//------------------------------// // Explosion [15] // Story: Stories in Stone, Capricorn's Curse // by TDR //------------------------------// Stories in Stone Capricorn's Curse By TDR Explosion [ Tamberlane.] “What the buck did you do idiot!?” Celestia shouted. “What the buck do you mean, what the buck did I do, you saw what the buck I did. I cut the bucking shield, I didn't make a bucking earthquake!”Jer'rahd snapped back, his hooves spreading out as the ground under him quaked and the very air around them seemed to roar in pain. Celestia was hovering a pony length off the ground looking down with some amusement at Jer'rahd's attempt to remain standing before the island started to calm, the noise subsiding. “This is guard Captain Kaisur, all units report in.” Jer'rahd demanded into the com unit in his ear, before turning to Celestia. “The shield healed up too quickly, we can't get in that way. I also don't want to risk accidentally ringing the bell with another earthquake. But I bet we have Grogar's full attention now.” “Gallopagos reporting in. We've got a minor tidal wave incoming, but it's already breaking on the reefs, No damage expected.” The com chirped. “Mainland Royal Guard reporting. No sign of any tidal waves, it likely dissipated before getting this far.” “ Neighlantis Guard reporting in. Confirming a swell from the island. Maintaining ordered position, negligible reef damage. “Green two reporting. The chicken has been bloodied and has fled, Fox still in pursuit. Collateral damage still within acceptable limits, no Causalities.” “Jupiter reporting in, we can see the swell radiating from the island. Looks like a pebble in a still pond, We note several buildings have collapsed on the island as well. Some kind of Earthquake?” “Affirmative Jupiter.” Jer'rahd responded before considering a moment.” Neighlantis Guard do you feel secure enough to go scout the under side of the island?” “Yes sir. We've a few dolphins ready to go. Anything we should be looking for?” “How far down the shield goes and how secure the island is to the bedrock. It moved quite a bit during that quake. I'm pretty sure we have Grogar's full attention now so a quick peek might be feasible without alerting him.” “Yes sir, will report findings. ETA one hour tops. “Understood, don't take any unnecessary risks.” “Yes sir.” “Well?” Celestia asked. “I told you I could get you a com crystal so you could listen in, but noooo.” Jer'rahd rolled his eyes. “You were giving me the model from several years ago, those things are massive, brittle and leave a crick in your neck if they don't rip your ear off fully.” Celestia growled. “ Whine whine whine.....Agent Sweetie Drops encountered Bray, but he escaped, there was a minor tidal wave from the earthquake and some of the Sea Ponies are going to scout under the island to see how deep the shield goes.” Jer'rahd stated. “See how hard was that?” “Very.... “ Jer'rahd looked up at the shield seeing part of it turn clear again and the form of Grogar rapidly approaching.” Look alive.” “As opposed to looking dead?” Celestia asked. Jer'rahd ignored her watching as Grogar slowed his advance, though an expression of anger was clear on his face as he looked over the shield before his attention focused on the pair of them. “What did you fools do!?” the Capricorn screamed. “Want me to do it again?” Jer'rahd smirked. “NO! “ Grogar shouted in a panic before quickly regaining his composure.” I've dealt with the issues in here so I can now focus soly on you two.” “I take that means you do not plan to surrender?” Celestia asked. “What is it with you ponies and asking that? I hold all the cards to this little game you seem to think we are playing and yet you still bluff as if you have more than a couple of deuces and fives.” Grogar growled. “By royal order the deuces are now wild, so at worst I have a flush,” Celestia stated. “ I prefer chess. Also she cheats in every game she plays.” Jer'rahd whispers “That was an example...” Grogar growled. “You mean a simile.” Celestia corrects. I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS! THE WORD PLAY MEANS NOTHING TO ME, NOTHING! WHICH IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN FIVE SECONDS.!!” Grogar bellowed. The ground around the pair shook again, but this was less the whole island moving and more something moving under the surface of the black sand beach they were on. Jer'rahd and Celestia looked behind them as the black sand beach erupted in a geyser of sand and seashells. Jer'rahd quickly put a shield over his head to protect himself from the raining sand, though he didn't bother covering Celestia who cursed glaring at him before trying to shake the sand from her wavy mane and her fur. Rising from the beach were a number of large creatures. Massive undead snakes, hydra, and some sort of tentacled sea creature that made Jer'rahd shudder to look at. All in all there were about a dozen undead aquatic monsters surrounding them on the beach. All of them larger than the biggest land monster Celestia had ever seen. Surrounding the monsters were countless smaller ones, everything from undead sea life to zombie donkeys and skeletons. “Well now.... I think giant monsters are your thing.” Celestia stated looking to Jer'rahd who sighed. “Fine I got this.” Jer'rahd tapped the com in his ear.” Jupiter come in.” “Here sir.” “Lock on to this location and give a full salvo on the beach.” “I need the clearance code.” “Firm Crescent Plot.” Jer'rahd stated. “Seriously?” Celestia rolled her eyes. “Confirmed, now you get to see what fine Griffon Engineering can do.” “Breezy fire the damn things.” Jer'rahd rolled his eyes his horn glowing as a series of green shields form a box around Celestia and himself. “You think a simple shield will save you!! KILL THEM!” Grogar yelled as the swarm of monsters rushed forward. ==================================================== [Gallopagos shoreline] Colonel Talia looked out over the sea, the rail bridge to the main land leading off to the horizon before her. The island that appeared was just out of sight, though the rail bridge had been barricaded at this end and a small portion of the Galopagos Guard had been posted here on this side of the island. There were small patrols along the beach on all sides of the island with the main brunt of the forces stationed in the middle on high alert, ready to rush to whatever side of Gallopagos a possible attack could come from. She and Elecktra were in charge of the whole situation along with a few others that Regent Kaisur had found worthy of holding a high rank in the Guard here. The civilians had all moved to shelters, though Talia doubted they really needed to. After the attack of Tirek the defenses and evacuation plans of the island had been the top priority and even if something like Tirek attacked again, he wouldn't make it far. Of course that was just the islands defenses...... Darkness enveloped the Kirin as she looked up to the sky. The entire beach as well as much of the shore town being cast in shadow. The whirl of engines was barely heard despite the amount of power and lift that was needed by the thing to keep it aloft. Talia narrowed her eyes as she stared up at the armored underside of the beast. Bright blue lettering graced the bow of the craft. CVN-75, HMS Jupiter. To call it an airship would be like compareing a bath toy to a freighter that shipped other freighters. The craft itself was it's own city, one with two separate postal codes. Yet despite having the crew of a small city, close to a thousand strong all crew members were Guard trained, from the piolets right down to the latrine cleaners. The ship itself was finished earlier this year and this was the first combat it had seen. The technology holding it aloft was a mix of Griffon technologies and Pony magical know how It boasted two hundred and thirteen decks, twenty mess halls, individual quarters for every member of the crew, plus some extra, a mini mall, several gyms, a full sized pool, and two movie theaters, and that wasn't even half the ship! The rest was made up of supply rooms, armories, intelligence gathering areas and the twenty six crystal powered mage engines that kept the beast aloft. It had redundant systems on top of redundant systems and had a cloud stuffed gas bag above it made out of synthetic dragon hide. It could lose all but one engine and the gas bag and still stay aloft. It was the greatest technological marvel ever built on Equss. And of course it was built for war. The armament alone was to make the one or two groups who still had problems with Equestria and the Griffons hold their tongues. Each side had exactly three hundred mage canons mounted with eighty ballista and catapults mounted on the main deck. Included in this payload were a number of experimental armaments that were still in the testing phase. She was designed with ship to ship and ship to ground combat in mind as well as a multitude of weather conditions and even HALO operations. In short the very existence of this thing terrified everyone, Talia would have loved to have been at the last council of races meeting. Then there was the mad stallion who designed the whole thing, a pony who was currently the Captain of this monster. Regent Breezy Mist. ======================= Breezy stood on the bridge of the ship looking over the crew there as they made their final adjustments. The bridge was a simple affair one raised section in the middle with the captains chair, weapon and communication arrays on both sides with the pilot's seat and the co pilot's seat at the front. There was a 360 view of everything going on outside of the ship from this position transmitted by both magic mirror and a few highly armored windows. The bridge crew consisted of eight members aside from himself though the communications crystals kept him in touch with any where on the ship he wanted. The cannons were ready, the crew was checking over the math and locking in the target. Breezy stood there stoic, chewing on the end of an unlit pipe a white ships captain hat pulled low over his eyes as he regarded everything. He wore a dark blue and red trimmed long coat that had slits in the back for his wings and a white pair of pants with red stripes. He would have grown a beard for this but his wife said no. His eyes shifted as he looked over the bridge, frowning a little as his wife shifted in his Captains chair clearly board. Despite her currently being the regent lord of all the Griffons, this was Breezy's ship, he had imagined it and with the help of the overflowing coffers of Equestria he had built it and refilled the drained and destroyed coffers of the Griffon Empire. To the coin counters at least, he was a hero. “Sir, target is locked, we are ready to fire on your order.” one of the Ensigns called back. Breezy took the pipe out of his mouth and grinned wide. He had been waiting for this since the Jupiter had become air born, a chance to prove this was no waste of money and of course, to listen to his baby roar..... “Fire.” Dusty said with a wave of her claw. “No wait!” Breezy yelped, though it was too late. ======================================= The sea under the ship, for lack of a better word, buckled. A massive trough of sea foam and water spread out as the concussive force of two hundred mage cannon fired at once. There was no sound for a few breaths and Talia wondered if something went wrong. Then she and the other Guard with her were bowled off their hooves and tossed back across the beach as the report of the cannons sounded like a thunder clap going off inside their ears. The sonic burst was enough to shatter all the windows and some walls of the beach front houses that dotted the area. The ship it self was pushed back, engines whining to keep it in the same spot in the sky or at least level. Talia watched a shadow race away from the ship tearing across the sea as the amount of shells fired cast the ocean into a brief shade. “ By the stars.... over kill much?” Talia cursed. “WHAT?” one of the Guards with her shouted. ================================================== [Tamberlane ] Ten seconds after the volley was fired there no longer was a beach. Well there was a beach, just not on this side of the island except for a small patch under Celestia and Jer'rahd held there by the box of a shield. Every thing on the outside of the green box and yellow shield was gone, little more than fire, glass slag, and rushing sea water that quickly doused the fires. The train cars, the monsters, the out lying structures of the island were all, no more. Jer'rahd winced a little as he glanced down seeing nothing but seawater rushing in to flood in space left by the lack of beach. He blinked, certain it was flooding in over some sort of massive white stone that had been under the sand, cracked and pitted from age. The water covered it before he got a good look and he became ill trying to look through the deep water. Grogar on the other hand was staring out of his shield from where he fell back on his flank. The Capricorn was showing his first signs of fear, or he was simply in awe. “Grogar shut your trap before you swallow a fly.” Celestia stated. “Lord Kaisur come in over?” the com crackled. “Who is this?” Jer'rahd growled. “Jupiter sir, First Officer Wing Beat, are you alright sir?” Wing Beat asked. “I am, though I felt that... also I think perhaps we need to half the volley size next time, that might have been too much.” Jer'rahd sighed.” My ears are still ringing a bit. Damage report?” “According to our spotters a few more structures have collapsed on the island and another small swell is coming in, it'll break on the reefs as well as it's smaller than the first one. There is now a very sizable circle shaped inlet on your location. The spotter also noticed some sort of white stone work under the sand after the blast cleared and before the seawater rushed in. It didn't seem damaged by the attack. “I saw that too, where's the Captain?” “Arguing with his wife sir, she ordered us to fire before he had a chance too and since she's our Regent, her orders override his. He wasn't happy. They are probably going to fight again then hide in a closet or something to try and make another egg.” Wing Beat sighed, Jer'rahd could hear the Griffon's eyes rolling from here. Breezy and Dusty were the poster foals for dysfunctional relationships. Still if any one tried to tell them other wise the pair would turn on the naysayer, better to just let them be. “Figures, there's no more beach on this side and the train cars are no longer recoverable. We're moving to secondary coordinates. To much water here.” Jer'rahd grumbled making a path of his shields to the nearest beach, dropping the rest of as he and Celestia walked over them. He paused glancing back to Grogar who was still staring at where the island used to be. “You coming goat? I want to see what else you might try before you just give up.” Jer'rahd called. Grogar snapped out of it glaring at the two of them. “ I have not yet begun to fight.” he snapped. “Well good. This would be a dull trip otherwise. Keep it interesting.” Celestia scoffed as she and Jer'rahd walk around the shield to the undamaged beach on another side of the yellowy shield. ======================================================== [Canterlot Castle] “Seriously?” Starfall deadpanned, rubbing her temples with her hooves. “Yes sir.” The Guard stated glancing to the side as Guard Captain Peach Blossom beat his head into a wall while cursing to himself. “And when exactly did you think to tell us about this intruder?”Starfall sighed. The pair of them had been sitting at a desk set up in the throne room before the twin thrones of night and day. They could have had an office some where to deal with everything, but Starfall remember Rhede setting up something like this and thought it fitting to do the same. “As soon as we determined that we were unable to stop her. Sir.” the Guard answered. The soldier in question was a purple Earth pony stallion with a red mane and a cutie mark of a apple with a pair of spears crossed behind it. “And when was that Lieutenant Orange?” Peach Blossom asked his head resting against the pole. “From the time she burst out of the room wearing Guard Captain Kaisur's old armor to now, around thirty minutes. We have tried a number of plans to stop her including some anti gravity spells and knock out clouds. She countered each of them and is clearly a skilled spell caster. We have some other... more exstream plans, but I decided to come speak with you first as there are some... discrepancies, about her that we are watching.” “Explain.” Starfall stated. “First off aside from the door she has not damaged anything else in the castle, nor has she attempted to harm any one who has not stood in her way, and even those that did were simply moved aside, albeit at a fairly high rate of speed so there have been a few minor injuries. Second after she vacated the room we investigated and found one of the artifacts inside had been activated, a magic mirror. There are no other ways to enter the room aside from the door and it was still mage locked. We do not have any information on this mirror at the moment, though we are rounding up the team that studied it as we speak. Thirdly the mare seems both lost and highly confused. She encountered one of our Changeling Guard and spent at least five minutes asking her questions, but she's all but ignored the other Guards including the Kirin.” “Has any one gone up and asked her what she wanted yet?” Peach Blossom sighed. “Yes sir. I did myself in fact. All she would say is she was searching for something , though she did ask if the Element's of Harmony had been lost again. She doesn't seem to be very focused on stealth or subtlety. It seems she is looking for the Element's of Harmony, in particular the Element of Magic from what I deduced. She did not believe me when I informed her the Element's had been moved from New Canterlot for safe keeping, nor did she seem very happy that I might be telling the truth. Also she didn't seem to know why it was called New Canterlot. I also believe she thinks she is on some sort of time limit, as she tends to rush a bit faster every time she gets distracted. She eventually demanded to speak with Princess Celestia. I suppose the conversation might have gone on further, but she was distracted by one of the Crystal Guard. She treated him much like the Changeling and she was still asking questions when i came here to report sir.” “Why does something like this have to happen when we are in charge?” Peach Blossom sighed. “Honestly I'm surprised it's just this. Lieutenant go find her again and guide her here. I'll have a word with her. With how she's acting it doesn't seem like she's a threat at the moment and I’d like to defuse any situation before there becomes one.”Starfall ordered. “Sir are you sure that's wise? We have no idea what she is capable of or what she wants the Element of Magic for.” “It'll be fine. She's just wearing Jer'rahd's old armor. There's weaknesses in that old thing that can be exploited if she decides to try something and at worst we can simply ask her to wait for Celestia to get back. Send the reserchers in here when you find them as well I'm sure they have questions about the mirror, if that is where she came from.”Starfall continued. “Also round up any Changeling Guard, Elk, and Crystal Guard and have them stationed here. If she's curious about them she might not know what they are capable of and that might make her more hesitant.” Peach Blossom added. “Yes sir” ============================================= [Nine months ago, Sweet Apple Acres.] Fluttershy smiled as she watched Dawn dart around in the forest around her. The little Kirin poking her nose into everything thing. There were more than a few birds and Squirrels she would have to sooth later after the little Kirin got to close to their nests. She was currently following along after a caterpillar that was making it's way over a fallen branch. Fluttershy expected that interest to last a few seconds at best. Fluttershy had invited the little Kirin along on her trip to the forest. While her own three little ones had their chores to do, they also knew where their mother was going and didn't want to bother her. Dawn had no such knowledge of the trip and was overly excited to be heading into the Everfree Forest, even if it was only just inside the closest edge. The Butter yellow pegasus trotted along slowly watching Dawn chase after a butterfly with a small smile. Her own foals had grown a little past this stage since getting their cutie marks, though now they were more focused on finding out what their marks really meant. Not like it wasn't obvious to every one else. Appleblossom's cutiemark was was a book and inkwell. Given some of the stories she told and the imagination she had, she was almost destined to be a great writer. Dandilion was always the more rough and tumble of the trio, usually the most gruff and angry. Though Fluttershy knew how sensitive he actually was. His cutiemark was a small bunny with a injured paw. While it confused more than a few others, she knew he went out of his way to help any injured animal he came across. He put himself at risk more than a few times trying to help one. Given his interest in treating them and all she had taught him. He was going to be a excellent animal doctor, despite how hard he tried to hide his softer side from the others. Butterscotch's was a surprise. The meekest of the trio, she was often thought to be the voice of reason in their capers. Though imagine every one's surprise when it was revealed she was also the mastermind behind many of them. Her cutiemark was a neatly filled pencil case with a ruler. She tended to almost lead and guide the others without making it seem she was in charge. And she expressed great interest in what Cheerilee did. She would clearly become a teacher. While Fluttershy was thrilled her foals had grown up so much, there was also a part of her that wished that they would have stayed small a little longer. Taking in the twins helped curb that feeling a little, but even they had grown up enough to no longer be hanging around her all the time. It was one reason she was always happy to foal sit for the others. Rynthia, Elusive, and Dawn were still at the age where everything was a curiosity to them. She liked that, despite how loud and rambunctious they got at times. Rynthia was with her brothers under the watchful gaze of Applejack back at the farm, which left just the two of them walking through the forest the last of the leaves falling, though the air had not yet gotten to the bone tapping chill that announced winter had come fully. Most of her forest friends had already flown south or gone into hibernation for the winter. She liked to visit this place when she could, but there were two days she always came out here, rain or shine. His birthday, and the day he died. The forests edge gave way to a small clearing with a fair sized grassy hill in the middle. No matter the time of year the hill was always green and small flowers grew all over it. The area had been heavily enchanted by Twilight with a little help from Princess Celestia and Discord even. She heard Dawn gasp loudly as they approached the hill. She smiled enjoying this part every time as dozens of little faces poked their heads up out of hidden burrows and nests to watch them as they approached. Fluttershy shivered a little at the sheer adorableness of the bunny sanctuary’s residents. Many of them came out to greet her, being old enough to remember her last visit here. Most shied away from Dawn, despite the filly’s attempts to remain calm, something Fluttershy was unsure that the little Kirin was capable of. Fluttershy dipped her wings a little, brushing a few of the bunnies with her wing tips petting them softly as she smiled, nodding lightly to Dawn to follow her up the hill. She glanced to her left as one of the larger white bunnies reared up and pawed at her white and black striped wing getting a small giggle from the pegasus mare. At the top of the hill was an apple tree, a gift from Applejack to offer shade to the grave site. The grave itself was a surprisingly simple affair. A life sized statue made by the Pie family in his likeness and a small plaque on the base. Fluttershy could recite the words from memory, she had been here enough for the carved memorial to be burned into her mind. But she came up here to read them every time. 'Here lies Angel Bunny, Hero of Equestria.' 'Savior of Cloudsdale, Veteran of the War of the Gods' ' May he remain forever in our hearts.' Fluttershy sighed as she read the inscription feeling her tears whell up in her eyes as they always did when she came here. “Angel Bunny had been my companion almost since I first came to Ponyville. I had found him in the remains of a nest that had been attacked by something. His siblings and mother were dead, I had thought he was too, but imagine my surprise when the little pink thing started moving.” Fluttershy explained as Dawn looked at her questioningly at the tears. “I took him home and did my best to take care of him. He was the first animal I rehabilitated on my own. I suppose I made a mistake here and there as I never did manage to release him to the wild, not like he ever wanted to go back to the woods anyway.” Fluttershy sat down and pulled off her saddle bags offering a carrot from it to Dawn, motioning for her to offer it to one of the bunnys carefully. “He stuck with me for far longer than he should have. He was a very old bunny by the time he finally went to sleep for the last time. Really it wasn't long after Tirek's attack that he passed on. It was because of him leading the other animals that as many ponies from Cloudsdale survived as they did. Remind me to take you up there to see the monument they made for him when they rebuilt the city. It's huge, he of course hated it.” Fluttershy smiled softly. “ My little grumpy bunny....” Dawn frowned tearing up as well, though despite the fact one of the bunnies was chewing on the carrot she had in her claw her watery eyes were on Fluttershy. “I dun like being sad, why did you bring me here.....” Dawn pouts.... “Oh... I'm sorry. I forgot about that. Still though. There are always going to be sad times in life. No matter how much you want other wise....”Fluttershy reached out stroking the orange Kirin's back with her yellow wing. “ It's why you need to hold on to the happier moments in life. The ones full of joy and laughter, so that when the bad times come you can remember those things and know that not everything is bad and you will realize it will get better. I mean look.” Fluttershy swept out her zebra colored wing to the field and the countless bunnies dotting the hill watching the intruders and going about with their little bunny lives. “I was beside myself when Angel Bunny died. I had known him longer than any of my other friends except Rainbow Dash.” Dawn stared at Fluttershy, her lower lip sticking out as she pouted, on the verge of tears as well. “I brought you out here because I enjoy this place. I thought you might as well.” Fluttershy tried to placate. “Why would I like a place after a story like that?” Dawn flopped to the ground scaring off the bunny she had been feeding. “Oh dear this is a bit harder than I thought it would be.....” Fluttershy fretted a moment her ears lowering before she blinks suddenly looking back at a small caramel colored bunny gnawing on the end of her tail. She smiles softly at that.” Because despite how sad I feel knowing that Angel Bunny is gone. This place makes me happy. It's full of life and joy. Many of these bunnies are actually Angel Bunnies children, or grand children... or great great great.... well you get the idea , bunnies are a ...'active' lot.” Dawn blinked confused. “There are always going to be sad things happening in your life. When that happens you need to remember all the good times. The laughter and the joy you had and it will help make the bad times more bearable. It won't take away the pain.... though it may lessen it.” Dawn frowned. “Don't be like that. You're a happy little foal. Laughter can cure a great many things. It's not always about being funny.” Fluttershy smiled softly reaching out to scoop Dawn up and hug the suddenly very squirmy orange Kirin. “I dun like being sad.....” Dawn pouts. “ Dun like when anybodys sad.” “I know sweetie. But it can't be helped some times..... Come on. Lets see if any of the warrens have any baby bunnies in them.” Fluttershy smiled as she gained the little Kirin's interest again. ===================================================== [Manehatten early evening] Bray stood looking up at the sky. The sun had yet to budge and that worried him immensely. The moon had risen, briefly and then quickly sulked off back over the horizon as if it was ashamed it showed up early. The few ponies that he had been around when it happened didn't seem that concerned with the effect so Bray was forced to conclude it was normal. Despite one or two ponies running around screaming about the end of the world. That was closer than they thought however. Bray looked down and smiled. He was partially hidden under a cloak , though he could feel his new leg shifting and adjusting, slowly turning into a perfect replacement of his lost limb. A place like this had power to it. A power that was helping to speed up his recovery. A power that expanded his senses and told him the troublesome mare was no where to be found. The grave yard was dark and quiet, relatively speaking. Despite the sun the place was in shadow. A massive steel mill rose at the edge of the graveyard and soared into the sky. The titanic brick walls surrounded three sides of the small graveyard. It was barely a forth of a block and to the casual observer it had perhaps maybe eighty to a hundred plots in it. This was fully incorrect however. Bray could feel the number of dead in this place was closer to three or four hundred. The factory had been built over much of the grave yard, likely without the locals knowledge. But that wasn't the biggest surprise. Deep under that even was something even more exciting. A mass grave. The number of spirits there was nearly beyond his ability to count. They had all been killed, an attempt had been made to cremate them and then they were buried together in a massive pile of bone and ash. Armor and gear had been laid to rest with them. A dumping ground for the dead that was long forgotten as the city grew larger and spread out over the land that the bodies had been laid to rest in. They had been there. Perhaps for a thousand years, their souls in torment and filled with rage. They called to him, a siren song of anger and hate. All of it was directed at the ponies of this city. Bray knew what they were. He had encountered these creatures before, though they had been much more primitive then, the armor was metal rather than the wood and hide he had seen them with. Green skinned with massive tusks, bulging muscles and a creed of 'might makes right'. With how many where here it was clear this place had once been a battle ground. Bray grinned wide as he poured necromantic energy into the earth. The dead on top of the mass grave would rise first, and would protect him while he raised the army that lay beneath his hooves. He could feel the angry souls screaming and raring to rush out and finish what they started in destroying the city so long ago. Bray was going to make sure the Orcs got their second chance at taking Manehatten. ===================================================== [ Crystal Empire ] “ Sis! You here!?” Pip shouted pushing open the door and poking his nose into Berry's dorm room. The pair of them had spent the last few hours speaking with a few ponies and trying to get a magical addition to their group for the purposes of studying what was going on. The pair of them both believed that it would all be fixed on Twilight or Luna's return, but there were issues cropping up now with the nightmares so they needed to find some one who knew more about the dream world then they did. Which unfortunately was harder than it sounded. Most scholars didn't bother with dream magic past making sure they didn't get nightmares. Of course judging by the looks on some of them their spells were not working very well lately. The pair of them hadn't really had any nightmares, though that was mostly due to both Scootaloo and Pip being lucid dreamers. Pip from practice with his mother and Scootaloo from a great deal of effort after some nightmares she had as a foal. Now that they knew what to look for it was fairly obvious that there were a large number of ponies and Griffons suffering from sleep deprivation and restless nights. Pip perked his ears as he looked around Berry's lab. She should be out of class and the door was unlocked. “Look at this mess.” Scootaloo stated reaching up to scrape a bit of what looked like mashed corn off the wall. “ What happened in here?” “I find it's better not to ask unless you really want an explanation, have a lot of time to kill or want to get dragged into a lesson.” Pip sighed almost fondly recalling the days when his sister didn't talk. Scootaloo poked her head into the side bed room looking around before waving a hoof over to Pip. “ Found Beryl. Looks like he's napping, peacefully at that.” “Ma said other races dreams tend to be different. Changelings, Zebras, Griffons, and Elk are close enough to ponies that dream walking is easy with them. Dragons, Diamond Dogs, and strangely enough Sea ponies have completely different mind sets and she wasn't even sure they dreamt at all.” “That is as fascinating as it is boring.” Scootaloo grumbles, still annoyed their sexy time was on hold for the foreseeable future. “Found her.” Pip states softly pushing open the door to the kitchen showing off Berry standing in the middle of the room with a half eaten pastry floating in the air beside her. The mare seemed to have been getting a snack when she fell asleep mid act. Pip sighed rolling his eyes as Scootaloo stared at the frozen mare. The dark furred unicorn looked like she was in mid step though soft snores escaped her mouth along with pastry crumbs. “Did she fall asleep eating a danish?” Scootaloo asked in awe. “She did... not the first time either. She gets so wrapped up in study and her ideas that she'll randomly fall asleep when she hits her limit. She used to just collapse where ever she stood , though it seems now her muscle memories gotten better.” Pip grumbles. “Would have loved to have been able to sleep in formation like this back in training.”Scootaloo grumbled. “ I told you I would show you how.” Pip grinned. It's not that hard to get a quick nap in while hurrying up to wait.” “So what now?” “Lets have a look at the books she has to see if she has anything that might help. After that we just wait for her to wake up.” “Lovely … studying.” Scootaloo bemoaned. ======================================================== [Crystal Empire Playroom.] “Does the book say anything at all?” Glimmer asked. “No cause books don't talk.” Dawn taunted getting a pillow to the face from Glimmer for her joke. “Nothing past what we already found out.” Elusive sighed. “The spell I cast gave us a lucid dreams, but the Tantabus is strong, so it … insinuates?.......implies....?” Rynthia muttered. “ Seems.” Shin commented getting a sigh from the Zebra. “Did you find anything out about your necklace?”Talon asked looking through another book. Rynthia sighed picking up a piece of paper with a image on it drawn in crayon. A simple silver disk with a pair of scales embossed in gold in the middle of it. There were random designs on the empty space around the scales, though they clearly were only there to fill in the blank spaces and draw more attention to the scale in the middle. The chain attached to it was a simple silver link necklace. Rynthia couldn't recall anything being on the back of it , but she didn't remember if she had looked or not, the dream was already rather fuzzy. “ Should we tell some one about this? I think this is way beyond anything we can deal with.” Elusive sighed. “I say no. No ones going to believe a foal...” Glimmer sighed. “ And even if we did convince one or two adults the moment it came up that they found out about the problem from a six year old, they'd get ignored. That's been pretty clear with how some of the ponies and nobles around here act.” “Daddy wouldn't do that.” Dawn muttered. “But neither father nor mother are available.” Rynthia grumbled. “Both my moms would. “ Sighed Elusive.” I know they care about me, but given that neither of them seem to care that I don't want to learn magic or be a scholar. I doubt they'd believe something like this without proof. Best case Mother turns it into a research study for a few weeks.” “I expect the same from my parents. They would accuse me of over thinking my dreams to find some sort of logic in them rather than just accept dreams mean nothing. “ Talon admitted. “In their defense they are usually right in that I try and find a reason for everything and over think everything.” “They don't believe or trust me any way so why bother?” Shin muttered. “ I heard them. Most of them know I'm just a foal and they still hate and fear me....” The others look over at Shin with a bit of worry. “Bugs, death, Kirin, and …. cheese....” We know of our fears, but not much of yours and Rynthia's.” Perhaps that would help us some how if we did.” Talon suggests. “Mine is simple. I fear that those who say I will become like the Zebra gods of old will be right. That I will bring nothing but hate and suffering.” Rynthia grumbled not even trying to rhyme. “Mmm....” Shin responds clinging tighter to Glimmer's side. “The Changelings have a hive mind...” Elusive commented his ear twitching as he thought back on what he had been taught. “ So that means when you say they don't trust you....... “ “You've actually heard them saying it.” Talon finished. Glimmers eyes widen at that and she pulls her little brother a bit closer with her wing. “I trust you Buggy.” Dawn stated suddenly petting the little bug on the head. “ Unless it's with cookies, then not so much.” “Dawn last I recall you are the one not to be trusted with food.” Talon rolls his eyes. “Or anything else for that matter. She ate my rock collection....” Elusive grumbled. “It is your fault you left them out, tasty gems are what dragons dream …...after... for?”Rynthia frowned. “About.” Shin giggled a little. “So it's just the six of us then?” Talon points out. “Indeed.“ Talon added. “We've got three hours until dinner then an hour or two after that before bed time. We need to figure out something before then.” Glimmer points out. “Save a little fluffy thing and the world.” Dawn grinned.” We got this.” “Yeah.” Shin muttered. “A little more confidence would not be a bad thing Shin.” Elusive stated. “We can handle this.” “I certainly hope that it does happen that way, given we all sleep , we may not have a …... voice.... vote?” Rynthia stammered. “Say.” Dawn suggested. “Dang it.” Rynthia growled.