//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 // Story: Shroud of darkness // by LeTriggs //------------------------------// Shedding the load Stargazer laid on his back in the early morning sun sleeping through his memories of the war, of Victory Dawn, of two six squadron, of Blizzard, of Daring Do, of Satrenko. A splash of cold water flooded over him wrenching him from his slumber. He threw himself into a sitting position when the sound of six giggling mares came to his attention. He looked around at the group staring daggers at each of them. Pinkie rolled on the ground in fits of laughter, Rainbow snorted next to the pink one smacking her hoof on the ground, Fluttershy held a hoof up to her mouth stifling a giggle as did Rarity, Applejack was sat on her haunches guffawing at the sight of him whilst Twilight stood in front of him with a smug look on her happy face. "You know you snore when you lie on your back." Pinkie let out another burst of laughter and began hiccuping adding to her laughter each time she did so. The red Alicorn rose to his full height above the ponies letting the tinniest of grins to appear on his face for a brief second before he shook himself spraying water all over the mares and drying himself. "Aww come on you throw water on us all the time we get you once and you throw it back?!" Rainbow gestured wildly with her hooves hovering just off the ground with her mane stuck to her face similarly to the others. "Well you could'a just done that to me but you didn't think about that. Remember to think outside the box." Stargazer climbed up onto a piece of the wreckage of the Victory Dawn looking out over the plain towards the mountains. The sun's rays gleamed over the thin layer of snow causing it to glint like fine jewels. The weather for the day could only be described as perfect, not a single cloud could be seen in the sky, there was no breeze and the temperature was more than comfortable. The only thing taking away perfection from standing there with the mountains and the snow and the weather was the pieces of metal littered around them from the destroyed airship. "Hey what you doin up there? you see something?" Stargazer looked down to Applejack who shook her hat dry not entirely paying attention to his actions whilst she was cleaning her prized possession. "Actually I was trying to figure out where the mess hall was on this thing cause to be frank, I'm hungry." Without listening to Applejack's reply he jumped off the piece of scrap out of sight beginning to forage around for any food. He moved through the littered lumps of metal taking care not to disturb any of the pieces lest they fall on him moving towards the largest piece of the once mighty airship in the centre of the wreckage. At the centre of the wreckage at the main portion of the aircraft Stargazer stood inspecting the large metallic structure for a way in, a door, a window even a hole in the hull of the ship just anything that he could fit through but after his third time pacing back and forth he gave up. He slammed his hoof against the metal in frustration causing a panel behind him to creak and fall away onto the floor with a mighty crash echoing around him. He peeked his head around the corner looking into the ship seeing nothing but a grating floor and pipes along the narrow space. He squeezed his way into the corridor slipping through as quickly as he could through the claustrophobic place away from the light seeping into darkness. His horn glowed slightly as he rounded a corner into pitch black and a tiny orb of light manifested on the tip of his stump detaching itself to hover around just above the Alicorn's head before casting its light in all directions so he could see. He immediately regretted his decision to cast the light as the sight of the dead bodies scattered throughout the room in twisted macabre positions came into view. Flies buzzed around the already rotting corpses swarming around the dried blood. Many of the bodies had some level of decapitation such as a leg or head or even a wing here and there missing from their corpse. Blood was plastered over the walls along with bits of gut and entrails from the many ponies stuck to the wall along with the once owners of the organs. Stargazer burst out of the wreckage of the airship into the open air stopping a few meters away from the aircraft then doubled over vomiting on the ground. He picked himself up off the floor wiping the vomit away from his mouth then ran as fast his legs could carry him back towards the others. Stargazer regained his composure before he climbed over the final piece of wreckage where the others would be waiting on the other side. He began taking deep breathes to calm himself before he hastily put his hair back behind his head then made the final climb over the sheet of metal to the colourful group who were split in two talking to either Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash no doubt about arrangements for their wedding. "Ah the naivety of youth. Hey! there's nothing back there! Let's get moving!" Each of the happy mares looked up at him and replied with either a cheerful yes or okay. Stargazer dropped down onto the ground and picked up his gear whilst the mares picked up their bags and began following the Alicorn except for Rainbow and Fluttershy who shared a tender kiss for a brief moment. "Hey! Y'all get a move in will ya!" Applejack's voice interrupted the pair causing them both to giggle at getting caught sharing their moment. "Before you know it they'll end up like Mac and Cheerilee." Twilight chuckled to herself imagining Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy calling each other by pet names and at Applejack's shudder remembering her brother and little sister's teacher's mishaps after being given the love poison. "Ah don't think Equestria could handle that Twi probably end up doing more damage than that Nightmare fellow." "Hey maybe we should use it as a weapon against him. The power of Rainbow and Fluttershy." Twilight let out a fit of laughter as did Applejack whilst they walked drawing intrigued looks from both Rarity and Stargazer. "Ah think that may be going to far Twi even against that thing." Stargazer sighed dropping his head below his shoulders as he walked listening to the conversation between Applejack and Twilight joking about using the pegasus pair's love as a weapon against Nightmare. "Ohhh this is gonna be a long day." ------------------------------ The sun had almost set by the time the group had climbed over one of the mountains blocking their path to the central mountain Stargazer had remained quiet for the majority of the day merely grunting when one of the young mares tried talking to him taking them back slightly thinking that they had broken through to the old pony's heart. Before they were even halfway from the smaller mountains to the gargantuan one in the centre of the ring. The luscious calm weather from the morning had now been replaced by a strong blizzard that had taken them by surprise, it was almost impossible to see in front of them through the white-out. The mares clung to each other trying to stay warm yet in front of them Stargazer walked along almost like he hadn't noticed the storm raging. The snow crunched under mares hooves as they walked and then collided with Stargazer's behind causing each of them to fall back as he stared at his hoof on the floor. He brushed away some snow from the ground catching site of a hoof shaped hole in the ground the exact size of his own hoof. "We're here." The others didn't hear what he said but he didn't intend for them to, he needed to say it to himself make the fact dawn upon him. The fact he had tried to push out of his mind ever since the plan to get to Haven had been thought of. He was about to see Luna. Stargazer held his hoof out grabbing onto one of the mares not sure which and neither caring and led them inside the cave entrance pulling the others in after them before following in himself shaking the snow of him as he got out of the blizzard. The 7 ponies walked through the winding cavern Twilight leading the ground and Stargazer staying at the back for a reason that eluded Twilight keeping his steely gaze. The group entered into an open cavern lit by torches flickering light around the open cavern. "I thought you said that there were supposed to be" "HALT!" The command froze them all Rarity still with her mouth open looking at the other end of the room where to figures slowly walked out of the darkness. Big Mac and Luna both stood glaring at the mares not noticing Stargazer who was hidden in the shadows behind Twilight and her friends. The pair stared dumbstruck at the sight of the mares as did Twilight and her friends at the pair before the silence was broken by Big Mac. "Applejack?" He took a step forward as did Applejack who looked at him with a single tear in her eye. "B-Big Mac?" She charged forwards wrapping her hooves around her big brother letting all the tears she had contained out crying into his chest to which he began running his own hoof through her hair trying to comfort her. "Twilight Sparkle, how did you get here? How did you know about this place?" Luna kept her eyes fixed on Twilight who noticing she was being addressed looked back to Luna who had a look of utter confusion on her face. Before she could answer Twilight was brushed aside by Stargazer who emerged from the darkness making Luna's mouth drop open. "That would be me." Luna didn't even take the time to check her mind wasn't playing tricks on her she ran forward throwing herself around Stargazer who stood with the same blank expression on his face. "She's gone Star, she's gone and I don't know what to do." Luna sobbed into Stargazer's chest much like Applejack was still doing with Big Mac but unlike the siblings Stargazer didn't try to comfort her and merely pushed her away walking forwards and into the cave on the far side. "Yeah I guessed she was, Celestia wouldn't contact me for help if she wasn't sure she was going to die." Twilight stopped. Her entire world shattered around her. Celestia, her mentor, her idol, her parental figure so to speak was dead. Stargazer walked round the corner out of sight prompting Luna to look at him utterly stunned by his apathy towards her sister's death. Twilight began weeping to which her friends apart from Applejack who was still clinging to her brother to either hug her or rest a hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight darling let's get inside." Rarity glanced at the others who let go of the lavender unicorn which Rarity began leading inside the cave that Stargazer had entered. The order members and Ponyville survivors each looked at Stargazer walking past them in disbelief, he kept his stern facial expression hearing the different ponies whispering to each other as he walked on by. A bald white pony walked up to him scanning the Alicorn with his golden eyes before he snapped off a salute. "Sir I'm Zetroca current head of the order. What are your orders?" Stargazer barged past Zetroca who quickly caught up trotting alongside him. "Sir we need to know what to do I'm not prepared for this none of us are. You and miss Luna are the only ones to have encountered Nightmare but she is not best prepared for this either unlike you." Stargazer stopped and stared at the earth pony for a second. "I'm not a leader. I'm not here to bail you out come up with your own plan." He left Zetroca staring at him as he opened a small wooden door leading to an armoury which Luna followed him in. Stargazer threw his battered rifle aside replacing it with a semi-automatic equivalent along with a dozen magazines. Luna looked at him wanting nothing more than to hug him but she fought the urge to. "What are you doing Star?" "Gearing up what does it look like?" Luna felt the force of his words making her need to fight back a wave of tears as Stargazer strapped a belt to himself placing two pistols either side of his waist in holsters. "You're not gonna stay and help fight?" "Nope." He loaded a few pistol magazines into his belt not once looking at Luna who walked up right next to him. "What are you going to do?" He didn't reply and instead picked up some shotgun shells placing them into the remaining empty pouches on his belt. "Where are you going?" Stargazer slipped a pair of shells into a sawn-off shotgun which he then strapped to the back of his belt before turning round and facing Luna. "I don't know yet. Just where the wind takes me." He moved out of the armoury with Luna in hot pursuit heading through the honeycomb mountain and stood in the one cave that was empty save for an opening in the wall where the blizzard was raging stronger than ever. He stood and looked Luna in the eyes dropping his stern expression. "The world's gonna crash and burn Luna the sooner you accept that the sooner everything becomes easier." "What happened to you Star?" He turned around facing the torrent of snow outside pausing for a moment before he answered her. "The Stargazer you know died a thousand years ago. I'm just a soldier without an army." He unfurled his wings and flew out into the blizzard and out of sight. Luna stood in the dark cave for a moment regaining her composure before she headed out of the cavern to find Twilight and her friends. ------------------------------ "Twilight you're okay!" Twilight was bombarded by a fierce hug from Spike making a warm smile crawl across her face. "Spike, I'm so glad you're safe." She gave the dragon a squeeze before a familiar voice spoke out. "Miss Sparkle. Who would've though that we would meet again?" Trixie looked at Twilight with a smug look on her face, her cape and hat were nowhere to be seen which changed her visage drastically. "Oh great you again......We are not interested in whatever you had to say oh great and powerful one." Rarity's face was scrunched up at the sight of Trixie who shrunk her head down blushing. "Please, it's just Trixie. Sparkle, I....I'm sorry about how I acted when we last met.Is there any chance you can forgive me?" Twilight looked at Trixie unable to think, her mind was filled with her memories of Celestia. Her entire life had revolved around the sun goddess, she was the one bit of hope Twilight had and now that hope was gone. "Come on Twilight she's been helping out loads round here." Spike's plea to forgive Trixie broke her from her trance as she looked at the baby dragon who stared back wide eyed. "Come on I'll show you how much she's been helping I think it's that time again anyway." Spike grabbed Twilight's hoof almost dragging her through the tunnel system until they reached an old metallic device covered in knobs, dials and buttons along with a single microphone. Both Spike and Trixie sat down in front of the device, Trixie's horn lit up sorting a couple pieces of paper in-front of Spike and enveloping the microphone in the same aura. Spike looked at the papers grabbing them then cleared his throat before leaning into the microphone. "Today resistance groups have been reported in both Manehatten and Las Pegasus taking up arms and fighting to evacuate anypony they can. Tartarus has gone dark, so if you are anywhere near there watch yourself the prisoners may be loose. It may seem bad now but band together look out for each other and most importantly don't lose hope. This is the voice of freedom, signing off." Spike moved away from the microphone and waited a few seconds while Trixie dissipated her spell from it before turning to Twilight. "See I told you she's been a big help." "You're the voice of freedom?! I knew I recognised the voice from somewhere!" Twilight gave Spike a hug crushing him slightly only letting go when he pushed her off him. "Yeah. Luna wanted to find some way of keeping everypony's morale up who isn't here and thought telling what's going on was the best way so I volunteered to do it. "And I offered to assist him getting all the news together and of course using my talents kept it so the signal can't be traced here just in-case any that would cause harm to us followed the signal back here." Trixie quickly wiped a smug grin off her face turning a shade of red before she herself was given a hug by Twilight. "Well I guess I can forgive you Trixie. If Spike says that you have changed then I should believe him." The three moved their way back through the tunnels towards their friends to figure out what they should do now they had reached their goal of Haven.