//------------------------------// // The Farm Girl's Strength and The Devil in Arpeggio // Story: Cosmic Defiance: The Enemy from the Stars // by Mamoru Kisho //------------------------------// Chapter Three: The Farm Girl’s Strength and The Devil in Arpeggio “Where’s Astra?” “She’s still inside. I don’t think she wants to move him just yet.” Radiance, Nocta, Trevet, and Elpidios stood in the castle courtyard, exhausted yet relieved that the weeks-long siege on Canterlot has finally ended. Astra hasn’t joined them yet, still in mourning over Comet’s death. “Such a tragedy”, said Elpidios. “Even more so for such a young pair. If anything, I should have been the one to perish. Adrastos’s campaign--” “You had nothing to do with your son’s decision, old friend.” King Radiance kept a tight grip on his staff ever since Shadestone’s banishment, still paranoid about the shadow tyrant’s return. “Thank you, old friend” Elpidios replied. The wizened king of Froud Valley hoisted his shield. “I believe I should be going now. The people of Froud will be lost without a king. It’s time I should take up the mantle once more.” Nocta stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Will you at least stay to celebrate our victory?” “I’m afraid I can’t. There is something else I need to research given…” Elpidios trailed off as if distracted by an important thought. “Never mind that. I will keep in touch if I find out anything. Until then.” Trevet, silent since before their showdown with the tyrant, finally spoke out. “I should’ve crushed Adrastos when I had the chance.” “What we have or haven’t done in the past is of no importance now, Trevet” replied Nocta. “No importance? That bastard leveled half of the cities in the civilized world. I knew that kid would be trouble.” Radiance interjected once more. “No amount of regret will bring back all of those who have lost their lives in this struggle. Save your energy. We’re not yet sure if Adrastos can break free of his imprisonment.” “This is ridiculous…” commented the kaiser. “You are out for blood, that I understand.” Radiance walked up to Trevet, the ancient wizard locking eyes with his gargantuan comrade. “However, you also have to attend to your own people. Focus on them for the moment and let us worry about the aftermath.” Trevet hesitated as he tried to find the right words. Instead, he nodded and hoisted his axe onto his shoulder, walking toward the throne room. King Radiance and Queen Nocta were left in the courtyard, both concerned about the wellbeing of their remaining allies. “What should I do?” he asked. “I feel as if nothing will ease their minds at this point.” “You’ve done all you can. We’re not the misfit band of tribe leaders we used to be. They’ve grown wise, and so have you.” “I hope you’re right...” Comet awoke to the sound of loud and rapid knocking, much to his displeasure. Sleep wasn’t particularly kind to him after having to work twice as fast yesterday to finish his tasks on time, but he couldn’t go back on his word. Twilight had come to meet him and his father was at the door to wake him as usual. He grabbed his alarm clock from the nightstand. “Two hours before we agreed to meet”, he whispered to himself as he got up. “This is ridiculous. It’s not even dawn.” The knocking grew louder as he struggled to get out of bed. “Alright, I’m up.” Comet opened the door expecting the old face of his father, but was instead greeted with one much younger and female. “Good morning! Did you sleep well?” Twilight stood at the door, holding a tray with two cups balanced on it. “I was, until I heard a loud noise coming from my door.” Comet gestured her to step in. “Question is, why are you the one waking me up?” “I wasn’t planning on doing so. Your father answered the door, invited me inside, and pointed toward your room. I didn’t exactly get the chance to say no, so I figured ‘why not?’.” “If you’re planning on making repeat visits, you’d better get used to it. He likes to play matchmaker even though he’s only known one woman in his entire life.” He rummaged through a dresser as he mumbled, “The seamstress’s daughter didn’t appreciate his ‘effort’, for example...” “Did you say something?” “Nothing, just talking to myself. What’s with the mugs?” “It’s coffee. I made it myself.” She placed the tray on the nightstand and grabbed a mug for herself. “My exact process is a secret, but I assure you that you won’t need to worry about fatigue once you’ve had a sip.” “The only thing I’m worried about at this point is whether or not the old man can manage without me today.” He looked over at her, holding a shirt in his hands. “I’d hate to ask you, but--” “Say no more!” Twilight made a hasty exit and slammed the door shut behind her. She stood in the hallway pondering about what made her stick around when he clearly needed to prepare. “Maybe it was the aroma from the coffee. Yes, definitely the coffee. After all, it’s not that I was trying to be rude. It’s his home, and he needs his privacy.” “I can still hear you”, he said from behind the closed door. “I’ll be right out.” “Of course he can still hear you. You’re right outside his door. In fact, you haven’t moved at all since you practically slammed it in his face. Look at you, talking to yourself. He’s probably listening to every word you speak.” “Do you do this with every person you meet?” Twilight stepped away from the door. It opens a second later and Comet is standing there in a very different outfit compared to his uniform. While he still chose a similar gray shirt, his shoulders were draped with a heavily-used travel cloth. The heavy blacksmith trousers were replaced with a black pair that was much lighter, with a pair of travel boots that have seen much use. A simple sword, Uchun in design, was strapped firmly to his waist. In his hands is the librarian’s coffee, taking a careful sip. “Can we get a move on before I change my mind and go back to sleep?” The crowd is abuzz with talk of today’s event. Hunters from many different lands - Clawdor, Uchu, Equestria, and even Runera’s natives - all waited eagerly for the city gates to open, weapons at the ready. “Boy howdy, everyone’s just itchin’ to get at them critters. Hope y’all leave some fer me.” A farmhand stood amongst the crowd of glory hounds, scratching her head as she surveyed them, disappointed at the lack of familiar faces. “Not a soul Ah know. Figures.” The air was filled with the sound of bells signalling the start of a new hour. Seven rings were heard by the crowd, and on the last one the portcullis was raised. Every passing second felt like an eternity to everyone as they watched it open. As soon as it stopped, one of the city guards on the wall blew into a large horn. At that point, every participant bolted toward the exit. The larger hunters pushed their way through thanks to their size while the more nimble hunters weaved through the rabble. Those in front were already heading in the directions of their choosing while those stuck in the far back hadn’t begun to move. The farmhand stood still, letting the bloodthirsty past and keeping an eye on the stragglers, yet there were still no signs of anyone she recognized. That is, until… “So, if we head north toward the desert, we’ll travel through a large plains area. The land is mostly even, so we’d be able to spot danger or prospective hunts very easily, and once we get to the desert… Hey, hurry up! If we let them get ahead of us, someone else will take first place for sure!” “Relax, we’ll be able to catch up and then some. They’ll tire themselves out and we’ll just come from behind and take credit for their hunts.” Twilight and Comet walked at different paces, with the scholar raring to go and the blacksmith taking his time. She was clearly annoyed at her partner’s lack of motivation and plan. “We are NOT undermining anyone else’s efforts either, is that understood?” “Then you can kiss first place goodbye, along with a chance to meet the regent himself.” The farmhand recognized Twilight right off the bat. “Well, Ah’ll be. What’s she doing all the way out here?” She kept her distance as she tailed them, keeping a steady pace to blend in with the stragglers. “Fine, we’ll do it your way. Just be sure to uphold your end of the bargain.” “What bargain? All you did was show me some parchment and I agreed to help.” “The fact that you promised to keep everything I’ve told you a secret.” “A secret, huh?” the farmhand said to herself, smiling. “Twilight, jus’ what’re ya up to? And with some random guy, no less.” She quickened her pace to keep them in her sight. Three hours into the hunt, the luckiest or most skilled groups of hunters were still going strong. Three hours, and many first-timers were feeling the encroaching sensation of fatigue, unaware of it or unable to avoid it. Three hours, and the weakest groups or those going solo have voluntarily dropped out of the running, realizing that this kind of sport wasn’t meant for them. The blacksmith and scholar were definitely part of the first category. “On your right!” Twilight spotted the pack of desert wolves as her partner called out. They’ve been plagued by this particular group since entering the San Palomino Desert. Comet made it a priority to avoid large numbers of beasts in such a brutal environment, but soon discovered that the beasts weren’t so forgiving. “I see them! Zephyr!” The scholar flicked her wand in the direction of the creatures, sending them sprawling as she cast a wind spell. A couple of wolves were unfazed, continuing their pursuit. “They’re still coming after us!” One hound managed to keep pace with the hunters, appearing as a sandy-brown blur in their peripheral vision. It bore its teeth at them before letting out a fearsome howl, calling reinforcements in an attempt to overwhelm them with sheer force. “That one must be the alpha” Comet pointed out. “We take it down, the rest will scatter.” Another pack, ten in total, emerged from a nearby dune. The sand swirled around them as they materialized, already locking their gaze on their would-be prey. “Great, just what we need. MORE wolves.” Twilight cast another Zephyr spell, talking out a considerable chunk of the new pack. Three wolves emerged from the raining sand at breakneck speeds, easily catching up to them and keeping pace. “No matter how strong or how precise I am, there’s always at least one left!” “Think of a plan! They go after any source of liquid, we know that for sure!” The scholar racked her brain for some method to neutralize or at least deter their pursuers long enough to escape. She wiped the sweat from her brow, shaking the drops off. The instant she does, the desert wolves shift their focus to her, or at least toward the direction she moved her hand. “That’s it…” Immediately, Twilight opens her travel bag and grabs two magicite gems. “Catch!” Comet barely manages to hold onto the magicite, but avoids dropping it. He inspects them, then flashes a grin at his partner. “Zephyr and Aqua. I get it now.” “On my mark, use Aqua and try to get them all in one group and Zephyr if any are left after this!” The blacksmith readied the blue magicite gem and waited for his cue. “Now!” He raised the Aqua gem and gripped it tighter, activate the spell stored within. A steady stream of water flowed from the gem and onto the sand, drawing the attention of every wolf. “I just hope you’re ready on your end. Otherwise, I’m dog food!” Twilight poured a large amount of magic into her wand, the tip glowing violet with energy. After a few seconds, the glow became green and a howling wind swirled around her. She aimed at the pack that drew closer and closer to Comet, and with a loud voice yelled, “ZEPHYRUS!” The spell was launched across the desert, kicking up a tremendous amount of sand along its path. The resulting roar caused by the air and sand was almost deafening. The wolves stopped dead in their tracks and turned their heads to the commotion only to be torn apart and reduced to the very material that makes them corporeal. Comet, laying on his back due to the commanding power of Twilight’s spell, sat up and stared at the scholar as the dust settled. She was panting heavily and came to rest on her knees, just as tired from their unwanted marathon as he was. He stifled a chuckle at first which grew into full-on relieved laughter, joined shortly by Twilight. “I have to say, I never thought you’d have such strong magic at your disposal.” “Surprised you, have I?” “Alright, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Little Miss Prodigy” he jokingly stated. “We still need to find drops proving that we’ve taken on that many wolves.” “What kind of drops are we looking for?” “They’re soul-based monsters, so look for a glowi--” A ferocious howl interrupted them. Twilight looked at Comet in shock. He turned his head and noticed a lunging desert wolf in mid-pounce. There was no time for him to move out of the way now. All he could do is brace himself for a flurry of claws and teeth. POW! The creature was sent flying a few meters away, bouncing against the coarse sand and losing its form over the entire distance. At last it came to rest with a solid ‘thump’, resembling nothing more than a tiny dune. Comet breathed a sigh of relief as he narrowly avoided becoming its chew toy. The sound of footsteps upon sand was heard by the blacksmith. A large figure stood over him, blocking the sunlight. The figure grabbed him by the arm and pulled him onto his feet, almost as if they meant no harm. “Hoo boy, glad Ah got here in time.” Comet was still left bewildered by his savior, but now he had a good look at her, dressed in an orange flannel shirt, faded blue jeans, cowgirl boots and a hat to match. She was clearly a ranch hand, or at least worked on a farm. Her freckled face was beaming, two emerald green eyes staring back at him. “So ain’tcha gonna thank me fer savin’ yer life?” Before the blacksmith could do so, they both heard a familiar voice growing ever louder. “APPLEJACK!” Twilight, despite her earlier fatigue, sprinted toward the farm girl and practically leapt into her arms in a very affectionate hug. “TWILIGHT!” The farmhand effortlessly spun around while keeping a tight grip on the scholar, apparently weighing almost nothing to her. That punch definitely wasn’t a fluke. She really had the strength to send that desert wolf flying. “Now what’s Equestria’s smartest lady doin’ in such a dry place?” “It’s such a long story, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I could ask you the same thing, though.” “Jus’ decided ta stick aroun’ after makin’ a cider delivery at a local bar. Heard there was gonna be some sorta ‘hunter competition’ or other, thought Ah’d stick around and give it a try.” Applejack reached down to pick up an item left behind by the wolves before walking over to the young blacksmith. She shook his hand vigorously, leaving it in his grasp and shooting him a smile. “Name’s Applejack, co-owner o’ Sweet Apple Acres. What’s your name, stranger?” Comet rubbed the back of his sore hand as he replied. “Comet Blade, local blacksmith. Still surprised that you pack such a mean punch.” “Aw shucks, it ain’t nothin’. You should see mah work back at the farm.” She turned away and headed back toward the city, cracking her knuckles and stretching her arms over her head. “Glad ta share a story or two if ya let me tag along.” Nightfall was fast approaching, and the hunt was coming to a close. Hundreds of teams have set up a temporary rest area outside of the city’s gates, already sure that their early retirement from the competition would jeopardize their chances of victory but too tired to care. They were more concerned with a quick Bit, intending to sell their loot to various shopkeepers and artisans to make use of them. Twelve hours since the start of the competition, only three teams remain: a band of six barbarians from the icy peaks of Clawdor, a ronin duo from Uchu, and the ragtag group consisting of the scholar, blacksmith, and farmhand. “So yer tellin’ me ya signed up for this only tah get yer hands on a few books, Twi?” “Not just any books, AJ. They’re supposed to be historical tomes that date back thousands of years. If we get an audience with this city’s regent, there’s a chance he might be able to convince the capital to part with them.” Comet walked ahead of his companions. He was well aware of Twilight’s request to not reveal any details of her purpose in Runera to her farmhand friend or anyone else for that matter. “If she needed to know, she can handle it” he muttered to himself. He let his mind wander a bit as they trekked on. The trio came to this part of the Arpeggio wildlands at his request. “Should be around here somewhere…” “Say pardner, what’re we doin’ here again?” voiced Applejack as she sifted through a bush. “Like I said back near the city gates, we’re looking for a dryad. I need something from it.” “It wasn’t on the list that we saw on the bulletin board near Arpeggio” Twilight chimed. “It’s not for the hunt. I need that something for personal reasons.” “Well, maybe we can help ya better if ya tell us what’cher lookin’ for, exactly.” Comet looked back at them over his shoulder after inspecting one of the nearby trees. “Ah mean, it’s not like we might know what to do with it.” “We need a particular fruit that’s only found on dryads. Either of you ever heard of something called a parchfruit?” “You mean that really bitter and dry fruit, gourd-shaped and orange enough to make an orange look pale?” “That’s the one”, he replied. Twilight immediately unclasped her travel bag and pulled out a book, flipping through its pages like a madwoman. “Now why the hay does a metalworker need such a rare fruit?” asked Applejack. “It says here that parchfruit can treat a multitude of diseases ranging from the flu to…” Twilight trailed off mid-sentence, slamming the book shut and putting it away. “Blood Winter. Comet, do you…?” “My old man does.” He kept himself busy with his search as he continued. “Regent’s always going on about how the disease was eradicated after the last epidemic, but the people know the truth. It still crops up in the outer villages and isolated parts of the city. If it wasn’t for a certain healer’s study into the medical uses for various plants, it would’ve been a lot worse.” Twilight, cautious about the last time she asked about Blood Winter, walked up to her companion and kept a steady pace with him. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did your parents come into contact with it?” Comet usually kept quiet about such serious topics, but there was something about these two. He couldn’t put a finger on it, but he felt such a strong sense of trust regarding the girls. “You’re going to regret this”, he muttered to himself first. “My mother was a healer in her home country. She mostly worked with herbal remedies, but wanted to see what kinds of flora she could add to her practice.” “Was she the one who discovered the properties of parchfruit?” “No, but believe me, I remember her smacking her own forehead for not thinking of it first”, he replied with a light chuckle. “That didn’t stop her from being out at the crack of dawn just to look for one, though.” “A gal dedicated to her work”, added Applejack. “Ah can relate.” “She became infected after trying to treat a particularly nasty case on her own. Near the end stages of the patient’s disease, they coughed up a large amount of blood and some of it got in her eyes. About three days later, she started showing symptoms of the disease.” Comet’s face grew solemn, reluctant to continue. He wiped his brow and sighed, still frustrated at his inability to find a dryad as well. “My old man kept her home and did his best to treat her, but he didn’t know the first thing about medicine. We were pretty devastated after she passed, him even more so given that he had to see her go that way.” “And your father…” “He wanted Mom to have a proper burial instead of being cremated with the rest. Couldn’t bear to reduce his soulmate to nothing but a pile of ash.” A cold breeze blew through the forest, forcing Comet to pull his cloth over his head for warmth. The rugged shawl made him seem even more grim. “Turned out that bodies were still dangerous to handle up to a week after death. He wasn’t wearing any gloves or anything that could keep the blood off of him. Sure enough, just like Mom, a few days later…” Comet came to a complete stop, with Twilight doing the same just a few steps behind him. She reached out and tried to console him, being stop just inches away from his shoulder by Applejack, shaking her head. “Luckily”, Comet continued, “By the time he unwittingly exposed himself to it, the parchfruit treatment became rather effective at keeping the disease from developing past the first stage. Some people never experienced another symptom again as long as they kept up the treatment.” He resumed walking, noticing a few strange leaves dotting a path through the trees. “Now I’m out here every year, collecting one or two parchfruit just so he doesn’t croak for being a sentimental old fool.” “That explains why both of you work in separate workshops. If there was a workplace accident, there’s a chance you might be exposed to it.” She gripped his shoulder firmly. Applejack didn’t stop her from doing so this time. “Ya can’t blame the guy fer trying, sugar cube. Ah’m sure he’s thankful fer all the effort yer puttin’ into keepin’ him healthy as well.” “I guess you’re right, though it would be nice not to worry about his health. If there’s a cure out there, I hope it’s discovered soon.” He stopped once again, this time turning to face his company. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to bring it up, but that’s the second time I shared something with complete strangers that I wouldn’t tell people I’ve known for years.” Comet sighed and resumed following the trail of leaves. “All the more reason to talk about it. No one could keep something like that a secret forever.” The blacksmith slowed to yet another stop, this time kneeling down to dig through a large tangle of branches and dead leaves. Once he cleared away enough of the debris, he stood and showed the other two something in his hands: a parchfruit. “That didn’t take long. And it’s a big one ta boot.” “Whoever fought this dryad didn’t think to look for any parchfruit. Then again, it’s only found on one out of every five hundred dryads or so.” Twilight clasped her hands and smiled at the other two. “Which means we’ve lucked out both in your search and my quest.” “All we have to--” All three turned their heads quickly toward the sound of a breaking twig. They spotted the source: two figures hiding amongst the trees, possibly watching them the entire time. “Give it up!” yelled Comet, quickly hiding the parchfruit in his travel bag. “It’s clear that you don’t have a ranged fighter if you have to get this close, but one word from our spellcaster--” “Hey, take it easy, friend!” responded one of the figures. “I just wanted to ask you for a favor!” Both of them walked out of the shadows cautiously. They were young warriors, a man and a woman clearly of Uchun descent. The man was clutching his nose with one hand, the cloth wrapped around it speckled with blood. “My partner has a slight nosebleed and we’re out of clean cloth. May we borrow some? I’d be glad to repay you once the hunt is over.” “This is embarrassing”, added the man. “Let’s just head back to the city, no need to ask strangers.” “Hush, you!” She smiled at the trio after chastising her partner. “I understand if you don’t want to, but the event is over in an hour and I don’t think our last cloth will last that long.” “Here, y’all can have mine.” Applejack pulled a red handkerchief from her back pocket and walked toward her. Once the woman had the handkerchief in hand, the farmhand took it with both of hers and shook it. “Name’s Applejack.” “I’m Kunai, and the grouchy bleeder here is Smokescreen.” “Hi”, replied the man. He took the cloth from his partner and switched out the bloodied one in favor of it. “We’ve decided to head back to the city already”, added the blacksmith. “Maybe we could stick together on the way back. We’d be able to handle other monsters along the way if we need to.” “That sounds great, Mr…?” “Comet Blade, and this is Twilight Sparkle.” The librarian was heavily invested in one of her books again, simply waving in return. “Now, Arpeggio would be in this direction…” The city was abuzz in celebration over another successful year of the monster hunt. Each and every hunter spent their well-earned prizes on many things they deem important. Some invested in better gear, others in gifts to take home to families, and other on food and drink for a job well done. That is, everyone apart from the trio. Instead of drinking themselves silly or stuffing their mouths, Twilight was practically dragging Applejack and Comet toward the regent’s castle. She could barely contain her excitement over learning what she came to learn. “Whoa, slow down, sugar cube! They’re just books!” “I get the feeling this is pretty common with her.” “You would be right.” The three of them reached the top of the steps leading up to the castle. Two guards dressed in simple iron armor with Runera’s crest, the silver falcon, stood watch near the main door. Not missing a step, Twilight walked up to them and presented them a document handed to her by the regent’s advisor himself. “We came to see the regent. I believe this proves that I have a right to see him.” The sentries took a close look at the document, looking at each other and nodding. They walked over to the doors and pulled them open, which proved to be quite a task even for physically fit soldiers. The doors opened up to a lavish garden filled with guests from other parts of Runera as well as foreign diplomats. They all turned to face the open door, then continued what they were doing before. Both guards stood in front of Twilight again. “I’m afraid your friends will have to wait here, miss.” The guard on the right, slightly taller than his partner, made it clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “I don’t understand. This pass should get all of us inside.” “The regent is expecting you. And only you”, said the other. She looked to Applejack, hoping she’d help her convince them to enter together. The farmhand simply shook her head and shrugged. “This way, if you will. The regent is expecting you”, repeated the guard. “It’s alright, Twi. We can wait fer ya here or meet up at yer inn room afterwards.” “Okay. I promise I won’t be long.” She followed both men through the entrance, looking back and waving at her companions. The doors close just as Twilight sees them one last time. Applejack and Comet both stood in silence for a while before the young man turned around, walked toward the stairs and sat on the first step. The farmhand followed him after a few seconds, taking a spot nearby on the same step. “Expecting her?” asked Comet. “Why would the regent be expecting the royal scholar?” “Ah’m not really a politics kind of gal.” Applejack looked down at the city, smiling warmly as she observed the festivities. “Ya know, now that we have a moment…” She set her travel bag down and opened it to reveal two glass bottles filled with fizzy apple cider. “She might take a while, so why not share a bit more about each other?” Twilight walked down the darkened hallway toward the regent’s meeting room. Her escorts haven’t said a word since asking her to follow them, and wouldn’t respond no matter how many times she tried starting a conversation. All along the walls were tapestries depicting major events in Runera’s history, particularly that of Arpeggio including its founding, the hunt, and even the outbreak of Blood Winter. The soldiers stopped in front of an ornate door, opening it and stepping to either side of the entry. Inside, an elderly man sat behind a large conference desk facing the enormous stained glass window. In his hand was a glass of wine, the room filled with the aroma of the alcohol. The regent had clearly been drinking. The scholar stepped inside and looked around the room, more tapestries hanging on the walls and a few trinkets on shelves to give it a more lived-in look. The one object that stood out to Twilight, however, was under a glass case on the tabletop. It was a wand no larger than the usual spellcaster’s tool, only spiral-shaped and dotted with stars. Illustrations did the item’s beauty no justice, as the stars themselves were made of amethyst and the entire wand pulsed with a soft light, almost as if it was alive. “I’ve had that thing under glass for three weeks now, and that’s the first time it’s done anything like that.” The regent swung his chair around to face her. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, I presume.” “Y-yes, regent. A pleasure to meet you.” “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. Regent William Fontaine.” The regent placed his glass on the table before resting his elbows on it as well. “My people knew who you were the moment you arrived in our city. Rest assured, the king of Lanerio will not learn of your visit. This is just a conversation between two diplomats.” “Thank you”, said Twilight. “The last thing I’d like to do is cause an uproar.” Regent Fontaine continued, “And I suppose taking part in a rather large and infamous event is your idea of keeping a low profile?” Twilight slightly shied away at his words, regaining her composure. “It was the only way I could think of meeting you given the circumstances, and if not for one of your residents, I never would have thought to participate.” “Ah, yes. The blacksmith’s son”, replied the regent. He made it clear that she was being followed for the majority of, if not her entire visit. “Yet another instance of poor judgment on your part, princess. Telling a commoner of a rival nation about your reason for being here, not knowing if he would actually keep it a secret, was a very risky move. I suppose I could be wrong in that regard, seeing as how the more extreme followers of the king haven’t hunted you down.” “Are we here to talk about the approach I took to see you, regent, or will you hear me out?” Regent Fontaine gestured for her to continue. “Very well. As much as I’m sure that finding the Astral Wand is a huge accomplishment for your city, I must take it with me. I’m prepared to negotiate a price for it, but I am not leaving without it.” “Take it”, he replied curtly. “I’m willing to go as high as...wait a minute. Did you say I should--” “Yes, take it. Take it as far away from this place as you can.” The regent’s cold facade quickly disappeared and left a look of growing worry on his face. “Take it and leave tonight.” “I don’t understand. You would just hand it over to me, no questions asked, and let me walk out of here?” “Please don’t make me repeat myself, Princess Sparkle. Just take it and leave Arpeggio.” Twilight started growing wary of the regent’s request. She walked to the table and took a seat directly opposite of him, staring him down. “My only question is…why?” “Do you believe the stories about how the first nations came to be? I can assure you, they are no mere stories.” The regent nodded at one of the guards just outside the door. The soldier procured a folder from a nearby cabinet and placed it in front of Twilight. “Shortly after we’ve acquired the wand, some of our workers here had reported strange dreams. They are all described as being the same: a large celebration taking place in the center of town, the silver falcon statue covered in a dark substance, then the majority of the populace falling extremely ill. And all throughout that nightmare, a low, deep breathing.” The elder wiped his brow before continuing his explanation. “Just last week, I too have experienced the nightmare. It’s just as the workers explained. The dream grew more vivid as time went on, and just a couple of nights ago, it was lucid enough to feel as if I were in the middle of it all.” “Regent, I appreciate that you’re handing the wand over to a monarch of Equestria, but I don’t see what this has to do with the wand. I’m sure that whatever you’re experiencing is just a defense mechanism or an aura emanated by the wand to make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.” The regent kept silent, pushing the case hastily toward Twilight and directing his gaze away from the item. “Just go. Sentient wand or not, I can’t risk the safety of my people.” “Just what are you implying?” Before Twilight could get an answer, her former escorts rushed her out of the room with the Astral Wand in her grasp. “The regent has asked you to leave. You may be royalty, but we won’t hesitate to use force if need be.” Instead of pressing the issue any further, she did as instructed and made her way back outside. After speaking to the regent, she noticed a few tapestries looked a bit sinister. She quickened her pace and eventually found her way outside once more, rushing past the guests in the garden and toward the large doors. The guards posted there started pulling the doors open as she drew closer, once again pushing them shut once she ran through the entryway. “The entire orchard? I don’t believe you.” “It’s true!” Twilight found her two companions deep in conversation with cider bottles in hand. Applejack still wasn’t aware of Twilight’s reason to visit Arpeggio, so she stuffed the wand in her bag before making herself known. “Hey, you two.” “Twi! Perfect timing! Ah was just tellin’ our friend here ‘bout the time I spent--” “The week you spent harvesting all the apples in the orchard. I remember.” The farmhand and blacksmith looked at one another before Applejack spoke up. “Is something the matter, sugar cube?” “No, not really. I have to go.” “What, eager to celebrate with the rest of the town? I can show you where--” “No, no. I mean I have to leave tonight.” The scholar’s serious tone was cause for concern, especially with the fact that she continued to push her request. “Is there a way we can go right this instant? An airship or maybe even a merchant wagon?” “If you can find a sober enough pilot or merchant. Everyone’s down there celebrating at this mo--” The sounds of screams filled the air. The blacksmith looked toward the town center, half-expecting it to be nothing more than rambunctious celebration or a brawl between two opposing groups. However, everyone appeared to be distancing themselves from the fountain in the exact center of the city. “What’s happening down there?” “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out.” All three of them rushed down toward the center of town, curious bystanders making their way after them to find out for themselves. The closer they got, the more people appeared frightened and even reluctant to head toward the trio’s destination. Running towards them was a very recent and familiar face. Twilight called out to her as she drew closer. “Kunai!” The female ronin stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted them. Instead of a friendly greeting, she had a feared look in her eyes. She darted into a nearby alley before any of them could say another word. “She’s fine!” said Comet. “We don’t have time!” The sight that greeted them as they approached the central fountain wasn’t pleasant. The statue of the hawk was already in pieces, as if some explosive force tore it apart, and a dark ooze flowed from where it once stood. Those unfortunate enough to be standing close to it lay unconscious...or worse. “Somebody help us!” yelled a burly man, helping a few other citizens move the injured. “We need to move them into a building or anything with a strong roof!” “Ah got this!” Applejack pitched in on the relief efforts, Comet joining her a few moments later. Twilight, on the other hand, asked individuals in the crowd about the events that transpired. “It was some sort of freak meteor strike!” “The hawk statue started oozing this black substance before it was struck by some boulder.” “I think some of the injured are bleeding internally. They’ve been coughing up blood!” “They’ve been what!?” The scholar grabbed her medical journal and looked for the symptoms described by the townsfolk. “This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening!” Comet overheard her and rushed to her side after moving the last injured civilian to safety. “You don’t think…” Before he could finish his thought, one of the invalids stood and complained about a headache. “No…” The blacksmith looked mortified as the sick started coughing up blood, some of them bleeding from the eyes. Twilight stopped right on the page she needed. “Here it is: Blood Winter!” Comet tore the book from her hands and started reading through the symptoms, each of the stages unfolding before his very eyes. “Stage one: migraines and fainting.” “I think there’s been plenty of that already!” “Stage two: profuse bleeding from facial orifices or a blood-filled cough.” Several of the afflicted townsfolk have woken up, complaining about severe headaches and bleeding from their noses or mouths. “Stage three”, continued the blacksmith. “Coagulation of the blood at an alarming rate.” The sick continued coughing and losing blood, some of them spitting out a very darkened liquid. Those still healthy and sane enough to figure out the situation moved away from the remaining ailing souls. “It’s...It’s Blood Winter! Nobody touch them!” The panic only spread as the sick were left to fend for themselves. Those lucky to have avoided helping out backed away even more once they realized there was nothing they could do now. “S-so, what’s next?” asked Applejack. “What comes after stage three?” “Once the blood in their veins coagulates completely, the only thing left is…” The air fell silent as the ill stopped moving. “Stage four: all biological function stops. In short, death.” The blacksmith handed the journal back to Twilight before stepping forward to get a closer look at the victims. “No, no, NO! This is all wrong! Blood Winter takes days, maybe weeks to kill. These people should’ve had more time!” Before anyone could look around to stop any new cases, a series of loud explosions and serious tremors broke their train of thought. “What the hell was that?” The city guards have arrived just as the tremors hit. “Everyone, get off the streets! There’s more of them!” Comet and Twilight looked up at the night sky and immediately realized what had caused the tremors: meteors were falling on the city. Alarm bells rung as the people panicked, the soldiers doing their best to rally them into shelters or inside any building sturdy enough to withstand the blows. Even larger tremors shook the ground as the meteors struck much closer than before, sending debris and pieces of rock flying everywhere. Those unlucky enough to find themselves outside were either caught near an impact or hit by fragments of cobblestone or meteorite. After a few minutes of bombardment, the city was quiet once again. Twilight approached a particularly large meteorite near the fountain, noticing the same black ooze flowing from inside of it. “Say, aren’t meteors comprised of rock and bits of metal?” No one responded. “Quite right, young one.” Everyone stood frozen upon hearing a loud, almost oppressive voice. “But as far as I’m aware, humankind hasn’t sent anyone up there to keep one company.” The sound of laughter filled the air. It started low and menacing, slowly growing loud and maniacal. The dark substance that was left spilled all over the town square started congregating around the large meteorite. The air grew heavy with a sense of dread. Comet, Twilight, Applejack, and the citizens of Arpeggio distanced themselves as the ooze reshaped itself into the figure of a man. “Astra, Astra! Are you not going to introduce me to your new subjects? It’s been far too long.” The figure became clearer, revealing a man who exuded an aura of pure malice. His hair was a visual contrast of good and evil, comprised of strands colored white-gold and pitch black. As he walked forward away from his former prison and stepped onto solid ground, he clearly towered over the tallest humans in the crowd, surveying them with eyes that burned like flames in a dark cave, teeth as sharp as knives. He wore very ancient yet sturdy-looking armor, perhaps predating the use of more common iron and steel. “I-I-I know who y-you are” voiced a bystander. “Y-you’re…” “Shadestone the Shadow Tyrant!” The massive foe tore his gaze from the crowd upon hearing his name. He faced the direction of the voice and saw the regent being accompanied by a pair of soldiers as the rest of the Arpeggian army made its presence known. “Soldiers, escort the people away from the square! Keep them as far away as possible from this monstrosity!” “Monstrosity?” laughed Shadestone. “Monstrosity is putting it lightly, sir. What I am…” He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. “Is a demon.” “Soldiers, attack at will!” A large din of armor reverberated throughout the square as half of the battalion charged the invader. Shadestone did nothing but stand there, smiling menacingly. “Wait,” voiced Twilight. “Something’s not right. Why is he just letting them…?” A large black mass congregated around Shadestone just before the soldiers could reach him. Out of the ooze came unarmed civilians, their faces twisted in the throes of death. “Halt!” The attackers stopped themselves and looked on in horror. The figures started to lose their individual appearances as they were consumed by the blackness, a macabre life moving them once more. The formerly deceased townsfolk were now under the control of the tyrant. “What the hay is he doin’ with all them folk?” “What is wrong? None of you have the heart to impale your former wards?” Everyone stood silent once more, holding their breath in fear of what came next. “I know one thing for certain...They’re just ACHING to guide you into the afterlife.” The figures raised their arms, forming long blades from the same substance that comprises them. The soldiers at the front of the charge were quickly cut down, their comrades behind them just barely blocking or avoiding fatal blows. Panic spread throughout the townsfolk even faster than before, their screams of terror overpowering the clashing of swords. Hunters brave enough to face this new enemy drew their weapons and joined the fray while those less confident helped the remaining forces escort the people to safety. Applejack herself, no longer happy just standing by, started trading blows with the otherworldly creatures. “We have to go, now” said Comet, grabbing Twilight by the shoulders. “What did the regent tell you when he gave you the wand? We might--” “Ah hate ta interrupt ya whisperin’ sweet nothings to Twi, but y’all gotta move!” “Follow me! My old man’s smithy is nearby! We can equip anyone who can handle a weapon and help fight back!” As the trio escaped into the streets, the same burning eyes watched them. This man – this creature – knew exactly who to hunt. To him, this was nothing more than the chase before the capture. He grinned wickedly as they disappeared into an alleyway on the far size of the plaza. “Astra and Comet Starbirth. Even though death, time, and distance kept you apart for millennia, you still managed to find each other. Or perhaps…It would be more accurate to say that your successors are linked by fate.”