Stories in Stone
Capricorn's Curse
By TDR
Nuclear
[Manehatten docks, aboard the Storm Cloud]
Sweetiebelle looked out over the edge of the Storm Cloud frowning as she watched the gathering horde of zombies, her ears drooping a little.
“Seriously can we not have just one damn outing without something drastic happening?” Carol muttered running a hoof though her mane.
“We've got one third of the CMC here already and the fourth official member showed up, I'd say this was inevitable.” Aria grumbled waving a hoof out at the crowd.
“So what are we gonna do against a horde of zombies?” Shanty asked fluttering her wings.” we are gonna do something right? I mean those are our fans down there , they're here cause of us....”
“It's not a horde, it's called a siege.” Button muttered.
“What?” Shanty asked.
“A horde of zombies is called a siege. Like a group of birds is called a flock?” Button explained.
“And that matters how?” Babs demands.
“It doesn't, but I'm just trying to make conversation, while we wait on Ditty.” Button explained.
“Melody and some of the other crew are securing our stuff and Captain Finch is getting ready to bring the ship over to pull the fans on board..........” Carol explained looking up as the sun begins to dip beyond the horizon, then it popped back up, then dipped then went up to the highest point of the day, then started to dip again before finally settling. “What the buck...?”
“I think there's more going on here than we realize.” Silver snorted.
“Well we can only focus on what we can do.” Sweetiebelle stated as she straightened up with a faint groan. “ Right now all we can do is save our fans.”
“Where is Ditty any way?” Carol asked.
“He said he's contacting the Guard.” Button added with a small shrug.” Anyway, I suppose I should bust open the armory.”
“Armory.... What armory?” Carol demanded.
“Seriously, as big of a gamer as Button is do you really think he wouldn't have a zombie contingency?” Sweetiebelle sighed. “ Did you ever find that riot gear in my size?”
“ Not quite , but I think you will like what I found for you.” Button grinned.
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[Manehatten]
“Agent Drops, this is Green Two do you copy?”
Bon Bon paused looking out at the bay. Bray's trail had led her here and then stopped. Of course this meant he had gone into the water. The bay patrols hadn't seen any one , but with water as murky and polluted as this it was a wonder the River Ponies could see their flippers in front of their face. The pollution wasn't toxic, well not any more, the River Ponies had made sure of that during a rather prolonged ecoterrorist attack a few years ago that ground the whole city to a halt. After extended negotiations, new environmental protocol was put into place. A few places along the waterfront had shut down due to this, though entirely new businesses opened up selling 'green' products. The idea didn't catch on very well, given that aside from certain products, nearly everything in Equestria was pretty much already 'Green' as they called it. Of course then there were the 'Naturalists' who were trying to convince ponies to not eat anything that had been altered with chemical fertilizer or magical modification. Had these idiots ever seen a carrot before earth pony farmers got a hold of it with their magic?
“Drops here go ahead.”
“We've received a report from one of our Ambassadorial operatives, a Changeling going by the name Hush.”
“The one assigned to the airship Storm Cloud to watch over Discord and Sweetiebelle Reignolds band. What's the report?”Sweetie Drops asked looking up at the sky as the sun did some interesting movements.
“Evidently there is a large gathering of what he described as 'Zombie Orcs' near the Sunnyside smelting plant. The Storm Cloud is moored at the docks nearby and has a good line of sight. He has also reported that there is what looks like a Mule or a Donkey at the head of this group.”
“Bray.”Sweetiedrops cursed.
“It would seem so. Be advised however of three things Agent Drops. There is a veritable army between you and Bray at this point. Two there is a large gathering of ponies near the docks who are evidently fans of Sweetiebelle Reignolds. And three Babs Seed is on sight with Sweetiebelle.”
“The fourth crusader? Well that explains why everything's happening there. Even two of that group together tends to bring trouble.” Sweetie Drops tosses out her arm sending a grappling line to the top of a nearby boat building factory, shooting up the line and using the momentum to begin dashing across the roof towards the docks.
“Inform the local Guard of the situation have them seal off the streets and start evacuating. Also send word to Guard Captain Starfall in Canterlot, this is might be a cause to mobilize the Six sixty sixth.”
“Already ahead of you in that regard Agent. A small contingent of the Monster Hunters and the Royal Guard are already present. We have also been offered aid by Lord Spike Sparkle and Lady Bleu Scale if need be. The pair are currently on Gallopagos and can be here in ten minutes tops.”
“Call them in. Standing orders are to prevent casualties, I want this mess shut down as fast as possible.”Sweetiedrops ordered swinging to another building. “I'm continuing my mission, I'll leave the overseeing of this with Control. Permission granted to use whatever means necessary to prevent civilian casualties.”
“Understood agent, good hunting.”
==============================================================
[ Crystal Empire ]
“Well that's something you don't see every day.” Beryl commented looking out the window at the odd movements of the sun.
“Kinda curious as to what's going on with Auntie Celestia, but I suppose she's busy.” Pip added flipping through a book. “Find anything yet Sis?”
“Nah... I still don't know where my text book went.” Berry sighed from her perch, before glancing down at her resting spot. “ You sure you're okay with this Pippy?”
“She brought it on herself. Honestly though, I might have cared a bit more if you had managed to find a Prench maid outfit that fit her.” Pip grinned looking up at his sister.
Scootaloo at the moment was doing her best not to lay into either of them. Pip had been right in that it hadn't taken Berry long at all to figure Scootaloo had gone rooting through her stuff and rather than the guard mare being able to use the information of Berry's crush Trevor to get what she wanted, Berry had turned everything back on the Pegasus by having quite a bit of her own dirt on Scootaloo and a willingness to use her mother against Scootaloo.
Pip had talked her down a least, and had even gotten Berry to go along with his mare friends original plan of research trip. But of course Berry wanted something in return.
Pip easily agreed to remain silent on the subject of Trevor as he considered it none of his business any way. However Scootaloo had not gotten off so lucky and was currently dressed in a giant pink bunny suit and being used as a mobile chair for Berry. It might not have been so bad if they hadn't had to leave Berry's dorm and head to the school library, which was packed to the brim with students studying for midterms and the like.
“I guess all the issues with nightmares lately have been noticed. Eight copies of that text book on file and all of them have been checked out over the last three days.” Berry grumbled.
“True and these other books have not been helpful. “Pip muttered tossing a tome on the table and rubbing his eyes.
“If you could recall who you lent your copy out too we might actually be able to go ask them for it.” Scootaloo grumbled.
“Yeah well I've been a bit busy the past few days trying to get the TV thing done for my final project.” Berry sighed looking over to the little dragon still staring out the window.” Beryl do you remember who took the Dreamscapes and Nightmares textbook?”
“Like I told you before Berry, I'm not your librarian. I know it was borrowed this morning, but I've had four naps between, and I'm due for another one.” Beryl yawned his tail twitching a little.
“ Well who all visited today?” Scootaloo asked.
“Well you guys, a couple of teachers, our little sisters and their friends, the local Guard, the school hazmat team, and a couple of my friends.” Berry listed.
“ Oh, Dawn and Rynthia came by? What did they want?” Pip asked.
“Well I think Dawn drew a picture of daddy and wanted to show me , though it looked a little odd and she swore it wasn't him. And Rynthia asked to borrow a book, I think she got one of the Daring Doo novels.”
“Daring Doo? Seaweed borrowed all of those last week.” Beryl added. Not doing a good job of not being Berry's librarian.
“Oh.... That's odd the only other things on that shelf were textbooks.” Berry commented. “I mean why would she want one of those, sure most of them are from previous years, but they are probably too advanced for her, I know shes smart but still.”
“Talon.” Pip commented.”He's reading at a Twilight Sparkle level now.”
“Yeah, they would be right up his ally. Though Dreamscapes and Nightmares is practically philosophy, there's only like four or five useful spells in there and that's mostly for shared dreaming and lucid dreaming so that some one can actually study the rest of the course. Why would Talon bother with that? He's always seemed more focused on the physical world.”
“Which means he wouldn't have any knowledge of what to do against something in a dream.“ Scootaloo added.
“Between what Ma might have taught Rynthia and Dawn they would have come here to ask you if you could help expecting ma might have taught you more....” Pip theorized.
“They did have questions, though we were in a rush this morning.” Beryl added.” Berry was almost late again.”
“ To Equestrian Lit!” Berry protested.
“And given Dawn, Talon, Rynthia, and Elusive are all together, if there was a threat they might think they could handle it.” Pip grumbled pushing himself up from the table. “ Dawn's got no fear, Elusive wants to prove himself, and the other two wouldn't let them do something stupid alone, buck, they probably dragged Shin and Glimmer into it as well.”
“Nightmares. What she drew might have been the night mare they were seeing.” Scootaloo added.
“Dawn did insist it wasn't daddy.....” Berry pointed out. “ Oh dear......”
“What?” Scootaloo asked.
“It's about Dawn and Rynthia's bed time isn't it?” Berry stated. “ If they try something against what ever is causing these nightmares with those spells there's a chance it could physically hurt them. They will literally be in the dream world more than just mentally like most sleepers”
“Let's go.” Pip stated pushing off the table galloping towards the door with Scootaloo, still in the bunny suit rushing rapidly behind.
Berry blinked picking herself up from where Scootaloo had shrugged her off. She grabbed Beryl in her magic and rushed out after the pair galloping towards the palace.
========================================================
[ The Storm Cloud, Manhatten docks.]
“I shouldn't be surprised, I really should not be surprised.” Shanty muttered rubbing her face.
Button Mash had gone down into the cargo hold and over to a rather large create marked 'fragile' against the wall. The Earth Pony had pulled out two pins from the side and the front of the create had swung open like a fancy mares makeup kit.
The inside of it was strewn with weapons. Polearms, swords, axes. Medical supply kits, supplies of hard tack rations, jugs of water and two suits of armor composed of faux leather and chain mail. There were also a number of flashlights, some basic survival gear and at least six Griffonese crossbows, one of which looked like the sort that should be mounted on the railing of a ship to repel pirates.
“I'm supposed to be the arms master of this ship, why didn't I know about this?”Ditty ranted glaring at Button.
“I did tell you. It's even listed on the ships cargo map as zombie supplies.” Button added.”Granted it doubles as a any kind of disaster supplies. Really you prepare for any disaster relatively the same.”
“I though that was some gaming thing!” Ditty snapped watching as Button began strapping on the armor, Sweetiebelle trotted over and started doing much the same with the another suit that was marked with her name. “ Did you even bother to get us any of those suits?”
“Can't you guys just harden your skin into armor plates?” Button commented attaching a chain collar around his neck hiding the last bit of his skin with the faded gray suit leaving only his head exposed. The armor itself was like a thick jumpsuit interlaced with thicker leather like material at the joints and chain mail swathes over other points for protection. There were numerous pockets and weapon points on it and it had several bright orange safety bands around key points so they wouldn't get confused with the zombies.
“That's not the point......” Ditty muttered his ears flattening that he had missed out on some cool looking gear. “Where did you even get all this stuff”
“Sent away.” both Button and Sweetiebelle said at the same time.
“Can't say I like the colors.” Carol added, “And why does Sweetiebelle's look like something you'd see on the cover of on of those S&M mags?”
“That's where the base design for hers came from actually. I think it looks m,ore like one of those super hero suits you see in comics though. Belle wanted something that allowed her to still use that ninjitsu stuff she does yet still protect her. Only thing I found was a leather bondage suit and I had to make a lot of adjustments for it to actually be protective. How's it fit Belle?
“A little tight, but I can move fine.” Sweetiebelle commented zipping up the suit.
“the bright colors are a safety thing. We're not trying to hide from the zombies, sight is the least expected sense that zombies will be using given their rotted state, so it's more for our rescue when the guard mobilizes.” Button explained.
“You are actually going to wear that?” Melody asked as Sweetiebelle pulls on the face covering mask and goggles.
“Yup.” Sweetiebelle chuckled. “At the very least none of the fans we are gonna bring on board will recognize me in this.”
“A zombie plan, this is ridiculous.” Babs snorted.” What kinda nerd plans for zombies?”
“And yet we have zombies.” Silver chuckled as Babs pouts.” What's that big one there?”
“Oh this one?” Button commented picking up the Griffonese mini balista. “You know, six Diamond Dogs came to kill me one time, the best among them had this. It's a Griffonese rail mounted ship to ship balista with ten bolt feed, modified to be cranked by hoof, and fired from a shoulder sling, it is my very favorite weapon, This is the best Crossbow ever made on Equss, and it has extreme sentimental value. I call her Vera.”
Every one stared at Button for a moment before turning to look at Sweetiebelle.
“He found it in a pile of debris on the lower deck and fixed it up. They must have missed it when disarming the ship before we got it.” Sweetiebelle corrected getting a glare from Button.
“Any way I looks like you have enough here for everyone.” Carol commented picking up a small crossbow, her hoof shifting to a claw as she looked it over.
“You know how to use that?” Babs asked.
“Yeah if one Changeling knows how to work something we can all access the memories of it being used and shape our muscles and reflexes to match the one who used it the best in our memories.” Carol explained.
“Well that's handy. Not sure I'd like every one knowing everything I know all the time though.” Silver muttered stepping forward and picking up a sledge hammer from a box of tools next to the weapons crate. “Makes it sorta hard to be a specialist in a field if anyone can do it.”
“Doesn't quite work like that. It's more like a library. We can check out what skills we need and keep them as long as we want. When we no longer have need of them they stay in our memory, but sorta in the back, like an older memory or something that happened a long time ago.” Carol explained.” If we don't use a skill often enough for our bodies to actual adapt to it we have to spend the energy to change every time we want to use it and that gets wearing.”
“Doesn't that mean that anything you do some one can call up and remember at a later date?” Babs questioned shaking her head as Sweetiebele offered her something from the armory.” Sorry Belle I'm a cook not a fighter.”
“ You get used to it. Queen Luna has sealed away a few things and she mostly keeps her memories and a number of others out of the public hive mind. We can easily ask her to keep a memory secure for us.” Carol continued to explain. “It's up to her whether it stays that way or not. Most of the time it's just government information that is kept locked, with the occasional birthday or Hearths Warming gift kept hidden. She has however put a over reaching block on any sexy time fun had as there are foals in the hive mind too.”
“She age locked your collective porn stash?” Silver laughed.
“Something like that yeah, though it's more locked, period, save to those who were involved.” Carol shrugged her hooves shifting a little as the ship started to move.
“Seems like Captain Finch is moving us into position. Every one on deck, lets get these ponies secured.” Sweetiebelle barked the order through her face mask, the mare looking like a latex ninja. No one but Sweetie missed Button moving to follow behind Sweetiebelle, his eyes locked on her tightly clad rear , a bit of drool falling from the corner of his mouth.
=============================================================
[Outside of the Shield Tamberlane. One hour after sunset, the first one , not the ones done to screw with Grogar, the proper sunset.]
“Seriously has he even paused for air?” Celestia asked as she landed next to Jer'rahd, her wings flapping once more before she offered him a bag and a soda as she looked through the shield at the still cackling Grogar.
“He fell into a coughing fit for about five minutes before he started up again. “ Jer'rahd muttered as he dug into the bag taking a sip from the soda Celestia brought. “Pretty sure he didn't even notice you went on a food run....... hey did you eat some of my hay fries?”
“Delivery charge. Didn't touch your burger though, why you double down on the garlic and onion sauce is beyond me.” Celestia snorted as she finished off her own drink. “ No moon yet though, so either Twilight can't cast through the shield or somethings wrong.”
“He might have an inhibitor of sorts on her. He doesn't seem the type to keep it quiet if he'd already killed them.” Jer'rahd commented.” And their special sauce is awesome. Plus Luna won't let me eat it when she's around.”
“I can smell why” Celestia grumbled.” you could choke a yak with your breath and that's after one bite.”
Grogar finally stopped laughing and launched into some sort of tirade about the pair being doomed. The two in question seemed more interested in their hay burgers and fries than what he was saying.
“Wait did you get a Merry Meal?” Jer'rahd asked looking at the little red and gold box Celestia had.
“Hmm yes... I've been collecting the little bean babies they have in the boxes this month. Don't judge you ass.” Celestia admitted taking out small plastic bag. “Shoot, it's still Mumbles the Manatee, I already have him.”
“I didn't bring the checklist, but I think Rynthia needs that one. Dawn wants Tumble the Turtle, and Becky the Bunny still.” Jer'rahd pondered munching on his burger.
“I have a extra Becky the Bunny I can give her.” Celestia realized.” Not sure on Tumbles though. Twilight might have him.”
“Ahh that works. I'll have to check to see what we have extra of for trade.” Jer'rahd explained.
“WOULD YOU TWO LISTEN TO ME ALREADY!!” Grogar bellowed.
“Are you saying anything interesting yet?” Celestia called.
“YES!” Grogar huffs. “ I would expect your doom to be important.”
“So it's not about Bean Babies then?” Jer'rahd asked through a mouthful of burger.
“Well there goes my interest.” Celestia shrugged.
“What?!? What the buck is a Bean Baby?” Grogar stammered. “ Never mind, I'm tired of your idiocy. The night has fallen and your deaths are finally at hoof!”
Shadows around the pair exploded into dark figures, humanoids, and pony like creatures , sharp white teeth gleaming in the darkness.
Celestia looked on impassively sipping her soda trying to get the last dregs from under the ice as Jer'rahd took another bite of his food only glancing to the figures surrounding them.
“How rude, I'm only half way through my sandwich.” Jer'rahd muttered.
=================================================================
[ New Canterlot]
Every one froze as the door opened and a half dozen ponies, mostly unicorns, and a tan Pegasus with a gray scale mane and a pith hat perched jauntily on her head all strode in talking excitedly. Well perhaps angrily was more the word.
Starfall blinked then cleared her throat rather loudly to get the ponies attention. It didn't work, the six ponies kept talking, rather heatedly it seemed. Thankfully the armored pony seemed rather taken aback by them barging in like this as well. The two loudest were the tan Pegasus with a compass rose cutie mark and a green maned unicorn stallion with eggshell white fur. His cutie mark was a odd one as it seemed to depict an egg, a glass of juice, and a bowl of cereal of some kind. No one knew what the mark meant, nor why some one with a food themed cutie mark would become a archaeologist.
“Yearling you are full of shit. It's not of Arconian make.” the green maned unicorn stallion snorted.” Arconians were terrified of their own shadows, let alone their reflections, there's entire ruins dedicated to protecting themselves from their evil doppelgangers on the other side. They invented the automatic pond ripple machine before the wheel for crying out loud! This Mirror is not theirs!”
A bluish white maned unicorn mare with deep blue fur seemed to agree with him, though she was much quieter simply nodding or shaking her head, pausing each time after to push a too large pair of glasses back up her nose, she was also the only one wearing a lab coat that hid her cutie mark.
“I never said it was Arconian, Whise, you stuck up twat. I said it was based on their design. Or the Arconians based their design on the mirror, heck this mirror could be WHY the Arconian's were terrified of their reflections.” The Pegasus mare snorted.” Heck I'm more inclined to believe Tsoukalos stupid alien theory over your missing link between Dark Age Elk and Mer bull crap.”
“Why thank you Yearling …” A dark brown unicorn with a wild mane that seemed to be lifting into the air stated. His cutie mark was an odd green oval shaped thing that seemed to be a face with two large black eyes.” And while I didn't say it was aliens.... it was aliens...”
The others largely ignored him.
“Look both of you calm down.” A pink and green mare grumbled. She seemed young, though there were a few gray hairs in her green mane that were easy to spot in the tight bun she wore it in. her cutie mark was a pile of books. “All we know is that it's predark age and that it's active again. We can figure out who made it after we figure out what it does...”
“It takes you up to the mothership!” Tsoukalos stated, and was again largely ignored.
“Well it will be easier to figure out what it does if we can figure out who made it. The Arconians were highly advanced in transportation magic. The markings on the mirror also point to their society” Yearling stated ruffling her wings as she glared at Whise.
Starfall coughed again, even louder , she was getting quite annoyed at this point. The lot of them were still ignoring her attempt to get their attention, well all but one was.
“I say, Mrs Silvertail do you need a lozenge, you seem to be having a good bit of issue with your throat.”An older unicorn with a white beard that reached his chest and eyebrows that were nearly as big stated softly. He turned slowly to look in one of his saddlebags pulling out a small tin, briefly flashing a cutie mark of a chalk board with what looked to be random numerical formula's on it. “ I'm afraid all I have left are the lemon flavored ones. I tend to eat the orange ones first. I like those.”
The others had stopped talking as soon as the older stallion had started, finally noticing that they were getting stared at by a large number of Guards, two Guard Captains, and a pony in bone armor.
“Thank you, no, I'm fine Professor Swordtail.” Starfall sighed.
“Really? Well if you say so, should still take something. Nasty bugs going around all the time,pretty young thing like you, shame to see you getting sick.”The professor chuckled. “ Now what's all this about any way? You said you had something new come up about the mirror.”
The others remained quiet,evidently the elderly pony was evidently in charge of the research team or at the very least most likely to skip talking and go right to slapping other ponies around with a ruler. Evidently he had once been the teacher to all the others.
“More like some one came out, Professor.” Starfall corrected pointing a hoof toward the armored pony who was staring at the older pony like she had seen a ghost.
“Impossible.” the armored mare muttered. “This is impossible!”
The professors ears perked as he turned to look at the armored mare, lifting a hoof to push his bushy eyebrows out from in front of his eyes. The orange tinged eyes underneath were bright and untouched by the age that seemed to take over the rest of him. He stared at the armored mare with some interest before slowly walking closer.
“I recognize that voice. I never forget a student. Seashell Shiner wasn't it?”Swordtail commented.
“Sunset Shimmer” the mare corrected.
“Eh close enough, Starshine Swimmer. You are twenty three years, two months and sixteen days overdo with your assignment on metamagic feats of the late Discordian era.” professor Swordtail scoffed.” Normally I don't give grades for something this late, but I must say I am in awe of your tardy record, so perhaps I can at least give half credit if the work is impressive enough.”
“Professor I do not think she is here to turn in a late paper.”The pink and green maned mare mumbled. “Besides if I recall correctly you failed everyone who turned in anything because there WERE no metamagic feats in the Discordian era. That field of study didn't happen until a thousand years later.”
“One thousand two hundred and seventy three to be exact, the great Falpro created the first, and I thank you kindly not to be giving away my teaching secrets Miss Barcalonia.”
“ It's Belladonna. You retired fifteen years ago professor I took over your classes after graduation and that little trick of yours is the only black mark on my record” The mare huffed whipping her green tail over her pink rump.
“Still mad about that hmm? Good , it was an exercise in critical thinking. Just because you assumed Miss Baltamare, that I had my era wrong and wrote a thirty two page topic on Metamagic feats of the War of Night era, does not make you any more wrong.” Swordtail chuckled much to the mares annoyance.
“Why …. what...” Sunset stammered.
“Hmm something wrong miss Sideways Sitter? You have a question?” Swordtail hummed. “ You know by default you are the only student who technically passed that assignment. Well go on spit out the question.”
“How the buck are you two so old!?” Sunset demanded. “ Belladonna was in my class and now she looks like my freaking grandmother!”
“HEY!! I'm barely into my thirty's!!” Belladonna shouted.
“I thought you were forty three?” Yearling snorted only for her pith hat to be yanked down over her head by the glow of pink magic, the affronted unicorn mare sparing a short glare back at the Pegasus.
“And there is the trademark Swoonlight Swanky lack of tact. Ponies age Snufflebuff Shanty. Happens to every pony... ” Swordtail chuckled before regarding her a moment more. “Well nearly every pony, but I daresay the Princesses are not exactly ponies any more.... Come to think of it neither is the former princess and her consort.”
“What the buck is going on!?” Sunset growled.
“Like I said before It's been some time since you were here last.” Peach Blossom interjects. “ Professor Swordtail, this mare was the one who came out of the mirror, she believes it has only been three weeks rather than twenty plus years.”
“Hmm a time displacement effect?” Swordtail considered. “ How odd.”
“Not really, depending on the dimension or planet visited, the hours experienced in the day might be a wholly different calculation. Where one planet might have a day that is three hours long, another might have twenty four hours or more. If the mirrors magic can displace some one completely perhaps it can adjust their chronological clock to the new area and if their time frame is longer than ours the chronological rate if properly adjusted might make ones perception of the new time match what they expected with our old time. So if it takes a year or so our time for one of their days to pass so long as your body and mind are adjusted to the new time it will only seem like a proper day to you despite how much time passed at your starting point.” Tsoukalos explained. The stallion blinked as every one started at him in silence. His ears drooped and he turned away from the attention.” I mean aliens .. yeah...”
“And you wonder why I keep him around.” Snorted Swordtail under his breath to Belladonna who simply sighed.
“This is absolutely ridiculous, that sort of time displacement violates three of Newman's laws!” Sunset growled.
“Only about three of Newman's theories haven't been completely dis proven in the last ten years by Princess Twilight Sparkle and her students.” the deep blue unicorn mare who had been silent most of this time chimed in. “It has been a rather interesting time for progressive learning.”
“Always something.” Yearling muttered having finally gotten free of her hat and was trying to beat it back into shape.
“Has any one simply told her to look outside?” Whise asked suddenly. “ I mean if she's been gone more than twenty years... heck if she'd been gone only ten, the entire landscape of Canterlot has changed, it's rather hard to alter something like that in only three weeks. I'm surprised the castle layout wasn't enough to be honest.”
“First smart thing you've said today Whise” Yearling chuckled striding back towards the door they came in from and towards the large balcony that they had passed. “Come on Sunset, we've got a barrage of questions for you, though I figure you need to see this first.”
==============================================
[Manehatten docks.]
“Alright ponies right this way head on down the steps, after parties down there.” Babs stated waving another group of ponies off the lift and towards the bay doors towards the cargo hold.
The others were standing at the railing and given the outfits Button and Sweetie were wearing, and the 'bug' forms Ditty, and Carol were wearing, no one recognized them as anything other than Guards, though quite a few did take appreciative glances at Sweetiebelle in her cat suit. Silver was also ignored, though some of the mares were eyeing him too.
Melody and the others were down stairs in costume greeting and talking to the fans, keeping them distracted.
“They haven't moved yet.” Button muttered watching the horde through a spyglass.” But more keep climbing out of the ground, mostly the pig things, how many were buried there?”
“The siege of Manehatten was a big thing during the Second Dragon War.” Silver added. “Lotta soldiers died, even more Orcs died. History books say this is where the last Orc god fell, though his name isn't recorded any where that I know of. Maybe one of the old museums might have the records, but a lot of information of that time was lost.”
“Je'fray. Lord Jer'rahd Kaisur killed him. This is pretty close to where he was killed, most of the Orc bodies were burned and dumped in an unmarked grave outside of town., though I suppose as Manhatten grew, that location was lost and we built over it.” Carol stated linking into the hive mind for the information. “No Changelings were around, but Queen Luna remembered and so we can access that info.”
“Lovely so there's a dead god in that pile of rotted bodies some where?” Sweetie muttered.
“I doubt he still has his powers, gods are supposed to lose them when they die. The power goes to another god who is to be born some where.” Ditty continues.
“This is the last group.” Sweetie stated suddenly looking down at the elevator as the final bit of the fan crowd was brought up. “Once they're on board Finch will move us out over the bay.”
“I'm amazed this has gone so well.” Babs sighed watching as Button and the Changelings flinched. “What?”
“You just jinxed us.” Button bemoans.” You never every say anything like that. Never say' it can't get any worse', or 'this is too easy' or 'blank, is a clever pony'. It will bring everything crashing down.”
“You mean like you just did all at once?” Sweetibelle asked.
Buttons eyes went wide at that.” Shit.”
“Definitely don't call any one clever, that's against a number of royal decrees.” said a voice behind them.
The group of them whirled suddenly, coming face to face with a figure in deep red robes. She had a mask over her face and her head was mostly under a hood with a pair of heavily tinted goggles covering her eyes. While they assumed she was female due to her voice, they couldn't tell with how covered she was. She had on a red bodysuit under her hooded cloak with only the left leg done up in flat black.
“Which one of you goes by Hush?” the mare demanded.
“That would be me.” Ditty stated with a swallow, only certain ponies would know that name..
The mare nodded moving to the side of the ship and pulling out a small pair of binoculars looking over the gathering horde of zombies.
“This ship armed?” the mare asked.
“Not heavily.” Ditty responded.” Just some personal weapons.”
“Pity.” The mare stated. “ What fuel do you use?”
“Sunstone reactor for power, its a little hicupy , but it still works.” Button added.
“Any conventional fuel?” the mare asked.
“No, a lot of cheap booze though.” Carol added. “Though I think most of that is being drunk downstairs.”
“Alright, under article seven of the Tirek charter I am commandeering this vessel in the name of the crown.” the mare stated.
“I don't think you can do that legally, this is a privately owned vessel and that charter only covers evacuation procedures... which we are already preforming.” Button blinked at the stares he was getting.” What?!? there's not much to read but the training manuals on a long tour... and my gamecolt ran out of juice.... Any way who are you?
“Special Agent Sweetie Drops, of the Black hoof.” The mare stated.
Most of them just stared at her, though their attention was drawn suddenly to Carol and Ditty who both started swearing at the same time and backing away from the red cloaked mare.
“I take you know of me from Queen Luna's memories?” Agent Drops asks curiously still scanning the crowd of zombies.
“Most of that's sealed, but Ditty seems to know a few things.” Carol glared at the male Changeling and shuddered.
“I need to have the Queen seal that info off.” Ditty muttered.
“This ships not a warship anymore and we have a good three score of non military ponies inside.” Sweetiebelle answered turning to look at the other costumed mare. “This is also my ship, and I went through a lot to get it, you better have a damn good reason.”
“Found him.” Agent Drops stated. “ My reason is this. I need you to get me over there so I can target Bray directly, and I need you to hang about so I can have a quick extraction if things go south. Stay in the air and fling spells or rocks or whatever you like, you don't need to land, just get me over the middle of that mass, and keep the zombies distracted while I take down their master. With bray dealt with the zombie siege should collapse. The Guards and Wonderbolts will be around sealing off this area , but I am not exactly in a potion to ask any of them for a lift as I am not supposed to exist.”
“Oh is that all.” Sweetiebelle responded. Tapping a hoof to her chin. “ How much collateral damage is allowed?”
“Minimum, no casualties will be accepted.” Agent Drops responded curiously .”Structural damage I suppose will be irrelevant.”
“Back up?” Button's asked.
“A small legion of the Six Sixty Sixth is working to seal off this area and the Wonderbolts are here to do evacuations.” Agent Drops responded.” They are waiting on a signal from my handler to begin. They do not actually know I am present.”
“How much reimbursement from the crown will we get for any damage taken?” Carol asked.
“We will cover what your insurance doesn't and there is a sizable reward for aiding in the capture of Bray.” Agent drops stated again noting Button and Sweetiebelle glancing at each other.
“Tirek formation?” Button asked.
“Can you think of a better distraction?” Sweetiebelle stated, “And it'll keep the fans calm, maybe they will think they are just being treated for loyalty.”
“On it, Carol, go tell Finch we are moving, Silver come with me and help me set up the stage.” Button calls out as he rushed off. “ I am really glad we practiced doing this without landing.”
Agent Sweetie Drops blinked a little watching him go.” Tirek Formation?”
“A couple years ago we wrecked the fool out of Tirek in Whitetail Woods with an outdated sound system and some high power vocals.” Sweetiebelle shrugged. “ We've upgraded our gear, and my spells power since then.”
“Wrecked Tirek?.... wait .. you were at the battle of Yggdrasil?!?!? The shout heard round Equss!?! THAT WAS YOU!?!” Sweetiedrops gasped suddenly having a very bad feeling about this. “ I don't think I have clearance to enlist the aid of a PDR of three....... oh wait.....the fourth......”
“Yep, Babs is here so our PDR is actually Two.” Sweetiebelle cackled, ignoring the agents wince “Don't worry the new sound system skips thirteen and goes right to twenty one!”
“PD what now?” Babs asked.
==========================================================
[Outside of the shield, Tamberlane]
Jer'rahd had to admit, this lot was a far sight better than the others. They also seemed rather bity, and not knowing what the bites did he opted to block or avoid them. The Waning Moon wasn't disrupting them as easily as the others either. This lot was tougher and more resistant than the zombies.
The last half of his sandwich however had proven a deadly weapon. He had been trying to scarf it down when one of them popped up in front of him, he reacted quickly and slammed the garlic and onion sauce laden burger in the face of the creature thinking to perhaps blind it a moment only for the thing to grab at it's face and fall over flailing as it's face started melting.
Two of them were hanging back watching as well, a mare and a stallion, the mare was dressed in some sort of tight fitting red straps or something and a red cape. She was pale white with a jet black mane.
The stallion was in some sort of ancheint formal wear, with a cummerbund and everything, though he also had a bright red lined cape though his had a black exterior.
The others fought with the tenacity of beasts using wicked looking edged weapons or claws, everything they were doing seemed designed to let blood. Jer'rahd was a little hard pressed not to take any damage from them and had switched to holding the Waning Moon in his mouth while popping shields every where. He would likely need to change the wrapping as it would be soaked in his spittle and smell like his food , but that would happen later.
Celestia seemed to find a couple of them interesting, or at least they were managing to distract her. Less of them were attacking her and two seemed to be trying to vamp her. A couple of the mares seemed to be trying to charm him as well, though none of them looked even remotely like Luna so his response to the flirting was to spit in one of their faces when they got close enough and then watch them roll around screaming. After that they stopped trying to flirt and went back to trying to kill.
A loud cry from the side made him glance over with a wince as two of them had gotten a hold of Celestia. One had fangs sunk into her throat and the other was biting her inner thigh of her foreleg.
Grogar's laughter drew his attention away from the scene a moment.
“HAHA, now I have you. A vampires kiss can easily control the minds of those they feast one. Your companion is mine fool. Can you fight against your own friend!?” Grogar chuckled.
“Yeah... pretty easily, wouldn't even be the first time either. Should be a piece of cake to kick her fat flank then blame the damage on you when Sparkle and Luna ask.” Jer'rahd shrugged. “ Really you're kinda helping me get rid of a real pain in my flank here.”
There was a sudden scream from one of the Vampires that was biting Celestia. Looking over to her, the two vampires had fallen away from her and were thrashing and screaming on the sand, light seeming to emerge from cracks that were rapidly forming on their bodies, after a moment more of screaming they both exploded into a shower of ash. The effect forcing the others around her to back away from the white alicorn.
“Have fun sun butt?” Jer'rahd snarked.
“That was nothing at all like the novels. It was just a pain in the neck” Celestia pouted rubbing her neck.
“Not the sort of Neck- romancy you wanted was it?” Jer'rahd chuckled getting groan from a number of the vampires around the pair.
“That was not funny Kaisur, it sucked, but I get the point.......” Celestia snorted. “And for the record you cannot kick my flank.”
“Says you.” Jer'rahd chuckled.
“What the buck just happened?” The pompous looking vampire stallion asked suddenly.
“Oh, about that, The Goddess of the Sun title isn't just because of my cutie mark. Magic runs in the blood and the more you use magic the more of it is in your blood, saturating your entire body really. I've been channeling the power of the sun for so long, I practically bleed sunlight.” Celestia shrugged.” Any way that's enough of this, that sort of hurt. I should write a strongly worded letter to that mare and tell her vampires are not sexy.”
“What about the Anna Ricecake ones?” Jer'rahd asked.
“Most, Vampires are not sexy.” Celestia corrected.
Celestia's form was engulfed in fire lighting up the beach and causing a number of the vampires to stumble away.
“Get back in there you fools you're fire proof, or did you forget the power point presentation!?” the female pompous scantily clad vampire shouted.
The others look at each other leaping towards the pair only for a few of them to bounce off Jer'rahd's shield as Celestia lets louse a glut of flame that arches and dances across the beach like lightning, engulfing the collection of vampires and burning them to ash in a instant. The pompous pair threw up a shield to protect themselves and a small swarm of the others. Grogar looks far less than pleased at the hordes destruction.
“How did you do that, fire shouldn't be able to touch us!?!?” The pompous male shouted.
“Well Twilight claims my fire is less fire and more of a plasma... again contact with the sun and all that.” Celestia tossed her mane shaking free some soot as Jer'rahd dropped his shields. “ Honestly I didn't see the relevance of the line of study until now.”
“So that it? You done?” Jer'rahd asked looking to the vampires. All of whom hiss at him before being waved away by the two Pompous ones.
“No, it is quite clear the usual tactics will not work here. We shall be your opponents.” The mare stated.
“Well, maybe I'll have to get serious finally.” Jer'rahd grinned.
“I doubt it.” Celestia shrugged.
==========================================================
[Whitetail woods]
There were a large number of protests, whining, and complaints filling the air, echoing off the trees surrounding the river.
The foals weren't happy either.
Neither were the doubled guard of Elk watching the Apple family, most of them dyed in reddish hues.
The only ones who seemed alright were Rainbow Dash and Zap. The former had missed getting hit by the cherry juice, and the later was already a red tinted Pegasus colt so a little bit more red color meant nothing. Granted he smelled strongly of cherries and Dash was currently tickling him threatening to eat the sweet smelling foal.
Fluttershy and Applejack were both currently trying to wash the red out of the coats and manes of Butterscotch and Dandelion. Appleblossom lucked out by being mostly red as well, though her dark blue hair was more purple now. Still Big Mac was keeping an eye on her.
Applebloom however was hunkered down on the other side of the river, trying to soak the cherry stains out of her fur with little success. Her coloration was closer to Pinkie Pies at this point.
“I still wanna know what ya even did.” Applejack frets.
“We told you it wasn't our fault.” Applebloosom moans. “We saw the cherry tree and thought it would be neat to have oranges and Dandelion remember Princess Twilight telling her about a citrus spell.......”
“That sounds like the definition of it being your fault.” Applebloom grumbles.
“But I only cast the spell on one cherry I don't know how it got the whole tree...... or where all that juice came from!” Dandelion whined.
It was a fair point. The cherry tree in question was still blooming and had only produced a few early cherries so far. Maybe no more than a score or two, the amount of juice that had covered the village would have taken an entire harvests worth of cherries to produce. Applebloom was reminded of all the sap she and her friends wound up getting stuck in while crusading, even when they were no where near a tree.
“It is a little strange.” Fluttershy commented likely the only other one not hit with juice in the forest. “But you need to be careful with your magic Dandelion. Twilight said you are at the age where you might be getting small surges. Maybe that was what this was.”
“I guess.” Dandelion muttered. “ I didn't feel any different.”
“Yeah it's not like we have super powers or anything.” Butterscotch grumped.
“Or that we can just wave our hooves and have something happen.” Appleblossom commented waving her wing for effect.
It was about that time the sun suddenly dipped below the horizon for the first time.
“Holy carp!” Butterscotch shouted pointing at the spot in the sky where the sun was only for it to pop back up right where he was pointing.
“AHH!” Dandelion shrieked her horn glowing as the jumpy filly tried to put up a shield to protect herself only to fail sending up a few sparks, just as the sun to dropped past the horizon again.
“WE DIDN'T DO IT!!!” the trio shouted together as all the adults stared at them.
Zap ' Dash' Apple waved his hooves in the air giggling wildly as the sun whipped all the way up to the middle of the sky again, bringing another fit of giggles from the foal before the sun dipped back below the horizon for the last time. Every one turned to stare at the small Pegasus foal who had started clapping his hooves together in glee.
“This is what it felt like..... this is what the crusaders did to every ones nerves.....” Applebloom muttered sinking under the water completely, practically whimpering.