Cromach's contacts at the Canterlot castle arranged everyone the best medical treatment possible throughout Sunday. As it turned out, most wounds weren't severe, and some basic regeneration spells took care of the worst of them with the promise that Anvil, Astray, and Bubbles would be fine in two or three days. Crom, however, had to stay in the Canterlot Royal Hospital. How the griffon had survived such damage to his body was mind-boggling for the doctors, but he was now in a private room on the top floor, connected to all medical machinery imaginable, unconscious, and still barely stable. There were no guesses about when he was going to be up and walking.
The train ride back to Manehattan was a somber and sleepy affair. Anvil and Bubbles had to avoid looking at lamps and anything bright after having their eyes burned. Their coats started regrowing quickly under the healer unicorns' attention, and now were simply shorter in places where the flesh golem's acid had hit. Bubbles' mouth was still itchy, sore, and sensitive, and the doctors had said all she should eat in the next few days would be soup. And finally, Anvil's shin was merely fractured, not broken, and after some magic she ended up only in light, supporting cast in which she could walk, albeit slowly. Astray himself had been beaten, exhausted, and covered in bite marks from zombies. After being reassured that he wouldn't turn into one as well, he had thanked whatever stars aided them in their escape and allowed him to leave the battle in the best shape out of all four victims.
Of course, that wasn't all. Bubbles had woken up repeatedly in the hospital and on the train, screaming and in one case biting a nurse. Anvil had kicked things in her sleep, mumbling and cursing to herself. How did Astray know? Because he couldn't close his lids without seeing white, glazed-over eyes of pony heads and bodies sown together barreling down on him. In his head, he kept seeing Anvil covered in acid, Bubbles rolling on the cold, stone floor in agony, and shredded Cromach dragging himself with one foreleg towards him.
And all that, all of it faded when compared to what was going to happen in the future. Eventually, they would have to fight something even worse. They would have to win, not just retreat and recover. The thing was, though, that when they finally returned to the Order headquarters, they would have to report Cromach's condition to Contradiction.
Sadly, that came unpleasantly soon.
"The short version is that we encountered far more resistance than anticipated, destroyed one of the enemies, and got out just so-so. Last time we saw sir Cromach he was in the emergency room of Canterlot Royal Hospital," Anvil ended her brief report of the situation. It was more an assessment of what had happened rather than the full story, knowing Contradiction would ask for details herself.
Connie's eye twitched, the air around her horn quivered, and Astray started squirming in the air as invisible force dragged him upwards, squeezing his neck hard.
"WHAT DID YOU FUCK UP THIS TIME?" the unicorn's scream resonated within the walls of Cromach's office, "DO YOU WANT ME TO END YOU? JUST GROAN THE WORD!"
"Ma'am-" Anvil tried to get a word through the furious yelling.
"YOU THINK SHE IS A DEMON?" Connie pointed at Bubbles, "I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT A DEMON LOOKS LIKE!"
SLAM!
"CONTRADICTION, MA'AM!" Anvil rubbed her fist after smashing it into Cromach's sturdy desk, "LET. HIM. GO!"
"Hmph!" Connie scowled at the dangling satyr now slowly turning blue. Then she tossed him on the carpet.
"The failure of the operation was my fault, not his," Anvil looked Connie firmly in the eyes, "My poor choice of weapon despite having been told the possible nature of the enemy, my thoughtless way of distracting the enemy which ended up distracting my teammates and allowing the necromancer to escape from sir Cromach, and my lack of skill caused this. Your outburst was completely misplaced because..." she mulled over the words inside her head, "Astray actually saved all of us, regardless of any possible risk to his health. In the future, I would ask you to refrain from losing control this easily. It is unbecoming of one supposed to be our leader, and if it happens again needlessly I will smash all your teeth out with your own ripped off leg," she took a step back when met with intensity of Connie's not-too-sane glare, "I mean, I'm all for just and fair punishment for failure, but same goes for success, erm, ma'am," she saluted, growing uncertain with each silently passing second.
"I'm sorry I messed up," Bubbles mumbled mournfully, looking at the carpet with floppy ears, "I wasn't used to the smell. I got dizzy and couldn't help anypony. I knew the thing would spray acid, but I wasn't thinking. I panicked and Anvil had to save me so that the golem thing didn't... hurt me more. It all started with me failing everypony. I think I earned months in the pet carrier, miss Connie."
Connie took a deep breath. The truth of the situation was that the three had been unprepared, but Cromach knew it and still took them with him. It was more his fault than anyone else's, and she should have listened to the whole story first before going crazy like that. It was just... just that every time the griffon got hurt something inside her snapped. She couldn't control it, it was like an insanity switch. Her power flared and she needed to hurt somepony responsible, as if she became a living manifestation of fury and... fear. She was horrified of losing him, which was all too possible in this line of work. She just couldn't stop herself from turning into a mindless angry beast.
And, of course, when she regained her sanity she would always realize it was her fault.
"No pet carrier for any of you. Well, maybe Astray," she gave the satyr visibly hurt by her words a small apologetic smile, "Sorry, it slipped out," she levitated several forms from the shelves behind her, "No point in crying over spilled milk, it's time to un-spill it," she scribbled and stamped the forms with official Order seal, "I'm giving you your first real mission, and that is protecting Cromach. You'll go back to Canterlot and patrol the hospital twenty-four seven. How you split your shifts is up to you, but I don't want any unauthorized access to Crom at any point, even if it's an unannounced lunch lady. It is Canterlot Royal Hospital, so it should be safe and I have no doubt you need some mental rest. HOWEVER, if he even gets a feather plucked out-"
The wide-eyed manic grin returning to her muzzle made the trio shiver.
"-I'll kill you, no matter the consequences."
Astray knew it instantly. It wasn't a threat. Just like when Anvil told him he wasn't a stallion to her, it was a fact.
He saluted, grabbed one of the three scrolls, turned around and left, followed by the other two. Only outside he realized he was trembling.
"What the heck is wrong with her?" Anvil whispered, "That bitch is crazy. Straight up frothing insane!"
Astray unrolled his scroll. It was mostly a distraction while he thought about Connie.
"Official business... require royal cooperation... supplies... access to the armory... budget of five-hundred bits..." he skimmed through it, "You know, Anvil, I've never had somepony who loved or even liked me... or who didn't think of me as a weird monster until recently," he looked at her, "but if after all the disdain and hate I found somepony who was okay with me..." he left the sentence unfinished.
"You ponies are far too emotional," Anvil shook her head, looking at her scroll as they descended down the main staircase. Then she sighed, realizing yet another several-hour ride was abound, "I'm starting to hate trains."
***
As a very different door in a different city clicked open, Black Shield looked up from her reading material at Secret Seeker entering the laboratory. The book she'd been reading wasn't about unicorns for once, but rather one about yoga. As she'd discovered over the past few days, Shield simply couldn't spend hours buried in written words and needed some physical outlet. Seeker's lab was connected to some sort of a storage room which she had rearranged to allow her larger form some freedom of movement. All in all, Shield was learning that aside from the enslavement of her body and soul, undeath was much like life.
"You up for some evil hunting in the sewers?" her master asked.
"OH BOY, AM I?" she raised her voice in excitement, then gave him a sarcastic stare even Discord would appreciate, "No, screw you."
Seeker was unphased. Just like Shield was learning to cope with her new existence, so was he getting accustomed by his unpleasantly unbroken servant.
"If you're really so keen on it then after we're done. Justice and fallen wizard tears make for a good lube I heard," he shrugged, "As an ex-guard, I would expect you to be jumping on an opportunity like this. I have a fresh report, eyewitnesses and everything, about a necromancer deep in the sewers who is behind the graverobbings and missing ponies. The report said she was preparing for something big."
"Are you trying to appeal to my good nature?" Shield deadpanned.
"So, you're not going?"
"Do I actually have a CHOICE?"
"Heh, no, but I'd like to know your position on the matter."
"OF COURSE I'M GOING!" Shield stood up, putting her book on a shelf with her tail, "I'm just not sure how to feel about you suddenly going all protective about Canterlot and such."
"Right, right, Canterlot, innocents, blah blah blah..." Seeker walked over to his main workbench glowing with protection spells. Shield wasn't allowed to even go near it, "I think I've discovered a way to tap into the rings' power so this might be an excellent opportunity to try it out without laboratory conditions."
Shield found an urn containing some black viscous material, poured a little out on the table, dipped her hoof in it, and drew commando camouflage lines on her face.
"Let's do this!"
"You DO realize those are the ashes of a cremated pony mixed with dragon blood, right?" Seeker raised and eyebrow, "The URN was a dead giveaway."
"Ewwwwww!" Shield pawed at her face, smearing the black stuff all over and deeper into her coat. Then she stopped, thinking, "Hey, how come you're going to hunt a fellow evil necro? A power struggle or something?"
Seeker blinked in confusion.
"Fellow... necro?" he started drawing some chalk symbols around the magic circle engraved into the floor of his lab, "There is no coalition of united terrible evils. Whoever is down there is clearly insane, as most necromancers eventually are. It comes with the nature of their power when they don't have proper control. For some reason they always end up wanting to rule the world with their army of undead."
"Unlike you?" Shield took a jab at the working mage.
"As I said before, I want knowledge. Power comes naturally with it. Speaking of which, I haven't told you my name yet, right?"
"Oooooh riiight," Shield whistled innocently, "You totally haven't, umm, master."
He turned his flank to Shield, showing the symbol of a glowing question mark.
"My name is Secret Seeker. In my case, the name is quite fitting. I have no desire to rule the world or anything, you can trust me on it."
"Then why are you doing this? Why steal powerful artefacts and hide in some cellars somewhere? Why... kill me?" her voice faded.
He sighed.
"Look, it was nothing personal. The search for knowledge is a long path, mostly explored only by alicorns. Do you know why?"
"They are powerful?" she took a guess.
"No, as I said - power comes with knowledge. Knowledge comes with time. Time is something alicorns have in abundance but ponies like me don't. My calling is to uncover secrets of magic, and for that I needed a secret of immortality, or at least long life. An... acquaintance of mine brought me information that these rings would be leaving Canterlot castle vault after ages so I decided to take the chance. For that, I needed a powerful protector, specifically one with combat training. As I told you before, the trap on the grounds of the School for Gifted Unicorns was meant for any guard pony."
"You ruined my life just so you could make yours longer?" Shield's voice cracked.
Seeker answered coldly:
"I said I wasn't insane evil megalomaniac. I never said I was a good pony," he put the piece of chalk he'd been drawing with away, "Come on, I'm done. If it makes you feel any better, we're going to stop a mass murderer whose creations might endanger everypony in Canterlot eventually."
Shield wanted to scream in frustration, but knew it wouldn't get her anywhere. In the end, she just said with no emotion other than hollow emptiness:
"Yes, master."
Secret Seeker's horn flashed, the magic circle on the floor answered, and the duo was gone. In the blink of an eye, they appeared in front of a hole in sewer wall leading into a much larger mine tunnel. Loose bricks were strewn all around, splatters of blood marked the floor, and the stench of death hung in the foul air.
Seeker coughed, flicking his horn and creating a clear shimmering bubble of fresh, clean air covering his head. Shield was left hanging, but her undead physique wasn't touched by the smell aside from being disgusted. As they descended down the tunnel, Seeker watched pieces of decayed pony bodies lying all over the place. When they finally reached the cavern with pile of corpses in it, Shield muttered:
"How? How dare...? I'll kill whoever did this!"
Seeker just examined the heap.
"Amateurish work. Quantity over quality, typical thinking of beginners."
A duo of hoofsteps approached. Seeker's horn shot out a flare that burst in the air, brightly and persistently illuminating the entire cavern. The steps belonged to a pale unicorn necromancer mare shielding her eyes and a big pegasus with multiple body enhancements like Shield had. Well, more of them and definitely scarier looking ones. Compared to the scythe wingbones, spikes, and for some reason a bite-sized chunk of his neck missing, Shield with only her tail and greater size looked almost normal.
"Another pieces of the puzzle? Do you like what you- Secret Seeker, is that you?" the mare's eyes grew wide, "Oh my, what is Celestia's lapdog doing here besides the obvious?"
"Celestia's what?" Seeker tilted his head, "Oooooh, I didn't recognize you with that withered visage, Chill Touch. How's the insanity treating you?" he said mockingly.
"So she sent you to stop me, eh? Little teacher's pet," Chill Touch spat on the rocky floor.
"Still pissed off that I got into Sunbutt's expert thaumaturgy class while you didn't? Gee, how long that's been, over ten years?"
"You kissed up to her while I-"
"While you were simply worse than me at everything, don't kid yourself. So, what's with the corpse golem? Are you planning to unleash it on Canterlot or something? Because let me tell you, you still suck."
"YOUUUUUUU!" Chill Touch hissed, "I'll show you!"
"Yes yes, keep the crazy to yourself. Just tell me why you're doing this. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't care less about the ponies up in the city, but the mess you're making is kinda forcing the guards to focus on wizards a little too much for comfort. If your answer is at least half-decent I might let you leave the city and go terrorize some small town somewhere."
"NO, YOU CAN'T!" Shield objected.
"Let me, you pompous scum?" Touch laughed like a maniac, "You and your rules, where did those get you? The power we are tapping into, the well of souls, fear, blood, unresolved wishes of the dead. MORE POWER THAN A STRAIGHT GOODY-GOODY LIKE YOU CAN IMAGINE! I CAN FEEL IT COURSING THROUGH-"
"Aaand the pile's done for," Seeker interrupted her, blue glow of his horn absorbed into the hoard of corpses which started shimmering, "You're still just all talk, Touch."
"RISE MY PET!" Chill Touch roared. The pile didn't move, "How is it possible, it should be too massive for a hold undead spell?"
"You slapped together a bunch of bodies with magic. Yeah, the natural amount of power would stop a forceful, blind binding spell, but I've been standing here and letting you drone on about how angry and strong you are while figuring out every crack in your reanimation spell. And trust me, there's a LOT."
That was the final straw. Chill Touch's face contorted into one of pure fury.
"KILL THEM!"
"Shield, take care of the flesh golem."
Shield cracked her neck and stomped her hooves.
"It looks scary. Like a ton of enhancements scary."
"Quality over quantity, mudpony. I thought you learned something from me. Just be careful about his acid spit. Dead flesh like yours isn't too resistant to it."
"Fiiine," she pounced towards the pegasus opening his mouth, punched the ground with her foreleg to push herself to the side before landing, and speared him with her tail. Not surprisingly, the pegasus barely flinched, grabbing Shield's tail and pulling her towards him.
Secret Seeker's shimmering shield stopped a barrage of icy projectiles from Chill Touch. In retaliation, he conjured a pony-sized ball of magma in front of him, sending it at Touch who hastily put up a magical barrier as well. The ball scattered, splattering the corpse pile.
"MY PET!" Touch yelled.
"It was a disgusting abomination, nothing more," Seeker rolled his eyes, "Or what, did you call it Spot and taught it to fetch?"
"IGNORE THE MUDPONY WHORSE, KILL HIM!" Chill Touch's assault resumed, sending huge ice spikes beating against Seeker's shield. At Touch's words, the pegasus flesh golem ripped Shield's tail from his barrel and charged at Seeker.
Shield knew all she needed to do was prevent his concentration from being broken by the physical attack of the pegasus. Seeker was clearly leagues ahead of Chill Touch...
...but this was an excellent opportunity to let him fend for himself. She could slow her body down to allow the pegasus to get there first and possibly kill Seeker. Her magical core would then get depleted eventually and her enslavement would end...
...leaving this crazy mare free to do what she wanted, certainly killing more ponies and guards attempting to stop her.
"Lesser of two evils, Shield. Lesser of two evils," she muttered, wrapping her tail around the distracted pegasus' hind legs and sending him on the floor. Jumping atop his barrel, she punched away the protective bone spikes, gathered all her unnatural strength, and rammed her hoof straight through the hardened undead flesh of his chest. She felt the cracking of something crystalline against the rocky ground, the pegasus thrashed, then his movements slowed down, his eyes glazed over, and his mouth moved in a final breath which said:
"T... nk... you..."
Shield froze. As clearly as she saw her reflection in the broken pegasus' empty eyes she also saw her own future. Her hoof closed his eyelids, resolved not to end like him.
"Sleep well, whoever you were, you're finally safe."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Chill Touch's agonized scream pierced the air of the cavern. The crying mage was clutching a stump of her burned off foreleg. Before her, untouched Secret Seeker covered in shimmering magical armor was watching her.
"Hey, Shield, do you want to bring her up to the guards?" he asked, not looking at his servant, "She is too weak for me to get anything useful out of flaying her mind for information."
Black Shield walked over, staring coldly at the whimpering white mare pushing herself away from her.
Blur.
"Urk!" Chill Touch stared in disbelief at the stinger of Shield's tail spearing her barrel. Shield dragged her closer to herself and pushed her off of her appendage. With one foreleg she shoved the mare on the floor, then she raised the other.
CRACK!
With a look of disdain, Shield examined the gore of brain, blood, and bone shards on her hoof. She wiped it off with the necromancer's headless corpse which she tossed on the burning pile of bodies.
"Let's go, master."
"Don't you want to check her flesh golem for some upgrades you might like?" Seeker levitated the dead pegasus in the air.
"Please," Shield said quietly, "Let him rest..."
Seeker looked at the pegasus, then at Shield, then back at the dangling golem. With a shake of his head, he let the body go.
"Come here," he ordered. Shield complied.
The image of the magic circle from his laboratory appeared on the floor, and the duo disappeared, taking with them Seeker's magical illumination. Shadows kept dancing on the cavern walls, though, as the cleansing fire consumed the pile of dead bodies finally safe from further desecration.