Chapter 8: Cave Talk
The cave was pretty deep and as far as anypony could tell, there was nothing living in it, including dragons. There was also enough air flowing through it to start a fire without smoking everypony out. Grey was the only one of them who didn’t go in, preferring to keep just outside. He didn’t say why and in fact didn’t say anything at all, but acted as if he was guarding the entrance. Even George didn’t argue the matter.
Like seemingly always since the quest started, Twilight found herself sitting around the fire with the others, all of them just as glum as earlier. The silence was killing her, so she was glad when Rhubarb returned from deeper in the cave.
“The cave seems to verge into a maze of tunnels, but otherwise seems safe enough. Nothing significant to report from the rear.”
“Not even her rear?” Burgle said, pointing at Rarity.
Rarity shook her head. “Just stop. Can’t you let everypony be disconsolate in peace?” Then she looked at Rhubarb. “You’re a guard. Can you guard me from his mouth?”
Rhubarb turned his eyes away. “Honestly, I’m not sure. Not anymore.”
Rarity was a little surprised. “Is something troubling you? Is this about what happened to Grey?”
“I don’t know.” Rhubarb shook his head. “Some guard I turned out to be. I haven’t been able to protect anypony since the Drudges escaped. I can’t even protect my own friend assuming he still is my friend. What’s a guard who can’t guard anything?”
None of them had an answer for him. Rhubarb walked past them and toward the entrance.
“I’ll go search for some food. I’ll be back.”
Rarity sighed, watching him leave. “This is terrible. How did things turn out like this?”
“Because of Davenport,” George said harshly. They all rolled their eyes, even Fluttershy.
“That wasn’t Davenport’s fault. He didn’t attract the dragons,” Fluttershy pointed out. “And what are we going to do about him anyway? Isn’t there anything we can do?”
“I don’t think Isis will hurt him or anything since she still needs him, so he’s probably safe for the moment. We can search for him in the morning,” George said dismissively.
“Is that a good idea? Shouldn’t we go now?”
“What exactly do you want to do now? It’ll be pretty hard to follow his trail in the dark, even with unicorn magic. We don’t have much choice but to wait.”
Rarity stood up. “If we’re definitely going to rest then I’d like to excuse myself and go to bed. My head is still killing me from working magic on those dragons. Good night, everypony.” Even Burgle didn’t say anything as she walked over to the three bedrolls they still had and climbed into one. She laid her foreleg over her forehead as she closed her eyes.
“Poor Rarity. I wish we could do something about her headaches,” Fluttershy said quietly.
“I’d say removing Salamander is the best choice. I’m 99.99% certain that he’s the cause of her headaches,” Twilight answered.
“Really? What was your first clue?” Burgle said with a smile.
“Anyway, changing the subject…” Twilight said annoyed. “How are you doing Fluttershy? Are you getting any headaches or anything?”
“No. I feel fine. Physically anyway.” Fluttershy looked to the entrance of the cave where a lone shadow still sat. “You know what’s really weird? When I fell, Rip didn’t do anything to stop it from happening. Grey really did save me back there.”
“Huh…” George thought a moment. “It might be because of Rip Van Winkle’s power. Perhaps he had intended to let you die so he could resurrect you as his servant.”
Fluttershy gaped and squeaked. George had said it as if discussing what they were going to have for dinner.
“You know, if that’s true, it might disprove Isis’s claim that the Drudges die if the host…” Twilight started but then she looked at her paling friend. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. I didn’t mean to talk about it so thoughtlessly.”
“It’s… okay…” the yellow pegasus replied slowly. “Um… What about the chimeras?”
“Chimeras?” Now George looked intrigued.
“There were chimeras in the canyon. They attacked us before Rip… did that to Grey. Actually, Rip is the one who told me what they were. He didn’t like the chimeras at all.”
“You heard him?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded.
“Rip Van Winkle must have inadvertently attracted them. He’s the one who originally created chimeras before he became a Drudge.”
Twilight stared at George in surprise. “Before? What do you mean before? I thought Discord created the Drudges.”
“He did, but you can’t create life from nothing. The Drudges were originally earth ponies before he turned them into what they are now.”
“Ponies…” Twilight gaped. “You mean… but they look like… well, like Rainbow Dash said, they look like bugs.”
“I know what they look like, but that is just the form they take whenever they feed or at the moment at least, whenever they have no choice but to feed. It wouldn’t be easy to do that as a full-grown pony I suppose. Until they get their strength back, their stuck like that, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.”
“Discord really is crazy. I can’t believe he would do that to ponies.”
“It wasn’t exactly against their will. Each of the Drudges volunteered for their own reasons or so the story goes. Isis wanted power and veneration, Salamander was a pyromaniac who didn’t like well-off ponies, and Rip… well… Rip wanted an easy way to be lazy.”
Twilight glowered. “He wanted what? Is there a hard way to be lazy?”
“Considering that he went to the trouble of creating chimeras, I’d say so.”
“But why would he make creatures like that?” Fluttershy asked.
“He created chimeras because he wanted something brainless that could be his servants. Rip Van Winkle may be lazy, but he actually has a brilliant mind. Through his simple desire, he inadvertently became the father of modern science. His dabbling in things never before seen by ponies sparked the later research that went into the science we know today. Chimeras weren’t his only creations or research, but they are what he’s most recognized for because their fused minds retained a hatred for what Rip originally did to them. Just like dragons do with Isis, chimeras will hunt Rip Van Winkle if he happens to be nearby.”
“And now instead of chimeras, he creates zombie ponies,” Fluttershy said sadly.
“The only real advantage they have over being alive is their enhanced physical strength and near-immortality. They may not have a lot of power like Night Mare Moon, but Rip’s ability to make them is almost limitless because he doesn’t need much energy to do so. As long as he can find even a piece of a dead body, whether pony, animal, or even dragon, he can resurrect it and make it his slave. Couple that with the fact that the only way to destroy his slaves is with one specific spell, and he becomes a very troublesome Drudge… if he feels like it, anyway.”
“They’re not just slaves,” Fluttershy said surprisingly defensive. “Grey listened to me when I told him to stop. And look at him now. Rip didn’t tell him to sit over there and guard us. He’s doing that of his own freewill. I know it.”
“Are you sure he’s guarding us or just the Drudge,” George said coldly.
“Um…” Fluttershy couldn’t find a confident answer.
“I’m telling you again, it’s in his best interest that we destroy him. He has no will of his own left and if he really does, then it’s cruel to make him stay like that. Don’t you think?”
“Well… um…” Fluttershy stammered.
“George, stop it. This is difficult enough to accept as it is,” Twilight said angrily.
“But you know I’m right, don’t you?”
“He’s not just a tool of the Drudges. He is still conscious of what’s going on and I’m sure he doesn’t like it either.”
“That’s practically what I just said. It’s cruel, don’t you think? If you don’t believe me, then why don’t you prove your point and go talk to him? See if he doesn’t bite your head off or something.”
“But… I mean he…” Fluttershy stammered again.
“Just leave it to me, Fluttershy. I’ll talk to him.”
“Twilight…”
Twilight got up and determinedly walked the somewhat long distance to Grey. He was sitting at the entrance of the cave, watching the full moon. Twilight didn’t want to believe that he really belonged to the Drudges now. She walked up next to him, sat down, and looked up at the sky as if it were just an ordinary night.
“Beautiful moon out tonight isn’t it? Princess Luna really outdid herself.” Grey looked at her, but he didn’t answer. Twilight cleared her throat. “Have you ever stargazed before? I really love it myself. Do you know any constellations?” Again, nothing. “Look up there. Do you see that cluster of five stars just to the right of that cloud? If you connect the stars there, you can see how it’s kind of circular. Then if you look down the line of close stars, you can see that it looks like it has a really long tail. That one is called Hydra.” She glanced at Grey. He had lowered his head and looked like he was straining himself. He looked at her slowly.
“Twi-” he visibly gulped. “Twi-light…” He clenched his eyes shut for a moment before looking at her again. “Twi-light… Spark-le…”
“Yes?” she answered hopefully.
“You… you shouldn’t…” he gulped and cleared his throat. “You shouldn’t be near me. You never know what I might do.” Though his voice was a little low and gruff, he sounded like he was struggling. Maybe it was an effect of his condition.
“I’m not afraid. And I’m not worried either. Fluttershy has full confidence that you won’t hurt anyone and if Fluttershy says it, then I believe it too.”
Grey shook his head. “Look at me. What am I? What did Rip do to me?”
“I can see you and I still see Grey. You’re still one of us. Don’t let what George said get to you.” She smiled, but Grey didn’t. He looked like he wanted to cry.
“I’m not me. I can feel Rip Van Winkle in the back of my mind. I have to protect him. It’s driving me crazy but it’s practically the only thing I want to do.”
“Just take a deep breath and relax.”
“I can’t.”
“Sure you can. Just try. I’m sure you’ll feel much better.”
“No, I mean I really can’t!” The way Grey looked at her almost scared her. “I can’t breath. I haven’t been able to breathe since Rip changed me.”
“What do you mean you can’t breathe? You wouldn’t be able to talk if you couldn’t breath.”
“I’ve been trying to talk for the last hour and I just relearned how. I’m not even sure I can explain how I am, but I’m not breathing.”
Twilight was flabbergasted. The logic didn’t make any sense at all. But if he was really undead… “Grey… I…”
“Twilight, get away from me. I’m telling you right now, leave me alone and get away from me. Now!” His voice became louder and gruffer, and his eyes changed to a terrifying red just before he turned away.
For a moment, Twilight stared at his back, barely able to make him out even in the moonlight. She could see him trembling, as if he was crying. If he really was dead, could he even produce tears? The thought made Twilight start to tear up. How could the Drudges do something as cruel as this to anyone?
Twilight quietly walked away. She wasn’t sure there were any words in the world that could console the poor pegasus. As well as what to do with him was concerned, was it better to seek out an impossible cure or do what George claimed was the only way? Her feelings were a mixture of sorrow and pity as she reentered the dank little camp.
“Twilight?” It was Fluttershy. “Is Grey all right?”
“Well… Why don’t you ask him?”
Fluttershy lowered her head and stared at the ground. “I don’t know what to say to him. I couldn’t stop Rip from, from…” She shook her head. “Twilight, do you think there’s a way to reverse it?”
“Um…” Looking at Fluttershy on the verge of crying on top of what she had just seen of Grey, made Twilight want to start crying too. “Yes. I’m sure there is. If we can reverse our friends’ diamondization then we can definitely reverse Grey’s condition too.” Fluttershy didn’t look very comforted. “What about Rip Van Winkle? Can you hear anything from him? You know, like Rarity heard things from Salamander? Maybe he knows a cure or…” Twilight cringed a little as she said it. She was virtually asking if Fluttershy was as much under Rip’s control as Rarity was slowly succumbing to Salamander.
Fluttershy though, shook her head in a no. “I can’t hear anything. I can feel him though. He went back to sleep again.”
“Again? He really is lazy.”
He must have been confident that Grey would be able to protect him while he slept or something. If he didn’t though, he might start creating more zombie ponies. That thought alone chilled Twilight to the bone. It occurred to Twilight that Rip could make use of the more destructive powers of Isis and Salamander, especially the latter, making more zombie followers in the wake of the other two. It was like having a secondary army to the occultists. Then again, the occultists themselves could be used as zombies too. George had said the Drudges were known to grant power to some of their hosts.
In any case, it wouldn’t really matter if Fluttershy could learn the cure from Rip since she wasn’t a unicorn. It wasn’t like a pegasus could teach a unicorn how to perform a spell either.
Twilight stomped the ground in frustration. Everything was going wrong. Isis had run off with Davenport, Grey was transformed into a zombie, George was angry at all of them, Rhubarb was questioning his ability to protect any of them as well as his friendship with Grey, and who knew how much longer before the Drudges finished feeding. The only one who didn’t seem flustered at the moment was Burgle, though he had been unusually quiet for a while now. He sat staring at their fire as if thinking about something. He wasn’t even harassing Rarity for once. Perhaps that was because Rarity was lying down from yet another headache.
Twilight wondered if the headaches were some kind of indication that Salamander was doing something specific to her. She seemed to get them whenever Salamander spoke to her or actively did something. So far, he seemed to be the chattiest of the Drudges. Whether that meant anything or not though was hard to say. He was also the most sensitive, jumpy, and defensive, as well as weary of whatever Rarity did, especially compared to Rip Van Winkle who seemed perfectly content to let Fluttershy do whatever she pleased. Twilight thought about what Isis had said about Salamander wasting his power. Could Rarity’s headaches be a sign that he was draining her energy too fast? Twilight’s earlier hypothesis about Salamander fusing his magic strength with Rarity’s might make sense in that regard since using her own magic gave her headaches too.
And what about poor Davenport? Isis was by far the most confident of the Drudges and definitely in control. Based on what had happened, she might have been able to control Davenport since the beginning, which made Twilight cringe. She practically taunted them and seemed to enjoy their efforts to defeat her, very similarly to Discord. Could Isis have been right about the Temple of Discord?
Twilight shook her head. She had to remain positive. The quest was lost of she and the others lost hope. They would overcome the Drudges and restore harmony to Equestria. She just had to keep believing that. In fact, she had no choice but to believe.
Morning seemed to come all too fast, or maybe it was the fact that Twilight had stayed up later than she thought and gotten up earlier than the day before. She could just see the morning light peaking into the cave. Rarity and Fluttershy were still sleeping soundly in their bedrolls. Burgle was sleeping on his back with his head resting on a rock and drool hanging from his mouth as he snored. His hood was pulled over his eyes. Rhubarb was already busy packing up a few things and George sat silently, apparently deep in thought.
Grey was also awake, apparently not being able to sleep at all. He stood alert at the entrance. Though it appeared he was observing Fluttershy sleep, he was more watching Rip Van Winkle than her. In the sunlight, the effects Rip had had on him where much more apparent. His coat was no longer white. He was now a dark grey pegasus, mane and all. His slightly dirty golden armor had a chunk missing on one side where Rip had assumable pierced his body to kill him the night before. That and the fact that there was an enormous black scar on that side.
Twilight got up out of her bedroll groggily and rolled it up with her magic. Trying to shake herself awake, she stretched and yawned.
“Good morning, you two,” she said to George and Rhubarb.
“Good morning, Twilight,” Rhubarb answered quietly. George didn’t say anything.
“George, don’t tell me you’re still mad at everypony?”
“Not really.”
Twilight shook her head and sat down, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She wished she had a mirror and a hairbrush. She could see from her shadow that her hair looked ridiculous.
The two sat in silence for a few moments before George finally spoke again. “I was thinking that we should probably split up to search for Isis and that moron.”
“Huh? Why? Don’t you think we should stay together?”
“It might be safer that way, but I don’t want to waste any time sealing the other Drudges away. The sooner we get them to the temple, the better. I thought you and I could search for Isis and catch up with the others at the temple later. The only thing is I’m not sure I can trust the care of the other two Drudges to just Rhubarb and that thief.”
“You’re discounting Rarity and Fluttershy. And what about Grey?”
“What about him?” George and Twilight looked at the afore mentioned knight who had switched his focus to them. With Fluttershy still asleep, he didn’t look ready to trust anypony.
“I told you already that he’s not one of us anymore. If those Drudge followers show up again, he’ll aid them. And as for those two mares, they’re hosts to the Drudges. They can’t protect them from themselves. They’ll lose control eventually too. I’m certain of that.”
“Well I’m not,” Twilight retorted. “Rarity and Fluttershy are strong willed. Both of them are spirits of the Elements of Harmony even. Besides, you said that Isis was always the strongest of the Drudges. Maybe the other two won’t have that kind of control for days. Anyway, Rip Van Winkle is too lazy to take control of Fluttershy, right? That’s why he…” Twilight cut herself off. She had been about to say, killed Grey.
“I don’t even know why I’m defending this,” Twilight continued. “What do you expect the two of us to do against a Drudge? Isis fought off two dragons last night, so obviously she’s hiding more power then she let on before. Even if we took the containment box, there’s nothing we could do with it while she’s still attached to Davenport.”
“You’ll have me. I have power I haven’t shown yet either.”
Twilight fixed him with a glare. “I’m sorry to doubt you and your great power, but you’re the one who admitted the Drudges keep doing things you’ve never heard of. Suppose Isis has a power you don’t know about. What then?”
“We’ll get to that if it comes to it. What it really comes down to is that we can’t have a Drudge wandering around at leisure. Like I said, you have no idea what I went through to catch them the first time and that was before they had hosts. I can tell you that they’re much stronger now and could cause a lot more havoc. I’m not willing to let Isis go free for even a little while, so will you come with me or not?”
“Are you saying you would go by yourself?”
“If it becomes necessary.”
Twilight groaned. “Then you’re not giving me any choice. Of course I have to come with you then. But do we really have to split up? I just don’t like the sound of that. Bad enough things have happened to us as a group already.”
“Like I said, we’ll handle it when it comes to it.”
“Not for us, for the others. We’re leaving Rhubarb and Burgle with two Drudges to watch over. I’m not worried so much about Fluttershy but Rarity is talking more and more with Salamander and it’s making me nervous. What if the same thing that happened to Davenport happens to her while we’re gone? What if the occultists find them?”
“You’re a real worrywart, you know that?”
Twilight’s mane nearly burst into flames. “With good reason. Bad things have happened to us every night since we left. Isis regained enough power to run off, not even two days after finding a host and you have the nerve to call me a worrywart? Fine then. I’m worried. I’m very worried. Don’t you think that’s normal for somepony in our position? Why aren’t you worried? Can you at least answer me that?”
“I am worried. I’m worried the Drudges will win. I’m not saying I like the choice, but I have to send the others ahead and specifically, I want to make sure that Rarity and Fluttershy make it before it’s too late. If we lose them, then we lose the Elements of Harmony and the only thing capable of destroying the Drudges. At the same time, do you want the same thing that happened in Canterlot to happen somewhere else? Isis has the power to shatter diamonds too.”
Twilight shivered at the thought. She hadn’t known that. For Isis, turning Celestia to diamond was not just revenge, but possibly a symbolic trophy.
“All right George, I see your point.”
“I knew you would.”
It was too early in the morning to deal with George’s vain attitude. Twilight still didn’t like the idea of splitting up but she wasn’t being left with very many options. Maybe it was more the thought of being stuck with just George, but she was worried about the others.
Twilight silently ate the last bit if hay Rhubarb had found the evening before. There hadn’t been much for them all to share and her stomach was still growling. She had just finished telling Rarity, Fluttershy, and Burgle about George’s plan and both of her friends were worried for her.
“Are you sure there’s no other way?” Rarity asked her.
“George did make a good point in the end. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and I really can’t think of a better plan so… I guess there is no other way.”
“Salamander seems rather happy about it. In fact he seems to think it’s funny that Isis ran off.”
“Good for him. I’m glad one of us is.”
“Say what? Now what’s so funny?” Rarity looked at the afore mentioned Drudge. “What? How did you… stop peaking! I forgot you could do that.”
“What happened? What did he say?” Fluttershy asked.
Rarity frowned. “Something we agreed never to speak of again.”
“You mean… Tom?” Twilight whispered
“Yes. The stupid rock.” Rarity crossed her forelegs grumpily.
“The rock and what now?” Burgle asked.
“I could tell you, but then I would have to kick you. Actually that’s rather tempting.”
“But how did the Drudge…? Oh, right…” Twilight said. “The Drudges know everything their hosts know. Which means…” Twilight scratched her head. “Wow. So that includes their past hosts too, right?”
“I didn’t think about that before but I guess that would be true,” Rarity said, sounding amazed.
“It’s kind of mind boggling to think that the Drudges have actually retained all the knowledge and memories of every pony they’ve ever fed on.”
“I guess that means that Salamander knows how to be a fashionista like me. It’s actually a rather amusing thought.” Rarity giggled. Then she turned her head around and looked at the Drudge. “Oh be quiet. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like sowing. You know how to do it now.” Rarity was silent for a moment while she listened to his response. Then she stifled a laugh. “Hate me all you want. You have the know-how of a fashionista and you’re stuck with it.”
“Um… Rarity?” Twilight said.
“No I’m not going to buy red cloth. You know what’s in my mind, so you should know that.”
“Is Salamander discussing fabric with her?” Twilight whispered to Fluttershy.
“I don’t know, but it’s strangely scary,” Fluttershy whispered back.
“It is not dumb fabric. I’ll have you know…” Rarity stopped. “Why am I arguing with my Drudge? This is ridiculous.”
“Ya think?” Burgle said, amused.
“Don’t even get me started on you,” Rarity said in annoyance. “All this internal talking is giving me a headache again. I’m going to wet a washcloth in the lake. I’ll be right back.”
Twilight watched Rarity leave and felt a bit more concerned. She was talking to Salamander more and more. It might not have worried her as much if Rarity hadn’t referred to Salamander as her Drudge, again. Isis had already run off with poor Davenport. Was Rarity going to be next?
“Should we let her go off by herself?” Twilight asked Fluttershy.
“It’s Rarity we’re talking about. I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Fluttershy didn’t sound very confident though.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll watch her back,” Burgle said, flicking his hoof as if it were no big deal. It didn’t really sound like something he would say for no reason, especially since he didn’t have an obligation to help them anymore.
“All right then Burgle, I’m counting on you to watch over Rarity and Fluttershy while George and I are gone.” Twilight didn’t feel like she had much choice. She didn’t want Rhubarb to take all the responsibility alone.
Burgle’s reaction was surprising though. He looked downright shocked. “Are you serious? You want to count on me? The thief?”
“You helped Davenport and Rhubarb back at the inn and you helped us find Fluttershy after the dragons attacked. I think I can trust you.”
Burgle didn’t answer. He slowly nodded his head as if her answer was more unbelievable than the time Twilight had tried to use her magic to control a flea circus and ended up multiplying them. That had been shortly after become Princess Celestia’s student. Celestia had taken the first flea infestation of Canterlot surprisingly well.
“Twilight!” George called. “If you’re done then I want to get going. Isis is already far enough ahead.”
“You’re the one who wanted to wait until morning,” Twilight said under her breath.
“Stay safe, Twilight.” Fluttershy said.
“You too. Tell Rarity for me too. And keep Burgle out of trouble.” She smiled at the thief.
Burgle nodded though he still looked a little bewildered. “Don’t worry about me, I’m… just gonna go watch Rarity’s back like I said.” He walked towards the lake slowly but looked back once as if what Twilight had said had actually bothered him.
“Come on, don’t take all day. I found Davenport’s tracks. We should be able to follow them,” George said, trying to hurry her along.
“Just hold your horses. If you’re so worried about time then maybe I can fix that.” Twilight looked around and spied an old log. She used her magic to turn the log into a four-wheeled cart with a steering wheel.
“Nice. Are you planning on pulling me?” George asked.
Twilight glared at him as she tossed a saddlebag into the cart. Of course that would be the first thing he would think of. “Just get in.” Twilight hopped into the cart while George slowly tried to pull himself up. Waiting for a good ten seconds, Twilight lifted him into the cart with her magic. “Now sit back and keep your tail and hooves in the ride at all times.” Twilight concentrated, using a spell on the cart. In moments, it was moving of its own accord.
“Wha… what was that? What did you do?” George asked in surprise.
“A come to life spell.”
“You can use magic like that?” George was wide-eyed. “I’ll be a donkey’s uncle. I didn’t know there still were unicorns who studied this kind of magic. I think I’m actually impressed.”
Twilight didn’t know how anypony could make a compliment sound like an insult, but apparently, George was a master at it. Twilight decided to just ignore it like all his other insults and focused on steering the cart as it slowly picked up speed.