he’d managed to slip back to the islands under a false identity. Exploiting the kind heart of Persephone, the Forest queen, he convinced her he was an old father looking after his “special” daughter. Inevitably it’d all fallen to pieces. Talya had managed to get pregnant and he’d known he would have to take care of the child just like he took care of her, and he’d worry about someone else other than himself. The panic set in his heart and, by the time her foal was born, it’d festered into barely-contained rage.
Then, Evaline resurfaced. His cover was blown, he’d fallen back on old habits and abused a sweet mare in the Forest who’d trusted the false identity he acted as. Persephone was going to murder him. Talya’s daughter had something wrong with it, it had trouble breathing and its nose was constantly crusted in snot. Psychedelic could hardly handle the thought of looking after another child, let alone another one with issues.
Since Talya had liked Persephone and reunited with her mother, who he knew would poison her against him, time was running out. Psychedelic had come upon Talya and her daughter deep in the Forest; they’d just been running and the babe had lost her breath and was taking in great big gasps that sounded unnatural. Talya was looking worriedly at her…
Psychedelic charged. Before either could react he’d had his granddaughter's neck in his teeth and he’d shaken her as hard as he could. Her little body had flung about, there was a strange snap, a pop, and when he tossed her down she was limp. The saddest noise had come screeching out of Talya’s mouth as she began to sob and collapsed by her daughter’s corpse, pulling her frantically with her pink muzzle to cuddle her up against her chest.
Psychedelic’s sides were heaving…. In real time he was standing in the Atlantis jungle, having come across a much older Talya having given birth to a brand new child he’d never known. But his mind was trapped. Before him all he could relive was his greatest sin.
Talya. His voice had been cold as he looked at her sobbing and holding tightly to the dead girl. Do you see what happens when you don’t listen to me? He’d made himself sound as angry as he could, knowing she would be scared and would say whatever she felt would make him kinder.
Yes, Mamapapa, I’m s-s-sorry.
He’d ushered her off the islands, but he’d been haunted by what he’d done, and he’d taken it out more and more on Talya. The more he abused her, the angrier he became that he couldn’t help but harm her, until finally he’d forced her to forget him. Then there had been bliss…
Psychedelic’s eyes snapped down from Talya’s fright-stricken face and to the babe.
He knew what he needed to do. He remembered charging over the weak thing and how easy it’d been to snatch it up. He was even stronger now than he’d been then.
Psychedelic surged forward.
Talya screamed.
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