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[Khenal]

I rush to her side to embrace her.

'Friesden!  Are you alright?'

[Dsarker]

She drops into his embrace.

"Ruined," she says. "They're all ruined. They're all ruined. All of them."

Behind the two, the Keeper has halted. A look of madness is in his eyes.

"You bastard, Khenal. You know nothing of the damage you have caused here. I will make you suffer for that. Painfully suffer. I'll kill you. I'll kill you!"

As he rants, the construct emerges from the door to the dam.

"THE TAINT OF THE WATER HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE PROGENITOR'S NAME. CLEANSING FOR THE GLORY OF THE GREAT PROGENITOR." He seizes the Keeper, and wrings him out. As he does so, a puddle of water forms. The construct puts his hand into the water, and it boils away.

The Keeper is placed down, and his eyes have returned.

"Oh gods, what did I say? What happened?"

Friesden remains unaware of any of this.

[Khenal]

'It's alright, Friesden.  It's alright.  Pictures can be replaced, but I could never replace you.'


*****************
I love the mental image of the construct wringing out Keeper.  And I know Khenal votes for Friesden living

[Dsarker]

As Khenal looks around the wall, he can see the pictures are separable into two groups. One of the groups appears to be memories, those of him and Friesden. The others would have to be fantasy. Especially the third on on the right. His wings would be too large to fit in properly.

The Keeper runs to Khenal.

"Khenal, is this all there is? We've got to figure out what caused the beserking rage. Quickly, before anyone finds her and decides that she should die."

[Khenal]

'Friesden, can you walk?  We need to find out what's going on, and I don't know if Keeper and I can do it ourselves.'

[Dsarker]

"Keeper? Who's that?" She doesn't seem to notice the Keeper talking to Khenal.

[Khenal]

'I'll, uh, explain later.  I think whatever is fouling your river is what's causing your troubles.  Will you come with me to find the source?'

[Dsarker]

"Oh. Okay." She gets up and follows Khenal.

As they trek over the dam, followed by the Keeper, a staircase has appeared where there wasn't before. It leads down to the valley on the side of the river, which has lowered for the moment.

[Khenal]

I look down the staircase and at the river beyond the dam, searching for a path or a source of the river grime.

'Be careful.  I don't know what'll happen if you fall in, but it likely isn't good.  How are you doing, Friesden?'

[The Master]

((Funny how Khenal is so calm so soon after Carrot's death.))

[Dsarker]

"Ummmm...okay? I'm better than I was before. You'd help me through anything."

As the group trek through the valley, they come to a wall. The single gate is guarded by two unicorns in full battle armour, carrying swords. They call out "Halt in the name of the Progenitor," and come down to meet the group. As they see you in full vision, they recognise Khenal, and bow down. "Great Progenitor! We worship thee!"

Friesden lets out a small chuckle. "Progenitor, eh?"

This chuckle is cut short as the two guards tackle her and pin her to the ground, swords over her throat.

"Do not insult the Progenitor, foal!" they yell in unison.

They turn to Khenal, awaiting the order to execute her.

[Khenal]

I facehoof at their salutation, then gasp when they tackle Friesden.

'Get off her!  Listen well!  She is my Beloved above all others!  You will treat her with the same respect you do me!'

[Dsarker]

The two guards eyes widen, and they release Friesden, who runs to Khenal's side. They salute Khenal, then rise on their backlegs. "We have failed thee, Progenitor." With a swift two slashes, they slice open their chest, disembowelling themselves, before falling to the ground dead.

[Khenal]

I stare at the two on the ground in horror.

'I didn't want you two to die for a mistake!  How can somepony learn without making mistakes?'

[Dsarker]

Friesden has covered her eyes, and refuses to look at the two bodies.

"Can we...can we move on? Please?" she asks, almost in a whimper.