//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine // Story: Rats In The Belfry // by Beegirl Scribbler //------------------------------// “You betrayed me!” Aside from her words echoing off the bell tower walls, Luna received no reply. The bell hung untouched, still surrounded by the faint webbing. Luna looked around. She was alone in the darkness of Tambelon. After a moment's thought, the young mare began to inspect the web. It wasn't any spell she recognized—doubtless some mysterious magic of Grogar's or Somnambula's. Whatever it was, it appeared to be flawless. She couldn't find any hole in the webbing large enough to allow the bell to be rung. A minute passed thusly, without success. Luna hung her head. It was hopeless. “Do you plan on letting that get to you?” She turned. Her eyes widened. A dark gray unicorn had entered the chamber. He had a long black mane, and his eyes were a vibrant green. He wore a simple red cape—Luna noticed it was free of the fur trim he usually preferred. “Sombra?” she whispered. Sombra looked at her, then lowered his head. He coughed. “You're the great winged unicorn who drove Discord back, are you? The one who's been making the visits to Tartarus?” His bright eyes focused on her horn, then on her wings. “The one who seeks to bring order back to Equestria?” “Y-yes.” Luna blinked. “With my sister. Are...are you here to kill me, Lord Sombra?” Sombra frowned. He eyed the bell, tilted his head, and shrugged. “I was called Lord when Discord ruled. The ponies under my control feared me, but they needed me to protect them. They called me Lord, and did as I willed, and I kept my little pocket of order in my own way.” He looked outside. “My land was dark, and so were the hearts of my people. There was order. Order is enough. That's what I tell myself.” He hung his head again. “But I protected those ponies, and still they hated me. And now that Discord is gone, they seek to serve you. My authority means nothing, my control has dissolved, and it's all because of you.” Luna looked at Sombra. Despite her fear, she found herself feeling... Pity. She'd heard many stories of Sombra's utter evil, and she'd seen many paintings depicting him in his deranged glory, but she only now noticed he appeared to be just a year or so older than her. Sombra met her gaze. After an oddly long moment, he sighed. “Discord is gone. I place my holdings, slight though they are, under your banner.” He took a step forward, gesturing to the bell. “I...do not want to be a Lord anymore.” Luna made her way back to her bedroom, groaning. The day had finally come. And what a long night it had been. She'd been able to relax a little by dealing with the nightmares of her subjects, of course. She loved that duty. She loved to help. But it was still work. And highly unnerving work when she knew that Grogar was watching her corporeal self the entire time. She needed some actual rest now. She opened the door and leaped onto her bed. The door locked. The curtains closed. Her eyes shut. A minute went by. Her eyes opened wide. “Grogar.” “Yes?” “What are you doing in my bedroom?” Grogar was seated at the foot of Luna's bed, staring at her without expression. “As you were informed, the plan is for me to follow you about to witness your actions as monarch.” “Yes.” Luna scowled, levitating a blanket over herself. “And now my actions as monarch are complete. I have seen to Prince Blueblood's concerns, seen to your hunger, and seen to my subjects. I am going to sleep now, Grogar.” “Ah. Very well.” Luna waited. Grogar didn't move. “Are you not going to leave my bedroom?” she snapped. “No.” Grogar shrugged. “Your quarters are not secure.” “Not—Grogar, get out of my room!” “Shouldn't you have guards?” Grogar looked around. “Why is your dresser so small?” “I do not need many clothes. Get out.” “Why is your bed so small?” “I do not often entertain guests.” “Where is the—” Growling, Luna levitated a pillow at him. If only there were a nearby supply of boulders. The pillow hit Grogar in the face. It slowly slipped off to fall back on the bed. The ram's expression did not shift. Luna's eyes narrowed. She stared back. Time seemed to slow. Luna's eyes began to water. Does he not ever blink? “Ahem.” They both started. Fancypants stood in the doorway. Luna rolled her eyes. “Oh, in the Moon's name, when did my room become the hub for your—” She stopped. Fancypants looked very serious. “I need to speak with the Princess.” He gestured to the door. Grogar glared, awkwardly getting to his hooves on Luna's bed. “That may be well, but I—” “Grogar.” Fancypants raised an eyebrow. “Do not seek to meddle in my dealings.” Grogar blinked. To Luna's amazement, he nodded. “So be it.” Luna stared, head unconsciously tilting. Had Fancypants just told Lord Grogar off? She got out of bed and followed Fancypants outside. As she walked, she noticed another oddity: Fancypants's gait was awkward and stiff, as if he was having to think over each motion. When the door was shut, he slowly turned to face her. “Princess, I—we may have a problem. Celestia wishes to speak with you.” Luna frowned. “What is it? Does she understand that it is morning?” Fancypants bowed his head. “She was very insistent. I suggest you do as she says.” Luna hesitated, then shrugged. “Very well, Fancypants.” She turned to go. As she raised a hoof, though, something occurred to her. Silly of me, she thought. I'd almost forgotten to ask how his mission went. If Grogar knew of such carelessness... She turned back. Fancypants was gone. “I must say, Angel, I really have outdone myself this time.” Floating upside down, a white rabbit crossed his little arms and glared. The pond outside Fluttershy's cottage drifted in the air like a huge liquid cloud. On the top lay a mismatched being of entropy on a pink air mattress, with several very discombobulated-looking ducks floating nearby. The strange being shifted, eying the mattress with distaste. “Though I can't exactly attest to Fluttershy's taste in beach accessories.” He snapped his fingers, and the tube began flashing random colors. He beamed. “Much better.” The mattress was flashing very quickly, and random numbers (from one to fifteen) were appearing to match the color changes. The speed of those changes was enough to make a certain observer hiding in a fake bush on the ground a little nauseous. Said observer lowered his binoculars, wincing. Alright, the...the thing up there's occupied! He looked at the nearby cottage, trying to suppress a cackle—the prize was as good as his! His head lowered back into the bush, and he started towards the cottage. He was almost at the door when a call sounded from above. “Ah, strange bush thing.” The creature above cleared his throat. “You'd better not go any nearer Fluttershy's cottage—unless you want me to prune you into a life-size cricket topiary.” The observer hesitated. “Oh, it does so make sense, Angel,” the being snapped. “Crickets are very small, you see, so to prune him to a topiary cricket would require me to prune him down quite a bit. Do you understand it now? Oh, shut up. You haven't the faintest idea of what's funny.” The observer tilted his head. Whatever the thing up there was, it was clearly very stupid if it didn't understand that carving a cricket topiary would be next to impossible with a standard evergreen. The hind legs would almost certainly snap off. Perhaps with vines or the like, but then it would be less like topiary and more like bonsai. Or...maybe not bonsai. Maybe— The observer reminded himself that nobody, least of all him, cared about decorative plant techniques. Regardless, the being above was probably not a threat. He raised his hoof to the doorknob. “Alright, I'll show you how it works,” he heard the creature say. “Honestly, this joke is excellent. Here, he's going for it. No, I'm not going to kill him. I don't care; Fluttershy would be far too irritated to justify it. You're a rather bloodthirsty rabbit, do you realize that? I'm just going to—just let me do this!” The observer heard a snap, and suddenly found the door was very, very large. Or he was very, very small. He felt his fifth and sixth legs break off. “Hm. Well, see, I never even thought of that.” The creature sounded miffed. “I suppose a standard evergreen isn't the best material. Let's try it with vines this time. Here goes nothing! Bray hated his job. Luna entered the throne room, finding it to be empty. She blinked. Taped to the larger throne was a note. GONE TROLLIN' “I do not appreciate your interference, witch.” “Oh, really.” The hooded figure chuckled, sitting down on Luna's bed. “And why is that? We have what we sought, do we not?” “Hmph. Yes, we have the location.” Grogar scowled. “But you are taking risks when all we need do is wait. Soon, the key will be ours.” “If you're correct about what the key is. And if we can trust...” Somnambula pulled out of one of her pockets a tiny silver crystal. “...this one.” “Why would he lie?” Grogar turned away, shaking his head in disgust. “We are going to release him.” “I still think we should have gotten Sombra instead. Setting this one loose is a prospect that makes me nauseous.” “And I as well.” Grogar glanced back, eyes narrowed. “But the...I was unable to find Sombra.” He suppressed a shudder. “It matters little. The worm will walk.” “I suppose it can't be helped.” “Hm.” Grogar tilted his head, smirking. “If I know him, he will get himself promptly exterminated. We need only give him the chance. Now.” His expression turned serious again. “Is it done?” “The sun alicorn left before I could reach her.” Somnambula sounded bitter. “But I will deal with her. And with this one, I have all the power I need to do what must be done.” She procured another crystal, this one larger and bright blue. It gave a flash as it entered the light. “Oh, shut up. It's your own fault for seeking to give me trouble.” The witch of all ages pocketed both crystals. “Anyway. You'd best seek out your alicorn. I will seek out mine.” She started to walk toward the door. “Wait!” Grogar said. Somnambula stopped, and waited. “I require assistance. The...yellow one is becoming a nuisance.” His eye twitched. “And if we do intend to bring the key here, I think it would be wise to deal with her. Can that device you obtained from the dragons not be used to entrap her as well?” Somnambula turned, hesitated, then lowered her hood. Beneath, her features were hideous—those of an ancient apelike creature, with bright golden eyes and a long gray mane. Her hand glowed, and a silver wand appeared in it. She raised an eyebrow. “I risked my freedom—and existance—to obtain this device. Is a single pantophobic pegasus really so deadly that I must deploy it?” Grogar frowned. He opened his mouth, thought better, and shut it. He shrugged. “Do as you will, witch.” “Hm.” Somnambula brought her hood back up and turned away. “Then good luck to you, Architect. I will inform you when the deed is done.” She opened the door and strode out. After a moment, Grogar gave a grim smile. “I am sure you will.” He felt the bell around his neck, then followed the witch. As expected, when he entered the hallway, she was nowhere to be seen. It mattered little. It was time to make Luna's life miserable some more.