All the Queen's Horses

by Bluespectre

Chapter Seventeen - Fury

Seventh day of the festival of the golden leaves.

It is always winter here now. Spring, Summer, Autumn, it matters not. None of the seasons hold any definition from one another. Poetic perhaps, maybe even a little metaphorical, but since the princess returned from that terrible place she has changed, and the world with her. The naive creature I met all those years ago before I journeyed north to the land of Everwinter has gone, and probably forever. With the loss of her sister, the princess has lost part of herself - a part of her light, and it is causing fear amongst the palace staff.

Celestia is in mourning, and has been since the war finally came to an end. On the face of it of course, she is the same pleasant and beneficent monarch she always was, but I can see it in her eyes, even if her subjects cannot. I have heard her crying at night, high in the tower room Luna loved so much. Celestia mourns, not only for her beloved sister, but for the lost child of Equestria,
the one whom I have never met yet labour night and day to find. I will confess that I have a vested interest in this research myself, however who ever said a fellow couldn’t mix business with pleasure? Thus far my research has shown the viability of the portals and those that are physically undamaged show promise for reactivation, providing the nodes can be energised for travel. First however, I intend to visit the site of the last battle. I believe there may be artefacts of power there that may aid me in my quest. I’m prepared for a few grisly sights of course, but what price is knowledge? Tonights choice is cherry and coconut scones with butter and a pot of that nice tea Mrs Monkfish sells from the tent by the workpony’s hut. Delicious!

Twelfth day of the festival of the golden leaves

I have returned. My hooves are still shaking even now, despite a hot bath and some of Lily’s excellent tea. Goddesses forgive me, I had no idea. In my long life I have travelled across the burning deserts of the Llamalian empire, the frozen wastes of Yak Yakistan, the towering eyrie’s of the Griffin kingdom and beyond the edges of the known world. I have seen war and death in equal measure, but nothing like this. War is merciless, cruel, and spares few – I know this. But to see the faces of… children, innocent young foals lying frozen amongst the remains of their mothers, their families. It was too much, far, far too much. I had to use all my skills in the magical arts to slip by the wards and traps lain by the princess to keep trespassers away from that unspeakable place of death. I’d hoped to find something that would aid me in my research, but all I found was a horror that will haunt me until my dying day. Even the fortress, once a place of joy and life, of art, knowledge and beauty, has been made a charnel house where only the corpses of the dead line its once magnificent hallways. I couldn’t stay. The library was inaccessible anyway, at least by conventional means. I suppose I could have used my magic to tunnel my way through, and I did try at first, but… oh goddesses, I can still see it even now. The tiny hooves, the eyes tight shut, still held in his mother’s embrace. What have we done? What have we become? I thought we were supposed to be the light to guide Equestria from the darkness of Nightmare Moon?

To my shame, since I returned to the palace I have been starting to question my beliefs and what I have always held to be true. I confess I do not like the conclusions I am coming to. What if Nightmare Moon, Luna, was right? What if we have wrought a future for ourselves where the only reality, the only world we know, is the one Celestia has chosen for us? I don’t know, I just don’t know. I’m going to bed and will make my decision in the morning. My bags are packed for travel and my affairs are in order just in case. I can only hope to the great goddesses I can sleep without dreaming tonight.

Runcy closed the book and rubbed his eyes. Starswirl the bearded; he was quite a stallion. Placing his hoof on the ancient tome was like touching history itself. It was extraordinary to think that ancient pony, that enigmatic figure who was so prominent in any discussion on Equestrian history, had held this very book. He took a pull on his pipe, watching the blue smoke curl around his muzzle before drifting away up to the ceiling. Celestia had done something, hadn’t she - something that Starswirl had been so shocked about he was thinking about leaving the palace. Of course, history itself glossed over the reasons, the texts simply said that Starswirl had been so traumatised by the horrors of war he had left to search for the ‘knowledge of the ancient’s’, as his old school book had told him. Ostensibly it was for the ‘betterment of all Equestria’. What it failed to mention was any sort of horror that Celestia had had a hoof in. A horror that was, according to Starswirl himself, so unimaginable that he’d felt compelled to leave for the sake of his own sanity. Of course, everypony knew the old wizard had returned some time later and went on to help Celestia build Canterlot and founded colleges of magic across Equestria, but it was no real surprise that some of the more unsavoury parts of their homelands history had been ‘sanitised’ for public consumption. After all, who wanted to hear that Celestia’s most trusted court advisor and royal mage had begun to doubt her, or that their pure princess had been involved in the butchery of children?

A cup of tea floated across his vision and landed with a clink on the table. The aroma was amazing, and even came with a dainty cake. Runcy took a bite, revelling in the delicious flavour of the freshly made sponge. Veritas had cooks here of course, but this was more like something Lark made at home – it tasted of care and love. A tear came to his eye as the image of his wonderful wife and beautiful daughter flashed through his minds eye.

“Good?”

“Perfection...” Runcy closed his eyes and sighed, surreptitiously brushing the tear away. She didn’t need to see that. The young mare had attached herself to him ever since he’d met the elder. He’d had some initial reservations about it of course, after all he was a stallion away from his family and he was very aware how loneliness and isolation could addle a fellows mind. But in truth, he rather enjoyed the company. Terra reminded him in some ways of his daughter, and not just because of her coat colour, it was something else – her spirit. She was kind yet strong willed, dedicated to her task but with a keen mind of her own. Terra was a mare who had been willing to give herself to him to accomplish a task given to her by her peers, and although even the thought of it made him sick to his stomach, he admired her sense of duty above all. If roles were reversed, could he have done such a thing in her place? He doubted it, but thank the goddesses it was something he’d never have to face. But nor should anypony, Equestrian or wendigo. Wendigo… What strange creatures they were. It was quite obvious they were all ponies, and by the looks of it had been rather ‘selectively’ bred for some time.

According to Terra, who had a near encyclopaedic knowledge of her peoples history, not all members of the original tribe had been grey unicorns. This trait appears to have been bred in when unicorns, melding with some sort of ‘otherworldly spirit’ had mated with others of their kind to produce the grey coated, yellow eyed and black mane and tail of the ‘true’ wendigo. By the looks of things, the shallow gene pool caused by centuries of isolation had ended up with an entire tribe of near identical unicorns. How they hadn’t died out was anyponies guess, but far from Equestria seeing the last of these magical creatures, their number had actually grown – just not by much. Perhaps this was why the tribe were a little… ‘fluid’ when it came to mating with ponies from Veritas. Oh, he knew all about that of course! The stallions on the work details were regularly boasting about how many they’d bedded and their partner’s ‘tricks’ in bed. Goddesses, what a state of affairs. The sad part of it was, was that the wendigo appeared complicit in this and he was worried that Terra had him in her sights too – especially after that bizarre meeting he’d had with the elder. He’d never been invited back since, and secretly, he was damned well glad of it too!

“Starswirl the bearded” Terra read out loud, “The traitor of Everwinter.”

“Traitor...” Runcy licked the crumbs from his lips and felt his muscles start to relax. “Starswirl the traitor...” Suddenly he sat up, nearly upsetting his cup of tea in the process, “Wait, what?”

The grey mare sat on the rug beside the table turned a page in the book and nodded to herself, “He was a guest of the lord of the fortress, and a friend of our people. We made him welcome, gave him a home and access to all the knowledge of our race.” She shook her head sadly, “He abandoned us, taking the fruits of our knowledge with him to develop weapons that he gave to the Celestians to butcher us with.” Terra took a sip of her own tea and took a breath, “And yet the lord and lady never lost the love they had for him in their hearts.”

He didn’t know what to say. Starswirl the bearded was a… traitor? Runcy took a mouthful of his tea and scrubbed his mane, “Are you sure, Terra?”

She nodded, “It is a story that has been passed down for generations, as have all our stories.” Terra snuggled into the large cushion she’d brought for herself after she’d moved into Runcy’s rooms, “Did you not know this?”

“No.” Runcy’s attention was fully on the mare now, “Starswirl is considered a hero in Equestria, of sorts. He was instrumental in the rebuilding of our nation after the war.”

Terra gave a shrug, “People change in times of war, Runcy. Starswirl merely decided to change too.”

“He swapped sides… just like that?” Runcy couldn’t believe it. “I didn’t even know he’d been to… wait...” He took the book away from Terra and turned back to the page he’d been reading, “Where is this ‘Everwinter’?”

“Everwinter?” Terra smiled demurely, “That was the name of our homeland in the mountains, on the borders of what your people call the frozen north.” She took a bite of her cake, “the fortress of the four winds is there… was there.”

Runcy read the passage again, “The naive creature I met all those years ago before I journeyed north to the land of Everwinter, has gone, and probably forever.” He shook his head slowly, concentrating on the words, “‘Before I journeyed north to the land of Everwinter’. Dear goddesses, that must be what he meant. He’d been to your homeland before the war started.”

Terra nodded, “The lord forbade any retaliation. It is not in our nature.”

“You… you forgave him?” Runcy couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “You said he used your magic to develop weapons for the Celestians which they used to turn the tide of the war, and you forgave him?”

Terra closed her eyes, a habit Runcy had noticed she had did whenever he hit upon a subject she found troubling. “It was war.”

And that was the answer. No subtleties, no nuance, it was simply… war. “Your tribe, the people you have here, they are the survivors of this ‘massacre’ in the mountains aren’t they?” Runcy asked.

“We know it as the pass of tears” Terra said quietly, “It has other names, but that one is the one we know it as now.”

“And Celestia...” Runcy put his forelegs over his eyes. She had done this? She had killed all those foals, colts, fillies, mares, stallions… everypony? Now all that was left was this lost tribe, here in the eternally frozen emptiness of the northern wastes. The horror of it all, the terrible pain held in Starswirl's words…

“Shhh… it’s alright, don’t cry now.” Warm and comforting forelegs gently enfolded him. Terra, one of the last of that lost noble people, held him, an Equestrian, a… Celestian. Safe in her gentle embrace, the pain of the horrors that howled through his heart simply drifted away… Runcy felt like disappearing, fading away into nothingness and simply ceasing to-

“Stop.” Terra leaned her head against his and kissed him softly on his muzzle, “You need not think this way, Runcy, it is not for you. This pain is not for you.”

“Terra...” Runcy reached out and held her, pushing his head into her fur, “I’m sorry, goddesses, I’m so, so sorry.”

Terra brushed his mane with her hoof and smiled comfortingly, “Sorry for something you had nothing to do with?” She sighed, rocking him gently, “Perhaps you have more in common with us than you know. Maybe even more than we knew.” For a few warm and reassuring minutes, the grey mare held the heartbroken stallion before suddenly giving his ear a playful nip, “Come on now, no more of that. You have work to do today.”

Runcy flinched. Nopony nipped his ears like that! Well, Lark did, but… He groaned expansively, “You’re right. Damn it all, Terra, are mares always so bloody practical?”

“No, but we know how to care for our stallions.” She gave him a wink, “And our friends.”

The unexpected wave of emotion quickly began to slip away, receding back into the depths of his subconscious where Runcy hoped it would remain. He wasn’t used to things like this: crying, loneliness, the feeling of being far from home. Part of him railed against the situation he was in, screaming at him to pack his bags and tell Sunny where to shove his fantastical pet project and simply go home. The other part of him, the infinitely more practical part, demanded that he stay – not for him, but for his family, to protect them and their future against the monsters baying at the door. A door Celestia seemed hell bent on opening for them. What he couldn’t fathom however, was how a mare who had nearly committed genocide had become a leader who seemed to be wanting to invite an even worse enemy to her table. And dear goddesses, what would be served upon that table? Their own people? Perhaps… Runcy froze; dear goddesses, that was it, wasn’t it? This… this appeasement of these vampiric monsters, these changelings, was some sort of atonement for what she’d done a thousand years before. She had lost some of her power, there had been a thousand years of peace, and now the prospect of another conflict was hanging over her like the sword of judgement. She had lost the fire, the spark that made her what she was, or what she had been. The changelings would destroy them; not overnight, but slowly, feeding upon them like livestock, one by one by one. He squeezed his eyes shut and felt Terra button up his overcoat before kissing him on the cheek.

“Take care at work today.” She passed him a parcel with some sandwiches, and some of those strange but tasty red and silver berries he’d taken a liking to.

“See you tonight lo-” Runcy shivered, “Terra.”

The mare giggled coquettishly, “Go on, you don’t want be late!”

Runcy nickered, trotting out the door and off up the corridor. Goddesses, he felt so… alive. That was it: alive! He was young again, fit and healthy, with a spring in his step and the breeze in his mane. Terra just had that kind of effect on him. Hah! Sending him off to work like that all he was missing was the morning paper! She was like a young… bride… Runcy groaned out loud; this was why he avoided the blasted creatures!

Up ahead, the work party were filing into the cavern; wendigo, equestrians, and all of them working with a singular purpose: to clear away the obstruction around the archway – the ‘portal’ as Sunny had called it. They’d definitely made progress at least, and by the looks of things it shouldn’t take that much longer to free the stonework within. What he’d noticed however was that the crystal encasing it had been formed as a sort of ‘bell’ shape, with an air space inside so as not to contact the actual archway itself. In fact that had been one of his fears: that the crystal had actually bonded with the stone, essentially fusing with it. If that had been the case, then the risk of damage would have been far greater. Runcy passed his lunch to his aide and walked over to the section they’d been working on yesterday. It didn’t look like much, but he’d focussed all his attention and efforts on this one area for one very good reason – it was here where the focus of the structure had been when It had been formed a millennia ago. Even after all this time, after all the lives that had come and gone, the lines of the world still shone as brightly to his eyes as they ever had. It was the gift of the earth pony, the ability to see the energies of the earth and rock beneath their hooves – a gift that had lead to them becoming the builders of their land, the growers of the food that gave them life and the warriors of the princesses. Earth ponies made up the bulk of the nobility in Equestria for good reason. Runcy’s family, as much as Golden had been the focus of his reverence during his life, had their roots well and truly in the bones of their world – quarrying. He supposed it was one of the reasons he’d hit it off with young Trestle. He closed his eyes and pushed the thoughts of the young fellow away; may the goddesses protect the lad and keep him safe. For now, It was time to work. Carefully, Runcy ran his hoof over the lines and facets of the smooth multicoloured material, watching how the flow of the earth ran through it, bonding it and holding it all in place. It was a trick his father had taught him, and one he’d tried to teach Silver. She’d struggled with it a little more than he’d hoped, but there was still time. He was confident that she’d get the hang of it one day, and she’d be able to use her talents to take the Spoon family on to a greater and ever brighter future.

Runcy smiled; he was right, all the energy lines converged at one point. It had been disguised by whoever had made this, and they’d been clever, very clever… but not clever enough. In nature, the thin glowing energy lines were haphazard, following natural flaws and fractures, allowing the astute to exploit them and apply just the right amount of force to just the right place. This was the essence of the quarrypony – understanding your medium. Artificial structures however, were different. Mostly these days the builders of Equestria followed the simpler tenets of the builders guild, following guides that anypony with enough basic schooling could follow. Few, if any, still used the old ways to make a structure stronger and meld its energies with the surrounding land. For those who still knew and could see beyond the superficial, the palace at the heart of Equestria was a shining beacon of the earth pony builders skills. The lines of nature, the energies of the marble, the
granite, the limestone and slate – they had been blended as if by an artists brush rather than trowel and chisel. To his trained eyes Runcy could see it all, he could see the true beauty of the palace, both within and without. But even there, there were starting points, like here. His father had taught him from his very first day in the quarry, that everything has a beginning and an end, you just had to know where to look.

The crystal before him had been layered, with one point overlaying another, but now the final piece lay before him. It wouldn’t be long now, just a couple more days and… Runcy stared. Was that what he though it was? Maybe… maybe... His heart leaped; right there, hidden behind the node, just out of sight but… yes! There! Excitedly, the grey stallion reached into his belt pouch and pulled out his chisel and hammer. They were simple tools, a stonemason’s staple of shaped iron – and all he needed. It was the earth pony behind these simple implements that did the real work. Silence fell around him as the workponies, sensing something had changed, stood back and watched. Runcy closed his eyes, opening his senses and mind. He could see it better this way, feel its presence before him. The chisel was drawn to it, finding its mark, touching the point where the crafter had probably thought nopony would ever find it, and perhaps they had been right, for the most part. For the most part…

Lord Runcy, the master of the house of Spoon, descendant of the line of noble ponies who had fought to make Equestria what it was today, smiled. The hammer fell. Blow after blow, checking the angles, striking again. Time seemed to flow past without meaning: minutes, hours, it was meaningless when you were here in the moment. But then, almost imperceptibly, a tiny crack appeared at the point where the chisel impacted the node. It was so small, so insignificant, that to the untrained eye it was little more than a scuff of the otherwise immaculate surface. Yet even as it shifted, it never made a sound, nor as it moved outwards gathering speed, radiating across the faceted material, splitting, pushing apart that which had held it together for a thousand years. Ponies backed away, whispering to one another, muttering, talking and then shouting as the cracks widened and the crystal suddenly fractured and groaned before them. Somepony cried out in amazement followed by a shout of surprise, a cry becoming a roar, and in the center of it all, the crystal dome…

It fell, not in large pieces, but as tiny shards as small as hens eggs, washing across the floor in a tide like sparkling water. It was quite beautiful in its own way. Runcy closed his eyes and took a deep breath; it was nearly over, he would be home soon. Home…

“You’ve done it.” One of the wendigo mares stood staring at the revealed stone archway and lifted a hoof shakily, “We never thought it could be so. But...” She turned to Runcy and opened her mouth to speak, her works shaking and uncertain, “We must inform the elder.”

Runcy nodded then turned to one of the earth pony workers, “Fetch Lord Aura would you? Tell him… tell him Runcy has an early hearthswarming day gift for him.”

Cheers and applause broke out around the chamber, filling the air with the sound of merriment and joy at the completion of a task many had expected would take months, if not years of effort. Yet here, it was done in a matter of days. Runcy grinned idiotically as his workers congratulated him and showered him with praise, and by the goddesses he let them. And anyway, why not? He kept the traditions alive, he remembered them, respected them, and this… this was why! He couldn’t wait to tell Lark and Silver! Or could he? Pah! They probably wouldn’t be that interested really, but he’d still tell them anyway. His mood soared as high as an eagle in the sky, like the sun beaming down to warm the earth – this was what being an earth stallion was all about. He had made his ancestors proud, and now, with Lord Aura’s efforts, the way was open to saving Equestria from the forces that threatened her.

“RUNCY!” Lord Aura’s voice travelled across the cacophony, “RUNCY!”

The grey stallion turned to his friend and raised an eyebrow, “Hello Sunny, bit late to party old boy.”

“You…. you did it! You...” Sunny didn’t know what to say. Instead, to Runcy’s surprise he reached out and grabbed him in a tight hug, “Thank you. Thank you so much my boy. Equestria will be saved, and it’s thanks to you. Golden would be so proud.”

Runcy felt his heart and sense of pride swell at his friend’s words. It was all he could have asked for – and more. Golden, his ancestor, would be proud of him. One day he would meet her again, and he would take his place with the rest of his family in the herd knowing he had done his best in life and had brought his family honour. Sunny released him and walked towards the arch, the crystal shards crunching beneath his hooves, but his eyes remained fixed upon the free standing blocks of stone at the centre of the sea of glittering crystal. Behind him, the workers were quickly clearing away the fragments and evidence of work whilst Sunny and Runcy took in the revealed structure.

“So, what now?” Runcy asked, “How does it work?”

His friend stared at the stonework, holding out a hoof and drifting it over the surface almost reverently. “All in time” Sunny breathed, “all in time, Runcy. We cannot rush these things.”

“No, of course not.” Runcy gave himself a shake. This archway, this doorway to another place, meant little to him. He had performed his task, and although he was still a part of all of this undertaking, all he really wanted now was to go home. He’d mention it later though, Sunny was quite obviously lost in his own thoughts and oblivious to everything else around him. Collecting his things he polished off his sandwiches and tea. It was, as always, delicious. How Terra could take bland ingredients and make them into something so delectable was a miracle in itself. Of course, he could have gone to the canteen and simply had breakfast there. He could even have had his lunch there too, but the grey mare had insisted on making his meals for him. He chuckled to himself; how could he say no? Runcy smiled; he’d go and tell her about his success with crystal. It was still fairly early in the evening so she’d probably still be with her own people doing whatever it was they did when they were away from Veritas’s gaze, but to see her smile made all of this worthwhile somehow. Also, it didn’t hurt to have his ego massaged once in a while, right?

From what Terra had told him, her role in the tribe was helping to farm the local ‘produce’. To his shame he’d pretty much switched off at that point. When it came to matters of agriculture, his mind had a tendency to simply go blank. Many earth ponies would no doubt have found such topics fascinating of course, particularly as everything grown here was done without much in the way of natural light, but he was a simple fellow at heart. His passion was quarrying, it always had been, but still he had to admit these sandwiches tasted damned good, so whatever they grew here wasn’t something to be sniffed at. Collecting his overcoat, Runcy looked around him. Most of the work left to do in the chamber was little more that simply clearing up and he made the executive decision to use his position to slip out and head back to his rooms to freshen up. Besides, Sunny was quickly becoming surrounded by lab coated ponies and he decided that the best course of action was to leave them to it. After all, why ruin a good mood by listening to that lot droning on about magical jiggery pokery for hours on end? Thoughts of a warm and decidedly cuddly evening with Lark snuck quietly into the back of Runcy’s mind, teasing him with the promise of falling asleep in his beloved wife’s embrace. Goddesses above, he missed her. He’d have to make it up to her, and Silver too, they’d be going absolutely spare! He headed off down one of the corridors, deeper into… damn it! He’d taken a wrong turn! Why did these ponies, wendigo rather, make everything look the same? Certainly there was something of a lack of natural material here, unless you liked rock and crystal or that weird blue material the wendigo made, but it was like nopony could be bothered to make anything ‘aesthetic’ at all. A thousand years and it was if all they’d done was lumber from day to day in a sort of numb haze. Strange creatures. Anyway he’d better- Runcy’s head shot up as the blood chilling scream cut through the air around him. It was a mare, and she was nearby too. Quickly, he picked up his hooves and ran.

Another shriek of pain and fear echoed out down the corridor followed by a male’s angry shout. It was coming from a room off to the right just up ahead. Damn it, all he had was his tools and- Runcy slid to a halt, standing steaming in the doorway and stared at the sight before him.

“Terra?”

The wendigo mare was lying in the middle of the floor amongst a pile of brightly coloured rugs. She was panting heavily with fresh cuts on her face and neck while a large brown coated stallion loomed over her, her drool soaked mane tightly gripped in his mouth. He pulled hard, eliciting another cry of pain. He hadn’t seen Runcy, nor saw the ceramic flask arrowing towards him until it impacted violently with his skull. With a yelp, the stallion released Terra’s mane and turned towards this new threat: the snarling figure of a stallion half his size again. Runcy ploughed into him, smashing him to the ground and away from the injured and frightened mare. He reared, punching the other male across the jaw and span, bucking the brown stallion hard in the chest as he tried to scramble away. Fury, blind and blood red, took over Runcy’s senses completely. This monster, this ‘thing’ had tried to… to… He had no words, only deeds mattered now, and all he needed to do now was… squeeze.

“Runcy! Let him go, please!”

He couldn’t hear her, but he could hear the song in his ears, the song of war. This beast, this monster had to die, he had to be removed.

“Celestian! For the goddess’s sake, release him!”

The mare before him was that sickening bitch he’d seen earlier, the one who’d tried to sell Terra to him for the price of admission to see that damned elder. Runcy glared up at her, the choking sounds of the stallion held in his forelegs gradually fading to a wheezing and panting as his pathetic life drained away. All it needed now was a quick twist and – An unseen force suddenly impacted with Runcy’s head, knocking him away from his enemy, but still he held on. He’d finish this one and then she’d be next. Evil had to be dealt with, like dismantling a wall, one brick at a time. Another blow, this time making him see stars. Runcy’s grip faltered and the male dropped to the ground in a senseless heap. Immediately Runcy was up and locked onto the mare by the doorway. His nostrils flared, “Wendigo...” The word hissed out from behind gritted teeth as he dropped into a fighting stance, readying himself to charge.

“RUNCY! Please, don’t do this!” Terra appeared like a bucket of ice cold water in his face, her big yellow eyes wide with fear but also determination. “Runcy...” She held out a hoof, “Please, let the anger drain away from your heart, release the fire inside.” Terra reached up and gently stroked his muzzle, “Come, brave warrior, it is time to go home.”

“He has the battle madness,” the older mare said levelly, “He needs to be taken to the elder.”

“He needs to rest” Terra replied bluntly.

The older mare huffed, “Do not overstep your place, Terra. The contract has yet to be fulfilled and you still have your duties to attend to.” She sniffed, “I will take the celestian back to his rooms.”

“You will not touch him!” Terra reared, her ears pinned back threateningly, “He is mine.”

“You dare challenge me, girl?” The older mare neighed loudly, “You think you could defeat me?”

Terra snorted, placing herself between Runcy and the mare, “In the name of our ancestors and the spirits of the beyond, I challenge you Uriana.”

The older mare huffed, “Then so be it. You will have your wish, Terra, and the goddess will judge you accordingly for your foolishness.”

Runcy followed Terra in a daze, his mind a fog of confusing thoughts, feelings and emotions. At some point, he couldn’t say for certain when, he found himself sat in his chair in his rooms staring at a mug of hot… something.

“Drink it all” Terra instructed, “It has to be drunk hot.”

The smell was delicious, but the taste… oh goddesses, the taste! Runcy coughed, his stomach suddenly rebelling as it moved to eject the foreign liquid.

“No! Keep it down, keep… it… down...”

Hooves stroked Runcy’s neck and chest, gently but firmly massaging his ears and muzzle. It was… it was... invigorating. Suddenly he had her, taking her up and carrying her to the floor. Runcy’s heart was hammering in his chest and his need for her burned through him like a river of molten metal. He wanted her, he had to have her. The young mare looked up at him, her eyes wide and bright in the lamplight. She was so beautiful, the cuts on her muzzle and neck were… were… Runcy gave himself a shake, “I…I’m sorry.” He all by threw himself off her, his heart and mind a confusion of imagery and thoughts all warring for dominance. What the hell was happening to him? This wasn’t him! He didn’t act like this! Runcy staggered into the bathroom and turned on the shower, dropping to his haunches beneath it, clothes and all. For an age he sat, letting the water soak into him, washing him, taking away the darkness and the pollution of his soul.

If only it could…

The tap squeaked and the merciful stream of water died away, leaving him naked and alone. No… not completely alone. Terra said nothing as she helped prise the sodden stallion from his hiding place, dripping with water and misery. With magic, hoof and teeth, she removed the saturated clothing piece by piece in absolute silence until the bare and hollow pony who had run to her rescue and attacked one of his own people, stood before her. He was shivering. Quickly, Terra took him to the drier and began combing out his mane and fur. He was, she had to admit, a magnificent specimen – for a celestian. She paused, closing her eyes and pushed back at the ages old dogma of her people; Runcy wasn’t a celestian, he was a pony, a stallion, and he had something few of his own kind had ever shown her: honour. He stood silent as she worked on him, his eyes hollow and staring. He’d been kind to her from the first moment she’d met him, treating her with dignity and respect, and although he had rejected her as a mare, he saw her not as a wendigo but as a… friend. She gave herself a shake and looked over her work; not too bad. He needed a proper bath and some oil on those hooves, perhaps some conditioning lotion for his mane and a smile on that lonely face of his, but that would come in time. She guided him to his chair and sat him down as though he were an invalid, feeble of mind and no more than a living automaton. This was her fault, her people’s fault – and it was something she had to put right both for herself and for her people’s honour. The goddess would be angry with her if she left matters as they were. Fortunately something so simple as a steaming cup of tea cured all ills of the soul and she nodded to herself in satisfaction as she put the lid back on the pot. As it poured into the cup the aroma tickled Runcy’s nose, and slowly, painfully, his eyes began to regain some of their familiar lustre. Carefully, Terra held the cup up to his lips and he took a little. A pause, and then a little more. She blew across the surface of the precious liquid before presenting it to the stallion once more.

Runcy blinked, “Terra.”

“I’m here.”

The grey stallion’s words were faint, empty, screaming of the pain he felt in his heart, “I have no words to give you that could mend the wounds I have caused. I have dishonoured you and your people. I don’t deserve to call you my friend.”

Terra closed her eyes, a sad smile ghosting across her lips, “For my rescuer to say such a thing is curious indeed,” she chuckled “Is this an earth pony trait? To admonish yourself for acting as you did?” She shook her head, “You have done nothing wrong, Runcy. In truth, it is I that has wronged you.”Runcy said nothing. Terra hung her head, “As you have treated me with honour, so I must with you.” She looked him in the eyes, her large yellow orbs as bright as liquid pools of gold, “The stallion was… He was not forcing himself on me. Not at first anyway.” She sighed, “He wanted more than to lie with me, he wanted to do other ‘things’ I did not want and he became angry. I’m sorry, Runcy, you shouldn’t have had to have seen that.”

Runcy closed his eyes, his heart feeling as cold as ice in his chest, “You… wanted him to lie with
you?”

There was a pause before she spoke. “It is the contract.”

“What contract?” Runcy could feel the last vestiges of the rage he’d felt earlier still tingling in his hooves, “Tell me, Terra. Please.”

The grey mare nodded slowly, her words hitting him as hard as a hammer’s blow, “The celestians… your people, have promised to help us return our lord to us. You know of this?” Runcy nodded. “In exchange, we have agreed to provide the tears your white coated ponies use to enhance your warriors.”

Runcy nodded again, “Lord Aura explained this to me.”

“There is more.” Terra squeezed her eyes shut before continuing, “Our people have not had new… blood… for a very long time. We have used magic to prolong our lines, but magic can only help us so far. Without new foals our tribe will, one day, pass from this world into the next and only the words in your histories will remember us.” She huffed under her breath, “Perhaps not even that.”

“You want to… to breed with the stallions here? You want to have children so badly?” Runcy’s blood ran cold.

“No.” Terra shook her head, “I don’t want to, but it my duty to my tribe. All the mares of breeding age have agreed to this, and those who have not… will, sooner or later.”

Runcy took a breath, “But you can go out into the world, Terra, you can blend in with the ponies of Equestria and live your lives as free people. You call yourselves wendigo, but without this ‘spirit’ thing, you’re just like me: an Equestrian.”

“You don’t understand...” Terra whispered helplessly.

“Don’t I?” Runcy nickered, “Good goddesses, Terra, you’re bedding random stallions and treating your people like nothing more than breeding stock!” He took another long slow breath, “This is wrong, so, so wrong.”

“And who are you to tell us what is right and what is wrong?!” Terra leaped to her hooves in a flurry of grey and black, her eyes blazing, “Who do you think you are, celestian? Your people butchered mine, you slaughtered us in our hundreds and left the bodies of your victims, my family, to rot for all eternity on a frozen mountainside! We were a proud people, a race of warriors the likes of which this world had never seen, and now we are forced to live like rats in a hole, frightened to show our faces beneath the sun or the moon for fear of being discovered by the white witch.” She snorted furiously, “Do not think to lecture me on morals! Your people have none, Runcy, NONE!”

Runcy said nothing, letting the furious storm of anger pass over him. He’d had fights with Lark before, but nothing like this. Terra had a way of projected menace that made his ears tingle. In some odd way it was thrilling to see her standing before him, a proud and strong mare of an ancient tribe doing all she could, putting aside her own desires, for that of her tribe. “You shame me” Runcy said quietly, “I cannot apologise on behalf of my people for what we did, Terra, it is not my place to do that. But perhaps as much as we have in common, a thousand years have pulled our two peoples apart when we should have been coming together, to heal as one.” He shook his head, “I’m no politician, Terra, I don’t have any answers. I don’t know enough about your tribe to speak without stumbling and causing you hurt through my own ignorance. All I can do is hope you will accept my hoof in friendship, and ask that you can forgive an old stallion his stubborn ways.”

Terra’s voice was suddenly calm and utterly devoid of emotion, “You will not lie with me?”

Runcy shook his head, “No.”

The grey mare watched him, her eyes and expression as hard as the blue walls of her home. With no more words, she turned towards the door. Behind her, Runcy hung his head as the door closed.

The fire crackled in the early light of dawn, sending sparks up into the air along with the smell of frying haybacon strips. It was a beautiful morning too, with the sun sending its warming orange rays across the heavens and reflecting on the surface of the lake as though it were the bathing pool of the gods. Trixie’s magic floated the wooden spatula over the pan, expertly tossing the onions and wafting the enticing aroma to taunt Silver’s nose.

“That’s better!” Diamond Tiara walked over to the join the others, rubbing her mane with a towel she’d borrowed from the caravan supply chest, “Cold, but clean.”

Silver smiled; she’d already had a wash whilst Di was still sleeping. She was certainly right about the water, it was freezing! Trixie had set up the camp fire on her own and in an uncharacteristic display of charity, had casually directed the fillies to her supplies, apparently resigned to the unexpected new additions to her travelling act. She’d hardly spoken since their escape from the diamond dogs lair, but at least she’d not sent the girls away. Money, apparently, was a strong incentive towards cordiality.

“Hang the towel by the fire to dry” Trixie instructed, “And pour out the tea will you?” She began laying out the plates, all different designs as were the cups, and reached into a ceramic jar to produce three flatbread which she then slathered with butter. Next, the onions and haybacon were laid on top, “Here.”

Without standing on ceremony, Di and Silver quickly collected their breakfast and tucked straight in. There was something about being outdoors in the chill air and the sheer ‘openness’ of it all that really peaked your appetite and honed your senses. The flat bread, as ugly and unappetising as the fillies would normally have found such simple fare, groaned in ecstasy at the delicious repast. Trixie smiled a small smile to herself at the sight; it was nice to have company now and again, even if she did have to feed the blasted creatures from her own larder! Sleeping was a problem of course, especially since she was used to her own space and it was a limited space at that. The caravan was meant to be for one, two at a push, but three? Thank Luna the girls weren’t fully grown or they’d have been sleeping under the caravan for certain! Still, it was a thought… Speaking of which, she’d have to see if she could hook up with that wizard in Appaloosa again at some time to buy another pair of those ‘impeller tubes’ as he’d called them. Hah! ‘Terrifying tubes’ more like! No wonder he said to only use the things in emergencies, and rightly so – she’d nearly smushed herself into a tree in their pell-mell dash through the forest. Goddesses above, she was glad the girls hadn’t heard her screams and swearing! Still, they’d been well worth the price of a cuddly evening in a warm bed. He’d been quite a handsome fellow too. She sighed and took a mouthful of her breakfast; she’d be glad to get these two home, and have some peace and quiet once more, if for no other reason than to see the back of the strange silvery grey girl. Silver Spoon wasn’t it? Luna’s arse, that girl frightened the bloody life out of her every time she looked at her! She could still see the look on the filly’s face when she turned up during the act in the vile stinking underground latrine that ‘the boss’ laughingly called home. She’d had a contingency plan to give those hairy freaks a shock, quite literally, but what the hell had been going on with Silver Spoon? The girl comes back with an expression she’d only have expected to see on somepony who’d seen the inner working of hell itself, and the next thing she knew the whole place went up like a volcano. Not that she was especially bothered of course, those damned things would have run them down eventually, but she knew already… there would be no more running for those dogs. She shivered and pulled her cloak around herself; they were going ever further north and that strange filly apparently knew the way, or so she said, and since ‘the way’ followed what passed for roads up here it suited her quite well. And the sooner they reached their destination the better! Trixie looked up; the pink one was asking her something. She supposed she could pay her at least a little attention…

“Trixie? Have you ever performed for the princesses?”

Trixie shook her head, “Not yet, but some day I will, and I will have a show that will amaze even those snooty alicorns.”

Di chuckled, but Silver gave a disapproving sniff. Trixie didn’t care, the little brat probably had tea and scones with dainty little sandwiches cut into perfect little triangles with her perfect bloody alicorn pals on a daily basis!

Diamond Tiara moved closer, her eyes wide, “What sort of magic are you going to perform? Will you make it snow again? I really liked that!”

“Apart from being in fear of our lives you mean?” Trixie huffed, “Well… I suppose so.”

Silver Spoon put down her plate and began fiddling with her mane. “What were those silver things in the jars? They looked like fireflies.”

Trixie closed her eye and fought back the urge to say what she was really thinking, that the little grey filly had known full well what they were and… She gave herself a shake and admonished herself for being petty. How could Silver have known? She was just a child after all. “They were part of the act I was working on. I call it ‘Elastic Trickery!’” She waved her hooves in an arc to emphasise the name, “It’s going to be the headline act when I get to perform at the palace. And when I’ve done that, it’ll be ‘Trixie, by royal appointment!’ and hello easy street!”

“So, what’s this ‘elastic trickery’ got to do with bugs?” Silver asked.

Trixie nickered loudly, “Gah! They’re not bugs! For bucks sake, girl, they’re part of the act, okay?”

“They still looked like bugs.”

Trixie put her head in her hooves, “Luna give me strength…” She sighed, “Yes, they’re bugs, okay? BUGS! I got them from this old fellow who works for a pest control company and he gave me these insulated jars. I thought they’d be ideal for a new act.”

“Hang on, they’re…” Silver frowned in thought, “Twitter Mites?” She shared a look with Di, “They’re really dangerous!”

“Yes, yes, I know, I know!” Trixie clucked her tongue, “Look, it was a work in progress alright? And now the whole thing’s completely buggered because we had to use them to zap those walking flea circuses and save our hides.” She slumped down and leaned back against the caravan’s steps, “Have you any idea how hard it’s going to be to find more?”

“I’m sure there’s plenty more bugs you can catch” Silver replied innocently, “I don’t think they’d be shockingly expensive?”

Di burst out laughing, “Nice one, Silv!”

“Yes...” Trixie sighed, “Hilarious. You’re a real stand up comedy act, Miss Spoon.”

Silver beamed, “I try.”

Was she always like this? Trixie shook her head and stretched her legs. Her tail was in need of a trim and her mane was beginning to look decidedly lived in since they’d escaped. Next chance she got it was straight into the nearest salon for the full works - preferably with a fat purse of bits courtesy of these two pests’ parents. So much for ‘bugs’ too, the cheeky little swine, she had two of biggest pests in Equestria right here! “Come on you two, let’s get things squared away and we can be on our way.” Trixie gave an expansive yawn and gazed up at the sky, “We’ve got a full day of...” She squinted against the bright rising sun to focus on what looked like three dots coming their way. “Pegasi?” she wondered aloud, “Sign’s of life at least.”

“Are they coming here?” Diamond Tiara asked.

“Yeah, they probably fancied a spot of breakfast” Trixie said in a sing song voice, “How should I know?!”

“You have a crystal ball” Silver pointed out.

“Hello? It’s an act??” Trixie groaned loudly, “Goddesses above, you two...” She threw the last dregs of her tea away and put the cup in the washing up bowl. If nothing else, the fillies would come in handy for the more mundane chores around camp she didn’t enjoy; it wasn’t as if they were incapable of paying their way was it? Even if they had suffered from a lifetime of pampering and frilly underwear… She gritted her teeth and tried to ram down the welling jealousy she could feel inside. It didn’t help to think that way, and it certainly didn’t change anything, but it was so unfair! She’d worked all her life, struggled to pull herself out of the gutter and fight her way to be what she was today – such as it was. Still, it could have been worse… a damned site worse. A forest lark rose up in alarm as the pegasi circled before swooping down in a gust of pine wind. The girls were fascinated of course, but she wasn’t impressed. Pegasi were some of the nosiest ponies she’d ever met. Mind you, they may be of some use…

The one who was apparently the leader, a lime green fellow with a short black mane, walked up displaying the usual cockiness that was so typical of pegasi. “Who are you?” he demanded.

Trixie raised an eyebrow, “A travelling magic act. And who, may I ask, are you my good sir?”

“A travelling magic act?” The pegasus turned to his colleagues and muttered something before turning back, “You cannot go further. This area is off limits.”

Trixie’s ear pricked up, “Off limits? Says who?”

“It is off limits” the pegasus repeated.

“Yes, I heard you the first time, I meant under whose orders?” Trixie could feel her mane bristling at the arrogant creature.

“It doesn’t matter, who” the stallion replied, “If you refuse to leave we will have you removed.”

“And just how do you propose to do that? Magic?” Trixie laughed and got to her hooves, brushing her cape off before lifting a hoof placatingly, “Listen, friends, I… that is, we, are a travelling magic act the likes of which nopony has ever seen before. We entertain, amaze and delight, bringing warmth to the heart and happiness to the soul. All we want is to spread a little cheer to ponies, and,” she said sidling up to the pegasus leader, “put a smile on your face.” She gave him a wink.

The pegasus huffed, “I...”

One of the subordinates leaned forward keeping her voice low, “We could do with some entertainment, sir, we’ve been up here for months.”

“Yeah, a little distraction would be just the thing” the other said.

“Um… sir?” The pegasus leader looked down at the silver-grey filly and raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Do you know of a stallion called Runcible Spoon?” the little silver-grey filly asked looking up at him, “He usually goes by ‘Runcy’ or ‘Lord Runcy’. He’s my father.”

The pegasus stared at her for several uncomfortable seconds before turning to the others, “Call in the extraction units.”

“Sir!” One of their number shot into the air like a firework rocket and sped back the way they’d come.

“Does this mean we’ll be able to put on a show for you, then?” Trixie asked hopefully, “My rates are quite reasonable.”

The pegasus snorted imperiously, “You will wait here.”

Trixie’s eye twitched she fought down what she really wanted to say, “Why of course, sir, I’d be happy to.” She turned to the girls, “Come on, let’s get packed.”

“Um, are these guys army or something?” Di asked, “They’re a bit stiff don’t you think?”

“That’s an understatement if ever there was” Trixie muttered.

Silver moved closer to her, “I don’t think I trust them. What’s an extraction unit anyway?”

Trixie shook her head, “I don’t know, but at least they’re ponies so that’s something. I think if anything we’re going to get a telling off for walking into this ‘restricted area’ or whatever, and then we can be on our way. My guess is they’re army, although...” she peered surreptitiously at the two remaining pegasi, “They don’t look like any uniforms I’ve ever seen.” The uniforms, for want of a better word, were simply black flight suits with no insignia, no name… nothing. Private security perhaps? It was possible of course; there were plenty of nobility who employed their own muscle. But this far north? Who could say. Trixie sat down by the camp fire and motioned to the girls to pack the last of their things away.

Silver was round the back of the caravan, pushing the last of the wood away into the storage net when her friend gave her a nudge,

“Silv? Did you see the way they reacted when they heard your father’s name?” Di peered around the side of the caravan; the pegasi didn’t seem too bothered by them and were sat talking between themselves just out of earshot.

Silver gave herself a shake, “I know… I want to believe he’s safe, I really do, but I’m so excited I’m frightened to ask them any more in case… you know.”

“Oh don’t be silly!” Di beamed. She gave her friend a playful push, “Come on, let’s go and talk to them.”

“No!” Silver grabbed her friend suddenly, “Di, please! There’s something about those three that… oh, I don’t know, I just don’t trust them!”

“But you asked them about your papa” Di reasoned, “Galloping alicorns, Silv, make your mind up!”

“I don’t… I can’t explain it,” Silver shivered, “Something’s telling me to keep my mouth shut and… Shhh! Trixie’s coming.”

The blue mare walked up to the two friends, sporting a look of curiosity on her face, “What are you two up to back here?”

“Nothing!” Di squeaked, “We were… talking.”

“Talking.” Trixie face hoofed, “Look, I know you two have had a sheltered upbringing and all, but would you please not keep drawing attention to yourselves by sneaking around like cats after cream?”

“Cats after…?” Di looked at Silver in confusion.

Silver sniffed, “We weren’t sneaking around, we were…” She sighed, “I just don’t trust those pegasus’s.”

“Pegasi” Trixie corrected, “Listen, I know how you feel but they haven’t threatened us or done anything to us, and I’d like to keep it that way, okay? So do us all a favour and come back where they can see you and we’ll get out of this in one piece.”

“I hope you’re right.” Di added, “I don’t think adventuring is agreeing with me.” She rubbed her
stomach and groaned, “I ate too much.”

The three of them walked back around to the front of the caravan where the two pegasi were still stood talking to one another. Trixie snorted, “Huh! You don’t have to tell me that, the way you were putting away that stew last night I’m surprised you didn’t burst.” Silver chuckled and Trixie fixed her with a look, “I don’t know what you’re smirking at, you scoffed all my blueberry and oat cookies. Do you have any idea how long it takes to bake anything in this thing?” She waved at the caravan, “Let me tell you: hours, that’s how long, hours!” Silver hung her head. “And don’t do that!” Trixie nickered, “Going all gooey eyed when you’ve been caught red hoofed. Bloody pests, the two of you, I’m sure you’re half parasprite.”

The three shared a smile at that. Silver and Di sat down by the fire and rested while Trixie pottered around mending this or altering that – just things to pass the time. Silver supposed that a lot of your time on the road was spent simply repairing things and wiling away the long hours until the next day of travelling beckoned. Trixie was an interesting mare, even if she was a little mercenary. She couldn’t blame her in a way, after all, everything the blue coated unicorn had in this world was in her caravan, and she had helped them – in her own way. No, that was unfair, she had definitely helped them. After all, if she hadn’t they may have been prisoners of those dog like monsters forever… however long ‘forever’ was down in that nightmarish place.

Trixie sat on the step of caravan and took out a neat cherry wood box with a silver moon inlaid in its lid. She motioned over to Di, “Come on, let’s be having you.”

Di looked up, “I’m sorry?”

“Come over here.” Trixie waved to a stool she’d placed beside her, “Park your backside on there girl and let me have a look at your hooves.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my hooves!” Di protested.

“You think?” Trixie clucked her tongue, “I saw you earlier when you got out of the lake. When was the last time you checked them?”

“A few days ago, I guess. Mother usually has me down the salon for a full hooficure and clip once a week.” The little pink filly climbed onto the stool and looked at her hooves, “They seem alright, but...”

Trixie moved closer, pulling up a rug and settled herself down. “But nothing. Right, let’s see what we’ve got here.” She took hold of one of Di’s hind legs and inspected her hoof, “Filthy.” To Di’s surprise, Trixie floated out a selection of tools from the box and set about cleaning out her hoof. She didn’t know where to look so just stared in amazement as the blue unicorn picked, brushed and trimmed away before filing the edges. “I don’t have all the fancy gear they have at your salon,” Trixie said a little jealously, “But this will keep you from becoming lame. Every mare should know how to look after her own hooves. My mother taught me when I was a foal.”

Di froze. Even the mere mention of her mother made her blood burn with anger, even now. She was the cause of so much trouble for her, and all this, this-

“Stop fidgeting!” Trixie gave her a tap on the leg, “Good grief have you got worms?”

“NO!” Di snapped, “I don’t have...” Did she? She closed her eyes and sighed, “I don’t have worms.”

“Good, well you can sit still then can’t you.” Trixie grimaced and carried on, running a rasp over the filly’s hoof before changing to a smoother file. “This used to be called the ‘Princess Roll’,” she explained, curving the file around the edge, “It helps avoid chips and splits. And believe me, the last thing you want on the road it a split hoof.” She moved onto the next and repeated the process until she came to Di’s forehoof. “Thought so,” Trixie said with a nod, “Looks like we got to it in time.”

“In time?!” Di jumped in alarm, staring at her hoof, “What’s wrong with it? Ow!”

Trixie slapped her on the rump, “I said stop moving around! Great goddesses, what is wrong with you?” Her magic glowed brightly, floating over the folding table she’d brought out earlier. There was a towel on it, a jar of some white paste and a selection of smaller tools. “Right, now this won’t hurt so don’t fidget, okay?”

Di nodded.

Silver watched In fascination at Trixie washed, brushed and cleaned out the small crack in her friend’s hoof. How the peculiar unicorn had spotted it when Di herself hadn’t was incredible! She moved closer, silently observing. Meanwhile, Di watched in horror as the crack was opened up and looked away, squeezing her eyes shut. Trixie ignored her, carrying on with the filing, picking, and then, finally, she opened the jar. The smell hit Silver first: it stank! The acrid smell made her cover her nose, but Trixie seemed used to it and carried on with no reaction whatsoever. Carefully, she took a little on a small metal spatula and pushed it into the open crack. Her horn glowed, the magic flaring around the mixture. A little more, another glow, and another. “I’m drying it as it builds up,” Trixie explained to Silver’s unasked question, “This will harden nicely, and it will grow out as the hoof grows.” She applied the last scoop of mixture and replaced the lid. Next, the fine file came out once more and she began to blend the mixture in, smoothing and rolling the edge. “Do you oil your hooves?” she asked. Di nodded. “How often?”

“Every couple of days,” Di replied quietly.

“That’s too often.” Trixie clucked her tongue, “You’re making your hooves brittle. It may look nice, but I bet you get carted everywhere, eh?” Di didn’t reply. Finally, Trixie wiped her hooves over with a strange mixture that she began to buff off with a soft cloth. “Right, that’s you done.”

Silver looked closer, “What was that stuff?” she asked.

“Travellers wax” Trixie said in her matter-of-fact way, “It allows the hoof to breath and helps keeps moisture out.” She gave Di and pat on the rump, “Down you go.” She turned to Di, “Your turn now, missy.”

Confidently, Silver climbed into the stool while Di stared at her own hooves, “I… I have a split hoof?” She shook her head, “I didn’t know.”

“If you’d bothered to check, you’d have seen it.” Trixie began working on Silver Spoon’s hooves as she spoke, “You girls need to take some responsibility for your own health and well being. Check your hooves every morning and every night, alright?”

The two fillies both nodded in sync.

Silver watched quietly as Trixie trimmed, cleaned and then finally waxed her hooves. Mercifully there were no splits or cracks, just a few chips, probably from working in that horrible mine. She’d never look down on the quarry or mine workers again after that; those ponies deserved all the care and attention they could get doing those danger jobs. One day she’d be the lady of house, Lady Silver Spoon of Spoon Manor, owner of the nation’s largest quarrying and lumber concerns with employees that looked to her for proper care, pay and conditions at work. One day, when she was in charge, they would have the best care a pony could ask for. She nodded to herself; that still was a long way off in the future. First things first though, she would have to find her papa.

Hours went by, the sun slowly climbing high into the clear blue of the northern sky. The two pegasi waited, the girls waited, while Trixie practised her juggling, tinkered around the caravan, or just simply sat on the step watching the sky. It was incredibly quiet too; there were hardly any birds this far north, and even the ones there were seemed to be holding their breath as if waiting for something to happen. As much as the girls were enjoying the peace however, they were beginning to wish that at least ‘something’ would happen soon because it was becoming excruciatingly boring. Suddenly the romanticism of being a mare on the road didn’t seem such an attractive proposition after all. Although in reality, when you took into account what had happened with the diamond dogs, it was downright terrifying. Silver looked up to see the two pegasi had stood up and were watching something approach: it was a chariot, and several more pegasi. Trixie shook herself off and put the last of her things into the caravan. The pegasi would no doubt be escorting them up to wherever it was and a meeting with whoever was in charge and so on, and so on… Luna’s arse, at least it wasn’t dogs this time. She stretched and yawned, watching the pegasi swoop in and land as gently as a feather despite the chariot they’d towed in. She paused; there was nopony in it. Wait, they weren’t going to get her to leave her caravan behind, were they?! Oh no, no way, she was not leaving her home behind, not again! Right, somepony was going to get a piece of her mind and find out that she had some magic that could make their day very uncomfortable indeed. She approached the chariot and the new pegasi who had stopped to speak to the two who had arrived earlier. Damned things, it was like she was an after thought to their feather brained shenanigans. She opened her mouth to speak but one of them, a tall stallion with a moustache of all things, fixed her with his scarlet eyed gaze.

“You are?”

“I, um...” Trixie swallowed. Those eyes! She caught herself briefly but rallied magnificently, “I am Trixie, the great and powerful sorceress and bringing of magics myriad.” Trixie lifted her muzzle, “Perfect performances of thaumaturgical elegance and a kaleidoscope of wonder for the whole family to enjoy. Fifty percent off for your first booking – terms and conditions apply.”

The pegasus stared at her in amazement, “You are a performer? Like some sort of travelling magic act?”

“Nothing so base as that, my good sir, no. I have honed the art of the simple ‘magician’ to a level of art that has made Trixie a household name across Equestria and even beyond!”

“I’ve never heard of you” the pegasus replied.

“And what’s your name, may I ask?” Trixie asked.

The pegasus sniffed, “Side Wind.”

Trixie raised an eyebrow, “Never heard of you.” She grinned, “However, my dear Side Wind, one evenings performance of my extraordinary act will make you the envy of your friends and family. The name of Trixie, the great and powerful, will be forever on your lips, and, if I may venture, in your heart.”

Side Wind sighed, turning to his colleagues, “Get the filly in the cart.”

“Which one, sir?”

“The grey one.”

Silver reared in surprise, “What?! What about Di?!”

The pegasi hesitated. Side Wind frowned, clearly annoyed by her reaction, “We’re taking you to your father. That is what you wanted, wasn’t it?”

“I… yes, YES!” Silver’s heart leaped in her throat. Her father was alive? He was alive! She knew it! But… Di? She couldn’t leave her here! “We have to take Diamond Tiara with us.”

Side Wind shook his head, “I’ve no orders regarding your friend, Miss Spoon. She will have to stay here.”

Di rushed up, her mane bristling, “Now see here! I’m the daughter of Filthy Rich, one of the wealthiest ponies in Equestria. You will not leave me here, do you hear me?” She stomped her hoof angrily.

The pegasus turned to his colleagues, “What do you think?”

“We only asked about the grey one.”

“Damn it. Is she really Rich’s daughter? If we leave her here and she goes back, she could cause problems for us.”

“What about the travelling circus mare?”

“You know what to do.”

“But sir...”

“You know our orders.”

Trixie had heard it all, her spell to amplify her hearing warning her to the danger. Her magic flared, “You take one more step towards me and-”

The pegasus reached into his flight suit and took out a small silver device. There was a flash of bright red light and the mare crumpled to the ground.

“TRIXIE!” Silver rushed to her side but was snatched up by one of the pegasi. Roughly, she found herself being shoved into the chariot and quickly tied down. Di was there in an instant, kicking and biting for all she was worth, but she too was unceremoniously hog tied, lashed down to the floor of the chariot and left muzzled and gagged beside her friend.

Side Wind nodded to his colleagues, “Burn it.”

At his command, two of the stallions obediently walked over to the caravan and removed flare pistols from their tunics. Moments later there were two loud pops as the intensely bright projectiles flew in through the open door of the tiny home which started smouldering almost immediately. Silver and Di didn’t see what happened next, nor in truth did they want to. Trixie, the mare who had helped them… why? Why would these ponies do such an evil thing? She hadn’t done anything to hurt them, and after everything they’d been through – her own people, would do something like this? Tears rolled down her muzzle, lost in the jolting and rocking of the chariot as they lumbered across the ground before the horrible feeling of gravity announced their departure from the last resting place of their friend. Behind them lying motionless beside the only home she had ever known, the body of the great and powerful Trixie, mare of magic and daughter of Equestria, lay still
and silent, her fur smouldering as the fire grew around her – a funeral pyre that nopony would ever
witness nor be able to say their final farewells.

Wind whipped by overhead, but in the confines of the chariot, tied and gagged, Silver and Di could see nothing but each other. Achingly, Silver tried her best to reach out to her friend, straining against the hastily tied bonds. They dug painfully into her skin, and the more she strained, the more she reached out, the more it hurt. Why had they done this? Weren’t they taking her to her father? Was it because she’d wanted Di to come as well? Was… was this her fault? Di was looking at her, her blue eyes full of fear and despair. She shouldn’t have come on this trip at all, she should have been at home, safe and sound. Yes her mother was a horrible mare at times, but anything was better than this! They’d only just escaped those vile dogs things and now their own people had bound them up like joints of meat on a griffin’s table. She was so frightened, so scared, all she wanted was to be with her friend and she reached out, fighting against the pain and the pressure. Di watched her, trying herself to…

Their hooves touched.

It was so little, but it was enough. The girls gazed into each others eyes; they knew, that if nothing else, at least they were together and come what may they shared a bond that nothing could sever. Not all the magic, not all the horror the world could throw at them could pull these two friends apart. Silver closed her eyes, the slight pressure of Di’s hoof against hers conveying far more than any words ever could. Di looked terrified, echoing the fear in her own heart. She’d never seen a pony… she’d… Silver swallowed; she’d never seen a pony die before. The flash of light, the look of shock on Trixie’s face, the smell of burning… where was Celestia? How could she allow such a thing to happen? This sort of thing didn’t occur in Equestria! Sinking ships, missing loved ones, dogs kidnapping ponies and now this! What was going on? Had the world gone truly mad, or was this the reality of the world outside of the cosy comfort of the nobility? Goddesses, she just wanted to go home…

The flight took forever, or at least it felt like it did. The bitterly cold wind whistled around the inside of the open topped chariot making it feel as though they’d been doused in ice water. Every buffet, every drop or bank was like being thrown bodily across the hard and unforgiving chariot floor. Silver’s ears felt like they were on fire they were so cold, and her father’s warnings about keeping them warm in winter or they could ‘fall off through frostbite’ popped into her head as though he were there with her, admonishing her for her carelessness. But there was no escape now, no Golden acting through her or words of advice from Erin, only the feeling of helplessness and cold. And… the sense of getting… closer. Silver opened her eyes in surprise. Yes, the light… the light! The warmth and light were stronger now, stronger than ever! An overwhelming sense of excitement blended with fear surged through her. It was a conflicting mixture that was as heady as it was frightening. Her father was alive, he was near, and she would see him again… she would see him again. A heavy jolt bumped Di and Silver bodily as the chariot touched down on solid ground. They could hear the rattle of harness, the clopping of hooves and the murmur of voices around them as hoofsteps drew nearer. In moments they were grabbed and lifted out onto the hard floor of what sounded, judging by the echoing quality of their surroundings, like some sort of hall or... cave? Somepony pulled at their tight bindings making Silver cry out as her circulation suddenly surged, burning through her legs. Rising shakily to her hooves she stared about her, blinking in the odd blue-white light while beside her Di looked at her in concern as she too rubbed some warmth back into her body. She nodded to her friend and Di’s expression of fear and confusion lessened slightly. She was alright, they both were; thank the goddesses.

A unicorn in a long black coat and sunglasses approached to the two of them and spoke in heavy tones that brooked no nonsense, “Your gags will be removed if you can give me your word you will keep quiet. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will not run, you will not wander off, nor will you cause any disturbance or else you will be gagged and hobbled.” The unicorn mare sniffed, “Agreed?”

Silver and Di nodded silently. The mare nodded to two of the pegasi and true to her word, the saliva soaked gags were taken away. Silver breathed a sighed of relief and gave Di a quick nuzzle.

“No time for that now, follow me.” The red coated unicorn turned and walked away. Behind her, Di and Silver were prodded forward by another guard whilst the pegasi took the chariot away as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Di glanced at Silver, keeping close to her friend and taking in the scenery around them. They were in a cave, or tunnel of some kind. It wasn’t rock though, it was some kind of blue crystal or stone Silver had never seen before. Her father had shown her all kinds of minerals while she’d been growing up and she tried to think what this could be: lapis lazuli? No, not in this sort of quantity and that was a darker blue besides. Quartz? Possibly, but what about cordierite or kyanite? It was unlikely, especially considering the amount of it, and it was almost completely uniform in appearance too. This wasn’t a natural vein either, this looked manufactured almost, like a sort of coating over the naturally occurring rock. There was another thing too: the light. Everywhere she looked there was a peculiar bluish luminescence that had no definable source but seemed to infuse everything with its supernatural presence. Supernatural… Silver shuddered; she didn’t like this place at all, and now her legs were coming out in goosebumps too. Yet despite this, she could feel something else: a sense of… anticipation. It was Erin, he was silent but he was there, watching… and waiting. For what she wasn’t sure, but she’d never felt anything like this from him before. They turned down another corridor and passed a grey unicorn mare with the same coat colour as her. The mare’s eyes went wide, her mouth opening as if to speak, but in less than the time it took her to blink, the blank expression returned and the mare passed by in silence. What was that all about?! Silver’s mane quivered involuntarily and she took a breath to steady her heart. She was here, wherever ‘here’ was, but her father was close – she could feel it inside, drawing her to him.

“In here.” The red mare opened a wooden door and waved them inside. “Somepony will be with you shortly. There’s a toilet through there.” The door closed with a thump.

Di gave herself a shake and suddenly grabbed Silver in a tight hug, “Tell me I’m dreaming. Please?” she whispered into her friend’s mane.

Silver closed her eyes, fighting back her own overwhelming emotions, “Only if you tell me I am too.”

“Silv,” Di choked, “they… they shot Trixie.”

“I know,” Silver replied in a cracked voice, “I know, Di...”

Di’s big blue eyes filled with tears, “They killed her! Like she was nothing! She hadn’t done anything to them and they just… they...”

Silver nodded, “I know, Di. I don’t know what to say.”

Di huffed, “What can you say?” She shook her head and slumped into the chair, her eyes downcast, “I used to think the world was full of monsters when I was a foal. Now...” she snorted bitterly, “I know it is.” She suddenly jumped back up, “I need a pee.”

Silver sat on her haunches and rubbed her legs. Where those horrible pegasi had tied her had left marks and they hurt too. Those animals, there was no need to do that. There was no need to murder Trixie either. In fact there was no need to do any of this! They weren’t a threat to them, they were just children, two fillies who were still in school. Truth be told they should actually still be in school, and what she wouldn’t give to be in that bland and boring place right now. But then, there was a reason she was here, wasn’t there? Wasn’t there? Did papa know she was here? Come to think of it, if he was here, wouldn’t he have met her when they landed? He’d have been furious with how those nasty pegasi had tied her and her friend up, and he’d show them! But he hadn’t been there, had he. No. Maybe… maybe he was a prisoner here too? Oh Celestia! Now they all were! The door opened and a grey mare walked in. She was a unicorn, the same as the one they’d passed in the corridor, but her cutie mark, a pair of snowflakes, was different. It was pretty much the only difference too. Perhaps they were related?

“That’s a weight off my mind.” The pink filly walked out of the bathroom and shut the door behind her, “Phoo! Don’t go in there for a while, Silv, that breakfast went right through me.” She peered at the unicorn, the old Di reasserting herself surprisingly quickly, “Come to bash up about too, have you? You wait until my father hears about this, you murderers!”

“Di, please...” Silver nodded to the mare, “Excuse me, miss, my name is Silver Spoon. Can you tell me if my papa is here? His name is Lord Spoon, or you may know him as Runcy? he’s the same colour as me, black mane, purple eyes, tall?”

The mare stood and stared at her as if she’d never seen a pony before. It was a little disconcerting, and made even more so because she could feel words welling up inside her, and not from her either – it was Erin. She closed her eyes and took a breath, calming herself down. The last thing she need was that odd fellow opening his big mouth and-

“Ad Signum.”

Silver’s hooves flew to her mouth. ERIN! That stupid, stupid colt! The unicorn mare gasped, dropped the tray of sandwiches and drink and bolted from the room as if the keeper of Tartarus was grabbing at her tail.

“Oh, for…!” Di dashed forward and grabbed the tray, “Oh that’s bloody marvellous isn’t it! That silly mare’s spilt juice over everything!” She clucked her tongue and plucked the sandwiches from the tray and righted the jug. Most of the juice had sloshed out, but there was still a decent quantity left thank goodness. Di stuffed one of the surprisingly dainty sandwiches into her mouth and passed one to Silver, “Bit of a tang of orange there, but it all goes down the same way.” She paused, “You okay?”

Silver blinked and nodded, turning away from staring at the now closed door.

“Hey, what did you say anyway? Did you see the way she freaked out like that?” Diamond Tiara shrugged, “Sounded foreign to me.”

Ad Signum. Silver shook her head, “I… I don’t know.”

“Probably read it in one of those bloody stupid diaries.” Di sniffed, helping herself to another sandwich, “I’d fill up if I were you. Don’t know when we’re going to get another feed in this dump.” She barked out a laugh, “Room service is absolutely bollocks.”

Silver frowned, “Please Di, will you watch that language!”

“Huh! At least I don’t send mares running for the hills by saying funny words like you did,” Di snorted, “The way I look at it we’re in a fix and if we’re going to get out of it we have to think smart.” She tapped her head for emphasis, “And father always says you should act tough, talk
tough, and even if you’re frightened senseless, don’t let them see it.”

“Are you?” Silver asked warily.

Di cocked an eyebrow, “Absolutely terrified.” She smiled, “If I were you, I’d go to the toilet. You can’t pee yourself if there’s nothing in there.”

And in some strange way, the odd filly was right.

Dinner was a miserable affair; not that it really made much difference to his situation anyway. The chef here was competent, but he could have been world class for all it meant to Runcy now – it all tasted of ashes. He had offended Terra, and rejected her too. But what else could he have done? The stupid creature was obsessed with sleeping with him, or more specifically ‘mating’ with him, just to have a foal. Was that what all this was about? Breeding as many children as possible? He pushed the plate away and stood to leave. He’d lost his appetite completely anyway. In a haze of anger and confusion he left the dining hall and made his way to the bar. Typical wasn’t it? Have ponies, have alcohol – a staple of any society: getting rat arsed. Damn it all, and why not? He didn’t drink much but today he felt like getting absolutely paralytic and he didn’t give a damn who saw him either. He walked past the guard, through the half empty seating area and leaned his hooves on the bar top. The bartender walked over, his black moustache heavy with wax making him look ridiculous, but he had a look about him that suggested he knew his trade and that was all that really mattered. Runcy snorted, “What do you have that’s good?”

“Brandy, Rum, Whiskey, the usual.” The tall fellow replied, “If you like we have wines, beers-”

“Bourbon?” Runcy asked.

The bartender picked up a glass and held it up to the light, “Griffin Old Kingdom Special Reserve.”

Runcy raised an eyebrow, “Double.”

“Ice?”

“And ginger.” Runcy watched as the drink was poured, the ice cracking as the room temperature liquid hit the freezing cubes. He took a mouthful and swallowed. The sweet yet smokey aftertaste lingered in his mouth deliciously, with the ginger adding a hit that was quite delectable. He waved to the bartender, “Same again and keep them coming.” His pipe, his old faithful companion, appeared in his hoof, ready loaded and promising a little pleasure at a time he damned well needed as much as he could get his hooves on.

“May I, sir?” The bartender’s horn glowed and a small flame appeared, hovering above the bowl.

Runcy shrugged; why not? He took several pulls until his pipe was well lit and inhaled, sighing the blue-grey smoke out above him as his muscles began to relax.

“If I may venture, sir, I do believe I haven’t seen you in here before,” the bartender noted conversationally, “First time?”

Runcy nodded, “First time for everything.”

“Indeed sir.” The bartender’s deadpan expression never faltered, “Is sir’s accommodation to his liking?”

Runcy smiled and took another mouthful of his drink, “It is most… adequate.” He frowned, “I’m afraid I don’t know your name?”

“Reload, sir.” The bronze stallion smiled, topping up Runcy’s glass.

“Appropriate.” Runcy chuckled, “Name’s Runcy. No ‘Lord’ or any of that damnable nonsense. Just Runcy.”

“Of course, sir.”

Runcy chuckled, “Of course.” He motioned over his shoulder, “Quiet tonight.”

“Always is on a Friday, sir. Gaming night, you see.” The bartender shrugged.

“Ah, gambling.” Runcy shook his head. He’d never agreed with such things and in all honesty didn’t know many card games beyond snap and whist. He used to love playing them with… what was her name again? Damn it all, he could hardly remember anything these days and since he’d come here his head had become like a leaking bucket. He closed his eyes and concentrated: Lark. Goddesses damn him, Lark. How could he forget the name of his own bloody wife?! He hadn’t had that much to drink had he? Bloody damned place, it was sucking his senses out of his brain now, together with his will to live. He took another mouthful of the drink. “You married, Reload?”

“No sir. I’ve never been that fortunate I’m afraid.”

Runcy shrugged, “Take a tip from me and stay single, old boy, nothing good ever comes from getting involved with those four legged fiends.”

Reload smiled, “The fairer sex have a way of getting in one’s head I’m told, sir.” He returned to wiping his glasses before nodded towards the doorway, “Are you expecting a lady tonight sir?”

Runcy winced and peered over his shoulder. The terracotta coated creature standing across the room was looking around urgently, her yellow and white mane swinging back and forth. “Damn...” Runcy knocked back his drink, “Is there another way out of here?”

“Only through the kitchen sir, and-” Reload paused, “I think the lady may have noticed you, sir.”

Runcy closed his eyes, “Oh, buck me...”

“RUNCY!” Barbary’s voice boomed across the room making the other patrons jump in alarm. Dashing up to the bar she jumped up onto the stool beside him, “Hey Reload, one Trottingham Cream over ice. The usual.”

Reload nodded and walked off to the other end of the bar.

Barbary’s voice dropped to a bare whisper, “What the hell are you doing?”

Runcy snorted, “What’s it look like I’m doing? Minding my own bloody business.”

Barbary laughed out loud and clopped him on the shoulder, moving her muzzle right next to his ear. “Meet me in your quarters in ten minutes.”

“Oh for Celestia’s sake, Barb, what-”

“I have to talk to you.” She closed her eyes, “Run, I’m not teasing this time. This is important, it’s about-”

The drink clinked down in front of her, “There you go, ma’am, just as you like it.”

Barbary smiled, “Thank you Reload, you’re a dear.” She gave Runcy a wink, “So, we on for later then, Run?”

Runcy frowned, “Barb, please...”

“I’ll make it worth your while. Come on Run, what have you got to lose?” Barbary slugged her drink back, “I’ll get your bed warmed up just nice for you.” She jumped down from the stool, “Don’t keep me waiting, now.” And with that, she turned and headed for the doorway, “Put it
on his tab, Reload, he’d paying.”

“Wha…?!” Runcy groaned. “See what I mean?”

Reload smiled, “Indeed sir.”

“Give me another.”

Runcy chugged back his drink and wiped his mouth. He wasn’t nearly drunk enough yet. Not yet… To hell with Barbary, he’d had enough of this stupid damned place and the damned stupid people who lorded it over everything. The first chance he got he was out of here… for some reason. Goddess damn it all, what the hell was up with his brain? Was he going senile already? He was a stallion in his prime and hardly doddering off into the twilight of his life. He stared down at his empty glass and motioned to Reload to refill it.

“Excuse me sir, if I may, I believe the lady is waiting for you?”

“Bollocks to her,” Runcy chuckled, taking a pull on his pipe. He frowned and stared at it in bewilderment; the bloody thing had gone out already! Sod it… Roughly he shoved it in his pocket and snatched up his drink. “Yeah, bollocks to her...” Something touched his shoulder and he brushed it off irritably. Flies? Oh, goddesses it wasn’t that bloody whats-her-name back again was it? Thingy? The one with the spanky arse… yeah… he’d like to-

“Are you Runcy?”

The dark grey stallion turned a wobbly head to the mare and squinted at her, “Who the bloody hell are you? Another of them wendy-goes...ha! Bloody wendy-house-goes! Stupid bloody name...”

The mare looked to the bartender, “Is this Runcy?”

Reload nodded.

“Look, just piss off and leave me alone,” Runcy burped, “Celestia’s tits, can’t a fellow get himself inebriated in peace around here? Why don’t you fly off and terrorise a village or something?”

The mare stared at him in confusion before closing her eyes and gave herself a shake, “Runcy, Terra is taking the judgement of the spirits. As her soul mate you should be there to act as her witness.”

“Terra...” Runcy let out a belch, “What, she wants me to watch her buck some stallion, does she? How bloody nice of her. You lot only care about banging anything with a pair of balls and-”

“She has challenged Uriana” the wendigo mare interrupted.

Runcy slugged back the last of his drink, “Uri…? Ah! That fat dollop!” He barked out a laugh, “The old crusty tart probably likes to watch, you know. Can’t get any herself so sells the young ones off for a good fettling and gets her rocks off watching the act- OW!” Runcy staggered into the bar, stumbled, and slipped off the stool, “You stupid tart!” He kicked himself free and shakily tried to get to his hooves, but the mare was on him in a trice,

“Terra is facing Uriana, Celestian,” she hissed, “You should be there. Do you hear my words? Do they make sense to you?”

“GET OFF ME!” Runcy flailed wildly. That… that mare had punched him right in the face! Goddesses above, when he got up, female of not, he’d flatten that… What was she doing now? The bartender had passed her something which she was holding in her hooves. Her horn flared with
magic and in the blink of an eye she had him locked in her forelegs, her hind legs preventing him from kicking out. Without a single word, something was rammed into his throat and his mouth clamped shut. Runcy gagged, choking and coughing, but nothing he did was making any difference. Sweetness… great alicorn horns, the sweetness! It was so sickeningly strong it was like acid, burning his throat and bringing tears to his eyes. Unwillingly he swallowed and in a heartbeat the mare had jumped off him, allowing Runcy a moment to wipe the tears from his eyes and glare up at his attacker- just as the water took him full in the face.

“You will come with me” she snarled.

Did he have a choice? Half drowned, gagging and stunned, the bedraggled mess that was Lord Spoon was dragged to his hooves and propelled with frightening efficiency out of the bar and into the painfully bright light of the corridor. Celestia buck him, his head felt like he’d been beaten with a sack of bricks. Everything swam around him in a nauseating whirl of colour and disjointed shapes and his stomach… oh hell fire… Runcy staggered into the wall, leaned one hoof against it and coughed loudly. A moment later his whole body twisted, squeezing, and with a huge intake of breath like some obscene set of bellows from the gods, he emptied out the contents of his stomach in a gut wrenching stream of vomit. Runcy dropped to his haunches and let fly another barrage, again and again. Barely had he a moment to catch his breath before the mare grappled him once again and pulled him away. It was all he could manage to spit the vicious tasting bile from his mouth as he was half carried, half dragged off to the goddesses knew where.

A door slammed.

“Here, drink.”

A bucket of water with a slightly minty taste was pushed under Runcy’s muzzle.

“Drink.”

Damn it, he’d heard her the first time! Bloody hell fire, what damned mess… Runcy plunged his muzzle in and syphoned up great gulps of the flavoured water. If nothing else it helped wash the horrible taste of his own sick away and eased his stomach to a degree. Mercifully the bloody room had stopped spinning at last too. Now, if he could only get his bearings, he’d be-

“You are Runcy.” The mare stared at him with a look of barely disguised loathing. “You are my sister’s soul mate?”

Runcy took the proffered towel, scrubbing his face with the pleasantly rough material. “Yes, madam, apparently I am.” He took a deep breath and fixed her with a look he usually reserved for Silver when she was in his bad books. Silver… When was the last time he’d thought about her? More to the point, when had he last seen her? Damn it all, he couldn’t remember! Damn this place and damn him for a fool! He gathered his wits and squared his shoulders, “My name is Runcible Spoon, Runcy to my friends. You may call me Lord Spoon if you prefer. Now, would you care to tell me what the hell is going on, or would you like to try punching me in the face too?”

The mare raised an eyebrow, “You have a fire in you. Good. She will need that now.”

“You know I’m getting more than a little pissed off with ponies talking to me as if I’ve walked in half way through some bloody conversation that they seem to think I know everything about already.” Runcy huffed, “A little context, madam?”

“I am Patah. Terra is my sister.” The mare watched Runcy’s eyes as if she could read a script written upon the back of his retinas. “Terra has challenged Uriana and accepted the duel – the ‘judgement of the spirits’.” She spoke as if speaking to an imbecile, but what she was saying had Runcy’s hackles going up like there was no tomorrow. Patah continued regardless, “The goddess and the spirits will decide who has the right of it.”

“A duel?” Runcy stomped a hoof, “Like hell she is. This is the fault of your blasted stupid ideology, isn’t it? She didn’t want to mate so now it’s a fight, is that it?”

Patah snorted, “I have no wish to debate with you about our ‘ideology’, Celestian. You are my sister’s soul mate and-”

“Where is she?” Runcy cut in, “I’m going to put a stop to this madness before one of you fools gets themselves hurt.”

Patah’s eyes narrowed, “You have spirit, Celestian, but little sense. You can no more ‘put a stop to this’ than you can stop the world turning.”

Runcy span round, his anger flaring white hot, “Then I will stop the world.”

The mare took a step back at the look in Runcy’s eyes and for a brief moment a shadow of fear ghosted across her face. “Yes...” she breathed, “Perhaps you will.” She tossed her mane and walked past him to the door, “Come with me, I will take you to her. Terra is waiting nearby.”

Several rooms and a millennia of cultural divergence away, the bead curtain was drawn back to reveal the room with the grey mare who only the day before had been his friend. Runcy prided himself on knowledge, on understanding, but of these fascinating creatures – he had no idea at all. Terra sat in the centre of the room, her blue and silver armour so very close in design to the armour he had in his collection, yet noticeably smaller to accommodate her slighter frame. As much as he admired her, as much as he respected her, Runcy knew next to nothing about Terra. Only that a friend didn’t abandon another, especially not when they needed them.

She looked up at him and snorted, “What are you doing here?”

“I think I could ask the same question, don’t you?” Runcy replied, “Care to explain why you look like you’ve raided a museum?”

Terra sneered at him, “Everything is a joke to you celestian’s.”

“I would rather laugh than cry, Terra.” Runcy moved towards her and sat down on a stool, keeping what he hoped was a respectable distance. “Can you tell me what this is all about or is it some sort of ‘Wendigo only’ knowledge?”

The grey mare frowned, “You came, but you don’t know why?” She let out a snort of laughter, “You rush in with no idea of the foe you face.”

“Seems I’ve made something of a habit of that lately.” Runcy raised an eyebrow and shook his head slowly, “This is something to do with honour, isn’t it. You went against Uriana and now you’re honour bound to fight her. Am I in the right ball park?”

“Ball park?” Terra shook her head and then stared at her hooves, letting out a huff, “I defied her. She outranks me and so has the right to demand I face her before the goddess and the spirits of the beyond.”

“A ritual fight?” Runcy asked. Terra nodded. Runcy felt his muscles tensing as the gravity of the situation made itself clear, “How serious is this then? Is it first knock down or yield?”

Terra shook her head, “It is to the death. The lower ranking mare takes the place of the higher and claims her property and mates by right of victory. We have not invoked this rite for hundreds of years.”

“And now here we are,” Runcy said levelly.

“Here we are.” Terra took a breath, “You will witness my fight?”

Runcy shook his head, “No. I’m going to stop this insanity before you get hurt.” He stood up, “I’m going to have a little chat with that imbecile you call an elder.”

“NO!” Terra shot to her hooves and in an instant was before him, her mane bristling, “You will not!”

Runcy tried to push past, “Don’t be such a damned fool, girl.”

“GIRL?!” Terra’s hooves shot out and swept Runcy’s legs out from under him, sending him tumbling to the floor. She was on him in an instant, her yellow eyes burning like campfires as she glared down at him above bared teeth. “You would dishonour me?” she snarled, “You would make me a coward before my own mother, my own sister?”

“Yes I would,” Runcy said levelly, “To keep you from harm, I would.”

“You’re a fool…” The fire flickered in Terra’s eyes but she kept him pinned beneath her all the same, “You make no sense to me at all!” she snapped, “You rejected me and yet you come here and risk your life to protect me?” Terra snorted, “I do not need your help.”

“No, I can see that,” Runcy replied, “I don’t understand your people, Terra, but I want to learn. There is so much from the past which has been lost to us, but this… fighting one of your people to the death because of me?” He shook his head, “Don’t. Please.”

Carefully, Terra pulled herself from him and closed her eyes, “Runcy, you are my soul mate. You will stand by and watch over me?”

Pulling himself to his hooves, he faced the determined mare. “Terra...” Goddesses forgive him, she was going to go through with this regardless of what he said and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it, was there? He could ignore her of course, petition the elder to annul the duel, but to do so would dishonour her and what that would mean to her standing in the tribe was something that clearly meant a lot more to her than he understood. Still, he couldn’t just let her-

Terra suddenly grabbed his muzzle and placed a kiss on his forehead. She smiled, “Thank you.” In a whirl of gleaming armour, the mare took up her helmet and nodded to Runcy to help her put it on. He reached under her muzzle and adjusted the supple straps until it was snugged into position. It was a surprisingly light helmet compared to most of the ones he’d seen: unadorned, functional yet strong, and looked to be made of the same blue crystalline material as the rest of the wendigo’s home. Checking it was secure, Terra nodded her satisfaction and walked over to a rack of lethal looking weapons. She reached out, taking down a large curved axe which she strapped to her back as if it were as everyday a task as gardening. If only it was… Runcy felt his blood run cold, but held his tongue. This was her fight, her pride, her honour. Come what may he would be there to watch her… whatever end that may be.

There was no crowd, no baying or shouts of encouragement, only a solemn silence. The arena was little more than a circular area with a low wall around the perimeter that had been swept clean, ready for the combatants. Several wendigo stood like carved statues as witness to the proceedings, all of them wearing flowing white robes and wreaths of silver leaves around their heads. Across from Runcy, the elder, Khanid, sat swathed head to hoof in white, an amorphous mass of white sheeting that made his hackles go up as if he’d seen the goddess of death herself. Here, in this place, perhaps she was the very embodiment of that most terrible of mares. He followed Terra to a short gate where she stopped and looking out across the arena to where her counterpart, the similarly armoured Uriana stood with two more mares. Patah respectfully but firmly manoeuvred Runcy into position and there they waited.

Silence fell.

Not a sound, not a whisper, and then, as if emerging from the depths of hell itself, a creature dressed in blood red strode into the centre of the arena. Runcy watched in horrified awe as she took out a small container of liquid and a hair whisk which she dipped into it and flicked around her in a circle. Runcy said nothing; this was clearly some sort of ritual he wasn’t familiar with, but he had read of similar in his books on ancient civilisations. She was most likely sanctifying the battle ground, purifying it for the fight to come. Whether is was intended to welcome the spirits or their goddess to witness the coming duel he wasn’t sure. This was like watching history returning to life before his very eyes, a horrible reminder of the cruelty and brutality of earlier times, and all he could do was watch as the red swathed mare began to dance. She flowed as silently as a river of blood, twirling, flicking the whisk, approaching him, then Patah, and then finally Terra. She paused, flicking the whisk over her and then danced away to repeat the spectacle with Uriana and her witnesses. The red clothed mare walked to the centre of the arena and reared, holding her hooves to the sky, “Spirits of our world, shades of the beyond, gods of our light, see… SEE!” She dropped down and swept her forelegs out and around, “Harken to us, your children. See the ground of our ancestors that cries to us from the darkness of the everworld to the eternal winter. This day we call upon thee to witness the challenge between two of the tribe: two mares who will face each other as was decreed from the first of days. Give us your blessing, give us your guidance. Blessed be the goddess of the night.”

The air pulsed with energy as the mares intoned, “By her divine guidance.”

Khanid raised her hooves, “Uriana, you stand challenged.”

Uriana lifted her head, “I do!”

“Name your challenger.”

“TERRA!”

“Terra, do you challenge Uriana?”

Terra stood tall, her muscles flexing, “I do!”

“Name the challenged.”

“URIANA!”

The red robed mare bowed and swept out her forelegs to either side and then in a single leap, each of the armoured mares leapt the wall gate into the arena and unbuckled their weapons. The red mare backed away slowly as Khanid raised her voice, howling it out across the arena with the dread cry of the northern winter,

“TO BATTLE!”

Patah moved closer to Runcy but didn’t look him in the eye. Her voice was a bare whisper, “Watch her. She draws from your life energy, your strength. Give it to her, wholeheartedly, willingly. This is what it means to be a soul mate.”

Runcy didn’t know what to say in reply, his mind was completely focused on the scene before him and the horrible certainty that he was about to witness something that would haunt him in his dreams for the rest of his days. He watched how Uriana moved carefully, but with a measured pace that set her apart from the youthful energy of Terra. The younger mare was nimble, shifting her weight from her front, to her rear, and then… she struck. In silence, Terra’s axe, held in the blue glow of her magic swung low, cutting upwards. Uriana swatted it away as if batting a fly and span, bucking out at Terra’s chest. It was a glancing blow, but the sound of the impact rang across the arena making Runcy flinch. The two mares backed away from one other, taking the measure of their opponent. Terra shifted her stance and watched as Uriana moved her axe before her, adjusting her own weapon in response. Each move was countered by another move; Runcy had seen it’s like before in the more formalised sword training he’d had as a colt, but that had been child’s play compared to this. There at Wheat Halls the swords had been dulled, their padded armour covering every part of them. The armour the mares wore here however was as beautiful as it was practical, but the emphasis appeared to be more on speed and fluidity of motion, and the ring of the weapons spoke volumes as to its effectiveness.

Uriana dodged away as Terra’s strike came in. It was then that the older mare’s experience began to make itself apparent. Terra’s cut was wide, slipping outside of her opponent’s guard. She was unbalanced, and even if only for the briefest sliver of time, it was enough to give her opponent the opening she needed. The flat of Uriana’s axe smashed into Terra’s muzzle, knocking her across the arena, stumbling and near losing her footing. She was quick to recover but the older mare was on her in a trice, striking with her forehooves and bringing the axe down in a killing arc. Runcy watched in open mouthed horror as Terra tried to roll out of the way. Her axe came up, taking some of the impetus away but it wasn’t enough. Uriana’s axe cracked into her armour with a sound that Runcy felt as much as heard. Terra grunted in pain, but the strike had given her an opening Uriana hadn’t foreseen. In a flash of light, Terra’s magic flared sending Uriana back, blinded. The younger mare pushed down with her hind legs and slammed herself bodily into her opponent’s chest, flinging the older mare back and onto her rump. In a blistering move Runcy’s eyes could barely register, Terra’s axe cut up under Uriana’s muzzle where there was little armour and bit home.

Blood splashed onto the arena floor.

Goddesses above, was that it? It had to be, hadn’t it? Runcy’s hooves dug into the low wall of the arena, sure of Terra’s victory. He saw her back away, saw the axe dripping blood and then heard the howl that sent a shiver through his soul. Uriana’s magic flung Terra like a ragdoll through the air, sending her skidding across the arena floor as if though she were no more substantial than a foal’s doll. She was stunned, reeling from the unexpectedly powerful magical attack. Uriana would have finished her then, but she was bleeding badly and wasted time trying to removed her damaged helmet. Patah’s voice beside him burned in his ears, “Give her your strength, Celestian! Now!”

“How?!” Runcy stared at her. He’d thought she was being metaphorical, but what the hell did she mean? He’d knew next to nothing about wendigo, in fact precious little other than the stories he’d read in his library. In reality he knew nothing about them really, nothing! Dear goddesses, even the curse had skipped him and now it was with his daughter. He was only a pony, an earth pony that- He froze, his eyes going wide in realisation. Why hadn’t he seen it before? The ground… the arena… the lines of energy and convergence. The lines of the earth: they were connected even here, through the floor, through every living thing. What if he could…

“It’s too late...” Patah lifted her head, “Uriana has her.”

The older mared was charging, her axe ready and primed.

“Like hell she has.” Runcy narrowed his eyes and concentrated, feeling inside for the one thing he knew was there: the anger he’d felt when he’d seen the stallion standing over Terra as she bled beneath him, the rage that had burned white hot in his heart and his desire to protect those he cared for no matter what the cost. He could feel it now as it howled in his veins, sizzled through his muscles, consuming his very being. He was no unicorn, no user of magic, but he had that which every earth pony had: his connection to the natural world around him, to the bones of the earth and the those who walked upon it. He felt it now: the strength, his strength, the power and skill of his ancestors, their love of their homeland and duty to their people. They had fought, they had died, they had given everything for their home and the ones they loved. Terra was his friend, a descendant of his family’s ancient enemy, but she was as much a part of his life now as the very air he breathed. Runcy closed his eyes, feeling for the flows, the lines of shimmering energy that pulsed and grew as he opened himself to them. It moved, it flowed and channelled outwards. He directed it as one conducts an orchestra, arrowing the strength of his heart and soul outwards, and there… there it was; the connection between the earth and the mare he sought. It was tentative, but he could work with that - he had worked with far less and still achieved his goals. Runcy smiled; now… now they would feel the wrath of the warrior of the goddess.

The howl of winter shook the ground, shaking the walls of the arena and the great cavern around it. Khanid stood, her wendigo around her staring at each other wide eyed as a plume of crimson fountained up and across the arena floor. Crumpled, breathing heavily, the agonised body of Uriana lay beneath the dripping axe of the younger mare. Terra was… glowing. Her fur, no longer the grey of the wendigo unicorn mares, she was… white, her eyes blazing with a bright blue fire, her mane and tail as blue as the winter sky. She howled her victory to the world even as the mists of the polar night wreathed her hooves. She leant down, her maw dripping silver droplets as she bent to take her prize…

“Enough!” Khanid jumped to her hooves, “ENOUGH!”

Patah leaped the wall and ran forward, followed by Runcy whose legs were working more on their own than by any input from his conscious mind. Before them the two mares were locked in their own world, everything happening around them as though time had slowed to little more than a trickle. Patah reached for Terra only to be flung away by a bolt of magical energy. Weakly, Uriana looked up through agonised eyes, watching the dripping maw reaching down for her.

“Terra! Please, stop this! You’ve won!” Runcy pushed in between them, “For the goddess’ sake, you-”

Uriana’s axe came up. Distracted, Terra hadn’t seen it in time and turned to see the blade cutting upwards as Runcy pushed her out of its path. The blade bit home, cutting deep into his flesh and cracking the bone beneath. Even with Uriana’s dying breath, it was enough. With grunt of pain and shock, Runcy fell. Shouts of alarm and surprise rang out all around him. Damned noisy creatures they were too; typical females really, always talking, always… Lark? Oh, goddesses, where was she? Where was Silver? He wanted to be with his family so much, so, so much! It was cold here, and he was alone, frightened and alone… why was it so cold? He tried to breath but the jolt of pain was unlike anything he’d ever felt in his life. It was burning, burning with the strength of a thousand suns and it wouldn’t stop, it wouldn’t stop! He wanted to go home, he wanted his… his… Blue eyes burned before him and something clamped over his mouth sending a bitter-sweet sensation, a liquid of some kind, into him that he couldn’t escape. He flailed and thrashed, trying to get away, trying to flee this monster that had him in its grip. Through his terror, through the fear and pain, the white creature stared into his very soul with its blazing blue eyes, and he fell… fell into the darkness of blissful nothingness. The last thing Runcy could think of, was how beautiful those terrible eyes were. They were so… beautiful…