Applesmith awoke and groaned slightly. She rubbed a hoof against the back of her head. She sat up slowly, letting pieces of her red mane fall in front of her face. She focused her eyes on her surroundings, noticing the beautiful sunlight pouring through the tree leaves and onto her delicate coat. Applesmith tried to remember what happened, shaking her head, but only remembering blackness and waking up in a strange, green forest.
“I don’t seem to be in The Autumn Retreat anymore. It’s too warm,” whispered Applesmith as she tried to remember the past events leading up to this moment. The world seemed fuzzy through her flaming, amber eyes; her head was pounding at a constant beat, like the ticking of a clock in the silence of a dark and dusty room.
“That’s because you’re not,” replied a strangely familiar voice, “you’re in the Everfree Woods. It’s safe here.”
Applesmith quickly turned and stared at the mare resting by a tree a distance from her. She shook her head and commented back, “Grim? Grim Feather? Is that you?” Her voice quivered slightly from the shock of looking at her other dearest friend.
The mare, wearing a black, hooded cloak, got up and turned toward Applesmith, her silver mane falling away from her eye patch and revealing her cocky smile. She had a sleek and tall figure, but not that of small and weak. She seemed swift, nimble, and fleet, as though no trickery or deceit could slide past her vigilant wits.
“Listen, Applesmith” – Grim walked over to Applesmith quickly – “I’d love to sit here and catch up forever, but we’re running out of time.”
“Can you at least explain to me what’s going on?” Applesmith asked while still trying to maintain her balance.
Grim squinted her eyes unnoticeably at her friend, spotting blood slightly trickling down Applesmith’s head, “Come on, we’ll make for the Frozen Refuge; I’ll explain more there.”
“But, Grim,” Applesmith started, “you’re a Pegasus. They’ll gut you if they see your wings.”
“Have you forgotten that you’re the Knight-Commander working with one of the most cunning and daring Pegasi in Harmonium?”
“That’s true… I’m sorry, I can’t really think straight.” Applesmith rubbed the back of her head once more.
Grim Feather turned and made her way to her leather satchel that was laid against a tree. She attached it to her belt under her cloak, and turned back toward Applesmith.
“Let’s hurry. We need to get there before nightfall,” Grim said, walking to her friend and grabbing her front leg lightly. “There’s much we must discuss.”
Applesmith nodded as she stumbled around a bit, leaning against a tree to achieve balance. She shook her head and sat there a moment before pushing off the tree and staggering over to Grim. She silently panicked as they set off to the North toward Autumnfall territory again.
~~~~~
The Frozen Refuge was a cave, concealed by many boulders and rocks. The entrance to the bar inside was an iron plated door with a large piece of cut stone attached to the outside of it. It was considered a safe haven for a while, until it became a warm home for thugs, mercenaries, and bandits.
“Nightveil Sparkle?” Applebloom repeated Grim.
Grim Feather nodded as if to assure Applesmith she heard correct. “No one knows who this mare is. She just showed up and started terrorising villages, then towns, and then entire kingdoms.” Grim looked around carefully, making sure no one was listening. “She’s no joke or rumour, Applesmith. She has a damned army at her side.”
Applesmith was a bit shocked. How was she not aware of this sooner? She is the Knight-Commander of the strongest and most elite military in the land after all. “So what do we do?” she asked quietly.
Grim simply shook her head and thought a moment. “I really have no idea. We have no lead on her. All we have is a name; no background and no idea what she’s really planning.”
Applesmith opened her mouth to say something but was quickly interrupted by a stallion with a blonde coat and mane, and brown eyes. “Excuse me, ladies,” he said quietly, “but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation.”
Grim didn’t turn her head or even look fazed. “So you were eavesdropping, eh?” Grim remarked in an almost agitated tone.
“Oh, m-my apologies. Being the bartender, I hear a lot of news and rumours.” The stallion leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Nightveil. She’s a nasty one, she is. I’ve heard stuff about her. If you want, I could tell you all I’ve heard.”
“What’s the catch, Bartender?” Applesmith asked.
The bartender sat down. “If you are who say you are, Knight-Commander, then my only request is that you take her life and put an end to her march. I’d like to be able to rest without fear of waking up to her plucking out my eyes and incinerating me alive.”
Applesmith looked over at Grim for a moment, then down at the table. Grim sat there like a statue, as though she were frozen in time and space. “Tell us everything you know, Bartender.” Applesmith said.
“My name is Aurius Refinum.” He nodded and cleared his throat. “I don’t know where Nightveil came from; I don’t think anyone really knows. As you both know, she just showed up. But I have heard” – Aurius leaned forward and began to whisper – “that she’s after the artefacts.”
“The artefacts?!” Applesmith shouted quietly, trying to whisper a scream. Her muzzle was nearly touching his.
“Shhh.” Aurius looked around and nodded. “They’re supposed to be a myth. A legend. But Nightveil is certain they’re very real and plans to use their power to dominate and rule Harmonium.”
“How does someone just appear out of nowhere, start burning villages, and announce they’re going to take over the largest country in the world?” Grim asked suddenly.
Aurius shook his head and looked at the table. “I don’t know. I can’t believe it, myself.”
Applesmith rubbed her head and groaned, “None of this makes sense. But one thing is clear: we must get rid of this ‘Nightveil Sparkle’.”
Aurius got up from his seat. “That’s all I really know, right now. I apologise I couldn’t be of much greater use, but I hope my information was of some use.”
Applesmith nodded and replied, “It answered a few questions, for sure.” She rubbed her head again.
Aurius looked over at Grim a moment with a quizzical look, who looked over at him as well, then flicked his eyes back to Applesmith. “You’re hurt, aren’t you, Earth Pony?”
Applesmith rubbed her head again. She had too much pride to quickly admit she was injured, but it was true. She could barely walk; she had to prop against Grim the whole journey there, she felt dizzy, and her head has been hurting. “Perhaps only a bit.” She managed to say.
“I think you need some rest.” Aurius told her. “You can stay here as long you like; I’ll pay for your rooms.”
“N-no I couldn’t possibly let you-”
“Please. I want to be of as much use to you as I can be. And you’re injured and need rest for a while.” Aurius started to walk back behind the bar counter.
“Wait.” Applesmith demanded. “My name is Applesmith, and this is Grim. Thank you very much for your kindness.”
Aurius simply turned his head and smiled at them, then made his way back to his station, where his assistant had been carrying out orders.
“You’re putting a lot of trust in him, Applesmith.” Grim said quietly.
Applesmith rubbed her head slightly. “There’s something about him that seems sincere.”
Grim Feather looked down, replaying all that she had heard today. “Come on, let’s go get a key for a room and get some sleep. We still need to find Sugar and figure out how to stop this.”
Applesmith nodded, holding her hoof to her aching head.
~~~~~
The candlelight burned away the white wax as Applesmith stared into it, hypnotised. Her mind was racing which only made her head feel worse. For the first time in a decade, she felt terrified.
Her mesmerisation was broken by a sudden knocking on the door. Grim, who was propped against the wall across from the wooden door, became cautiously alert.
“You may enter.” Applesmith said toward the door. It creaked open and Aurius poked his head in.
“My sincerest apologies, friends, for the disturbance,” he began, “but I fear I must inform you: Nightveil has attacked and taken Earthenvale.”
Applesmith felt her heart stop for a moment. Earthenvale was the second largest kingdom in Harmonium. And it was also her hometown, where her mother still lived. “Th-thank you for the information.”
Aurius nodded and left, closing the creaky door behind him. Applesmith felt tears welling up, but she pushed them back as hard as she could. She rolled over in her bed.
Grim remained propped against the wall on the floor, looking up at her friend. “I’m sure she’s alright, Smith. She’s a tough pony, just like you.”
Applesmith rolled back over, facing Grim, looking at her face in the dim candlelight. “I sure hope you’re right.” She blew out the candle and closed her eyes, trying to avoid the thought of her hometown, Earthenvale. But all she could think about was how to kill Nightveil.
~~~~~
The air was cold, the trees were rustling, and the moon was illuminating the world. It seemed almost as if all life had fallen into a deep sleep.
Sugar Belle rested against a large rock, staring up at the moon and the stars. Her expression was somewhat blank, but almost pensive. “I wonder if they’re watching us.” She murmured to herself.
Sugar was always the optimist. Even after her kingdom had fallen, her mind was set on other things. She was certain she and her friends could end Nightveil’s tyranny in time. But it was nothing she should let bring her mood down.
“I like this rock.” She spoke aloud. She climbed atop the small boulder, curled up, and fell asleep.