//------------------------------// // We Are Crusaders // Story: Lucid Dreams // by Jumping Jack //------------------------------// Having finally reaching a small bit of the apple orchard not too far off from Ponyville, the young pegasus colt began to have more dreaded thoughts about this whole thing. And the panic was increasing ever more when Applebloom opened the door and he saw Scootaloo and Sweetibelle huddled around a small drawing of a map. Pallet even seemed startled by the other two as Applebloom walked over to them. "Hey guys! We have visitors!" Applebloom announced. Ghost Pepper found himself ducking slightly behind Pallet as the two other fillies rose their heads from the poorly drawn map and looked at them. Pallet smiled and waved. "Hiya! I'm Pallet Brush. And this is..." Pallet looked next to him, only to find Ghost Pepper quietly trying to sneak out of the clubhouse. Pallet smiled before wrapping a hoof around the colt and bringing him around and in front. "Ghost Pepper." The colt looked at them, the feeling increasing even more. Sweetie Belle smiled while Scootaloo rubbed her chin and furrowed her brows at the colt. Ghost Pepper shivered a bit. 'Does she remember? Does she know? Oh goddesses, what do I do!?' Ghost Pepper felt the sweat drip from his brow. Pallet arched a brow worriedly at him before smiling back at the fillies. "So... what exactly do you guys do around here?" he asked. Applebloom trotted over to the map and scanned it quickly before responding. "Well, lots of things! Like... err..." Applebloom faltered and rubbed her mane. "Things!" Scootaloo said quickly. Everyone looked at her confusedly. "Things that uhh... do things!" Sweetie Belle sighed and spoke up. "To be honest, we are not really sure anymore. I mean, we still help ponies discover what their cutie-marks really mean but... things have been a little lacking as of late." she said. Ghost Pepper did his best to keep his composure before speaking. "L-lacking?" he asked with a squeak. Applebloom sighed and nodded. "We've been lookin' over the map of Ponyville to find somethin' that we can try ta' do. But it's nothin' like the map my sis had described." she said. Pallet perked up. "Mind if I see that map?" he asked. The three looked at each other before stepping aside. "Uh, sure?" Scootaloo said. Pallet trotted over to the map and looked it over. He then frowned before reaching back into his saddle bag and pulling out an ink pen. Without a skip of a beat, he flipped the paper over to a blank side and quickly started scratching the pen on the paper. Ghost Pepper bit his lip nervously. He wasn't liking the time being spent away from the center. He wanted to get back to the plaza before anypony noticed. Unfortunately, he was unaware that he had indeed caught certain attention. ~~~****~~~ Alabaster and Merriweather hid behind a bush just outside of the clubhouse. The young snow white filly frowned slightly, seeing the top of a cerulean mane that belonged to Ghost Pepper through the window. Merriweather winced when a small bit of branch scratched her as she poked her head out next to her. "Umm.... Alabaster. Are you sure we should be hiding in a bush for thi-?" She was shushed by her. The filly looked at Alabaster worriedly. "So... can you hear what they are saying?" Alabaster darted her eyes in thought. She couldn't really hear what they were saying, however, she could hear the voices. She looked to Merriweather. "Let's get closer." she stated. Merriweather arched a brow. "Closer?" she asked. Alabaster suddenly slid out of the bush and crept up to the club house ramp. Merriweather was hesitant, but quickly followed. Alabaster strained her ears to hear at the base of the clubhouse. Merriweather found this behavior strange for the filly. Alabaster has never gone out of her way to track down somepony. Let alone the only colt she can't seem to get a read on. And while, she found it kind of fun to suddenly explore outside of the Ponyville plaza, she couldn't help but feel Alabaster may have forgotten her security like manner. However, this wasn't the case for Alabaster. She was intent on bringing back Ghost Pepper and Pallet for breaking the rules. And when she saw them suddenly running past them with a yellow filly with a bow in her mane, she realized they were heading away from the intended area. Merriweather did her best to sway Alabaster from going after them, but being the stubborn filly and for some reason, constantly annoyed by the colt, she found herself suddenly following them from quite a distance away. The two fillies crept up the ramp and ducked under the window, straining their ears to listen: "Whoa! The map looks better now!" the voice of the orange filly pegasus stated. Pallet gave a small chuckle before shrugging bashfully. "A-all I did was trace it in my mind and inverted the image." He said tapping his hoof tips bashfully. Ghost Pepper himself was in awe. Seeing Pallet quickly and skillfully draw out a map of Ponyville in a short amount of time was incredible. It almost made him feel envious. The three fillies looked the map over before grinning victoriously at each other. "With this, we can finally know where to start looking!" Scootaloo said. Sweetie Belle rubbed her mane in confusion. "But err.... where should we look exactly? I mean... where should we even start?" she asked. Applebloom rubbed her chin before looking over to Ghost Pepper. She then beamed. "Ghost Pepper. Do you know where we should start?" she asked. The colt realized that he was being addressed before shrinking back a little. "I.... I dunno...." he mumbled. Applebloom trotted over to him and put a hoof on his shoulder. "Perhaps we can start near Sugar Cube corner. That place is crawling with ponies just waiting for our help!" she said. Ghost Pepper rubbed his foreleg nervously. "I-I guess?" Ghost Pepper found it difficult to speak again. But then again, he always seemed to have trouble speaking the simplest of vocabulary to three random fillies he had only met a couple days ago. He didn't appear to have any problems with Pallet. 'Maybe because he's an orphan like me. So I guess we relate in someway.' It sounded reasonable. However, seeing the three fillies, plus Pallet, looking at him with encouraging smiles, he wasn't sure where to begin. "Great, then it is settled!" she said, turning to the others. "Let's head over there right now!" Without so much as a warning, the filly opened the club house door, unaware that she had forced two fillies to duck back and out of sight, before galloping down the ramp. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances before smiling. "Well, it's something to do." Scootaloo said before galloping out of the club house along with Sweetie Belle. Ghost Pepper was baffled by the energy the three had. Again, the feeling crept back up. Pallet trotted over to him and bumped his shoulder playfully. "C'mon, Pepper, It'll be fun! We might even get to see Pinkie Pie in her performance!" he said. Pallet galloped after them, leaving Ghost Pepper to hold a hoof out in an attempt to stop him. He then sighed and looked back, seeing the map that was sprawled out on the floor. He rubbed his chin in thought before coming to an idea. 'Maybe I can use this in the story?' he asked himself. He then rolled up the map and stuffed it in his saddlebag before adjusting his scarf and galloping after the four. The two fillies that were hidden peeked back out. Alabaster watched the fleeting figures before motioning to Merriweather to follow. ~~~****~~~ Ponyville was brimming with activity. The streets practically filled with preparations and ponies aiding one another to hang up banners and setting up shops. And as the five trotted down Sugar Cube corner, they stopped and arrived at a pastry designed store. Ghost Pepper could smell the aroma of freshly baked cakes, making his mouth water a little. The five walked in and Ghost Pepper suddenly felt claustrophobic at the amount of ponies inside the store. "Wow, it seems the Cakes have their hooves full today." Sweetie Belle stated. Indeed, it seemed hectic. But Ghost Pepper found his gaze setting on the biggest looking cake he had ever seen. A four tiered pink cake laced with skillfully dispensed frosting. At the top, he could see the small statuettes of two alicorns, one of midnight color and the other of pure white. The smell was too much for the colts. Their stomachs growled in protest. Applebloom walked up to the counter and rang the bell. "Just a moment, dears!" a voice called out. It took a minute before a blue mare in a pink mane walk out of the back kitchen with her teeth clamping down on a pad and a tray full of freshly backed ordinary cupcakes. She laid them on the counter before peeking over to see Applebloom. "Oh, hello, dearie. Are you here to pick up the order Applejack placed?" Applebloom blinked once in confusion before placing a surprised look. "Oh, 'Ah forgot! Umm... yeah. Also, 'Ah was wonderin' if you know any 'ponies' in need of help?" she asked. The mare rubbed her chin before shrugging. "Sorry, dear. I don't rightly know of any." She then looked at the cupcakes and smiled. "But perhaps maybe you can help out by advertising for our bakery. Perhaps maybe help Pinkie Pie with her performance as well." Pallet perked up at the thought of helping Pinkie Pie out with the idea. He then looked at Ghost Pepper with strange puppy dog eyes. Ghost Pepper eyed the colt worriedly before sighing in defeat. "A-alright. B-but we need to really get back too-." Pallet beamed and rose his hoof up in the air. "I vote to help Pinkie Pie!" he said. Ghost Pepper frowned slightly. 'Not even a moment of hesitation...' he thought. The three fillies looked at each other before shrugging. "Well, better than nothin' 'Ah suppose." Applebloom said. As if on cue, the big colorful present Ghost Pepper happened to be standing next too suddenly popped open at the top with a the sound of a kazoo and confetti following after. "Oh boy! Did I hear somepony say my name and wants to help me with my performance?" the pink energetic mare asked happily. The sudden surprise had Ghost Pepper doing his best to calm his beating heart. Pallet waved his hoof wildly. "Oh, oh! Memememe!" he cheered. Pinkie Pie was suddenly next to the colt and put a hoof around him. "Well then, not just anypony can help me with my performance." she said, looking slyly. Pallet looked at the mare in confusion. "They have to be daring." she stated, striking a pose. "Resilient!" she struck another pose. "Cunning!" she suddenly zipped over to the center of the room, bearing a detective hat similar to Sherclop Holmes, which Ghost Pepper found a bit interesting. "And more importantly, they need to haaaaaaave." she paused, biting her lip with a very gaily look. "Fun!!" she shouted, throwing confetti out of wherever she had put them. Pallet smiled widely before laughing as Pinkie Pie bounced over to him and looked at the five. "So then, my five compadres! Are ya' ready for the performance of a life time?" she asked. Ghost Pepper watched as Pallet agreed along with very nonchalant looking fillies. He felt nervous. Why was he letting himself be dragged along with this? All he really wanted to do was just sit around and do nothing. Just act like it was a normal day and probably read a book or two. Instead, he somehow wound up being an aid to an energetic pony. He shook his head at the idea of just walking out of here, remembering that he was to stay near his buddy during the trip. He took a step forward, only to bump into somepony who had walked in. He fell back on his rump and rubbed his muzzle, looking up and suddenly gaping. "Watch where you are going, kid." a sour sounding voice said. Ghost Pepper backed away a bit, seeing that the pony he had bumped into was none other than the sapphire colored mare that was talking to Funnel along with that strange looking stallion. And as if on cue, the same stallion appeared next to her, almost as if she had summoned him from the abyss of Tartarus. He had donned a casual looking suite and was neatly groomed. He looked at the colt before smirking. "Hey there, sport. Enjoying the sight?" he asked. Ghost Pepper said nothing, shrinking back a bit more. The mare snorted in disgust. "Little brats. Always thinking they can get away with whatever they want." she said to herself. The stallion snickered. "And yet, you have no trouble looking over your niece when your sister is away on a trip." the mare glared at him. "Watch your tongue." she hissed. She then trotted over to the tiered cake and studied it. The stallion then shrugged and looked at the colt. "Mares like her are always a drag, ya' understand kid? Find some mare you can really enjoy at night when you get there." the stallion trotted over to the counter and rang the bell. Ghost Pepper eyed the two. His fear suddenly turning into peak curiosity. He had witnessed these two with Funnel. But now seeing them here, he couldn't help but wonder what it is they were doing in a place like this with sour attitudes? He looked over to Pinkie Pie involving a game with almost all the kids in the store while the parents shopped. He saw Pallet having the time of his life. He was hesitant. Looking between the festivities and the suspicious duo, he found himself thinking: 'What would Sherclop do?' He then looked to see the detective hat Pinkie Pie had discarded sometime during her game. He then beamed at the idea and donned the hat, striking a confident pose before crouching low and ducking behind the present Pinkie Pie had burst out of. While he was watching the duo from afar, he was unaware that he was still being followed. Not too far off near the festivities, Alabaster and Merriweather sat at a table, slurping smoothies they had been offered to by Pinkie Pie during her song and dance game. While Merriweather was laughing along with the kids, Alabaster eyed the colt. Her expression stoic and sharp. Something about the colt really irritated her. Why wasn't he joining in on the festivities? She was certain that the colt would oblige, albeit pathetically. So why is he ducking behind a present and looking on at two random ponies that had entered the store? Not only did the colt break the rules. But he is going so far as to spy on ponies? This was criminal to her! She had to take this matter into her own hooves. She would go speak with Mother Wisp about the colt breaking the rules. However, she wasn't expecting for the colt to suddenly duck out of sight as the two ponies had finished their business and trotted out the store. She watched as the colt peeked out and quietly crept after the two. She gave a quiet sigh. 'Leaving the intended area and leaving behind his partner? Ghost Pepper, what are you even thinking?' She suddenly found herself sliding out of her stool, causing Merriweather to give a puzzling look at her as she trotted past. She looked worriedly now when she saw her following Ghost Pepper out of the store, but at a certain distance. She looked over to the festivities, seeing Pallet and the children singing to a song along with the mare. She bit her lip, uncertain whether she should tell somepony or follow after Alabaster. ~~~****~~~ Ghost Pepper followed the two. Only taking cover into crowds or behind booth products when the duo stopped to examine a booth or two. Ghost Pepper watched as the duo conversed with other ponies. Their behavior didn't seem to out of the ordinary when it came to strangers. The stallion being suave and cunning while the mare being resentful and sour. A couple of times, Ghost Pepper had lost track of them. Thankfully, however, the map he had worked out much better than he had anticipated. Pinpointing where they probably would have gone, he eventually found them again, either walking out of stores or booths. And since most of the residents were out and about, Ghost Pepper was able to blend in when the duo suddenly stopped to talk: "Do you think this would fetch a fair price on the black market?" the stallion asked the mare as he held up a rosary like accessory. The mare frowned. "I could care less about that. What I'm more concerned about is that nanny spilling her mouth." she responded coldly. Ghost Pepper strained his ears to listen. What nanny were they talking about? The stallion smirked. "Funnel is a resilient pony." he said. The mare scoffed. "That idiot would probably be better off shoveling feces. How can you expect to rely on somepony who hardly has any experience?" "A little harsh on the colt, don't ya' think Shanty?" the stallion replied as he examined the rosary. The mare, who Ghost Pepper now knew as Shanty, frowned even more. "The bastard can rot in Tartarus for all I care. I can't wait to see him at the gallows if he still can't get the nanny to spill the beans." she gave a disgusted face at a thought. "Pickle Rind. Tell me you have at least some form of idea as to where that foolish pony buried it?" The stallion, Pickle Rind, reached into his suite and pulled out a pocket watch, checking the time. "It is why I have-." Pickle Rind didn't get to finish. "You are putting too much faith in the idiot. I don't want to hear some bullshit excuse. My life is riding on this cache." she sighed. "And what makes you think he won't just walk away with it once he does find it?" Pickle Rind rubbed his chin. "A valid point. But that is where we are a step ahead." They continued trotting down the road, discussing the matter. Ghost Pepper couldn't quite make out the conversation when a practicing band group nearby began blaring instruments. He narrowed his eyes at the fleeting duo. He still didn't understand what exactly was going on. He only knew two things. They had mentioned the gardener and Mother Wisp. And the second was that they were talking about some sort of cache. The colt frowned. What was a cache? And why did it seem so important to them? He stepped out of his hiding spot and went to go follow them, only to bump into something. He found himself tumbling over whoever he had bumped into. Shaking away the daze, he looked to see a pair of piercing blue eyes look back at his in shock. He blinked once, seeing that the filly he had stumbled over was none other than his own torturer. "A-Alabaster?" he asked. The filly suddenly changed her shock expression to a sharp and cold one. "Get off of me." she said sharply. The colt balked a bit before stepping back and letting the filly up. She dusted herself off before she rightened to attention and staring him down. The colt felt himself shrinking, the feeling hitting him again. "You are in a lot of trouble. Not only did I witness you leaving the intended area. But you also left your partner behind." She smirked slyly. "Mother Wisp would also like to know why you decided to spy on two ponies as well." Ghost Pepper cocked his head slightly. 'She was following me? Figures.' The colt gave a bored expression in response. Alabaster narrowed her eyes. The colt was making it hard for her to tell what he was really thinking at the moment. She noticed him glancing past her to resume his spying on the two ponies. But he was also displaying his mysterious attitude towards her. Something that irritated her to no end. She would have his confession of his sins one way or another. "So then, mind telling me what is so important that you decided to abandon Pallet?" Alabaster asked him, displaying a small victorious smile. Ghost Pepper looked at her, arching a brow. "What about Merriweather?" was all he responded. Alabaster frowned. "What about her? She's right here with m-." the filly blinked once and looked around them. Her confused expression made the colt smirk a little. "M-Merriweather? Where are you?" She looked around, hoping to find the grape colored filly somewhere nearby. During her confusion, the colt crept around her before taking off after the two he was following. Alabaster returned to look back at the colt, only to find him no longer in sight. She bit her lip, worry taking over her. 'Buck! Where did he get to now!?' She wasn't proud of the fact that she had lost sight of the colt twice. Fortunately for her, she managed to catch a glimpse of a cerulean tail vanishing down an alley. She frowned before fast trotting after the colt. Ahead of her, the colt turned down the alley and stopped, looking around. Odd, he could have sworn they went down this way. The alley had lead to a dead end. He furrowed his brows before turning and stiffened. 'Oh goddesses, no....' he thought to himself in horror. He recalls all the horrible things that had happened to him and the others. The torture one bad apple had inflicted. Harsh words and violent tendencies backed it up with a stone cold glare. And he wasn't alone. Ghost Pepper was stunned. Four adolescent colts were gathered, two leaning coolly against the wall while the other two were looking at him. But he only knew one all too well. Even the colt seemed to smirk at the sight of him. "Do I know you?" the rustic colored unicorn colt with a dark fauxhawk mane and slightly tufted tail asked. Ghost Pepper didn't respond. He was utterly horrified. Dead looking obsidian eyes eyed the colt from head to hoof. 'No... anypony but him!' Ghost Pepper quickly looked around and bolted for the nearest exit out of the alley. Unfortunately, one of the adolescents was quicker than him. The pony smirked and stared down the colt, forcing Ghost Pepper to back up and bump into another adolescent. He was surrounded. His body wouldn't move. He was shaking in fear. 'Of all the ponies I had to come across, why Blackheart?' The rustic unicorn named Blackheart pushed himself off the wall and walked over to the colt. Getting close and personal, the colt's eyes met the adolescent's. Blackheart's studying expression changed to one of recognition. Ghost Pepper's fear increased at this. "Well I'll be damned. If it isn't the nanny's pet. And still a shrimp as ever." he chuckled slightly before reaching back with his magic into the black hoodie he was wearing. He withdrew a small carton and pulled a long white stick out, putting it in between his teeth before using his magic to set the tip on fire. Taking one good pull, he looked at the colt and blew the rancid smoke at him, making Ghost Pepper cough. Blackheart looked unamused. "Oh, please. They aren't that bad once you get used to them." He smiled before holding the carton out to him. "Wanna' huff?" Ghost Pepper said nothing. Blackheart sighed before passing the carton over to the others, each one taking a stick and Blackheart casually lighting them up. The air was soon making Ghost Pepper choke and tear. "He doesn't seem to like the offer much, Blackheart." one of the adolescents said coolly, blowing the smoke out into the air. Blackheart chuckled again. "Ah, don't worry about it. The pet shrimp wouldn't even accept it anyway." Blackheart smirked. "Still being changed by Mother Wisp?" Ghost Pepper drooped his ears, feeling his face burn. "N-no! I never was-!" the colt was interrupted. "Hey, if Blackheart knows you, doesn't that mean you went to the same orphanage as this runt?" another adolescent asked. Blackheart took another pull before exhaling, the smoke leaving his nostrils and muzzle. "Did. But that place was a piece of shit anyways." Blackheart replied. Ghost Pepper felt it hard to breath. Blackheart eyed the colt with an amused look now. "So, have you've finally gotten adopted? Living the family life? Have a sibling to torture?" Ghost Pepper couldn't respond. The air was unbearable. It even started making him feel sick. Blackheart shook his head. "But of course, it's you isn't it? You always never liked the interviews. Always doing your best to make sure you didn't get adopted. Now that I've been thinking, why is it that you enjoy being there more?" "I think you know why, Blackheart." a voice said. They looked to see a lone snow white filly with a long blonde mane and tail and piercing blue eyes. Alabaster's expression was cold and sharp. Ghost Pepper felt conflicted. Never has he been happy to see her. But then again, the adolescents greatly overpowered them. However, Blackheart perked up, recognizing the filly immediately. "Well, shit. Ala-freaking-baster. You seem to be no worse for wear." Blackheart trotted over to the filly and looked her over. Alabaster remained unmoved, however, her eyes followed the adolescent. "A little young for my taste. But, I bet you'll be one fine mare." Alabaster gave a disgusted face. "And what sorry excuse do you have to offer a colt such disgusting habits?" she asked, her voice cold. Blackheart shrugged. "Just thought I would make amends. Now that I'm no longer a urchin and living the good life, I figure why not start new?" He put a leg around the filly, holding out his other in a motion of looking beyond the horizon. "Picture it. Money, mares, fame, you name it. Having power in your hooves. Not taking shit from no pony. A dream come true." Alabaster brushed the hoof off and trotted over to Ghost Pepper, standing next to him. Ghost Pepper found himself ducking behind her. "Making amends is something way out of your league, Blackheart." the filly said. Ghost Pepper couldn't believe how calm and collected Alabaster was being. That spiteful dead look she was giving to the adolescent almost made him even more terrified. 'Oh please, let us live through this!' the colt thought in panic. Blackheart narrowed his eyes. "So, I take it you refused an adoption again? And what about that one filly, the uh... the..." he rubbed his chin, the stick smoking as he tried to find the words. "The cry baby." he finished as if reaching a brilliant idea. Alabaster frowned. "You don't need to know. If you are no longer apart of Mother Wisp's Orphanage, then I suggest you leave us alone." she said. Blackheart shrugged again. "Hey, I'm not the one attacking here. Just find it kind of funny to run into a pet and an annoyance all at once. Like good ol' times, am I right, fellas?" the other three cheered in response. Alabaster glanced at the frightened colt. Despite the constant trouble he was giving her she couldn't just sit idly by while an arch nemesis corrupts a colt. The things both she and Ghost Pepper remember about the adolescent. Always pushing, shoving, locking them in closets. Of course, Alabaster was too clever to be put into those situations. However, the adolescent always seemed one step ahead of her. Every attempt of exposure was countered with the colt snaking his way out of things. He even went as far as steal bits from the donation jar that was meant to pay for utilities and food and went to spend it on that horrible habit he had developed after being offered by a grown pony he had met on the streets. A vile child that still roams Ponyville. Blackheart arched a brow at the sudden stare. "See something you like, sweetheart?" Ghost Pepper peeked out from behind her, eyeing the exits. They were surrounded alright. And each exit was blocked by an adolescent. He bit his lip in thought. 'C'mon, think! What would Sherclop do?' Blackheart suddenly changed his calm expression to one of suspicion. "Say, wait a minute. If I recall, somepony didn't pay up a while back." He looked at Ghost Pepper. "You still owe me, nanny pet." Ghost Pepper lost his train of thought, looking confusedly at the adolescent teen. "O-owe?" he responded with a squeak. He found himself suddenly being lifted up. Alabaster turned and balked in surprise. Two of the adolescents had crept up on them and grabbed the colt by his forelegs, lifting him up and tossing him over her. Ghost Pepper felt the wind leave him. Blackheart stood over him. "You heard me, pet. You still owe me for that incident with the teddy bear." He said. Ghost Pepper was suddenly picked up again, only this time, by his scarf. Blackheart's hoof scooping under it and forcing him to meet his eyes. "So, pay up." "Let him go." Alabaster said coldly. Blackheart looked past the colt and at her. "Or you'll what? Last I recall, you were opposed to violence. So, what are you going to do? Sock me one? Place a hit on me?" He smirked before nodding to the others. Alabaster was suddenly lifted up without so much as a warning and was tossed into a dumpster. "Hey! What are you-!?" she didn't get to finish. One of the adolescents shut the lid and seated himself on top of it. The dumpster banged and the muffled protests of the filly echoed from the bin. Ghost Pepper's fear shot through him tremendously. He knows what's about to come next. He has experienced it multiple times. "Last chance, nanny pet. Pay up. Or else." Ghost Pepper struggled to break free. "I-I don't have any bits!" he looked at him fearfully. "Please! I don't have any money! M-maybe I can get you some?" Blackheart smirked. "And where exactly do you think you can make off with other's money? Stealing is against the rules. I don't condone stealing of any kind. And frankly, since you haven't paid up yet and holding out on me, you are practically stealing from me." He snorted in disgust. "Tough luck, nanny pet. But, I am a reasonable pony. So I'll give you another option of payment." Ghost Pepper shivered. "W-w-what do you have in mind?" he asked. The colt suddenly felt his cheek burning as he stumbled back and fell onto his side. *"Maybe a tooth or two. A little bit of blood. Just the usual." Blackheart shook his right forehoof before taking an intimidating step forward. "This is what you get for not paying up. Actions have consequences. And yours are just downright criminal." Ghost Pepper felt himself being lifted again and shoved forward, only to spiral to the ground when the adolescent brought a hoof onto his cheek. Ghost Pepper felt his muzzle going numb. He was lifted again and shoved, only to be slugged by one of the adolescents. He started coughing, the air being hard to inhale with the smoke. Ghost Pepper crawled slowly away, only to have his tail gripped by magic and dragged over to Blackheart. The adolescent then planted the colt on his back and sat on top of him. He brought back a hoof, smirking in the process before bring it down over and over and over again onto the colt's muzzle. Ghost Pepper's body went limp as the adolescent continued to strike his hoof down on him. Blackheart then stepped off the colt, trotting around his sprawled out body. He took a huff of the white stick, blowing the smoke out before speaking. "Hold his legs out." he ordered. Two of the adolescents did as they were told, pinning the colt in place and bringing his right foreleg out. Blackheart took another puff before taking the stick in his magic and placing the burning tip on the colt's leg. Ghost Pepper screamed in pain as his body tingled at the painful feeling. No matter how hard he tried to struggle, the adolescents continued to hold him in place while Blackheart turned the stick back and forth before pulling back and tossing the stick at the colt. "And for the grand finale." Blackheart smirked. Ghost Pepper struggled again. But to no avail. Blackheart stood over the colt and before the colt knew it, a yellow hot wet stream pelted him in the face. Blackheart sighed as the relief left him. Ghost Pepper clamped his muzzle shut as he turned this way and that, trying his best to avoid the stream. Blackheart, finished with his actions, patted one of the adolescents on the back and motioned for them to follow. "Let this be a lesson for you, nanny pet. You are in our turf. All you have to do is pay up and we would be so inclined as to strike down your enemies more than you. Let's go, guys. We're done here." The adolescents followed after Blackheart. The one that had seated himself where Alabaster was banged the lid hard before trotting after them. Ghost Pepper didn't move. He didn't want too. Such humiliation was unbelievable. He was numb, his head was pounding, his lungs filled with smoke, he ached all over and he smelled awful. The lid to the dumpster was kicked open and a dirtied Alabaster crawled out. She shook off the garbage before looking over to the colt, her eyes widening in surprise. "Pepper? Are you alright?" Alabaster said. She trotted over to the colt, seeing the bruised and beaten colt lay there. She looked worriedly at him and reached to help him up, only to have her hoof being batted away by the colt. Ghost Pepper pulled himself off of the ground and with his stained bangs covering his grim expression, he walked forward down the alley's exit. Today wasn't fun as he originally thought. He was uncertain of the trouble he would get into by Mother Wisp when Pallet agreed to go with Applebloom to a clubhouse. He admit, it was kind of exciting. But even so, this incident felt all so familiar. Something he believed himself to never worry about. And with the festival within a few days, he was certain he was going to run across Blackheart again. The colt remained quiet as a concerned looking Alabaster followed him out quietly. ~~~****~~~ No pony said anything after words. Ghost Pepper was humiliated. And to make matters worse when he and Alabaster returned to the bus carriage, Mother Wisp was indeed upset at the two for not arriving back on time. When she saw the state Ghost Pepper was in, her annoyance turned to worry. Alabaster explained to the nanny what had happened. And when he asked if this was true, all he stated was: "I tripped and got peed on by a dog." Mother Wisp watched worriedly as the colt boarded the carriage and made his way to the back. Pallet smiled and waved at him. But the colt didn't return it, causing Pallet to look confused. When Alabaster sat next to Merriweather, the grape-colored filly tore her gaze away from the beaten colt. "What happened?" she asked. Alabaster frowned and crossed her hind leg over the other along with her forelegs. She was clearly angry that she had failed to stop such an incident. Merriweather sat back down, looking worriedly at the filly. 'Did Alabaster do something to hurt Pepper? No, she would never do that. As much as he annoyed her, she doesn't condone violence of any kind.' While the rest chatted happily about Pinkie Pie preforming for them, only a couple of the kids remained silent on the trip back. Later that night, Ghost Pepper bathed himself in a half barrel. The water stinging his cuts and bruises. He took a small measuring cup and poured it over his mane, feeling the water ease his tension. But he was still silent. The thought of being humiliated by Blackheart came back at him as if Blackheart was really there. He grit his teeth, feeling the tears blend in with his drenched coat. After drying himself off and climbing into his bed, he turned to face the wall and curled into a ball. Another day, another horrible event. He felt his eyes heavy. Perhaps things will be better tomorrow? He snorted. 'Knowing my luck, Alabaster will just continue to torture me like she always had. And I guess some things never change.' He found himself finally asleep. His room dark and silent. The quiet breath of the colt escaping only rarely. An hour had passed. The colt's bedroom opened as a midnight colored wisp crawled into his room. The wisp rose, morphing into being. And that being was non-other than the Night Mother herself. The majestic alicorn studied the sleeping colt. "Young one. Do not fret for the past. Thine future is brighter than thy doth believes. Thine heart is strong. Thy will is powerful." Luna's horn glowed and her magic grasped the scarf that was tossed at the bedside. She lifted it up, seeing how dirtied it was. She smiled softly, her magic brushing the scarf. She stopped, seeing the clean and tattered scarf back as it was. She then closed her eyes and put her horn to the material. The scarf glowed. "I hath traveled the Dream Plane. I am one with it. And I shall entrust to you two gifts at my leisure. With these gifts I bestow upon you, you will see into the dreams of others. You will have complete control of your actions." The mist curled around the sleeping colt. "Heed mine warnings, young one. While thy gifts be pleasant, they too are a curse." She smiled kindly. "But, I hath seen your dreams. Thine ambitions. Thy heart. Truly, such a mind as yours intrigues mine own." The magical spectral wisp rose in front of her, morphing once again into shape. What appeared was a book. Nothing special about it stood out. It was just a plain, ordinary leather covered book. "I leave these in thine care, as they have once belonged to another. I will see thou in thine dreams again, young one. And by then, thy will already know what thou must do." Princess Luna furrowed her brows worriedly. The mist suddenly turning black and retreating back into her mane. She looked over her shoulder, darting her eyes. She could sense a strong aura emitting from this orphanage. A presence that was uncanny. She looked back to the colt. "I must hurry with the spell. I cannot allow such a fate fall upon this place." She levitated the scarf and folded it neatly on the book before placing it on the colt's desk. She turned, smiling again at the colt. Using her magic to move the blanket over the shivering colt, she then finally morphed back into the mist and creeped out of the doorway, silently closing it.