//------------------------------// // A Reaper's Soul // Story: The Baltimare Incident // by Powerdrainer //------------------------------// Edits done by Cynatas Scribbler and Vates Despero. And a special thanks to AnonymousMaterials for allowing me the use of his character, Mort. A Reaper's Soul <<>><<>><<>> Soarin looked over the crowd gathered in the restaurant, a weary look in his eyes. Never in his life, not even during his training, had he ever considered something like this could happen. Sure, he always kept the possibility that something could go wrong in the back of his mind. Maybe a dragon's attack, or some long forgotten ancient evil alicorn would come back to enact some sort of nefarious scheme… Okay, so maybe not that last one. But anything other than this. No, ghosts. It had to be ghosts. Entities which, until very recently, only existed in scary stories around the campfire. 'Well,' he thought, 'I better start believing in ghost stories, 'cause I'm in one.' No sooner had he finished his mental debate, than a loud feminine scream came from the back of the restaurant. Soarin whipped around in a blur; as did the rest of his team, along with every conscious pony present. Another scream filled the now tense and otherwise silent air, before a stallion came rushing out of one of the back rooms, revealing himself to be the one who screamed. Soarin stared at the pony in utter bewilderment, unable to believe that sound was produced by him. Not that he had long to dwell on this strange occurrence, as the source of the pony's distress revealed itself a moment later when a bulky, metallic ghost burst through the wall backwards. Panic broke out the moment the ghost hit the ground, and terrified screams filled the air. <<>><<>><<>> A mere moment before... "Oh, Gleam. What should we do?" Sweet Apple asked sadly, holding her husband's hoof while he lay unconscious. No answer came to her as she sat in silence, trying to figure out what to do. The silence was abruptly interrupted, however, as a stallion roughly opened the door and looked at the pair with a sickening grin. "Can- Can Ah help you?" Sweet asked nervously, as she stared at the strange stallion. "Oh, I think you can," he replied in an all too familiar voice, and a wavering aura of pale light surrounded the pony's body as Skulker slipped out of him, activating his weapons, "I'll be your waiter this evening. The special of the day is mayhem and destruction." Stunned by this development, Sweet Apple could only stare in silence at the horror before her. A silence that would only survive for a few tense seconds. Standing unsteadily on his hooves, the stallion shook his head to clear the fog from his mind. Then, looking up, he was greeted by the menacing sight of Skulker, weapons primed and ready. The stallion's legs, already unsteady, now shook rapidly in fear. Skulker, having taken notice of the pony who stared up at him with large frightened eyes, only grunted in annoyance. "Beat it," he grunted, "You're not worth my time." A loud scream was the only answer he received as the pony turned tail and ran, the sound he had just produced taking Skulker and Sweet Apple completely by surprise. "..." "..." Neither one of them said anything for a moment, too dumbfounded by what had just happened. Then, grunting in annoyance, Skulker turned back to the mare and stallion his aim was set on, a menacing grin on his face. A grin which soon morphed into a look of shock, as he suddenly found a lasso being thrown around him and pulled taut. Then, with a strength that took him by surprise, Skulker was flung around by the angry mare, who spun him around for a moment, before releasing her hold over her husband's trusty rope, sending the metal behemoth flying through the wall and into the restaurant. The screaming started mere seconds later. <<>><<>><<>> Grunting, Skulker pushed himself up, coming face to face with a young pony, who stared at him in absolute terror. Noticing the wet puddle forming underneath the terrified child, Skulker could only snort in disgust. Not wanting to waste his time with such a cowering wretch, he levitated himself off of the ground; his green eyes scanning the crowd for his prey. However, his attention was quickly drawn to a small group of the four legged vermin who had gone on the offensive. Clad in form fitting, blue latex suits, this group surrounded Skulker while also keeping the crowd at a distance as they ran around in blind panic, while any able-bodied guard tried to guide them to safety. "Hmmm," Skulker hummed as he studied the opposing group, "Disciplined and trained, yet lacking any real combat experience. Interesting. I already had chosen my prey, but I find myself tempted to see what challenge you might provide me with." a large knife slid out one of his wrists, and he used it to gauge their reaction. Several of the blue clad ponies flinched, stepping back a bit, and confirming Skulkers initial assessment of the potential new prey. One, however, seemed to be more hardened than the others, and Skulker's green eyes locked on the rainbow maned stallion, "Now, let's see who makes the cut. You, or them." <<>><<>><<>> Present day Pinkie Pie was working diligently in Sugar Cube Corner, hard at work on a fresh batch of muffins for her dear friend Ditzy. Suddenly, without warning, her body began to shake and twitch in a seemingly random pattern, before stopping just as suddenly as it had started. The pink mare stared at the wall for a moment as what had just happened settled in, before sucking in a breath for what she was going to say next… Only to fall silent. "Wait!" she shouted at the ceiling, "I forgot my line." She then proceeded to pull a large stack of papers out of the oven, which had been active for a while, and quickly scanned the contents of the next scene, "Oooh… Righterino." "Huhum… Ghaaaa." <<>><<>><<>> Some time before the restaurant crisis. Pinkie Pie was not a happy filly. Normally she would be sharing a bright, radiant smile with everypony around her. But today there was nothing to smile about. No, instead of smiling and throwing amazing parties, she, her sister Maud, and her bestest granny, Granny Pie were sneaking through the now abandoned streets in an effort to get to safety. Of course this wasn't anywhere near safe, going out like this, but Granny Pie knew that doing nothing would be even worse. Still, she and her two granddaughters were careful not to draw any attention to themselves, lest they be detected by any of those weird creatures roaming the town. Still, despite her strong will, and her rock solid commitment to keeping Maud and Pinkie -two of the most important ponies in her life- safe, she wasn't the youngest pony anymore, and her age showed. Her pace was slow, accented by a couple of missteps every now and then. Her aching joints, and somewhat blurry vision due to dirty glasses the danger didn’t allow her the time to clean were just some of the issues she faced. Still, this did nothing to stop Pinkie and Maud, who looked after her just as much as she looked after them. Maud lead the three pony group, Pinkie keeping close to their grandmother, occasionally nudging her gently from behind to help her with her speed. Everything seemed fine for a while, until they heard loud shouting. A cacophony of sounds erupted soon afterwards, strange sizzling sounds and explosions further breaking the silence ruling the empty streets. Diving behind cover, they looked up to see two pegasi being chased by multiple ghosts, green beams and bolts shooting from the ghosts' various assortment of limbs. The Pies watched in horror as one of the many beams blasted through the window of an upper story apartment, knocking them off of their hooves when an explosion occurred that destroyed a large portion of the building. Dazed, they shook their heads, hearing somepony shouting in fear and panic. Not wanting to look up, but unable to stop themselves from doing so, they saw one of the pegasi plummeting towards the unforgiving ground; the other desperately trying to catch her, only to fall short. Pinkie Pie pressed herself into her grandmother's chest, sobbing as she looked away in fear. Maud stared in numb shock, until her grandmother turned her head away from the grisly sight unfolding before them. Their ears pressed flat against their heads to block out as much of the sickening sound they knew they were about to hear. But it never came. Carefully, hesitantly, Granny Pie peeked through one eye, seeing some blurry shapes moving in the distance. Yet no form could be seen lying on the ground. Slowly opening her other eye, and focusing intently for a moment, the image began to clear and revealed the two pegasi, both alive, and in the presence of a third. A Wonderbolt. The Wonderbolt appeared to say something to the two pegasi, before they seemed to reach some kind of agreement, and left on hoof. "Come, children," she said to the two ponies huddled close to her, "We need to go. Now!" But before they could so much as take a single step, the ghosts overhead, who apparently were being distracted by several other Wonderbolts, returned and were looking for new prey. Diving back into cover, the three ponies had no other choice but to wait for the ghosts to go away, and to search for the Wonderbolts for the help they needed. Granny Pie just hoped they would be able to find them, before the ghosts found them. <<>><<>><<>> Back at the restaurant, shortly after Skulker came flying through the wall starting a blind panic amongst all the ponies present. Said ponies were now all running in a wild, chaotic way, whilst any and all able guards tried to guide them to the nearest safe exit. Ponies were screaming as they tried to escape the confines of the restaurant; the doors shattering from the many bodies trying to squeeze through at the same time. Several unlucky ponies were trampled when they were knocked to the ground in the chaotic mass. Pinkie, Maud, and Granny Pie looked horrified as they watched the scene unfolding before them. They had followed the Wonderbolt Granny Pie had seen some time ago and, after several guesses as to where to go at several intersections, they arrived here, hoping to find a safe haven. Instead, all they found was… this. "What's going on?" squeaked Pinkie Pie, cowering behind her older sister. "I… I don't know, dear," her grandmother told her, trying to sound as calm as she could for Pinkie's sake. "But it's not safe for us to be here. Come, let's find a safe place to hide," she urged them on, noticing the way Maud was staring at the chaos unblinkingly, a tense look on her face. "Maud, sweetheart. Come on!" and with some effort she managed to pull Maud away with her. "I... " was all Maud muttered in reply, a haunted look in her eyes. "It's going to be alright," Granny Pie comforted her, but having trouble believing her own words, "Just you wait and see," she continued, trying to ignore the screams, 'May Celestia protect us all.' <<>><<>><<>> Life. It's fragile, and filled with uncertainties. It might end tomorrow, or continue on for fifty more years. Some might say they don't get enough. Others say it lasts too long. And yet, everyone gets the same amount. One lifetime. The thing is, one lifetime may not always be all there is. This is a truth he knew all too well. He'd seen it happen countless times over an equally countless number of years. The mortals live their life, they die, and then they choose. And whichever choice they made would determine the next step on the path of their destiny. That is where he came in. He was there to help those who had died, and guide their souls as they made their choice. It was a task he was made for, literally, and which he carried out each and every day and night. A task both simple and complex at the same time. A task which, right now, overwhelmed him. Ponies were dying in large numbers, the ghosts' assault relentless. All he could do was watch in sorrow and grief. "Oh, Thanasia," Mort said, his voice filled with despair, "How has it come to this? What purpose does this serve?" he asked to no one, staring with wavering eyes at the death and destruction. Even for Death himself, such sights were a horrible ordeal. But he couldn't stand still, nor could he run away and hide. It was his job as the Pale Pony, the Grim Galloper, the Reaper of Souls to make sure each and every pony that died today would be guided along the path to their ultimate destiny. He moved through the chaotic mass of moving bodies as ponies were trying to get to safety, an unseen entity. Of course he didn't have to go to the trouble of avoiding everypony, seeing how he could phase through solid objects at a whim. But he considered it an invasion of privacy should he move through anyone's body. Coming to a stop before the prone form of an elderly earth pony mare, his horn gave a short flash, and the mare, still lying on the ground, now also stood beside him. "Wha…? What happened? What is going on?" she asked, noticing her own body lying on the ground before her, "I… Is that… Is that me!?" she started to hyperventilate as she backed away, unable to stop staring at her dead body. "Not anymore," Mort answered, and she finally noticed who was there with her. She screamed out loud a moment later. Mort, used to such reactions from the unprepared, still flinched away from the haunting scream echoing from mare's non existent lungs. "NO! IT CAN'T BE! YOU'RE NOT REAL… I'M NOT.. not…." "I'm afraid you are, Daisy Tail," Mort told her in a calm, caring voice, and the mare fell to her knees as the harsh reality came crashing down on her. Sobbing, she asked: "Why…? Why did I…? And wh-... what about my family?" "I can't tell you why you died. Just that it happened. As for your family?" Mort answered, a nervous edge to his voice as he looked at the devastation around him, wondering if the mare's family was also in the middle of all this, "They will be hurt, heartbroken, and they will mourn you. But they will move on, eventually," he told her, 'If they live, that is,' he mentally added. Wiping her eyes, Daisy Tail slowly returned to her hooves and moved to where her cooling body lay on the ground, staring at it with a numb look. "What will happen now?" she mumbled. "That is for you to decide," Mort answered, taking his place next to her, "You have a choice to make," Daisy Tail turned her head slightly towards him, indicating she was listening. "What kind of choice?" "To move on to eternity, should you feel you're ready for it. Or, if not, you may stay here; gaining a new body of a spectral nature, and continue walking this world." "A body of a spectral nature?" she repeated, not understanding. In answer, Mort shifted his gaze to two ghosts flying overhead, completely oblivious to them. "THAT!?" Daisy screeched, disgusted and appalled, "You want me to become one of those things? After what they did?!" Flinching away from the suddenly furious mare, Mort quickly shook his head, "No no no no. That was not what I meant. You have the choice, not me. If you want, you can continue your existence on this wor—" "Like a ghost!?" Daisy huffed, "Over my dead body." "...Eehh…" Mort uttered, shifting his gaze to the mare's lifeless form. "You know what I mean," she quickly added, "And I refuse to become one of those things. Not now, not ever. Not after all of this!" she motioned at the chaos all around, making her point. "If that is what you wish…" Mort said in a meek tone. "It is," Daisy stated, and gasped as her form suddenly became much, much lighter; floating up in the air as light began to shine from her form. Then, in a burst of pure energy, she was gone. Sighing, Mort shook his head, staring at the many souls still waiting for him, "If only all of them would go this 'easily'… Oh, Thanasia, what plan has destiny for this world?" he asked, but his question remained unanswered… For now. <<>><<>><<>> Moving through the mass of ponies who were running wild through the streets, all searching for a safe place to hide from the ghosts tormenting them, Pinkie, Maud, and Granny Pie found themselves pushed inside a desolate store, unable to move out without the risk of being trampled. "Wha- What do we do now?" Maud asked nervously, as she peered through a broken window. Peering around through her hazy vision, Granny Pie tried to come up with an answer. "Maybe we can just stay here?" Pinkie Pie spoke up in a small voice, yet there was a distinct edge to it as she looked around the store, "At least, maybe for a little bit," she added as she slowly moved through the empty aisles. She knew this store, better than most save the party store some blocks away. Your Littlest Pet Shop, that was the name of this place. Pinkie knew mainly due to the fact that she frequently visited to play with the animals; making them smile just as much as they made her. Now though, the animals were gone, the cages open and a messy trail of food, hay, and other contents one might expect from any animal lay strewn across the floor. "What happened to all my animal friends?" Pinkie asked sadly, giving a small kick against a ball she knew belonged to a young puppy. "Don't you worry, dear," her grandmother said, gently pulling her into a comforting hug, "I'm sure they're fine. But right now we need to worry about ourselves, do you understand?" Giving a sob, Pinkie nodded her head. "Good. Now, let's go see if there's a way out of here through the back," Granny Pie suggested, and the three of them quietly headed for the employees' door in the back; Maud still not having spoken single word, much to Granny Pie's growing concern. The sudden sound of a small bird cage falling over, and clattering on the ground took them by surprise, and they all reacted in fright; Maud reacting the strongest as she screamed loudly. "Don't worry, big sis," Pinkie said reassuringly, a smile beginning to grow on her muzzle as she saw the culprit who knocked over the cage, "It's just a baby alligator." There, sitting on the shelf that had previously held the bird cage, sat the very creature Pinkie was referring to: A small reptile, staring at them with unblinking eyes. "Hello there, little guy," Pinkie chirped happily, glad she had found at least one of the animals here. Although she didn't ever remember there being baby alligators here, "Are you lost? Where are your friends?" Silence. "Pinkie, we don't have time for this," Maud hissed through her teeth, eyes shifting around nervously. "But- but… I can't leave this little guy alone like this, can I? He has no one else to look after him," Pinkie said, saddened, her lower lip trembling, "He needs someone to take care of him…" she added, trailing off as she stared into the alligator's unblinking eyes. "You're coming with me," she stated firmly, but gently, scooping the animal up in her hooves and placing it snugly in her bouncy mane. "Pinkie, you can't do that," Maud argued. "I just did," Pinkie replied matter of factly, "Now, let's go find a way out of here," and she quickly moved through the employees' door, entering the back room while Maud and her grandmother shared an uneasy glance with one another. "She'll never change," Granny Pie eventually relented, following behind the youngest of her grandchildren, "no matter what kind of situation she's in." Maud followed after her in silence, 'I just wish I could say the same of you, my dear Maud.' <<>><<>><<>> Celestia was pacing anxiously through the throne room. It had been several hours since her guards' last message, before all contact stopped. And now, after the Wonderbolts responded to the unclear distress call, she found herself without any knowledge as to what was happening in Baltimare, and to her little ponies. As the Princess, it was her duty above all else to ensure her subjects' safety. And sitting by while others were fighting an enemy of unknown capabilities went against every instinct she had. Unfortunately, due to the importance of her station, those very guards who were now fighting for her ponies also wouldn't allow her to go and face this enemy. As they saw it: Should anything happen to her, then who would lead the country? 'I don't care about any of that! All I want is to protect my ponies, and to Tartarus with my crown. How can I do nothing while so many are going through who knows what kind of horrors?' The fear and uncertainty was clearly visible on her face. Coming to a stop before one of the many windows of the throne room, she looked outside in the general direction of Baltimare, "I need to do something," she stated, horn alight, "I can no longer stand by and do nothing!" and with that she vanished in a burst of magic. <<>><<>><<>> They were watching. Many eyes observing the world they were tasked to oversee. They didn't speak. They didn't question. They didn't judge. They simply carried out the task given to them. As they watched unblinkingly, a fluctuation in the world's magical field presented itself to them. A small ripple at first, growing stronger in moments. Someone was coming. Someone powerful. Someone out of place. They watched, endlessly. A new force presented itself, pushing away the one coming. They watched; watched as destiny unfolded itself. <<>><<>><<>> "What!?" Celestia shouted in shock at finding herself back in the throne room, "How… What caused this?" A pensive look on her face, she struggled to understand what had happened… and what she had felt. A presence, meeting her half way during her teleportation. A presence, meeting her in the magical field of Equestria itself. A presence which forced her back to whence she came. "Whatever it was that did this, it must have been something of great power to accomplish such a feat," a shudder went down her spine, "If this... If this is the doing of the ones my ponies are now facing…" no more words were wasted, as, with a flash of her horn, and a mighty flap of her wings, she opened one of the many windows and shot towards the distant city. <<>><<>><<>> Ponies were screaming as they were trying to flee the scene, the Wonderbolts acting quickly to steer them away per their Captain's orders, not wanting them anywhere near the fight occurring between him, and the massive, metal ghost. A sickening grin on the latter's face. A look of steeled resolve on the former. In their deadly dance, Rainbow Blaze threw everything he had into the fight; however, he was forced to stay on the defensive for the most part, as Skulker's finesse with a blade was too great. He had sustained a few injuries, the cuts in his suit and the steady flow of blood seeping out of them a testimony to this. "Not bad," Skulker grunted, "but I expected more from you." He glanced down at the sizable dent in his armor, "He certainly knew how to deliver a blow. So, what is it? Are you holding back, or did I overestimate you?" "Stop talking, you freak!" Blaze breathed through clenched teeth, and Skulker's grin fell, "I will beat you down, and then the rest of you abominations who dared to hurt the citizens of this city." "All bark, but no bite," Skulker stated, "You're trained, that much is obvious. But training does not equal experience." Blaze's eyes narrowed in response, but he remained quiet, observing his foe, expecting everything… "I'm done wasting my time with you," except what Skulker did next. Acting quickly, Skulker raised his arm and fired a glob of glowing green goop. Unable to fully avoid the sudden attack Blaze's flank was struck by the ectoplasmic mass which burst on impact, glueing his hindquarters to the floor. "That should hold you down for a while," Skulker said, turning around and deploying his thruster pack, "I've got to find my prey," he finished. Without another word he shot off in a cloud of smoke, leaving Rainbow Blaze coughing and hacking as the pollution forced its way into his nose and mouth. "HEY… gha… Get back here!" he coughed, glaring daggers at the ghost, unable to free himself, "I will bring you down!" he shouted, straining to break the hold the green stuff had over him. <<>><<>><<>> Sweet Apple was hastily moving from cover to cover, her husband placed securely on her back. After the restaurant proved to be unsafe, and after she had thrown Skulker through the wall, she didn't waste any time getting to safety. But despite the need to flee as fast as she could, she couldn't put on as much speed as she would have wanted. Mainly due to her husband; still unconscious, but starting to slowly awaken, if his pained grunts every time his injured leg moved as a result of Sweet's movement were any indication. Yet, they weren't alone. Moving with them were two other ponies who had ended up with Sweet in the ensuing chaos of the ghost's assault. They were pegasi, one with an injured wing, the other shaken, but otherwise unharmed. They didn't talk, and they didn't stop to introduce themselves. They just ran, knowing what to do with nothing more than a single glance, their ancient herding instinct guiding them, with the stallion leading the way, as he was the only one uninjured or unburdened by the weight of another pony. Together they moved through the mass of ponies cluttering the streets, not looking back towards where they came from, even as a cacophony of screams and battle assailed their ears. Eventually, they got a lucky break when they came across a small store hidden away in a narrow alley. It was a strange store, shelves covered in dust and filled with various exotic looking items whose purpose they couldn't begin to imagine. Not that this was of any interest to them. What was, however, was that it was out of view, and seemingly unnoticed by the ghosts. Slamming open the door, and retreating inside, three of the four ponies let out a nervous sigh as they closed the door behind them. "Did they follow us?" Sweet Apple asked, nervously, shifting her husband's weight. "No, I don't think so," the pegasus stallion answered, peering through a narrow window. "Thank Celestia for that," the pegasus mare breathed out. "Better not stay here too long, though," the stallion muttered, moving away from the window. The mare's uninjured wing twitched nervously over that, a shudder moving down her spine. Breathing out loudly, she then turned to Sweet Apple, "And what about him? Is he alright?" "He…" Sweet Apple muttered, looking back at Gleam, "Mah husband got injured fightin' off that ghost we saw in tha restaurant. Messed his leg up really bad. He…" she stuttered, biting her lower lip in anxiety, "He's been unconscious fer a while now," she sighed. "But what about you?" she asked, looking at the pegasus' wing. "I've been better," she replied, "but at least I am still standing…" an awkward silence settled down over them, "Um… I'm Scoot Blaze," the pegasus mare introduced herself, trying to break the tension, "And this is my husband, Sky Rider." "Sweet Apple," the earth mare offered with a slight nod, "Apple Gleam," she added, nodding towards her husband. "...So, what do we do now?" Scoot Blaze asked after a short moment of silence. "Now…" Sky Rider replied as he moved to his wife's side, "Now we wait for things to be safe enough for us to move. Until then, let's see what we can use in this place," he said as he took a look around, before turning to Sweet Apple, "Maybe there is something to help your husband as well." "Ah hope so," Sweet sighed, gently lowering Apple Gleam to the floor, "Ah really do," but deep down she knew this was something that couldn't easily be 'fixed'. <<>><<>><<>> Mort wandered through the abandoned streets, a hollow sigh escaping his equally hollow chest. His eyes were downcast, barely registering what was happening around him. So much death, so much suffering. It was just too much, even for him, Death. True, he came to be the reaper for those who died. His job was to guide their souls, and comfort those who needed it, although his form wasn't really suited for that particular job. Nonetheless, he carried out his task with all the care and responsibility he could. At least, that is, until today. "Why is this happening?" he asked to no one, "What good can come from this?" he stopped for a moment to help and guide the souls of a young colt and his mother, whose bodies he found huddled together in a corner. "I know there is a plan," he looked up as the mother and her son ascended into eternity, "more direct for some than for others. But this, how does this fit in?" He sighed again, shaking his head, when the faint sound of clip clopping hooves on the streets reached his non existant ears. "All of this is happening, because of my actions," an unknown voice said. Mort turned to see a young unicorn stallion standing behind him. The stranger had a pitch black coat, with a fiery blue mane and tail; a snow white streak running through it. Yet there were two features which captured Mort's attention most. The stallion's glowing green eyes, and an eerily familiar medallion around his neck. "What!?" Mort exclaimed, shocked, "You can see me?!" The stallion only gave a single slow nod, his eyes downcast, "I never wanted this to happen, but I had no choice." He rubbed a hoof against the medallion, "So much has happened…. is going to happen," he sighed, "This is a sacrifice which will steer events back on track… I do wish this never needed to be done, though." "What are you talking about? Who are you?" Mort asked, a frantic edge to his voice. "What am I talking about? You will find that out soon enough," the stallion answered as he turned around and walked away, "As for who I am. I'm just a pony from another time… a happier time," he stopped on the spot, head turning to Mort, "... I'm sorry," he said softly. With that, he vanished. Leaving Mort where he stood, unmoving, unable to understand what the pony meant. Yet one thing slowly became apparent to Mort as he thought over what had just happened. Something he noticed, but which he failed to truly process at first because of his surprise. This stallion, this pony. He wasn't dead. A heart was still beating in his chest. "Thanasia," Mort breathed out, "What is happening to this world…? What is going to happen?" The empty streets provided him with no answer. <<>><<>><<>> Mort was moving from street to street, never resting. His mind in a state of constant turmoil, especially after what that strange pony had said; not to mention what he carried with him. "That was one of his medallions, I'm sure of it. Then, is he involved with this as well?" Mort received no answer, and he continued his task of guiding the souls of those who had died in this horrid haunting. However, turning the corner, he came upon a scene which made his metaphorical blood run cold. Three ponies, one an elderly earth pony mare, and two young earth pony fillies. All three trapped in a corner by a trio of skeletal ghosts, which Mort recognized as those commanded by the ghost king. With swords drawn, they closed in on the three ponies, and Mort knew their end was drawing near. He watched with saddened eyes, knowing he wasn't allowed to interfere. Still, seeing the fear in the eyes of those three, especially the two fillies, he couldn't help but feel a stab in the core of his very being. He knew the rules; and he had obeyed them from the very first moment he set hoof on this mortal world. But right now, he questioned them. Could he, maybe just this once, break the rules, and allow these ponies to continue with their lives? Thanasia would be furious, for sure, but perhaps it would be worth it, in the end. However, his internal debate took too long, and with a scream from the ponies, he saw the ghostly trio lunge towards them, only to stop in mid air; swords held high, shaking slightly as the ghosts stared down at the ponies. At the pink filly's mane to be precise. "It can't be!" Mort murmured breathlessly, eyes widening as he saw what caused the ghosts' pause, "How…?" Sitting within the curly confines of the pony's mane, was a baby alligator. Although, Mort knew its form was deceptive. Its unblinking eyes stared at the ghosts, the faintest narrowing of the eyes just barely noticeable, and fear struck the unbeating hearts of the undead. Their swords fell to the ground, and the ghosts fled with all the speed they could muster. Recovering from their near death experience, the ponies looked up in relief and confusion. "Wha- what just happened?" the young grey mare asked, huddled close to the elderly mare. "I- I don't know?" the pink filly spoke up in a small voice. Suddenly her eyes lit up, "Maybe it was my new friend who scared them away?!" Scooping up the alligator in her hooves, she smiled proudly at him, "Did you?" Silence. "You did! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she squealed happily, hugging the alligator tightly. "What just happened?" Mort asked himself, unheard by all, save for one, and he felt a shudder travel down his spine as the alligator's unblinking eyes turned to him. No words were spoken, yet the message was all too clear. They are protected!