A Lampent's Lament in Equestria

by Iridescence T Wind

The Note

There was a note on the front of the castle door that morning, it was a note to come alone. It was a note addressed to Soul. A note from the same kidnappers who had taken a majority of his friends. The same friends he had spent almost a year with. The same friends who were now in danger from Pokémon because of a Pokémon. Soul sighed, tugging the note off his door and returning inside. The paper itself was unnaturally rough, and rigid in structure as if processed crudely by manual unskilled labor; noticeable for how it wasn't even square but a pentagon in shape with an uneven shape and at points flaked off as if it was falling apart. As a result it was rather delicate In some areas and rather sturdy in others. Soul considered it a miracle that It didn't fall apart simply bringing it up the stairs.

Song was asleep, peacefully slumbering in the bedroom soul had provided for the filly, while the room was much too small for holding everypony they could still see her from the adjoining living room that may had once served as a waiting room or another ridiculously short hallway that would of left a pointless position to place more guards. Though the castle was filled with empty rooms that were exactly like this, leaving Soul with the feeling that whoever had previously lived in the castle and ruled from it was extremely paranoid of Earth ponies or Unicorns. As nearly every room that was linked to the outside walls had at least one window large enough to allow Lord Palkia inside the room with space to spare. Zecora had opened one of such windows in the living room to allow the spring night breeze flow into the usually warm room and cool them as Spike awaited anxiously for a reply from the princesses.

Soul threw the note on the family sized circular table that stood in the center of the purple themed living room incidentally drawing Zecora's attention. Soul explained, "Found it on the front door."

Zecora nodded, "Do you know what it says, it may clear things up as bright as day."

Soul shook his frame left and right in a negative drawing a gesture from Zecora as if asking to read it herself. Soul nodded and resumed watching Spike who was pacing nervously back and forth in front of the window, already there was signs of a small trench being dug into the stone from the rate he paced back and forth muttering to himself inaudibly for the kidnapped ponies and creatures safety. Soul was distraught himself, he wanted to tell the baby dragon everything was going to be alright, but how could he say something like that in a situation like this? Pondering on his own thoughts he withdrew to what he knew about such situations before with Skarmory, a large steel bird Pokémon, kidnapping other trainers and Pokémon but the only successful cases had been using it's weakness to electric Pokémon to shock it into submission. Nothing as large scale as this however, but it may work. What did Soul know about the kidnappers? Well he had met four of them at least. Meowth, who was unaffected by ghost's because of his type, Arbok and wheezing, who were Poison users who were, ineffective against ghost types. As well as the major threat in combat, Yamask. He also knew they had built a machine, something that reminded him of the early days of his time in Cerulean City, towards the end of his career he had spotted several giant machine versions of different Pokémon in junkyards, those machines usually had contained some form of explosive inside it as a power source. Assuming from the description it was another of those, that would explain the origin of them at least.

But that couldn't be only that. There would still be how they got the resources and if there were additional members of the crew. Team Rocket had been notorious in it's time as professional thieves of other trainer's Pokémon. His mind pondered over the details before he heard Zecora's cough in attempt to draw Soul back to the present. Probably wasn't the first time Zecora had attempted to draw the lamp out of his stupor. Sheepishly Soul apologized, "Sorry Zecora, I was thinking about the kidnappers... something you wanted to tell me?"

"I just have grim news to mule, you have been challenged to a Duel. An army you must fight, for else our friends will be bite." Zecora responded cryptically holding the note out for Soul to read.

Soul felt the temperature of the room drop five degrees from the expression on Zecoras face. Quietly he took it up and read it himself.

He put the note down, looking Zecora in the eye, "I have to go." The time was already was three hours after Midnight. Basilisk Rock was a landmark deep in the Everfree, about half an hour by air and twice that on hoof.

"You can't be serio-" Zecora started before they were interrupted by a loud belch. Spike had coughed out a scroll.

Spike opened it, reading it over, "State of emergency... blah blah blah.... extremely worried, stay calm... blah blah blah.... Coming personally, with an entire regiment of royal guards... be here in two hours... that's great news"

Spike looked up from the scroll noticing their glum expressions, "What did I miss something?"

Zecora turned to look at Spike, before looking to Soul again. But Soul was gone, the note on the floor. Outside a storm was beginning to brew, The Everfree had become oddly quiet and a strong gust of wind was coming, almost as if the Everfree was anticipating the fight. Zecora sighed, "I don't mean to whine, but let us hope the princesses arrive in time."

Spike shut the window and Zecora joined him looking out towards the deeper section of the Everfree forest, Spike started to write a new letter, addressing it once more to Princess Celestia with the location of the conflict, having read the note. With it sent soon after there was nothing else they could do but wait. A set of light hoof-steps however broke the silence, when a quiet, gentle voice asked, "Soul?"